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The 2007 Moraine for Life Awards
The future ecological health of the Oak Ridges Moraine is in
good hands, if the 2007 “Moraine For Life” award recipients
are any indication. The awards, which honour outstanding efforts
in preserving the ecological integrity of the moraine, were presented
on Monday evening to winners ranging from a twelve-year-old girl
to a retiree.
[All photos by Peter Courchesne]
Left to right: Dorothy Izzard, retired schoolteacher, King Township;
Michaela Halsey, 12-year-old student, Township of Alnwick/Haldimand,
Northumberland; Bruno Nazzicone, Senator Homes; Elizabeth May,
Leader of the Green Party of Canada; Laura McDowell, Adrian Coombs,
Bala Araniyasundaran, Water and Wastewater Branch York Region;
Lynton Friedberg, Parks, Recreation & Culture Town of Richmond
Hill.
“The Oak Ridges Moraine is an icon”,
said keynote speaker Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party
of Canada. “An intensely ecological marvel” that is
important to protect, she continued.
Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Organized by the Monitoring the Moraine project
partners (Citizens’ Environment Watch, Save the Oak Ridges
Moraine Coalition and the Centre for Community Mapping) along
with the Oak Ridges Moraine Symposium Planning Committee, there
are four award categories to acknowledge community champions,
municipal leadership, collaborative efforts and proactive approaches
to protecting the moraine. The gala event was a highlight of the
two-day Oak Ridges Moraine Symposium held at the Radisson Hotel
in Markham.
“I am especially pleased that this year's recipients span
generations and represent the growing diversity of the moraine,”
says Sonia Dong, acting executive director of Citizens’
Environment Watch. “People from all walks of life are really
stepping up to the plate.”
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The awards committee were so impressed with the efforts of twelve-year-old
Michaela Halsey and retired schoolteacher Dorothy Izzard, they
decided both were equally deserving of the Community Champion
Award.
Left to right: Michaela Halsey, Dorothy Izzard, Debbe Crandall, Save the Oak Ridges
Moraine (STORM) Coalition.
When Michaela, who hales from Roseneath saw invasive plant species
taking over her own back yard, she took decisive action. Her campaign
started with a drive to learn what she could do to fix the situation
and sharing her newfound knowledge with others (children and adults
alike) at any opportunity she could. She was the driving force
behind a restoration project undertaken by her Scouts Canada group,
which included eliminating the invasive species through a controlled
burn, and planting seeds that are native to the area. The group
also designed, built and erected birdhouses as a natural means
of controlling insects at the site.
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King Township resident Dorothy Izzard, has long been known for
her support of the Oak Ridges Moraine. As co-founder of STORM
(Save the Oak Ridges Moraine) Coalition, she was instrumental
in starting the citizen movement that ultimately resulted in provincial
legislation to protect the moraine. Also recognized for her generous
land donation to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, she continues
to be involved in the cultural and natural heritage of the township.
This includes monitoring development and other such activities
that could impact the moraine, while encouraging smart planning
practices.
The award for Collaborative Efforts on the moraine went to Senator
Homes, the developer of the “Dreamwood” residential
subdivision located partially on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Through
consultation with the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority
and the City of Vaughan, Dreamwood will incorporate conservation
efforts that go far beyond those specified in the Oak Ridges Moraine
Conservation Plan. The result is the protection of an extensive
natural heritage system through, among other activities, a planting
project, the initiation of a wetland monitoring program and the
creation of educational materials about the areas natural heritage
features.
Left to right: Nathan Fahey, Sonia Dong, Bruno Nazzicone.
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The Town of Richmond Hill is the 2007 recipient of the Municipal
Leadership Award, demonstrated through its moraine-focused partnerships
and efforts. The town was instrumental in the formation of the
York Region Stewardship Program, which, to date, has engaged 980
volunteers from schools and community groups across Richmond Hill.
These volunteers have planted over 3000 native trees and shrubs,
and over 6000 wildflowers, as well as erected interpretive signs
to acknowledge the unique landscape of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Through education and subsidized materials, the town also encourages
residents to plant native trees, shrubs and wildflowers on their
own property, and promotes ecologically sound lawn-care practices.
Left to right: Sonia Dong, Nathan
Fahey, Lynton Friedberg.
The Award for Pro-active Approaches on the moraine was presented
to Bala Araniyasundaran, Laura McDowell, Adrian Coombs from York
Region. They are responsible for the expansions and upgrades of
municipal water and wastewater facilities. Rather than battling
or ignoring residents who express environmental concerns about
infrastructure projects, the trio initiated programmes that enable
comprehensive public engagement to ensure open, meaningful and
responsive opportunities for public input. They have also designed
and implemented various training programs to ensure those involved
with future infrastructure projects in York Region are sensitive
to environmental concerns and well acquainted with the requirements
of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. The result is stronger
more effective relationships with stakeholders.
Left to right: Sonia Dong, Bala Araniyasundaran,
Laura McDowell, Nathan
Fahey, Adrian Coombs.
The accomplishments of the 2007 Moraine For Life Award recipients
are inspiring examples of what can be achieved in protecting the
Oak Ridges Moraine. “All of these people reflect the commitment
of people across the entire moraine,” says Nathan Fahey,
acting executive director of the Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM)
Coalition. “They represent volunteers, staff and organizations
that go that extra mile to protect what's important to them.”
In the end, it’s actually the moraine that is the winner.
For more information about the Oak Ridges Moraine Symposium visit:
www.ormf.com/symposium
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