The Awards Presentation and Silent Auction on March 29th, 2001 at the Canadian Museum of Nature was a great success. Approximately 200 local politicians, individuals from wildlife and outdoor organizations and other guests enjoyed good food and the opportunity to bid on items in the silent auction. The Master of Ceremonies was John Lacharity, host of CBC's Ottawa Morning radio show. Awards for excellence in Environmental Conservation were presented at this event to individuals and groups whose long-term commitments to conservation of the environment have had significant impacts on wildlife in the Region.

Individual Award to Albert Dugal The winner of the Individual Award for 2001 is Albert Dugal. If there is one name synonymous with the Leitrim Wetland it is Albert Dugal. For over 20 years Albert has worked long and hard and with enormous diligence in the cause of preserving this remarkable wetland site. Albert is a botanist by profession and his inventory (still ongoing) of Leitrim's vascular plants has thus far recorded an astonishing 500 species. Albert has also written extensively about the Leitrim Wetlands, providing in-depth information about a once-little known area. He has tirelessly written letters, prepared briefs, attended meetings and given talks about the wetlands, raising people's awareness of this important site. Albert's passion for preserving significant greenspace has led him to areas other than Leitrim. Over the years he has also turned his attention to places such as the Petrie Island where he compiled an extensive list of the island's flora in the late 1970's. Albert has also been instrumental in highlighting the unique physical features and botanical diversity of South Gloucester, a remnant of the once much larger Leitrim site. More recently he has put his botanical expertise to work on sites such as the Upper Poole Creek Wetland and the Fernbank Wetland. All the while, however, he continues working for Leitrim's preservation, adding new plants to his inventory, and inspiring more people with his passion for the area. We are fortunate to have people such as Albert working on behalf of our natural heritage. The award was presented by Steve Wendt, Chief, Migratory Birds Conservation, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service. Congratulations Albert Dugal. Link to Friends of Petrie Island

Group Award to The Land Preservation Society of the Ottawa Valley

The winner of the Group Award this year is the Land Preservation Society of the Ottawa Valley. The society has been working very hard for the past 10 years to preserve Gillies Grove in Arnprior. Gillies Grove is a richly diverse and significant site, a 57 acre remnant old growth forest on the edge of town. Surveys have found over 50 breeding bird species including the provincially vulnerable Red-shouldered Hawk, and over 160 species of plants. It is also home to an extraordinary 150 foot White Pine, which may be one of the tallest pines in Ontario! The Grove is quite likely one of the last tracts of old growth forest in southeastern Ontario and as such is a unique natural environment. Many people visit the Grove to enjoy its beauty, others to birdwatch or botanize, while for students of the nearby schools it offers a superb outdoor classroom where nature can be studied first hand.

The Society, with considerable support from local residents, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, has come close to their goal of purchasing the site so that it may be protected forever. They are working with the MacNamara Field Naturalists of Arnprior to set up a stewardship arrangement and to develop a management plan for the Grove. That a small, dedicated, hard-working and enthusiastic group of citizens could achieve something as remarkable and as long-lasting as purchase of a significant green space is a truly unique feat. Accepting the award for the Land Preservation Society of the Ottawa Valley is Mark Stabb. The award was presented by Jean Cinq-Mars, Executive Director, Wildlife Habitat Canada. Congratulations Mark and all the members of the Society.

Youth Award to Students of the Kars Public School

The winners of the Youth Award for 2001 are the Students of the Kars Public School. The students believed that their school yard could be a beautiful, nurturing place for both people and nature. To bring this dream to life, the students with help from the community, planted trees, shrubs and flowers which in turn provide food for birds and butterflies. They put in bird feeders, benches and planter boxes. They created a walking trail which winds through this green attractive site. They installed berms to provide seating and to delineate the natural area from the playing fields, and they put in a split rail fence for grapevines to grow on. This area is now used as an outdoor science classroom, providing a focus for students to learn directly about the natural world. The area is so enticing that many residents now use it as a community park on weekends and after school. Such remarkable dedication from the students in helping make their schoolyard an attractive greenspace, inviting to humans and beneficial to wildlife, is most worthy of recognition. Representing the Kars Public School is the Principal, Shelley Lacroix and some of the students who have been intimately involved with the project. Congratulations to you all and to all the other students of the school who have worked so hard for the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. The award was presented by Wendy Stewart, Councillor, River Ward, City of Ottawa.

Posthumous Award to Ferdinand Larose

Larose Forest is located south of the village of Bourget, 50 km east of Ottawa in the City of Clarence - Rockland. It's 27,000 acres are owned by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and managed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It provides suitable environmental conditions for wildlife, the protection of water supplies, protection against floods and erosion and the provision of recreational opportunities such as picnic sites, hiking and ski trails. Composed mainly of hand planted fir trees, Larose Forest is a wildlife haven for many different species of birds and animals. When the area was settled in the 1800's, the land was cleared of the magnificent white and red pine. The land was found not to be suitable for farming and, when the people moved away, the ownership reverted to the county. soil erosion and blowing sand created the "Bourget Desert". In 1919 Ferdinand Larose, the first Agricultural Representative for the Counties of Prescott and Russell, persuaded the County authorities to purchase farms adjacent to the "Bourget Desert and in 1921 he began to plant trees under the terms of the Ontario Reforestation Act. The Larose Forest today is the result of Ferdinand Larose's vision, perserverance and success in creating natural habitat for the future of Prescott-Russell. Colin Maxwell, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, presented a plaque in his honour to the Member of Parliament for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Mr. Don Boudria, and the Mayor of Clarence-Rockland, Mr. Jean-Pierre Pierre.

Back to the top of the Page