ENVIRONMENTALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS: A Wonderful Night

The 29th Environmentalists of the Year Awards Soiree was a great success, held during Environment Week on June 4th, the room at the Michelangelo Banquet Centre was abuzz.

Attendees appreciated the cocktail hour as a chance to mingle. Following a lovely dinner, Barb McKean of Royal Botanical Gardens did a wonderful presentation on children and nature.
Then came the award presentations, as follows:

*The Dr. Victor Cecilioni Award for the Environmentalist of the Year for 2007 was presented to Barb McKean for her personal and professional promotion of the environment to all ages on a local, provincial, and national level.

*A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jim Quinn of McMaster University for his long-term commitment, extremely active environmentalism. As an academic scholar he has always assisted environmental organizations, individuals and students with understanding and dealing with environmental issues and demonstrates his committment on a very personal level as well.

*Award of Merit to the Hamilton Coalition on Pesticide Issues (HCPI) for their long-term efforts which led to the formulation of a cosmetic pesticide ban by-law which was formally passed by the City of Hamilton in the fall of 2007.

*Award of Merit to Warren Beacham and Alan Ernest as representatives of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club for their contribution to the acquisition and preservation of the Cartwright Nature Sanctuary.

The Awards program is co-sponsored by the Conserver Society of Hamilton and District, the United Nations Association in Canada-Hamilton Branch, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Environment Hamilton, Royal Botanical Gardens, Friends of Red Hill Valley, and the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club with support from the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Bay Area Restoration Council, Hamilton Area Eco-Network (Eco-Net) and Green Venture.