Annual Awards
Each year members of the Ecology Action Centre nominate and vote for individuals and organizations for four awards. The awards are for the good, the bad, the innovative and the meritorious.
“These awards are decided upon by our members and this year we see forestry emerging as their top concern. Members also wanted to recognize the efforts that are starting to be made to make our transportation system smarter and more sustainable”, says Mark Butler, Policy Director at EAC.
Below are our 2010 Winners:
Sunshine Award: NS Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
The Sunshine Award is given to a group or an individual who has made a particularly effective effort on an environmental issue in Nova Scotia during the prior year.
"Making Nova Scotia's roads safe for active transportation - bicycling, walking, jogging, skateboarding - has been a priority for many municipalities, but they have often faced an obstacle with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. This has shifted in the last year, following the hiring of a special projects engineer, Elizabeth Pugh. Now, TIR is at the table, meeting with municipalities and active living coordinators, talking about an active transportation policy," says Jen Powley, Transportation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre. "We really look forward to engagement from other government departments on this issue and to making Nova Scotia a place where active transportation is second nature."
Tarred Duck Award: Northern Pulp Nova Scotia
The Tarred Duck Award is presented to a group or individual who has caused egregious or widespread damage to the environment or advocated for economic development without consideration for the environment.
With current forest management practices coming under scrutiny from Nova Scotians during the Natural Resources Strategy review, it is fitting that the Tarred Duck award be given to Northern Pulp. “This company has raised the bar for poor forest management practices in Nova Scotia as witnessed by their destructive whole-tree harvest carried out at Caribou Mines during the past year” says EAC Wilderness Coordinator Raymond Plourde. “Their Abercrombie Point mill has the highest rate of wood fiber consumption of the three pulp mills in NS and continues to pollute the surrounding air and water – in particular the Boat Harbour tidal lagoon located next to the Pictou Landing First Nation. They hide behind the “green washed” Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification system rather than adopting the much more rigorous Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard and their widespread use of clear cutting and whole tree harvesting are negatively impacting forest productivity, wildlife habitat and ecosystem health.”
Tooker Gomberg Award: Save Caribou/Eastern Shore Forest Watch
Tooker Gomberg was a master with the media. From 'Golden Turkey Awards' to 'Burying a Car' to 'Robin Hood at the Toronto Stock Exchange', Tooker knew how to garner media attention. With Tooker as our 'greenspiration', the Gomberg Award goes to the person or event that most creatively and brilliantly 'made the news' in the past year.
Tackling the appalling state of clear cutting forestry practices in Nova Scotia is a huge, on-going issue - one which has been exacerbated in the last year by the bio-mass fuel debates. “Extraordinary community efforts though images, video and reportage by Save Caribou and Eastern Shore Forest Watch have brought attention to the terrible soil, water and habitat degradation that whole tree harvesting means to the province. Their joint action is reminder of how effective community collaborations can be,” says Kim Thompson of EAC.
Bubby Mooers Award: Wendy MacGregor, Volunteer
Bubby Mooers was a folk artist who carved interesting characters and figures out of wood. He gave very generously of his art and of himself. The EAC’s annual Garden Party auction benefited regularly from Bubby’s humorous and sensitive donated artwork. The Bubby Mooers Award is given to someone who has given of themselves, either over time or in the past year, to environmental issues in Nova Scotia and to the Ecology Action Centre in particular.
“Wendy MacGregor is a smart and creative person who gives an immense amount of effort and time to charitable causes including the Ecology Action Centre. Wendy has been involved in EAC for nearly 20 years and the growth and strength of the organization is in large part attributable to her community fundraising efforts. She started EAC’s annual Garden Party and just last year Art on Canvas. Thanks Wendy,” says Mark Butler, Policy Director at EAC.
Since 1971, the EAC has been working to build a healthier, more sustainable Nova Scotia.
Ecology Action Centre
2705 Fern Lane
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3K 4L3
Phone: (902) 429-2202
Fax: (902) 405-3716
Email: info@ecologyaction.ca
