BRAMPTON – Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) honoured local volunteers and partners at the annual Friends of the Credit conservation awards, held on March 28 in Brampton.
One hundred guests and representatives from CVC’s board of directors celebrated those inspired by nature to complete important environmental work in the Credit River watershed.
“On behalf of the board of directors and CVC staff, I congratulate everyone honoured at this year’s awards ceremony,” said councillor Karen Ras, CVC chair and councillor for Mississauga Ward 2.
“We value each remarkable contribution. Without our partners and volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to take so much action on-the-ground in our watershed. These environmental leaders inspire us all.”
This year CVC recognized conservation efforts in various categories: youth achievement, outstanding volunteer, environmental awareness, landowner stewardship, corporate leadership, green cities and watershed excellence.
CVC received 23 nominations across the seven award categories.
Among those recognized at the event was the Soil Health Coalition of Erin, nominated for the Environmental Awareness Award.
Last year they launched their “Community Action, Climate Change and Soil Health in the Greenbelt Project.”
While it did not win an award, the Erin chapter was recognized for recruiting citizen scientists and local farmers to help measure key attributes of local soil, as part of a campaign to promote regenerative agriculture and reverse climate change.
The group received a $70,000 grant from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation for their project.
With leaders including Ruth Knight, Liz Armstrong, Cathy Hansen and Brent Klassen, the coalition chapter brought together over 30 local farmers and land managers at a soil health workshop in March 2018.
As a result, 27 participants (cumulatively managing over 4,400 acres) agreed to have their soils tested and analyzed.
Their nomination said, “This project is truly unique across the Ontario landscape.
“This community-led, voluntary model gives participants the autonomy and capacity to solve environmental issues on their property.
“The coalition supports and facilitates the project, but the participants shape the project’s direction.”
The CVC awards program began in 1986.
Awards are presented 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.
Since the program began, CVC has recognized approximately 350 community leaders for work that connects people to nature, knowledge to action and inspires a deep appreciation for the local environment.
Each community leader nominated demonstrates a passion for environmental work and is inspired by nature to take action.
The Conservation Awards program recognizes projects and initiatives that help protect, connect and sustain the Credit River Watershed.
Award winners at the March 28 ceremony include:
Youth achievement award – Dipen Goyal; outstanding volunteer award – Warren Young; environmental awareness award – Dr. Premek Hamr; landowner stewardship award – the Bull family; corporate leadership award – Lakeview Community Partners Limited; green cities award – City of Mississauga Parks and Forestry; and watershed excellence – Sylvia Bradley.
