Friends of the Credit Award Winners

For Immediate Release :
Monday, December 5, 2005

Left to Right: Mary Shields, CVC Board Member, Anna Przychodzki, Gary Mascola, Lorraine Symes, Audrey Oswald, Kirsten Burling, Rae Horst, CVC General Manager, Jessika Corkum (EcoSource/Evergreen Foundation)(seated) and Stephanie Crocker (seated)

For almost 20 years, the Friends of the Credit awards recognize those individuals, landowners, community groups, small businesses and corporations, or municipalities and agencies who have made a significant contribution to natural resource management in the Credit Valley watershed . The awards will be presented on behalf of the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Board of Directors and recognize first-time projects, or those that have extended over multiple years, and could include: restoration projects, events, publications, educational programs, donations of conservation lands or easements, environmental policies or plans, or advocacy for natural heritage protection.

In order to be considered for an award the projects must: involve a long-term benefit; contribute to an environmentally healthy river; try to represent cooperation with other agencies and groups. The For the first time this year a new group was established - the Young Conservationist Award, that is open to individuals or groups under the age of 25, in addition to the CVC Award of Excellence, CVC Award of Distinction and the Certificate of Merit.

Award of Excellence

This is the most prestigious conservation award to be won. It recognizes an individual or group that has made an extraordinary contribution to the conservation of the watershed. The project or activity must represent an unusual level of commitment, such as a lifetime of personal service to watershed conservation that achieved exceptional results.

The Award of Distinction is presented to those outstanding individuals or groups whose projects and/or activities reflect a significant contribution to the conservation of the watershed. The project or activity provides long-term benefits and is related to CVC program objectives. The project should also reflect a relatively significant contribution of personal time and or resources.

The Certificate of Merit recognizes nominations that are consistent with the overall purpose of the conservation awards program, i.e. to improve the health of the river.

Conservation Award of Excellence:

Kirsten Burling and Audrey Oswald - Mississauga
For more than 20 years as key organizers and promoters of the Rattray Marsh Protection Association. Organizer of interpretive walks, author of materials about Rattray Marsh. Liaison with South Peel Naturalist Club.

Conservation Award of Distinction Winners:

City of Mississauga - Community Services
New encroachment by-law enacted in 2005 for protection of Natural areas. Long term capital funding to naturalize Credit valleylands

Peel Environmental Network - Mississauga
Key Networking initiative within Peel Environmental community, excellent website resource, and organizer of Ecobuzz education event for youth in Peel. Involved in the development of the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance.

Lorraine Symmes (Caledon)
Key organizer of the Credit River Alliance, strong supporter of conservation in the Credit Valley and excellent spokesperson for valleylands.

Eugene Furgiuele (Mississauga)
For longtime service and significant contributions to the restoration of valleyland in Mississauga involving community in Stewardship projects in Mississauga .

Gary Mascola (Mississauga)
For displaying excellence as an educator and championing projects to do woodlot and wetland restoration and monitoring.

Certificate of Merit Winners

Cantox Environmental (Mississauga)
For environmental leadership involving staff in the naturalization of Levi Creek .

Evergreen Foundation & Ecosource Mississauga (Peel)
For an excellent partnership involving community groups in stewardship activities. Organized 14 community events in 2005.

Dave Rutherford (Caledon)
For donating time and heavy equipment to construct a rocky ramp on Rogers Creek to reconnect fish passage to a stretch of this cold water stream.

Young Conservationist Award Winners

Stephanie Crocker ( Mississauga )
For her outstanding efforts as coordinator of the Peel Environmental Network, involvement in the development of the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance, and effort as an environmental organizer at the University of Toronto at Mississauga.

Anna Przychodzki ( Brampton )
For cofounding the Brampton Sustainable Communities Collaborative and her efforts promoting the principles of Smart Growth.

This year the Awards were preceded by a Stewardship Forum that provided participants an opportunity to learn more about CVC's Watershed Report Card and Water Budget, preview important scientific studies and network with several groups including naturalists, fishing organizations, municipalities, agencies, farming communities and a host of other community organizations.

The Awards Committee consisted of three of CVC's Board Members -- Joan Robson (Halton Hills) George Carlson (Mississauga), and John Hutton (Brampton).

Media Contact:
Bernadette Fernandez
Communications Specialist
(905) 670-1615 Ext. 240
1-800-668-5557 (toll free)