York Region environmental stewards honoured at annual conservation awards
Yorkregion.com
Oct. 16, 2015
By Teresa Latchford
Environmental stewards from across York Region were appreciated at the 34th annual conservation awards ceremony Thursday.
Hosted by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the event recognized 20 individuals, businesses and groups who are working selflessly to better the environment at the ceremony held at Madsen’s Greenhouse and Garden in Newmarket.
“They are the true agents of change and an inspiration to each and every one of us,” LSRCA board chair and Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe said during his opening remarks.
The award recipients are people who are engaged in positive environmental actions that improve the health of the local watershed and who don’t look for recognition but rather do it because they care about the world they live in.
This year’s award recipients are:
- George R. Richardson Conservation Award of Honour - Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, watershed and beyond
- Conservation Award of Merit - Ontario Water Centre, watershed wide
- Ernie Crossland Young Conservationist Award - Melissa Cusack-Striepe, Newmarket
- Pioneering Green Communities Award - Brent Kopperson, Newmarket, Murray Ogilvie & Joanne Brown, Newmarket, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Aurora, Brock and De La Salle Rain Garden Partners, Georgina
- Water Conservation Award - Township of Ramara
- Soil Conservation Award - Maple Leaf Public School, Newmarket, Sir William Osler Public School, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Bradford Lions Club, Martin and Maria Bonigut, Newmarket, Rick Horlings, King Township, Jeanette Phoenix, East Gwillimbury, Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Larry and Donna Barton, Township of Ramara and Paul and Gail Barton, Uxbridge
- Education Award - Smart About Salt Council, watershed wide
- Volunteer Recognition Award - Bio Blitz Team of Volunteers, watershed and beyond
- Media Recognition Award - Regional Municipality of York