Awards Presentation and Silent Auction on April 19th, 2006
at the Canadian Museum of Nature was a huge success! |
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A very successful event. The Master of Ceremonies was Catherine Dumouchel from the Canadian Museum of Nature. Joanne DiCosimo, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Nature warmly welcomed the guests. Awards for Excellence in Environmental Conservation were presented to individuals and groups whose long-term commitment to conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat have had significant, sustainable impacts. Approximately 200 guests with a keen interest in wildlife conservation enjoyed the presentation by Becky Mason, canoeist, painter, writer, environmental activist, filmmaker, and daughter of Bill Mason, who shared Watershed Moments: Memorable Rivers I've Paddled , and an opportunity to bid on the over 35 silent auction items, and the cold buffet.
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The Moose
MacMillen (Individual) Award to Cliff Bennett
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Nominated for sustained commitment to protection of the environment over many decades, Cliff Bennett is one of those rare individuals who combines passion with knowledge in teaching others about the natural world and the need to protect it. He has influenced countless individuals to take a stand for nature and his commitment shows no signs of waning. Cliff is a founding member of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, established the warmly received Environmental Education Projects Program (EEPP) which helps fund class field trips, visiting speakers and presentations on environmental topics in area schools. He has helped develop a remarkable guide to canoe outings and trail hikes complete with descriptions, posted on the MVFN website, representing the MVFN. |
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He provided thoughtful environmental input into the new Community Official Plan for Mississippi Mills, encouraged the MVFN to take on an ambitious Climate Change Awareness Project, and helped start up the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust Conservancy. He writes the 'Speaking of Birds' for the Lanark Era newspaper, is on the Board of Directors of Ontario Nature, coordinates the Carleton Place Christmas Bird Count, and was instrumental in getting participants for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas project (2001-2005).
Previous winners were Dwight Delahunt, Elizabeth LeGeyt, Anne Coffey, Al Tweddle, Albert Dugal, Michèle André-St. Cyr, Erich Haber, Luba Mycio-Mommers and David Spence. |
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Group Award: Friends of the Jock River
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The non-profit, volunteer-run Friends of the Jock River was formed to monitor the health of the river and enhance and protect the watershed and its ecosystem. They work cooperatively with many individuals and agencies on a wide variety of projects, are engaged in ongoing habitat restoration, enhancement and monitoring of the area, have planted hundreds of trees to improve bank stabilization and create a more natural forested shoreline, are presently preparing detailed guidelines for all future restoration, mitigation and enhancement projects.
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As well, they participate in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Stream Corridor Riparian Vegetation Survey by collecting data according to stream survey protocols which help determine the health of the river and its shoreline habitat. They maintain an excellent and informative website, publish a newsletter, participate in a variety of events, hold regular monthly meetings open to non-members, and produce a detailed annual report.
Previous winners were the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Baxter Conservation Area, the Ottawa Duck Club, the Land Preservation Society of the Ottawa Valley, the Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital (GACC), ACRE (Action Chelsea Respect for the Environment), the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Chapter), and the Club des ornithologues de l'Outaouais. |
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Youth Award: Carleton Place High School and Andy Kerr-Wilson
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Andy Kerr-Wilson, an Environmental Studies teacher, created an Environmental Education Program for the Carleton Place High School in 1994 that has proven so successful students are willing to transfer out of other schools to take this unique course. Andy's class has participated in the Envirothon for the past 8 years, winning the first 2 regional competitions and participating in the Provincial, conducted a hackberry inventory and raised public awareness about this unique stand of trees in Carleton Place, one of the largest stands in the region. |
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They have done shoreline clean-up and restoration, have completed shoreline classification for numerous agencies, and have done work for the Yellow Fish Road/Storm water Management Information Program,in partnership with the Urban Forest-River Corridor Committee and town staff, Andy's students have naturalized the shoreline of Centennial Park in Carleton Place, worked on shoreline stabilization and enhancement of riparian habitat at Oak-a-lee Park which included planting black willow along an eroded riverbank which protects the largest wetland in Carleton Place, and done Crown Land campsite restoration and enhancement in Lana rk and Temagami regions. They are linked extensively with Mississippi Valley Conservation, the Urban Forest and River Corridor Advisory Committee, the Community Stewardship Council of Lana rk County, and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Previous winners were the Girl Guides of Canada-Ottawa Area, the Macoun Field Club, Nancy McGruer's Grade 3 Class at Kars Public School, the Students of Blossom Park Public School, The students, teachers and parents of Castor Valley Elementary School (Greely), Michael Leveille and the Educarium Science Students, and the B.E.A.R. Program at Ridgemont High School. |
Honourable Mention Award: Ghislaine Rozon |
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Special Honourable Mention Award was presented to Ghislaine Rozon for working so hard to protect and preserve Larose Forest as a conservation reserve for now and for the future. In the summer of 2002 she discovered that a development proposal for Larose Forest was being given serious consideration. Concerned about the impact on the natural environment of the forest, she began working to ensure its protection by intimately familiarizing herself with the areas of forestry, hydrology, and ecology. |
Over the last four years Ghislaine has written detailed reports and letters, lucid, well-reasoned, intelligent and thought-provoking, about the need to preserve the forest and presented them to the media, elected officials and others, as well as, with others, appealing to the OMB, and offering guided tours of the forest. Ghislaine has continued to explore ways inwhich the forest can be protected and preserved.
Honourable Mention Awards were given in 1999 to the Environmental Club of St. Michael's School, Fitzroy Harbour and, The Willow Street Angels and St. Anthony's School, and in 2004 to the Amphibian Conservation Club. |
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