Conservation Authorities Salute the Community!

RIDEAU VALLEY, October 23, 2008 — The inaugural Tri-Valley Conservation Awards Gala Committee pulled out all the stops to thank and spotlight thirteen community volunteers and groups as vital parts of the conservation team in Eastern Ontario. More than 100 people from the Mississippi, Rideau and South Nation watersheds were on hand last night in the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre in Manotick to hear and see the work of these community groups and to congratulate them on their environmental achievements.

First and second place winners in the following categories were recognized:

Primary Schools:

  1. Meadowview Public School, Addison
  2. Drummond Central School, Perth

Intermediate/High Schools

  1. St Michael Catholic High School, Kemptville
  2. Fisher Park Public School, Ottawa

College/University:

  1. Dr Frances Pick, University of Ottawa

Agriculture:

  1. Tom Manley, Berwick

Community Groups:

  1. Otty Lake Association, Perth
  2. Dundas Environmental Awareness Group, South Mountain

Individuals:

  1. Gaston Patenaude, Berwick
  2. Michael Walters, Ottawa

Business:

  1. Ottawa Region Media Group
  2. Long Island Marine, Kars

Municipalities:

  1. Township of Lanark Highlands

The winning projects of all the finalists are described on the Gala Program which is available for viewing on the RVCA website at www.rvca.ca. Look for the Conservation Awards Gala symbol.

The Gala was MCed by Katfish and Kornicky, the Start Up! team on LIVE88.5 radio. The ceremony was followed by a reception including catered buffet, live music, cash bar and lots of interesting conversations till well into the evening.

Mary Bryden, Chair of the Gala Organizing Committee, said “We are aware of many hundreds of small voluntary projects going on all the time like planting trees, teaching kids the value of water, removing hazardous household waste or chemicals from homes, and fencing livestock away from streams that are treated as everyday things that never receive one minute of thanks. This was our chance to shine a little light on the public benefits that these people bring to all of us and to tell folks that we appreciate it.”

Prize winners received personalized canoe paddles with a message of thanks from the people of the Mississippi, Rideau and South Nation watersheds or framed certificates. Both are suitable for display on a school, club house or boardroom wall.

The Conservation Authorities had much help and gala support from many community-minded partners including LIVE88.5 radio, ROGERS TV, Ottawa Region Media Group, Mountain Equipment Coop, GOLDER ASSOCIATES, Monterey Inn Resort and Conference Centre and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

The next Tri-Valley Conservation Awards are scheduled for the fall of 2010 and everyone will be welcome to nominate their best and favourite environmental volunteers once again.

‘Friends of the Tay’ Announce 2008 Environmental Awards

To Rideau Canal, ‘Art of Being Green’ and Rideau Valley Field Naturalists

With their choice of recipients for their annual environmental awards this year, the ‘Friends of the Tay Watershed’ have recognized three very successful and popular initiatives in this region. At their annual ‘Watershed Discovery Evening’ in Perth on November 4, the ‘Friends’ presented awards to Parks Canada’s Rideau Canal Office, to the ‘Art of Being Green Festival’ in Lanark, and to the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists.

In his opening comments to the award ceremony, Board member David Crowley noted that this is the seventh year that the association awards have been presented. Their objective is to recognize organisations or individuals, and their activities, that provide significant benefit to the Tay watershed and the environment. The awards are for “Contribution to the Tay Watershed”, “Contribution to the General Environment”, and “Contribution to Water Resources, at the Provincial, National or International Levels”.

The award for “Contribution to the Tay Watershed” went this year to the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists for their many activities in promoting awareness and understanding of nature and the environment in the Rideau watershed, including the Tay. In particular, their initiative in developing the butterfly garden at the Perth Wildlife Reserve has made a unique contribution to local awareness of the need to provide such habitat and protection.

The award for “Contribution to Water Resources, at the Provincial, National or International Levels” recognizes the contribution of the Rideau Canal Office of Parks Canada to the natural and historic protection of our area water resources through a number of initiatives, including achieving World Heritage designation, by UNESCO, of the Rideau system. The international recognition and prestige developed from this designation has provided a foundation on which regional governments, companies and non-profit organizations alike may build increased environmental, economic, and social benefit. This award also recognizes the exemplary leadership displayed by the Canal Office in the development of the Rideau Corridor concept, their cooperation with and support of communities along the corridor, and in their wake reduction, waterway protection, and education programs. The foregoing is particularly appropriate considering the upcoming Tay Canal 175th Anniversary in 2009.

This year’s award for “Contribution to the General Environment” went to the very successful ‘Art of Being Green’ (AOBG) festival in Lanark, for its substantial contribution in popularizing the environment message and carrying it to a wide geographic area. More than 7,200 people from far and near found their way to the fifth annual AOBG festival this past summer. AOBG has been recognized by Festivals & Events Ontario as one of the 100 best festivals in Ontario out of more than 3,000 festivals of all types. Participating exhibitors have enthusiastically endorsed the festival as one of the very best environmental festivals around and an excellent venue for spreading the environmental message.

The ‘Friends of the Tay Watershed’ Environmental Awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Tay watershed and/or to the environment.

The Friends of the Tay Watershed is a registered charitable organization that involves landowners, communities, government agencies, business and other interested parties in programs aimed at preserving and improving the health of the Tay River watershed. The Association carries out activities to maintain wildlife habitat, recreation, water quality, water quantity and related resources in the Watershed.

Released by The Friends of the Tay Watershed Association
For information: (613) 264 0094 or info@tayriver.org