2007 Conservation Award Winners
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has named the winners of the 2007 Conservation Awards. "It's so important to recognize organizations and individuals who are taking action to improve the environment," said Dave Brister, ERCA Chair. "It in encouraging that each year, the number of quality nominations is growing, meaning that more and more people are working towards a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future for this region."
Woodslee farmer Tony Unholzer and his Malden Valley Farms is the winner of this year's Conservation Farm Award. Mr. Unholzer won for conservation farming practices such as no-till farming and crop rotation and ditch bank protection by buffer strips, rock chutes and tile outlet protection. Malden Valley Farms has an Environmental Farm Plan, and other features of his farming operations include windbreaks, a woodlot, and a pond. Tony has been farming for over 50 years and has been incorporating many modern conservation practices into his farming operation.
The Homestead Award was presented to Windsor's Community Museum, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1958 by amateur historian George Macdonald and the Windsor Historic Sites Association, the Museum has a renovated, permanent gallery showcasing the development of the border region from earliest habitation to modern times. It hosts a busy calendar of changing exhibitions, and museum staff and volunteers assist hundreds of researchers each year. Education programs and special events are offered from the satellite site, the Duff-Baby Interpretation Centre in Sandwich, and the museum has been a Canadian leader in the development of on-line exhibits.
The Essex Region Children's Water Festival was awarded the Education Award for its commitment to helping children understand that water is a precious resource. First established in 2003, the steering committee consists of volunteers from a variety of sectors, including representatives from environmental organizations, the CAW, engineers, teachers and a variety of others who raise $60,000 each year to host the festival. Annually, more than 4000 students attended to participate in 52 activity centres with the festival being offered in both official languages during one of its four days. This year, the Festival will achieve another milestone during its five year anniversary, as the 15,000th student attends.
For his outstanding dedication as a volunteer, ERCA honoured André Campeau with a Conservation Award. As long time resident of Tecumseh, he has been a Friend of Pike Creek since 1999 and has shown keen interest in the health of the watershed and Essex Region. He is a significant contributor to Pike Creek tree planting and cleanup activities, and took the lead in submitting grant applications to the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Lakeshore Conservation Grant. His proposals were successful and secured $12,000 for a new trailer to be used for environmental restoration activities in the Pike Creek watershed. This past October, André was voted President of the Friends of Pike Creek, and continues to lead by example.
The individual award for Environmental Achievement was presented to Joe Hickson. Still very active at 84 years of age, Joe is a farmer who has restored a significant part of his farm to forest and wetland. He most recently worked with ERCA to restore an additional 40 acres of his farm in the Municipality of Leamington. He personally assisted with developing the restoration plan, planting trees, placing logs and other habitat features in the constructed wetlands, and maintaining the site through mowing and weed removal activities over the growing season. Joe has exhibited a lifelong commitment to natural areas protection, restoration, and education and his enthusiasm for the natural world has rubbed off on many that know him.
The Town of Essex and the Essex Rotary Club were also honoured with Conservation Awards for Environmental Achievement. Trails have been identified as a key resource in helping people to live healthy and active lifestyles. Recognizing the importance of trails to their residents, the Town of Essex and the Essex Rotary Club and Foundation, along with funding support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Province of Ontario, teamed up with ERCA to enhance and make accessible and beautiful trail at Sadler's Park. A new 25 car parking lot and paved trail was created for recreation such as hiking, jogging, cycling, roller-blading and strolling, and a kilometer of the Essex to Amherstburg Greenway was completed. The result is a multi-use, fully accessible set of trails for the residents of the region that also provides opportunities to appreciate and learn about our rare Carolinian biodiversity.
A special award of recognition was also presented to Dave Vince, who has volunteered his time and expertise at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area for nearly a quarter of a century.
