Honouring Her Legacy, Four Years On
This month marks four years since we said goodbye to our dear friend and former colleague, Anitra Paris, a passionate environmental advocate, a gifted communicator, and a constant and loyal friend.
Anitra brought a sense of curiosity, creativity and courage to her work and life. Her presence at Barkley Project Group was more than professional; it was deeply personal. She believed in people. She believed in nature. She believed in action.
“I am driven to protect the environment and create a better world for people and nature. I know that climate change is an existential threat already impacting the Earth, and I will do everything I can to contribute to positive change.” – Anitra
Through her words and actions, Anitra inspired everyone around her to live with more intention, more joy and more connection to the land and each other. To honour her legacy, the Anitra Paris Scholarship Fund was established in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation. The fund supports First Nations youth in British Columbia who are leading change in their communities through climate action, advocacy and environmental leadership.
Young women, like Kara Wilson, the 2025 recipient of the CEBC Anitra Paris Female Youth Leadership Award, carry forward Anitra’s vision, a vision of Indigenous youth empowered to protect the land, inspire other and chart bold paths toward a better future.
Anitra believed in the healing power of creativity, the importance of nourishing the mind and body and the beauty of expanding one’s knowledge and connection to the Earth. Her light lives on through every scholarship recipient, every community-led initiative and every act of courage sparked by her story.
Learn more or donate to the Anitra Paris Scholarship Fund: https://give.vancouverfoundation.ca/s/anitra-paris-scholarship-fund
Read more on Kara and the CEBC Anitra Paris Female Youth Leadership Award: https://barkley.ca/cebcs-anitra-paris-female-youth-leadership-award-2025-kara-wilson/