2009 Environmental Leadership Awards Recipients

Lifetime Achievement: Robena Weatherley - Cambridge-Narrows - Lifetime Environmentalist

Youth: Talya Doucet - Campellton - Environment Committee Leader

For the past two years, Talya Doucet has been an active member of her school's environment committee and is currently serving as the committee's vice-chair. She has participated in school recycling initiatives, clean-up efforts, tree sales, petitions and environmental training workshops. Talya is also a liaison officer with the New Brunswick Environmental Network and represents her environment committee and school at a provincial level. She is an excellent example of what one youth can accomplish through involvement and hard work.

Youth Group - McAdam High School - Environmental projects

McAdam High School has been successful in the adoption of the first paper and cardboard recycling program in the Village of McAdam. This activity, first initiated at the school was then introduced into the community where it rapidly caught on, resulting in a fully engaged community recycling program today. This school is also unique in that 80 per cent of the student population walk or bike to and from school each day and each spring the entire student body provides a complete clean-up and restoration of a local municipal site and walking trail. Not only does this benefit the environment but also the healthy lifestyle practices of the students. The students of McAdam High School continue to promote and ensure a healthy environment and inspire others by their example.

Individual: Bridget Oland - Rothesay - Living Green

To be a true environmental leader a person should "walk the walk". Bridget Oland does just that, she and her family have been living green for ten years. Bridget takes initiative by writing about Green Living in a local newspaper. She is also the founder and volunteer local coordinator of an organic whole food buying group and speaks in the Rothesay Speaker Series on environmental practices. In particular, Bridget has made a difference at Kennebecasis Park Elementary School, where here children attend. She has helped lead the school to develop a green plan and, since the implementation of her plan, the school has decreased its waste by half. Bridget is an environmental leader in her community and an inspiration to those around her.

Business - The Hopewell Rocks - Hopewell Cape - Environmental Protection and Awareness

The Hopewell Rocks Park is a community leader when it comes to environmental protection and awareness. The employees have taken the lead to implement many initiatives in order to become as environmentally friendly as possible. These include: wet/dry garbage separation, an anti-idling policy, plant based cleaning products, biodegradable dinnerware in their restaurant, and the development of a green team to oversee the progress and research of environmentally friendly ways of doing business. The Hopewell Rocks staff are working hard in order to maintain their environmentally friendly tourism destination.

Business - Jody Graham - Kars - Building an ecological example

Communities, Groups and Organizations: Canaan - Washademoak Watershed Association - Cambridge-Narrows - Protection of the Watershed

The Canaan-Washademoak Watershed Association (CWWA) is a community-based organization formed in 2002 in response to local concerns about perceived changes in water quality. The CWWA aims to protect and enhance the ecological structure and function of the waterways and in doing so to connect people in the region with these valuable aquatic resources. Some of the many activities of the CWWA include programs for monitoring water quality, fish populations, forest biodiversity and riparian conditions. Findings are communicated to the community through various educational initiatives such as regular meetings, information bulletins, school programs and the preparation of a video documentary.