Briony Penn
Encyclopedia
Briony Penn is a Canadian environmental activist, adjunct professor of environmental studies
at the University of Victoria
, and the Liberal Party of Canada
's candidate for Saanich—Gulf Islands
in the 40th Canadian federal election
. Penn was narrowly defeated by Conservative incumbent Gary Lunn
in the federal elections in 2008.
. She graduated from the international baccalaureate program in Victoria
(Norfolk House) in 1977. In 1981, she received her BA in Geography/Anthropology from the University of British Columbia
. She then studied in Scotland, and in 1988 received her Ph.D in geography from Edinburgh University.
In 1986, Penn opened her own small business, working in consulting for environmental education and museum design in Scotland, then later in B.C. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria and has lectured in the School of Environmental Studies and Restoration of Natural Systems Program since 1991.
She wrote the award winning illustrated “Wild Side” columns in various regional publications which won her best columnist in the Western Magazine Awards. She hosted the TV show “Enviro/Mental” for three years, which was nominated one of the top three magazine shows in Canada. For this program, she taped, field produced and edited episodes ranging from the natural death movement to humpback whale research, and she conducted interviews with diverse personalities like philosopher John Ralston Saul
, Haida political leader Guujaaw
and author Tom Robbins
.
A pioneer of barefoot mapping, she has created maps and led workshops assisting communities for more than a decade, culminating in several books including Islands in the Salish Sea: A Community Atlas, which was nominated for the BC Book Awards. She also is an award-winning natural history feature writer with her writings for magazines such as Canadian Geographic
and Explore. Her book A Year On the Wild Side was a BC Books bestseller.
Penn has volunteered as the director of Raincoast Conservation Foundation since 1999. She was also a member of the provincial working group on private land stewardship, Stewardship Pledge, and the co-chair of the Environment Advisory Committee, Islands Trust Saltspring Island Local Trust Committee. For 2006-2007, Penn helped developed the media campaign for Land Trust Alliance of BC, on conservation leaders throughout B.C. She has written environmental guides and handbooks for elementary teachers in British Columbia, the topics ranging from forest ecosystems and biodiversity to the natural and cultural history of the Georgia Basin. She received a national Environment Learning award for her work from Canadian Geographic
in 2003.
In January 2001, Penn got international attention for her nearly-nude horseback ride as Lady Godiva
to protest against logging on Saltspring. Along with other riders, Penn rode past the offices of the logging company, and in so doing she raised interest around the world in protection of endangered ecosystems and helped mobilize support for the protection of thousands of hectares of land. In 2006, Penn established an academic study program using the Sandhill Crane
to develop the Canadian Species at Risk Act
. The project continues under the aegis of the geography department in the University of Victoria
, with active research based on Denny Island
and supported by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, as a research project.
for more than a decade, Penn announced in March 2007 her intention to run as a Liberal candidate for Saanich—Gulf Islands
in the 2008 federal election. She was defeated in a close race by the incumbent Conservative
Gary Lunn
, Minister of Natural Resources. Penn said she had been approached to run for the federal Green Party and New Democratic Party
as well. According to an article in the Globe and Mail, she intends to retain her Green Party membership provincially.
Environmental studies
Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them...
at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, and the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
's candidate for Saanich—Gulf Islands
Saanich—Gulf Islands
Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988...
in the 40th Canadian federal election
40th Canadian federal election
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. Penn was narrowly defeated by Conservative incumbent Gary Lunn
Gary Lunn
Gary Vincent Lunn, PC, MP is the former Canadian Member of Parliament for the British Columbia riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands. He served in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2011, first as a member of the Reform Party of Canada and subsequently as a member of the Canadian Alliance and the...
in the federal elections in 2008.
Early life and career
A fifth-generation islander, Penn was born and raised in Saanich, British ColumbiaSaanich, British Columbia
The District of Saanich is a municipality on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It is located north of the provincial capital, Victoria. It has a population of 108,265 people, making it the most populous municipality on Vancouver Island, and the seventh most populous in the province...
. She graduated from the international baccalaureate program in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
(Norfolk House) in 1977. In 1981, she received her BA in Geography/Anthropology from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. She then studied in Scotland, and in 1988 received her Ph.D in geography from Edinburgh University.
In 1986, Penn opened her own small business, working in consulting for environmental education and museum design in Scotland, then later in B.C. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria and has lectured in the School of Environmental Studies and Restoration of Natural Systems Program since 1991.
