Sheila Colla was widely admired for her scientific brilliance, passionate advocacy and commitment to fairness and justice. One of her many impacts was as a tireless champion for Canada’s declining native bumble bees. Sheila’s groundbreaking research was one of the first alarm calls documenting staggering decreases in bumble bee populations. It was Sheila who led the campaign to have the rusty-patched bumble bee listed as endangered in Canada and the US – the first such classification for a bumble bee in North America.

She was far more than a brilliant scientist and conservation leader. She was a fierce advocate for environmental and social justice and was incredibly skilled and determined at bridging the gap between science, community, and politics. As a woman of colour in the largely male-dominated field of entomology, Sheila used her voice and position to uplift those who might not otherwise feel included. Sheila was also a leader in public science communication, engaging communities through nature walks, school presentations, media interviews and books. She is remembered for her leadership in interdisciplinary research, her mentorship of emerging scientists and her unwavering dedication to both scientific excellence and environmental advocacy.

The Sheila Colla Pollinator Research Conservation Fund will provide scholarships for graduate students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions studying at-risk pollinators across the country.

To respect Sheila’s passion and advocacy, the fund will prioritize awards to students belonging to historically excluded groups in STEM, including women and racialized communities.