Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority hands out awards

Alliston Herald

SIMCOE COUNTY – Volunteers and community supporters were the stars at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority’s Evening of Thanks.

The event, held April 16 during National Volunteer Week, celebrated the contributions of individuals, organizations and businesses that helping to protect and enhance the environment of the Nottawasaga Valley watershed.

“This year, National Volunteer Week’s theme is ‘Volunteers are part of the ripple effect.’ For a watershed-based organization like NVCA, this couldn’t be more true,” said Innisfil Coun. Doug Lougheed, NVCA board of directors chair. “While our volunteers, partners and financial supporters all contribute to our success today, the ripples from their efforts will be seen in our healthy waters and sustainable communities for years to come.”

NVCA CAO Gayle Wood thanked the volunteers for their dedication to the watershed’s wellbeing.

“Without the support of our volunteers and community partners, NVCA would not be able to undertake the stewardship work and offer the recreational programming we do,” said Wood.

NVCA also announced the recipients of the 2015 Conservation Champion Awards at the event.

Champions are individuals, community groups, businesses, partners or agencies that have contributed to an environmental improvement project in one of the NVCA’s 18 member municipalities, spanning across Simcoe, Dufferin and Grey counties.

From a pool of very worthy nominees, Brian and Terri Boake of Mono received the Conservation Champion, Individual, award for the stewardship initiatives they have undertaken on their farm. They improved water quality and stream health by restricting livestock from streams and wetlands, and created a wetland with turtle nesting sites and basking logs.

The Georgian Triangle Anglers’ Association received the Conservation Champion, Group, award for their work in restoring 275 metres of juvenile rainbow trout habitat in Black Ash Creek, which runs through Collingwood. The association has a longstanding involvement with the Nottawasaga Watershed Improvement Program, or N-WIP.

The Township of Essa and the Essa Healthy Community Committee were recognized with the Conservation Champion, Municipal, award for their efforts to restore and enhance the Pine Creek.

The Young Conservation Champion award went to the 1st Alliston, 3rd Beeton, and 1st Tottenham Girl Guides troops and the 4th Alliston Brownie troop. The Guides and Brownies have volunteered with the South Simcoe Streams Network “Trees for Streams” project for more than five years. Last year they planted more than 900 trees and shrubs along Beeton and Spring Creeks.

Finally, NVCA recognized the Brereton Field Naturalists of Barrie with the Conservation Partner Award. For more than a decade, the Brereton’s have worked with NVCA on projects to protect and enhance the Minesing Wetlands, and in support of NVCA’s public education programs.