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The 2009 Moraine Hero Award Winners

The Moraine Hero Awards are given to recognize and celebrate special people who help make the Oak Ridges Moraine a better place. Five awards are given to an individual, organization or agency that has contributed significantly to improving the ecology and hydrology of the moraine and the social well-being of people who live and work on or downstream of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

The 2009 Moraine Hero Awards are organized by the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM) project partners with support from the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation. The MTM project partners are Citizens' Environment Watch, Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition and the Centre for Community Mapping.

The 2009 Moraine Hero Awards were handed out on April 30th at the Moraine of Life Community Well-being Symposium in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Congratulations to the winners who have contributed to making the Oak Ridges Moraine a better place

 Landowner Champion: Ralph McKim

A landowner who has made outstanding contributions to improving the quality of land, water, and living on the Oak Ridges Moraine through their property.

Ralph McKim owns 240 acres on the headwaters of Fleetwood Creek. He has owned his property since 1986 and is a dedicated and active steward of his land. Since 1998, he has planted thousands of trees and shrubs and actively manages his woodlands according to a Managed Forest Plan. With partner agencies, he is also establishing and restoring 5 acres of tallgrass prairie. He shares his property for others to enjoy – constructing several kilometers of trails for hiking, bird watching and skiing for family and friends, and hosting tours and events on his property. An outspoken advocate of conservation and stewardship, Ralph McKim is an excellent example of what a voluntary landowner can achieve for moraine conservation.

 Community Champion: Sharon and Jim Bradley

A volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to improving the quality of land, water, and living on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Sharon and Jim Bradley are passionate about keeping the Oak Ridges Moraine natural and clean for all of its inhabitants. Sharon and Jim are dedicated “moraine monitors”, monitoring a variety of biodiversity indicators on the moraine for years. They are active members in local volunteer groups such as the Oak Ridges Corridor Parks Public Advisory Committees and the Richmond Hill Naturalists. Sharon and Jim were two of the founders of the Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment in 2004. Under their leadership, it has grown to be an energetic group that undertakes many activities to educate and engage residents in the stewardship of the natural and cultural heritage of Oak Ridges.

Collaborative Efforts: The Oak Ridges Moraine Artists

A group of individuals or agencies who have demonstrated outstanding collaborative efforts towards protecting and preserving the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Initiated by Herbert Pryke in 2008, a group of local artists banded together to “preserve the moraine with paint.” Forty York Region artists agreed to spend their summer to painting the Oak Ridges Moraine en plein air and produced over 75 works of art. The resulting product is a 29-page coffee table art book, “Connecting with Nature, Oak Ridges Moraine”, that showcases 20 images. Currently, the book is being sold for $20 with the goal of raising $10,000 to be presented to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at the Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner in November 2009.

Proactive Approaches: Kate Potter 

From 2004 to 2008, Kate Potter developed and managed the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation’s Caring for the Moraine Project – a landowner contact and stewardship program with over 30 moraine organizations. Having no precedent or working template, Kate relied on her leadership, insight, creativity and communication skills to build the project. She facilitated projects that resulted in 218 ha of trees planted, 14 ha of wetlands created, 13 km of riparian areas restored and 225 ha of prairie grassland restored. Kate continues to be a strong advocate for moraine. Kate’s knowledge and dedication to the moraine resulted in huge ecological benefits and a legacy of sharing and collaboration amongst the moraine partners.

 Municipal Leadership: The Town of Newmarket

A municipality (e.g. department, staff member or politician) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in protecting and preserving the Oak Ridges Moraine.

       

Newmarket has for many years taken initiatives to protect and preserve open/green space with a long-standing commitment to protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine. This was reflected in Official Plan Amendment 28 (OPA 28), prepared to bring the Town’s official plan into conformity with the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.  In 2007 an application for a plan of subdivision was submitted for lands on the moraine and in 2008 Mademont Investments Inc. appealed the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board.
 

The nomination for this award was inspired by the actions taken by the Town’s environmental initiatives and its determination to protect and preserve Oak Ridges Moraine lands by actively opposing, despite significant financial costs to the municipality, the application by Mademont Investments Inc..  The clarity of and public support for OPA 28 was key to the successful outcome of the Ontario Municipal Board hearing and the Town’s position that there should be no urban development on moraine lands.

Thanks to all who came out to support the Moraine Hero Awards!

Previous years' winners: 

Moraine Hero Awards 2007 

Moraine Hero Awards 2006