She wrote the award winning illustrated “Wild Side” columns in various regional publications which won her best columnist in the Western Magazine Awards. She hosted the TV show “Enviro/Mental” for three years, which was nominated one of the top three magazine shows in Canada. For this program, she taped, field produced and edited episodes ranging from the natural death movement to humpback whale research, and she conducted interviews with diverse personalities like philosopher John Ralston Saul
John Ralston Saul
John Ralston Saul, CC is a Canadian author, essayist, and President of International PEN.As an essayist, Saul is particularly known for his commentaries on the nature of individualism, citizenship and the public good; the failures of manager-, or more precisely technocrat-, led societies; the...
, Haida political leader Guujaaw
Guujaaw
Guujaaw is a traditional singer, wood carver, traditional medicine practitioner and political activist. He is a Haida, of the Raven Clan of Skedans.-Background:Beginning in the 1970s, Guujaaw worked to protect Gwaii Haanas from logging activity...
and author Tom Robbins
Tom Robbins
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins (born July 22, 1936 is an American author. His best-selling novels are serio-comic, often wildly poetic stories with a strong social and philosophical undercurrent, an irreverent bent, and scenes extrapolated from...
.
A pioneer of barefoot mapping, she has created maps and led workshops assisting communities for more than a decade, culminating in several books including Islands in the Salish Sea: A Community Atlas, which was nominated for the BC Book Awards. She also is an award-winning natural history feature writer with her writings for magazines such as Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic is the bimonthly magazine of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society . It was first published in May 1930 under the name Canadian Geographical Journal. The society's objective was to produce a popular magazine dealing primarily with Canadian geography...
and Explore. Her book A Year On the Wild Side was a BC Books bestseller.
Family
Penn currently lives on Salt Spring Island. She raised two sons with her husband, Donald 15-year-old Ronan and 19-year-old Callum, in a large heritage home that they brought from Victoria.Environmental work
Penn has worked extensively with both local groups and provincial organizations, such as the Land Conservancy of BC, which she co-founded in 1997. She has been giving natural/cultural history and stewardship workshops and lectures held in communities in British Columbia since 1991. She has also been a naturalist on the BC coast for ecotour and educational operators since 1980.Penn has volunteered as the director of Raincoast Conservation Foundation since 1999. She was also a member of the provincial working group on private land stewardship, Stewardship Pledge, and the co-chair of the Environment Advisory Committee, Islands Trust Saltspring Island Local Trust Committee. For 2006-2007, Penn helped developed the media campaign for Land Trust Alliance of BC, on conservation leaders throughout B.C. She has written environmental guides and handbooks for elementary teachers in British Columbia, the topics ranging from forest ecosystems and biodiversity to the natural and cultural history of the Georgia Basin. She received a national Environment Learning award for her work from Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic is the bimonthly magazine of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society . It was first published in May 1930 under the name Canadian Geographical Journal. The society's objective was to produce a popular magazine dealing primarily with Canadian geography...
in 2003.
In January 2001, Penn got international attention for her nearly-nude horseback ride as Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva
Godiva , often referred to as Lady Godiva , was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants...
to protest against logging on Saltspring. Along with other riders, Penn rode past the offices of the logging company, and in so doing she raised interest around the world in protection of endangered ecosystems and helped mobilize support for the protection of thousands of hectares of land. In 2006, Penn established an academic study program using the Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
to develop the Canadian Species at Risk Act
Species at Risk Act
The Species at Risk Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation which became law in Canada on December 12, 2002. It is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal of the Act is to protect endangered or threatened...
. The project continues under the aegis of the geography department in the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, with active research based on Denny Island
Denny Island
Denny Island is a small rocky island of , with scrub vegetation, in the Severn Estuary. Its rocky southern foreshore marks the boundary between England and Wales. Above high water mark, the island is reckoned administratively to Monmouthshire, South Wales...
and supported by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, as a research project.
Political career
After supporting the Green PartyGreen Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
for more than a decade, Penn announced in March 2007 her intention to run as a Liberal candidate for Saanich—Gulf Islands
Saanich—Gulf Islands
Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988...
in the 2008 federal election. She was defeated in a close race by the incumbent Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Gary Lunn
Gary Lunn
Gary Vincent Lunn, PC, MP is the former Canadian Member of Parliament for the British Columbia riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands. He served in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2011, first as a member of the Reform Party of Canada and subsequently as a member of the Canadian Alliance and the...
, Minister of Natural Resources. Penn said she had been approached to run for the federal Green Party and New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
as well. According to an article in the Globe and Mail, she intends to retain her Green Party membership provincially.