Professor Alton Harestad served as a faculty member in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University for over thirty years. From 1996 until his retirement in 2009, Dr. Harestad was directly involved in the creation, operation and administration of the Environmental Science program now housed in the Faculty of Environment. This program has grown to become one of the most successful of its kind in Canada.

The School of Environmental Science honours Professor Harestad by awarding students of high academic excellence each year.