Martha Kostuch
Encyclopedia
Martha Kostuch was a Canadian veterinarian
and an award-winning environmentalist
. In her veterinary work, she identified reproductive and immunological problems among cattle to air pollutants
, like sulphur dioxide, from the sour gas
industry in the region. Her successful campaign to reduce that air pollution marked the beginning of her work as an environmentalist.
Kostuch and her husband, Tom M. Kostuch, moved to Alberta from Minnesota in 1975. They had two children by birth, and adopted two sons. In 2001, one of her sons was accused of plotting to murder her to acquire an inheritance. He pled guilty "to counselling to commit an offence" for offering a hit man $40,000.
In subsequent years she contributed her efforts to various environmental campaigns. These included blocking a hotel and golf course resort. In 1998 she charged a sand and gravel trucking business for violating the federal Fisheries Act. She campaigned to stop the building of the Oldman River
Dam and followed with a legal campaign resulting in environmental improvements to the project when the Dam was approved and a Supreme Court decision that environmental protection is in the jurisdiction of both the federal and provincial governments. In her work on the Clean Air Strategic Alliance committee, she was part of the effort that resulted in the reductions to air pollution.
In the fall of 2007, Kostuch announced that she had been diagnosed as terminal with multiple system atrophy
. She declared her intention to choose when she would die, rather than letting the disease decide for her — supporting the right to die
cause.
In 2002, Kostuch was given a Canadian Environment Awards
: Community Award for Clean Air.
In 2003, she received the Nature Canada
’s Douglas H. Pimlott Award.
In 2004, the Alberta Wilderness Association gave Kostuch an Alberta Wilderness Defenders Award.
On April 15, 2008, the Alberta Emerald Foundation announced that Kostuch would be presented with a Special Achievement Award at the June 3, 2008, awards ceremony.
On April 21, 2008, the government of Alberta announced an educational bursary
to be established in Kostuch’s name and awarded annually. The bursary is to fund people from non-governmental organization
s for studies in a certificate course in consensus
building.
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
and an award-winning environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
. In her veterinary work, she identified reproductive and immunological problems among cattle to air pollutants
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, like sulphur dioxide, from the sour gas
Sour gas
Sour gas is natural gas or any other gas containing significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide . Natural gas is usually considered sour if there are more than 5.7 milligrams of H2S per cubic meter of natural gas, which is equivalent to approximately 4 ppm by volume...
industry in the region. Her successful campaign to reduce that air pollution marked the beginning of her work as an environmentalist.
Kostuch and her husband, Tom M. Kostuch, moved to Alberta from Minnesota in 1975. They had two children by birth, and adopted two sons. In 2001, one of her sons was accused of plotting to murder her to acquire an inheritance. He pled guilty "to counselling to commit an offence" for offering a hit man $40,000.
In subsequent years she contributed her efforts to various environmental campaigns. These included blocking a hotel and golf course resort. In 1998 she charged a sand and gravel trucking business for violating the federal Fisheries Act. She campaigned to stop the building of the Oldman River
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
Dam and followed with a legal campaign resulting in environmental improvements to the project when the Dam was approved and a Supreme Court decision that environmental protection is in the jurisdiction of both the federal and provincial governments. In her work on the Clean Air Strategic Alliance committee, she was part of the effort that resulted in the reductions to air pollution.
In the fall of 2007, Kostuch announced that she had been diagnosed as terminal with multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy is a degenerative neurological disorder. MSA is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood pressure...
. She declared her intention to choose when she would die, rather than letting the disease decide for her — supporting the right to die
Right to die
The right to die is the ethical or institutional entitlement of the individual to commit suicide or to undergo voluntary euthanasia. Possession of this right is often understood to mean that a person with a terminal illness should be allowed to commit suicide or assisted suicide or to decline...
cause.
Honours
In 1992, Kostuch received an Alberta Emerald Foundation award in the Individual Commitment category.In 2002, Kostuch was given a Canadian Environment Awards
Canadian Environment Awards
The Canadian Environment Awards were established in 2002 through a partnership between the Government of Canada and Canadian Geographic Enterprises. The national program recognizes dedicated Canadians who act locally to help protect, preserve and restore Canada’s environment...
: Community Award for Clean Air.
In 2003, she received the Nature Canada
Nature Canada
Nature Canada is a member-based non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to protect nature and the processes that sustain it. Based in Ottawa, Nature Canada's supporters include more than 40,000 individuals and over 350 affiliated organizations, including local and provincial...
’s Douglas H. Pimlott Award.
In 2004, the Alberta Wilderness Association gave Kostuch an Alberta Wilderness Defenders Award.
On April 15, 2008, the Alberta Emerald Foundation announced that Kostuch would be presented with a Special Achievement Award at the June 3, 2008, awards ceremony.
On April 21, 2008, the government of Alberta announced an educational bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
to be established in Kostuch’s name and awarded annually. The bursary is to fund people from non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s for studies in a certificate course in consensus
Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-making is a group decision making process that seeks the consent, not necessarily the agreement, of participants and the resolution of objections. Consensus is defined by Merriam-Webster as, first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief or sentiment. It has its...
building.
External links
- Family, Friends, and Enemies: Martha Kostuch’s LiveJournal
- Celebrating a Lifetime of Environmental Action with Martha Kostuch