At their 31st annual Conservation Awards this September, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) will celebrate the accomplishments of hundreds of volunteers who give of their time, energy, and resources to make the Niagara Peninsula watershed a better place to live.
The pandemic made volunteering difficult in many ways, but volunteers remained engaged while assisting with NPCA’s cultural heritage and outdoor education programs, and community stewardship and citizen science initiatives. Between 2020 and 2021, the NPCA worked with 652 active volunteers, who logged a total of 12,681 hours, and helped plant more than 8,865 trees and 10,584 native wildflowers.
“Our volunteers and partners are the heart and soul of our programs, events and our communities,” says Kerry Royer, NPCA Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator. “Recognizing their significant efforts has always been important to us and we pride ourselves in the unique and meaningful celebration that is our annual Conservation Awards. While we were unable to host this event in 2021, we look forward to getting together again to celebrate in the way our volunteers and partners truly deserve.”
The annual Conservation Awards were established in 1991 and feature inspiring guest speakers, local entertainment, delicious food and beverage, and the presentation of awards to individuals and groups who have volunteered directly on NPCA projects. The ceremony also celebrates members of the community, groups, organizations, and businesses, whose dedication to conservation is evident in all that they do. The Award(s) of Merit commemorates the work of those who dedicate their actions to the conservation of natural resources for generations to come.
The NPCA invites the community to become involved in this recognition process by nominating conservation heroes who have made an impact to receive an Award of Merit. The nomination form, criteria and rules can be found on the Get Involved NPCA portal. There is no established limit on the number of awards to be presented, allowing for flexibility of recognition. Nomination deadline is August 5 at 12 p.m.
For more information on the NPCA, visit www.npca.ca. Learn about volunteering opportunities under Get Involved. Follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more updates.
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About NPCA:
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is a community-based natural resource management agency that works to protect, enhance, and sustain healthy watersheds. With more than 60 years of experience, the NPCA offers watershed programs and services that focus on flood and hazard management, source water protection, species protection, ecosystem restoration, community stewardship, and land management.
The NPCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the Province of Ontario and manages 41 Conservation Areas within the Niagara Peninsula watershed held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. These natural and shared greenspaces marry nature, culture, and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
Questions related to the above release should be directed to:
Erika Navarro, Communications Specialist
905.788.3135 ext.262
Mobile: 905-650-4027
enavarro@npca.ca