Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) honoured local partners and neighbours at the annual ‘Friends of the Credit’ Conservation Awards on June 14.
Over 85 guests and representatives from CVC’s board of directors celebrated important environmental work in the Credit River Watershed.
Under its new awards program, CVC recognizes conservation efforts in eight categories: youth achievement, outstanding volunteer, environmental awareness, landowner stewardship, corporate leadership, green cities, legacy donor and watershed excellence.
The Legacy Donor Award was presented on behalf of Mary Spriggs, a property owner in the Town of Erin who donated 90 acres of forest and wetland. Roy Spriggs and Mary Spriggs owned the property for several years until Roy's passing in June 2013. The land is part of the Alton-Hillsburgh Provincially Significant Wetland Complex.
Spriggs’ donation is important because natural landscapes help reduce flooding and maintain high water quality, officials say. It also provides habitat for wildlife, including trout in Shaw’s Creek.
The Conservation Awards, which began in 1986, are issued by CVC’s Board of Directors to honour those who demonstrate the organization’s core values of leadership, collaboration, innovation and integrity through environmental practices.
This year, CVC received 26 nominations across seven of the new categories. The Conservation Awards program recognizes projects and initiatives that help protect, connect and sustain the Credit River Watershed.
Additional award winners include:
– Youth Achievement Award: Aalia Khan;
– Outstanding Volunteer Award: Suzanne Leblanc;
– Corporate Leadership Award: HL Blachford;
– Landowner Stewardship Award: David and Helen Choat;
– Green Cities Award: The partnership of Landscape Ontario, Region of Peel and York Region (Fusion Landscaping Project); and
– Environmental Awareness: Gregg Reekie.
