Bio - Awards - Accolades
Myrna Pearman Biography
Myrna is a biologist, author and nature photographer. She lives on the south shore of Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
Myrna Pearman was raised on a farm northeast of Rimbey, Alberta. She became interested in nature photography while in high school, learning about cameras from Rimbey Librarian, Rolf Seidel, and being inspired to love nature from local naturalist, Fred Schutz.
Myrna graduated with a BSc Honours from the University of Alberta in 1979, then returned home to care for her ailing parents. After their passing, she worked as a house painter and wedding photographer before becoming the Assistant Park Naturalist at Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer in 1986. In 1987, she was offered a dream career as Biologist and Site Services Manager at Ellis Bird Farm. She retired, after guiding the transformation of the farm into an internationally renowned conservation, education and research centre, in 2020.
Myrna has authored/co-authored several books (Winter Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide; Nestboxes for Prairie Birds; NatureScape Alberta: Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home; Water Gardening: A Prairie Guide; Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide; Children’s Bluebird Activity Booklet; Beauty Everywhere: Nature Photo Essays by Myrna Pearman; Charlie, Winnie and the Bluebirds, Winter Bird Feeding: A Saskatchewan Guide; Get to Know Bluebirds; Beauty Everywhere: Volume 2 .)
Myrna has been honoured with the Nature Educator of the Year Award by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, the Loren L Goulden Award from Nature Alberta, the Owl Award from the Red Deer River Naturalists and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Bluebird Society.
Myrna is the editor of the Red Deer River Naturalist, writes a magazine column for The Gardener and writes a monthly nature photo essay in the Red Deer Advocate (Red Deer Advocate).
Myrna Pearman was raised on a farm northeast of Rimbey, Alberta. She became interested in nature photography while in high school, learning about cameras from Rimbey Librarian, Rolf Seidel, and being inspired to love nature from local naturalist, Fred Schutz.
Myrna graduated with a BSc Honours from the University of Alberta in 1979, then returned home to care for her ailing parents. After their passing, she worked as a house painter and wedding photographer before becoming the Assistant Park Naturalist at Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer in 1986. In 1987, she was offered a dream career as Biologist and Site Services Manager at Ellis Bird Farm. She retired, after guiding the transformation of the farm into an internationally renowned conservation, education and research centre, in 2020.
Myrna has authored/co-authored several books (Winter Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide; Nestboxes for Prairie Birds; NatureScape Alberta: Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home; Water Gardening: A Prairie Guide; Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide; Children’s Bluebird Activity Booklet; Beauty Everywhere: Nature Photo Essays by Myrna Pearman; Charlie, Winnie and the Bluebirds, Winter Bird Feeding: A Saskatchewan Guide; Get to Know Bluebirds; Beauty Everywhere: Volume 2 .)
Myrna has been honoured with the Nature Educator of the Year Award by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, the Loren L Goulden Award from Nature Alberta, the Owl Award from the Red Deer River Naturalists and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Bluebird Society.
Myrna is the editor of the Red Deer River Naturalist, writes a magazine column for The Gardener and writes a monthly nature photo essay in the Red Deer Advocate (Red Deer Advocate).
Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society-Nov 21, 2019
I am humbled and honoured to have been recently accepted as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. The ceremony was held in Ottawa earlier this week.
How inspiring it was to be in the company of so many exemplary Canadians who also received fellowships, received medals, and who spoke at the evening gala (Dr. Roberta Bondar, Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, Rt. Hon. David Johnson to name a few)! A big thank you to Carol Patterson for the nomination. Carol has been a wonderful personal mentor and Ellis Bird Farm supporter over the years.
The experience was extra special because it was shared with a great personal friend and another Ellis Bird Farm champion (and founding board chairman), Morris Flewwelling. What a treat it was to also be in the company of Dr. Dee (who was also inducted) and Brian Keating (we are pictured here with Anne Innis Dogg, the "Jane Goodall of Giraffes").
We live in troubled times, but there are so many talented and dedicated men and women across this great land who are working tirelessly on behalf of this beautiful country (and planet). My thanks to them!
How inspiring it was to be in the company of so many exemplary Canadians who also received fellowships, received medals, and who spoke at the evening gala (Dr. Roberta Bondar, Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, Rt. Hon. David Johnson to name a few)! A big thank you to Carol Patterson for the nomination. Carol has been a wonderful personal mentor and Ellis Bird Farm supporter over the years.
The experience was extra special because it was shared with a great personal friend and another Ellis Bird Farm champion (and founding board chairman), Morris Flewwelling. What a treat it was to also be in the company of Dr. Dee (who was also inducted) and Brian Keating (we are pictured here with Anne Innis Dogg, the "Jane Goodall of Giraffes").
We live in troubled times, but there are so many talented and dedicated men and women across this great land who are working tirelessly on behalf of this beautiful country (and planet). My thanks to them!
Awards & Accolades
I am grateful for the following recognition:
1986: Educational Project of the Year Award, Canadian College of Teachers
1992: Nature Educator of the Year Award, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History
1992: Loran L Goulden Memorial Award, Federation of Alberta Naturalists (Now Nature Alberta)
1999: Outstanding Contributor to Bluebird Conservation – Bluebirds Across Nebraska
1996: John and Norah Lane Award, North American Bluebird Society
2011: Owl Award, Red Deer River Naturalists
2015: Popular Publication Award (Backyard Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide) from the Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
2016: Lifetime Achievement Award: North American Bluebird Society
2017: Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
2019: Fellow, Royal Canadian Geographical Society
1986: Educational Project of the Year Award, Canadian College of Teachers
1992: Nature Educator of the Year Award, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History
1992: Loran L Goulden Memorial Award, Federation of Alberta Naturalists (Now Nature Alberta)
1999: Outstanding Contributor to Bluebird Conservation – Bluebirds Across Nebraska
1996: John and Norah Lane Award, North American Bluebird Society
2011: Owl Award, Red Deer River Naturalists
2015: Popular Publication Award (Backyard Bird Feeding: An Alberta Guide) from the Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
2016: Lifetime Achievement Award: North American Bluebird Society
2017: Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
2019: Fellow, Royal Canadian Geographical Society
