Environment and Conservation
June 2, 2008
19th Annual Environmental Awards
Presented
Dr. Gibson Receives Lifetime
Achievement Award
Two individuals and three 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 Charlene Johnson, 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 the Battery Hotel in St. John�s.
"Thank you and congratulations to this year�s winners
for their outstanding efforts," said Minister Johnson. "The initiative,
dedication and hard work that these individuals, communities, schools
and organizations have put into caring for our environment are reasons
to celebrate and encourage others to participate in their community
environmental initiatives."
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: Mike Manning
- Youth, Youth Group or School: Holy Spirit High
School, Conception Bay South
- Community Group/Organization: The Kelligrews
Ecological Enhancement Program (KEEP)
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. John Gibson, PhD
- Municipality/Regional Waste Management Committee:
The Town of Appleton
Honourable Mention: Town of Glenburnie-Birchy
Head-Shoal Brook
"Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be proud of
the environmental accomplishments spearheaded in this province by the
organizations, schools, individuals and community groups we are
acknowledging today," said Mr. Scott. "MMSB is honoured to be involved
in recognizing our province�s environmental leaders and we are pleased
to provide a $1,000 honorarium to the winners to further their
environmental project or donate in their name to an environmental
organization or cause."
"The Newfoundland and Labrador Women�s Institutes are
delighted to congratulate this year�s Newfoundland and Labrador�s
Environmental Award winners and to lead a round of applause for the many
other organizations and individuals who were nominated for their
contributions to the protection and enhancement of the environment,"
said Ms. Taylor. "Each and every one illustrated the high levels of
stewardship in their activities and we hope that their efforts will
encourage others to become involved in their communities."
Minister Johnson also recognized Dr. John Gibson, in
particular, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is
given for significant lifetime environmental contribution. "Dr. Gibson�s
work with the protection and promotion of this province�s watersheds,
his knowledge and active role in promoting the need for watershed
preservation and restoration is to be commended," said Minister Johnson.
"I extend congratulations to Dr. Gibson for his lifetime dedication to
the environment."
The environmental awards are a joint venture of the
Department of Environment and Conservation, MMSB, and the Women�s
Institutes.
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BACKGROUNDER
Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental
Award Winners
Awards were given in five categories: Individual,
Youth/Youth Group or School, Community Group, Municipality or Regional
Waste Management Committee and lastly, Lifetime Achievement. One
Honourable Mention was given in the Municipality Category. All winners
went above and beyond the call of duty through excellence in
environmental protection and conservation.
Individual
Mike Manning
Mr. Manning came to the province in the early 1960s to
oversee the construction of the then named Confederation Park for the
Provincial Government.
The park grew into 3,400 acres and became the C.A.
Pippy Park with institutional, recreational and open spaces right in the
heart of the city of St. John�s.
Throughout the years, Mr. Manning has been a dedicated
and stalwart supporter of the park. On several occasions he has served
as the chairman and a director of the Friends of Pippy Park, a
non-government organization, and he currently volunteers as their
secretary.
He has always been active in environmental stewardship
and is well-known amongst the protected areas community as a
clear-minded sounding board for new initiatives and strategies to
protect our environment.
His contributions to our environment are numerous.
An innovative administrator and planner, his expertise
has resulted in the establishment of a Provincial Capital Commission
similar to the ones in Ottawa and Regina. He has participated in a
number of committees formed by all levels of government to manage
natural features and to establish policies for their protection. He has
also shown himself to be a selfless volunteer, involved in many groups
and organizations, dedicated to the conservation and protection of
nature. His keen interest and expertise in the identification of
botanical plants have lead to the identification of rare vegetation
species.
Mr. Manning, through his dedication, has acted as a
mentor to several generations of environmentalists and park specialists.
Youth, Youth Group or School
Holy Spirit High School
Holy Spirit High School in Conception Bay South has
taken a leadership role in environmental stewardship, within the school,
within the community and within the province.
The school�s leadership role began in September 2001
with an organized campaign to restore the wetland habitat on the school
grounds. It is known as The Frog Pond Ecological Restoration Project and
has taken five years to complete at a cost of $130,000. The school
raised all the funds from multiple partners in the community and the
official opening occurred in October 2007.
The school has now embarked on a new initiative called
The Crocker Challenge which has three targeted goals: a 50 per cent
increase in recycling, a 50 per cent decrease in garbage going to the
landfill, and a litter-free school and grounds. Concurrent goals are the
elimination of styrofoam and plastic packaging from their cafeteria and
also the use of green cleaning products in these areas.
Student contests were sponsored to increase awareness
levels and a student scholarship award programme was instituted.
