Friends of the Credit Awards Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 23, 2006

For the last 20 years, the Friends of the Credit awards recognizes 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 are 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 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 Award of Excellence 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.

The Young Conservationist Award recognizes nominations consistent with the overall purpose of the conservation awards program and is open to individuals or groups under the age of 25.

Jean Williams - Mississauga
For more than 30 years of distinguished service to the Rattray Marsh Protection Association and the environmental community.


Conservation Award of Distinction Winners:   

City of Mississauga - Gypsy Moth Program - Mississauga
F for their proactive and well-executed Gypsy Moth Control Program to protect the City's vital urban forests.

County of Wellington - Green Legacy Program - Wellington County
For providing 453,000 trees for planting projects and establishing a nursery to provide long-term supplies for Wellington's reforestation efforts.

Fletcher's Meadow Developers Group - Brampton
For implementation of the Fletcher's Meadow Environmental Implementation Report in a comprehensive, innovative, and ecologically sustainable manner.

John Kendell - Mississauga
For long-term leadership of the Credit River Anglers Association and significant personal commitment to the restoration of the Credit River .

Brian Greck - Brampton
For 27-year involvement within the Greg Clark Chapter of Trout Unlimited including leadership of restoration projects throughout the Credit watershed and a significant role in the West Credit Appreciation, Rehabilitation and Enhancement (WeCARE) project.


Certificate of Merit Winners:   

City of Mississauga Transportation & Works Department - Mississauga
For their Storm Drain Awareness Program to raise awareness of the linkages between storm water and water quality.

Green Saviours - Mississauga
For participation in litter clean-ups and naturalization plantings within the City of Mississauga .

Shri Sathya Sai Centre of Mississauga - Mississauga
For ongoing involvement in naturalization projects to enhance wildlife habitat along the Credit River since 1991.

Fallingbrook Middle School - Mississauga
For naturalizing their schoolyard to protect the Creditview Wetland and incorporating a wetland monitoring program into the school's curriculum.

Ted Sawicki - Mississauga
For leadership as an educator training 100 students to conduct a water monitoring project on Sawmill Creek in partnership with Citizen's Environmental Watch.

David Lyver - Erin
For organizational efforts towards the annual Erin cleanup and for leadership of tree planting projects in Hillsburgh.

Young Conservationist Award Winners:   

Rohit Mehta - Mississauga
For leadership of the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance as president for two years and strong environmental leadership at John Fraser Secondary School.

James Nowak - Erin
For leadership of Erin District High School's Environment Club, initiatives to bring recycling and waste reduction to his community, and active participation in the WeCARE initiative.

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