Honouring Nova Scotia's Environmental Stewards

Twenty environmental stewards are being honoured today at the 23rd annual Nova Scotia Environmental Awards in Halifax.

The awards program recognizes individuals and organizations for activities that enhance, preserve and protect the environment of Nova Scotia. The ceremony brings together citizens, community groups, businesses, educators and students, as well as municipal and provincial government representatives, from across the province.

"This program honours people and organizations for activities that are vitally important to our environment and our future," said Environment Minister Michel Samson. "We applaud their efforts and encourage others to follow in their footsteps."

This year's award recipients are:

• Nova Scotia Power Inc. for continued sponsorship of the Davis Wilderness Trail Project
• the Nova Scotia Association of Waste Reduction Coordinators for its commitment to waste-resource management
• artist Alice Reed for Sacred Worth, a series of paintings depicting landscapes that have been identified for protection by the province
• Ken Partridge, editor of Burnside News, for the publication's environmental emphasis in reporting and its educational efforts
• educator S. Philip Hore, with the Centre of Geographic Sciences, for integrating environmental concerns in programming
• Dartmouth High School for constructing a greenhouse that's used as a "living lab" for biology classes and for supplying native plants for school grounds
• Dr. Hugh McPherson Elementary School for its involvement in the Learner In Action green school program
• Cape Breton Regional Municipality for supporting positive and proactive approaches to dealing with environmental issues
• Halifax Regional Municipality for its waste resource diversion programs
• Michael Brylinsky, with Acadia University's Centre for Estuarine Research, for research initiatives in the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
• Dennis Bicknell, president of the Sackville Rivers Association, for his commitment to volunteering
• Regional science fair winners: Bradley Beaver, Halifax/Dartmouth Region; Scott Hubley, Chignecto-Central West Region; Cecilia deAntueno, Central West Kings Region, and Natalie Robinson, Chignecto East Region, for various projects that focused on environmental issues
• Atlantic Coastal Action Program--Cape Breton for its comprehensive environmental management plan for industrial Cape Breton
• Western Valley Development Authority for its focus on sustainable development as an engine of effective economic growth and development
• Coastal Bioagresearch Ltd. for hosting the International Composting Symposium to be held in Dartmouth in September 1999
• National Centre for Youth Leadership for reclamation work on the Davis Wilderness Trail project
• Youth Live--Recycling and Enviro-Depot for the first project of its kind in Canada. The depot engages about 75 youth annually to enhance understanding of environmental issues as well as develop job experience and life skills.

The awards program is sponsored by the Environmental Assessment Board and the Department of the Environment. Awards are in recognition of environmental contributions made in 1998. Recipients were selected from candidates nominated by the public or received from regional science fairs.

The selection committee comprises members of the Nova Scotia Environmental Assessment Board. For the 1998 nomination process, selection committee members were: Doreen Crick, Ann Wilkie and Shirley Nicholson, director and acting chair.

• ---------------------------------------------------------------RECIPIENTS OF THE NOVA SCOTIA ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

Business / Industrial Category

Nova Scotia Power Inc. Lingan Generating Station --Nova Scotia Power Inc. was nominated for its continued support and sponsorship of the Davis Wilderness Trail project. The company's sponsorship since 1995 has enabled the National Centre for Youth Leadership to provide local youth with training and work experience while developing a trail and wildlife habitat within the New Waterford area.

Citizen Group / Organization Category

Nova Scotia Association of Waste Reduction Coordinators --The association is committed to ensuring that all stakeholders in the changing field of waste resource management understand the parameters that are directing the future of this developing industry. The association acts as a forum for debate and action on solid waste management and recently hosted the largest waste diversion conference ever held in Atlantic Canada.

Creative Arts / Cultural Sector Category

Alice Reed --Ms. Reed, an artist, was nominated for her major contribution to the Sacred Worth --Protecting Nova Scotia's Natural Areas project, under the auspices of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. Ms. Reed's paintings depict the beautiful and diverse landscapes of the province and are focused on the 31 candidates sites identified for protection by the Nova Scotia government. Ms. Reed's life and artwork have always been aligned with a love and appreciation of nature.

Ken Partridge --Mr. Partridge, editor of the Burnside News, has played a major role in influencing the direction of the publication. For many years the Burnside News has had an environmental emphasis in its reporting and educational efforts. With more than 1,220 businesses and almost 20,000 people working in the Burnside Industrial Park, the Burnside News has had an important role to play in informing people about the environment and the implications of their business practices on Nova Scotia's environment.

Education Category

S. Philip Hore --Mr. Hore has led the integration and successful training of students in the Planning: Land Information Technology Program at the Centre of Geographic Sciences. He has been responsible for the conception and integration of environmental concerns throughout all aspects of the program. Mr. Hore's concern for the environment continues outside the classroom as evidenced by his membership on the board of directors of the Clean Annapolis River Project.

