Toronto - Documentary filmmaker Mark Terry was presented the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony held at York University's Glendon campus March 6, 2013.
The award acknowledges Mr. Terry's work with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and their partnership on his documentary feature films The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning and The Polar Explorer.
The Toronto filmmaker has travelled to remote and previously unexplored areas of the Arctic and Antarctica with teams of polar scientists from around the world. With his films, he has reported their climate-related findings to UN conferences resulting in new international policy.
Last year, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television awarded him the Gemini Humanitarian Award and the Canadian Chapter of The Explorers Club decorated him with their highest honour, the Stefansson Medal, for his "outstanding contribution to field science research in documenting the natural world".
Today, Mr. Terry works in Communications at York University and is the Explorer-in-Residence at Kensington Tours. He also lectures at Canadian universities on climate change in the polar regions as a Community Leader with the David Suzuki Foundation.
He continues his partnership with UNEP by producing an ongoing series of films called Youth Climate Report, a project founded by Toronto producer John Kelly. The film series showcases the latest climate research made by scientists around the world as reported by students.
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Director of Communications, said:"'Mark Terry, through his perceptive and provoking films, has brought the reality and risks of climate change to an ever widening audience. In doing so he has supported the work of many including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and for that we and many others are grateful".
"Mark is a worthy awardee of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal which rewards him and his team for excellence and persistence in the face of sometimes a skeptical world but reflects the urgency and scientific consensus that humanity needs to stop playing Russian roulette with humanity's future," he added.
"It is a great honour to be selected for this award," said Mr. Terry. "It acknowledges the important work that still needs to be done in the area of climate change research and policy creation."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Mark Terry,
President, Neko Harbour Entertainment, Inc.
Email: mark@polarexplorerfilm.com
Tel: 416-899-5855
BACKGROUNDER:
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal: A new commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. The Chancellery of Honours, as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, administers the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program.
Website: http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=14019&lan=eng
Neko Harbour Entertainment, Inc. (NHE): NHE is a Canadian film production company that produces environmental documentaries aimed at promoting climate literacy throughout the world. Its partnership with UNEP brings the latest scientific research directly to international policy-makers in accessible film and multimedia formats.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.
Mark Terry's Films:
The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning: www.theantarcticachallenge.com
The Polar Explorer: www.polarexplorerfilm.com
Youth Climate Report: www.youthclimatereport.org
