• Protecting Water and Farmland in Simcoe County

Mother-son team honoured at LSRCA awards

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In Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Nov 7th, 2011
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For the Howards, environmentalism is multi-generational
AWARE Simcoe November 6 2011
At the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority “watershed heroes” awards on October 27, Jennifer Howard of Big Bay Point received the Education Award, and her son Jeff Howard received the Ernie Crossland Young Conservationist Award.
The Ernie Crossland award is presented to individuals or groups 30 years of age or younger, who are involved in a significant leadership role in a conservation project or with an environmental group or organization.
Jeff graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College this spring as an eco-system management technician and is now back at school working on his technologist diploma. He has won many awards and most recently was selected by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as a representative to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while on their Canadian visit in Ottawa’s Rideau Hall.
Jeff volunteered his services as a piping plover guardian in Wasaga Beach in 2008 and 2009.  He was responsible in getting the first turtle crossing signs up in Innisfil on Big Bay Point Road where he knew a species at risk species resided in the wetlands there.  
He has volunteered with local naturalist Bob Bowles, Toronto Zoo, Six Mile Lake Conservationists Club, Environment Canada, MNR, Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters, Bird Studies Canada, Kids for Turtles, Toronto Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Vernal Pool Association, and Brereton Field Naturalists Club.  
Jennifer is a wildlife photographer and blogger who has lived at Big Bay Point for 21 years. Her recent account of the bird and fish die-off at Wasaga Beach was an affecting witness to lives lost. Her environmental photos were also used in AWARE Simcoe’s municipal election brochure.
She is the Vice President of The Six Mile Lake Conservationist Club and a member of Ontario Nature, Bird Studies Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation and more. The backyard at her home is certified by The Canadian Wildlife Federation.  
Her recent wildlife projects include:
-Turtle Rescue  This activity prompted Jennifer to write an article which appeared in several local papers describing an injured turtle that was rescued by her husband Mark and taken to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre the next day, where it was treated and survived. It will spend the winter in the centre and return to iwhere it was found in the spring. The article was aimed at educating citizens on Ontaro turtles and the need to assist them. This turtle was able to lay 8 eggs at the trauma center, unfortunately 7 did not make it to hatch stage, but the 8th if it hatches will be  released by Jennifer back into the wetland the adult was found.
-Backyard Certification Jennifer has devoted the backyard of her home to encouraging and nourishing wildlife. Her article “Why I Certified My Backyard”appeared in the Nov./Dec. 2010 issue of Canadian Wildlife Magazine. It is intended to encourage others to certify their backyards for similar wildlife purposes. Jennifer’s photo of the pileated woodpecker by her sign has been used over and over to promote this program by Canadian Wildlife Federation in various publications.
-Wildlife Photography  Jennifer’s photos were used extensively to illustrate the article “Forester’s Terns – Nesting At Lake Simcoe”, which appeared in the April 2011 Issue of Ontario Birds. Her bald eagle shots from last years summer long monitoring for BSC are being used in an upcoming article in Ontario Birding and should be out in this coming December issue. These birds nested in Cooks Bay last year and produced 2 beautiful young eaglets. While there Jennifer took notes to various other species in that area that needed to be reported for their safety further down the road. 
-Youth Wildlife Education For Environmental Defence, Jennifer’s photography was requested to be used in an educational booklet “Young Reporters for the Environment”. Aimed at youth, it is “a guide to photographing like an Environmental Journalist.”

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