The Faculty of Education joins the global community in mourning the passing of alumnus Darcy Belanger (‘94 BEd), who was among the 157 lives lost on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019.
Belanger had been traveling to Nairobi to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly as a representative of Parvati.org, a not-for-profit international anti-poverty organization he co-founded in 2014. He had taken time away from his job as director of U.S. professional development for PCL Construction to attend the conference and advocate for the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary, an initiative to create an international peace park in the Arctic Ocean in perpetuity, to prevent future exploitation and allow for the regeneration of the fragile ecosystem there.
A statement issued by Parvati.org said, “Darcy was truly a champion and a force of nature, one whose passing leaves an unimaginable gap in this work as well as in the lives of his family, friends and colleagues. Yet he also leaves us with a deep determination to honour his legacy of courage, compassion and focus."
Dean of Education Dr. Jennifer Tupper noted the significance of Belanger’s commitment to making the world a better place through his advocacy and actions. As an education alumnus, he embodied the vision and values of the Faculty and the institution.