Environment and Conservation
June 6, 2007

18th Annual Environmental Awards Presented:
Jon Lien Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Two individuals and four groups received accolades today for their demonstrated commitment to protecting the province�s environment. The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Awards were presented today by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, John Scott, chair and chief executive officer, Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), and Barbara Taylor, president, Newfoundland and Labrador Women�s Institutes. The ceremony took place at Humber Valley Resort on the province�s west coast.

"This year�s winners are environmental ambassadors for our province. Their dedication to conservation and their passion for our land is truly impressive," said Minister Jackman. "We are all responsible for the environment in this province and that is why it is so important to recognize these great accomplishments and encourage others to participate in environmental activities."

The environmental awards recognize individuals, groups and organizations who are making an exceptional effort to protect and enhance the environment and quality of life in the province.

This year�s winners are:

  • Individual: Wayne Ledwell
  • Youth, Youth Group or School: Stephenville Primary School
  • Community Group/Organization: Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre
  • Business/Industry Leader: Stirling Communications International
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Jon Lien
  • Municipality/Regional Waste Management Committee: Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s
  • "Now in our 18th year of celebrating environmental accomplishments in Newfoundland and Labrador, I am proud to be in the company of so many who have put their words into action," said Mr. Scott. "From backyards to schools, communities to workplaces, worthy people like those who have won awards today are to be commended for their efforts."

    "The Women�s Institutes are very proud to be a part of this event, an event that honours those who contribute immensely to our environment in this province," said Ms. Taylor. "Congratulations to all the winners for going above and beyond the call of duty to assist in preserving our environment."

    The minister also recognized Dr. Jon Lien, in particular, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given for significant lifetime environmental contribution. "Dr. Lien�s work with whales and his personal passion for the environment are known far and wide. I extend congratulations to Dr. Lien for admirable work," said Minister Jackman.

    The environmental awards are a joint venture of the Department of Environment and Conservation, MMSB, and the Women�s Institutes.

    For more information about the award winners or conservation, please visit www.mmsb.nl.ca.

    - 30 -

    Media contacts:

    Tina Coffey
    Public Relations Specialist
    Department of Environment and Conservation
    709-729-5783 728-8650
    tcoffey@gov.nl.ca 
    Deborah Slade
    Senior Marketing and Communications Officer
    MMSB
    709-753-0949, 689-4795
    dslade@mmsb.nl.ca 

    BACKGROUNDER

    Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Award Winners

    Awards are given in six categories: Individual, Youth/Youth Group or School, Community Group, Business/Industry Leader, Municipality or Regional Waste Management Committee and lastly, Lifetime Achievement. All winners went above and beyond the call of duty through excellence in environmental protection and conservation.

    Individual
    Wayne Ledwell

    Mr. Ledwell is originally from Calvert, a small community on the southern shore of Newfoundland. This year Mr. Ledwell is being recognized for his Whale Release and Stranding Program. This program teaches fisherpeople how to prevent trapping whales in their nets and how to free them if they do indeed get tangled. Mr. Ledwell also ventures out onto the open sea to free stranded and entrapped whales in his own Zodiac when reports come into his personal help- line, set up in his home. When he�s not piloting his Zodiac across our Atlantic waters, Wayne also gives educational talks on his work and is the author of two books.

    Youth, Youth Group or School
    Stephenville Primary

    This school has demonstrated great leadership in the area of environment and conservation this year through many of their earth-conscious programs and activities. Some of these include: The Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up, School Yard Beautification, vigorous recycling programs and a Litter-less Lunch Day (which encourages kids to bring their lunch on Earth Day in containers that won�t cause litter). Each class� total garbage is then weighed at the end of the day. The ultimate goal, through programming, is to teach these students that these initiatives are not �projects� but should be a part of everyday living.

    Community Group or Organization
    The Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre

    The Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre (BBEEC) has been introducing children to nature in this province for over 25 years. At the centre they believe that youth learn best when in an interactive and fun environment, which is what the centre has to offer. Annually, they welcome over 2,000 children to the facility for what is usually a two-three day stay which includes nature hikes, story-telling and the basics of conservation. This visit is not only educational; it allows the children to have fond memories of outdoor experiences first hand. The BBEEC was originally founded by Brother Augustus Brennan and for years after was run by the Roman Catholic School Board. It is now operated by the not-for-profit group, the Environmental Education Commission and has seasonal and full-time staff.

    Business or Industry Leader
    Stirling Communications International

    Stirling Communications International is a well-known media source in this province. More than 60 years of delivering information to the public the company has, on a corporate level, become environmental stewards by focusing news stories around conservation and assisting in giving environmental issues a voice. NTV produces and airs the MMSB Green Reports and all four divisions � NTV, OZFM, Stirling Press and the Newfoundland Herald � have implemented Going Green programs. Stirling Press, in particular, has incorporated green initiatives into its printing plants by using vegetable-based ink, enviro-friendly chemicals and recycling tons of paper each week.

    Municipality or Regional Waste Management Committee
    Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s

    Portugal Cove-St. Philip�s has accomplished great strides on the environmental front. The town has turned a waste management problem into a success story. Being a coastal town, raw sewage disposal was seen as a large issue; however, the town addressed the issue by building a state of the art water/sewage treatment plant which ensures no solid waste is released back into the ocean. Besides doing its part though waste reduction, it also participates in Household Hazardous Waste collection events, three beach cleanups each year and curbside recycling programs with a multi-compartment collection truck. This town is committed to keeping our province clean and green.

    Lifetime Achievement
    Dr. Jon Lien

    Dr. Jon Lien is world-leader in marine mammal ecology and behaviour. His grass-roots approach to solving the global problem of whale entanglement in fishing nets has produced real results over an extended period of time. The Whale Release Program solution seems so simple in hindsight
    � it assists individual fishers to learn to avoid trapping whales in their nets and how to release them if they do become entangled. He eventually turned this program�s reins over to another winner this year, Wayne Ledwell. Driven by his lifelong passion for conservation and preservation, Dr. Lien has served as scientific advisor to the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council of Canada and founded the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society�s Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter. Today, he also runs an organic farm with his wife, Judy, as part of the Lien Family Farm Co-op.

    2007 06 06                                    2:50 p.m.

     


    SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


    All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
    Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement