At its 29th annual Conservation Awards, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) celebrated 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.
“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. “This special evening is all about them and we hope everyone had the opportunity to socialize with potential partners, enjoy great food, and felt appreciated and acknowledged.”
Whether it is assisting with ecological monitoring, helping at annual events, or initiating tree planting projects, every individual, group and organization has made a difference. In 2019, 791 volunteers across the Niagara Peninsula watershed engaged with the organization, giving 14,569 hours of their time. Volunteers played a major role in the success of the 45th Annual Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, which saw the highest attendance in more than 10 years. Through the hard work of the Eco-Defenders, a group of volunteers working towards a greener planet by attending events and sorting trash to properly recycle and compost, 9,173 kilograms of waste were diverted from landfills during the four-day Festival.
In addition to the awards in recognition of individual volunteers, community groups and organizations, the evening featured another prestigious acknowledgement—the Awards of Merit. This award is bestowed on an individual, group, or business, that has contributed voluntarily to enhancing the health of the watershed and restoring the local environment for the benefit of all residents.
The following were honoured as 2019 Award of Merit Recipients:
- Youth Award: Kyle Joung
- Individual Award: Joanna Paul, Julie Bédard
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dominic ‘Mickey’ DiFruscio
- Group Award: Friends of Malcolmson Eco-Park and Niagara Chapter Trout Unlimited
To inspire others to get involved or continue their existing contributions to the environment, the following guest speakers were a highlight of the evening:
- Marcie Jacklin — Birding Tourism and Nature Clubs
- Brian Green & Megan Lalli — Healthy Twelve Mile Creek Program
- Kim Rossi — Pathstone Mental Health, Connection Between Nature & Mental Health
“Our success is due in large part to the dedication of volunteers and support of partners,” says Chandra Sharma, NPCA CAO and Secretary-Treasurer. “We were pleased to show our appreciation to the hundreds of volunteers from 2019 and encourage more members of the community to get involved with us in 2020.”
The annual Conservation Awards took place on Wed, Feb. 26 at the West Niagara Agricultural Centre & Fairgrounds.
For more information about the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, please visit www.npca.ca. Follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.
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About NPCA:
The NPCA manages the impact of human activities, urban growth, and rural activities on the Niagara Peninsula watershed with programs and services that help keep people and their property safe from flooding and erosion, while retaining the safety of our drinking water.
NPCA manages 41 Conservation Areas, including Ball’s Falls, Binbrook, Long Beach and Chippawa Creek. These lands are held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. NPCA’s Conservation Areas 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