Dartmouth High School --Under the leadership of teachers Linda Lever and Nancy Earle, and with the support of principal Denise Bell, Dartmouth High School's Grassroots Organization has demonstrated its commitment to the care and appreciation of the natural environment. The major project for 1998 was the construction of a greenhouse to be used as a "living lab" for biology classes and for supplying native plants for school ground naturalization. The new initiative for 1999 is the Golden Gardens Project, which will link seniors and students in gardening projects.

Dr. Hugh McPherson Elementary School staff and students --The Dr. Hugh McPherson Elementary School first made a commitment to the enhancement of the environment in 1991 when it became involved in the Learner In Action green school program. The program is a tremendous success with more than 500 students annually involved in projects that have made an environmental difference. Through program co-ordinator June Noble's efforts in undertaking environmental awareness projects, the school was the first in Nova Scotia to attain Green School status. The school has also been recognized by the Clean Nova Scotia Foundation as Nova Scotia's No. 1 "waste less" school.

Government Category

Cape Breton Regional Municipality --The municipality has displayed a positive and proactive approach to dealing with environmental and economic issues. By addressing environmental problems with business opportunities in mind, the municipality is establishing Cape Breton as a leader in the environmental industry sector. The regional municipality's willingness to take a chance and promote new technology is demonstrated by its support of Lynk Electric Ltd., Rawdon Technologies Ltd., and the Grand Narrows Waterfront Development Society.

Halifax Regional Municipality --The municipality's waste resource diversion program includes the distribution of 99,000 organic carts over a five-month period for the separation, collection and composting of organics from homes; the blue bag recycling program, which has diverted 68,000 tonnes of material since 1992; and the acceptance of household hazardous waste at the Material Recovery Facility. Many North American municipalities are watching with great interest as Halifax has reached a diversion rate of over 40 per cent, with a goal of 65 per cent waste diversion.

Individual / Professional Category

Michael Brylinsky --Dr. Brylinsky joined Acadia University's Centre for Estuarine Research in the mid-1970s and has since become one of the most respected scientists in the Atlantic region. His work includes research initiatives in the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. A pioneer in bringing science to citizens, he has helped to develop water quality monitoring protocols for owners and operators of aquaculture sites; developed manuals and training programs for volunteer water quality monitoring programs; and was instrumental in the development and implementation of sub-watershed investigative monitoring.

Dennis Bicknell --Mr. Bicknell, president of the Sackville Rivers Association, epitomizes what can be accomplished as a committed volunteer. Under Mr. Bicknell's leadership, the association has enhanced more than 650 metres of salmon habitat in the Sackville River and installed rock deflectors and lock sills to stabilize and create nursery and spawning habitat.

Regional Science Fair Category

Bradley Beaver, Halifax/Dartmouth Region --Brad Beaver's project, Electrodialysis: The Effect of Electric Current/Fields on Oil, examined whether oil spills within a body of water can be contained through the process of electrodialysis and/or other electrical separation techniques.

Scott Hubley, Chignecto-Central West Region --Scott Hubley's project, Garbage: The Fuel of the Future, explores the concept of converting organic waste into ethanol fuel. The fuel could be obtained through a fermentation process and distillation of the fermented juices. The ethanol produced could be used as a gasoline additive to make better performing high-octane fuel.

Cecilia deAntueno, Central West Kings Region --Cecilia deAntueno's project was entitled: How Does Ultraviolet Light Affect the Growth of Plants with Two Different Shaped Leaves? Through an experiment using Kentucky blue grass and Ashley clover, the effects of increased exposure to ultraviolet light were determined to be proportional to the surface area of the plant leaf.

Natalie Robinson, Chignecto East Region --Natalie Robinson's project, Warming Up to Disaster, explored the effects of climate change through greenhouse gases and how it affects our lifestyles and planet in the future. She examined the effects of the buildup of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, water vapour and halocarbons.

Sustainable Development Category

Atlantic Coastal Action Program-Cape Breton --ACAP's Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan was completed over five years with the input of community representatives from all sectors of Industrial Cape Breton.

Western Valley Development Authority --The authority works with the community to create a vital, prosperous and self-reliant region where the people have ample opportunity for a full and satisfying life. The authority's message is a plain one: sustainable development is not merely a filter through which one examines economics; it is in fact an engine of effective economic growth and development.

Coastal Bioagresearch Ltd. --Coastal Bioagresearch Ltd. is responsible for the International Composting Symposium to be held in Dartmouth in this coming September with confirmed delegates from 24 countries. Over the past 14 years, Coastal Bioagresearch has completed a number of projects dealing with the successful composting of various substances. Through the September symposium, it will provide a forum not only for the exchange of information but for the formation of an International Composting Association.

Youth Category

National Centre for Youth Leadership --The Davis Wilderness Trail project is a reclamation of an abandoned railway and mine site. The trail provides a wilderness outing for area residents and tourists and is relevant to the social studies program for students. The centre is leading this area in employing youth and has been as educational force when it comes to environmental issues.

Youth Live: Recycling and Enviro-Depot --This project is the first of its kind in Canada. The depot engages about 75 youth annually to enhance their understanding of environmental issues as well as develop job experience and life skills.

arc May 28 1999 11:02 a.m.