Other noteworthy events included field trips, guest
speakers, clean-up days, jumble sales, radio and television spots,
placement of recycling bins throughout the school and the display of
artwork in the school and projects promoting a healthy environment.
Partners in the community are actively being sought to
assist with the purchase of a dishwasher for the cafeteria, complete
with reusable melamine dishware. Composting has been started in the
staff room and plans are underway to begin outside composting close to
the cafeteria. The plan is to use compost to enhance the flower and
shrub beds surrounding the pond.
The school has truly set an example that could be
followed throughout the province.
Community Group or Organization
The Kelligrews Ecological Enhancement Program
(KEEP)
The members of the Kelligrews Ecological Enhancement
Program (KEEP) have worked tirelessly since they were formed in 1999, to
develop and implement a long term Stewardship Plan for the rivers and
wetlands of Kelligrews and the surrounding communities.
Their conservation initiatives are varied ranging from
the hands on work in the river to the planned high-tech computer
modelling of the river system.
One project worthy of note is the silt fencing built
by a green team organized by KEEP, to control the high level of
siltation in the river. They have also been responsible for bank
stabilization and the removal of concrete barriers from the river to
ensure good river flow and to provide suitable access for fish. Grass
and tree planting have been undertaken and more than 300 trees were
planted in an attempt to stabilize the soil layers.
KEEP is currently embarking on one of its biggest
projects to date and, with the help of the geography department at
Memorial University, they are organizing the GPS mapping of the
Kelligrews River Watershed.
Through important watchdog and lobbying initiatives
and informal presentations to youth groups, they have provided a much
needed service and example to the public at large.
Municipality or Regional Waste Management Committee
Town of Appleton
The Town of Appleton in Central Newfoundland has shown
through a variety of projects what can be achieved in communities
throughout the province.
One such project is the introduction of a new wetland
system that uses plants to purify the municipal waters. This system has
been used on a smaller scale in a few other communities in the province
but Appleton has taken a lead in its decision to implement the programme
on a larger scale.
The advantages to the community over the coming years
should prove to be very beneficial with the reduction of waste water,
the elimination of odours and the use of the treated water for
irrigation.
The town has been involved in many other initiatives
to instil a sense of pride in the community and its citizens are eager
participants in projects to improve their town.
Dedication and commitment to their community have put
Appleton on the map in a municipal leadership role.
Honourable Mention
The Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook
(GBS)
The Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook (GBS)
is situated within the boundaries of Gros Morne National Park on the
west coast of the Province.
The town has a population of 400 permanent residents
which is augmented in the summer by many visitors.
The town recognizes the importance of sustainable
communities-based on sound environmental practices and to ensure these
practices, the following committees have been set in place: an Advisory
Committee on Sustainable Community; the Bonne Bay South Waste Disposable
Committee; and the Birchy Head Recreation Committee
They have adopted founding elements in order to
support the environmental initiatives including the David Suzuki Nature
Challenge and the need to live within the earth�s limits without
compromising the next generation�s ability to do the same, based on the
principles of respect for the environment and stewardship of the land.
Their definition is supported by the following four pillars: Sustainable
Community Ecological Integrity; Economic Security; Empowerment; and
Responsibility and Social Well-Being.
The council members recognize that true long-term
prosperity and well-being are ultimately dependent on the protection and
strengthening of their social and environmental assets and a number of
initiatives have recently been initiated including: compost bins;
reusable shopping bags; planting of seedlings; shoreline cleanups; and
the removal of car wrecks.
Lifetime Achievement
Dr. John Gibson
Dr. John Gibson has been a leading and inspirational
advocate for the protection and promotion of this province�s watersheds
since his arrival in the province almost 30 years ago.
His professional career as a Research Scientist in
Limnology has included private consulting, a career with the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and an Adjunct Associate Professor with
the Department of Biology at Memorial University. While officially
retired, he is a Scientist Emeritus with DFO. Much of his professional
career has been committed to fisheries research on the life cycle of
salmonoids, the province�s freshwater environments, stream ecology,
behaviour ecology and conservation biology.
In his personal life, Dr. Gibson has been involved in
numerous organizations that focus on ecology and conservation issues
including:
- Executive member and honourary member of the
Quidi Vidi Rennies River Development Foundation;
- Designed the original concept for the Fluvarium
at the Freshwater Resource Centre;
- Standing member of the Natural History Society;
and,
- Chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador
Chapter of the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists in
1997.
For three decades of his residence in the province,
Dr. Gibson has been an invaluable source of knowledge and he has
continued to take an active role in promoting the need for watershed
preservation and restoration. He is a willing volunteer when clean-up,
campaigns and field surveys are organized. Dr. Gibson has provided
guidance to organizations in the campaigns to have ecologically
sensitive areas preserved.
2008 06 02 3:55 p.m.