Isabelle Côté receives King Charles III medal for outstanding achievements

SFU Biological Sciences Distinguished Professor Isabelle Côté has been awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work championing marine conservation.

The ceremony, held at B.C. M.L.A. Rick Glumac’s constituency office in Port Moody on September 12, recognized three local individuals who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding achievements and contributions to Canada.

Côté is an internationally recognized marine ecologist noted for her pioneering use of meta-analysis to identify long-term patterns of ecological change on coral reefs. Her work challenges conventional notions about ecosystem resilience and marine management. In 2023 she was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada.

In December 2023 Côté and three other female marine scientists embarked on the World’s Toughest Row, a 5000 km unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds to support marine conservation.

Their Salty Science team completed their trip in 38 days, 18 hours and 57 minutes, placing first in the women’s class. They raised $260,000, part of which has been used to establish an award to enable students from underrepresented minorities to attend field courses and carry out research at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

“Ultimately we all did this for marine conservation,” Côté said. “It’s been amazing to make a living out of my passion, and my biggest legacy, in part, is going to be the scholarship, but it will also be all the students that I’ve trained over the years and are going to go on to do amazing things for preserving the ocean.”

The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada, and recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.