April 19, 2012 The much-anticipated conservation award winners in eight categories across three watersheds of Eastern
Ontario were announced last night at the Tri Valley Conservation Awards ceremony held in Manotick.  
The nineteen winners are:

Public Schools:      Russell McLelland .. Churchill Alternative School, Ottawa  (First Place)
                             Joyce Chartrand .. Ecole publique de la rivière Castor, Embrun

High Schools:         St Thomas Aquinas Catholic High, Russell (First Place)
                             Chris Drummond .. Nepean High School, Ottawa

College/University:  Carleton University .. Dr Steven Cooke (First Place)
                             Université de Guelph, Campus Alfred

Agriculture:             Lawrenceholme Farms, Spencerville (First Place)
                             Gordon Garlough, Williamsburg

Business:               Parmalat, Winchester (First Place)
                              McGarry Family Chapels, Ottawa & West Quebec

Municipalities:         Tay Valley Township (First Place)
                              Lanark County Community Forest Working Group

Community Groups: Friends of the Tay Watershed (First Place)
                              Westport & Area Outdoors Association

Individuals/Families:  Jim McCready, Carleton Place (First Place)
                               Aleta Karstad & Dr Fred Schueler, Bishops Mills

Lifetime Achievement (Mississippi Valley):           Hans von Rosen

Lifetime Achievement (Rideau Valley)                        Irv Dardick

Lifetime Achievement (South Nation Valley)               Floyd Dingwall

“As you can imagine, the judges had to make some very difficult choices between first and second place finishers” said Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation Chair Jason Kelly. 
“In reality, all of these finalists are making huge voluntary contributions to the betterment of our lives through environmental conservation and we thank them all from the bottom of our hearts.”

Over 120 people enjoyed the hospitality, the ceremony and the networking opportunity of getting together with like-minded individuals and representatives from all walks of life.  
And more than one new voluntary collaborative project was hatched during this annual conservation celebration.   

Winning projects ranged from tree planting to exemplary farm practices to municipalities and businesses taking some visionary steps to take care of their local environments.  
The three Lifetime Conservation Achievement winners have collectively put in almost a century of dedication to conservation.   It was a delight to acknowledge their lifetime of
conservation leadership and know-how.   This is the first year that this category of award was available.

“There are so many daily conservation activities and practices going on that it is hard to keep track of them all” said Mark Burnham, Mississippi Valley Conservation Foundation Chair
and Tay Valley Township Councilor.   
“The goal here is to shine a light and bring some recognition to the people who are out there doing the right thing all the time. They are real conservation heroes and role models for us all.”

South Nation Conservation Chair Lawrence Levere said, “We are very proud of all people and groups nominated in tonight’s awards no matter where they come from across Eastern Ontario.  
Of course, the fact that a good many come from the South Nation just increases our pleasure and lets us bask in the glow of their accomplishments.   Hearty congratulations to all competitors.”

The Conservation Awards are organized by the Mississippi Valley, Rideau Valley and South Nation Conservation Authorities and their associated Foundations.   It is a pleasure to mention
our valuable sponsors who help pay for or supply services for the event:                        

AECOM
Hawley Signs & Graphics
LiVE 88.5FM Radio
The Monterey Hotel
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Rogers TV
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

More information:       

            Mississippi:     Suzanne McFarlane, 613-259-5307 ext 225
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            Rideau:            Charles Billington, 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 ext 1116
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            South Nation:  Gord Shaver, 1-877-984-2948 ext 296
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            **  Photos are available on request from Diane Downey, RVCA Director of Communications, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

2010 TVCA Finalists

Cindy Saucier (Russell), Joe Slater (Crow Lake), Nature Works Learning (Almonte), Pratt and Whitney Canada (Ottawa), Nation Municipality (Casselman), Norm Tinkler (Inkerman), Christian Laflèche (St-Albert), Tagwi Secondary School (Avonmore), National Defence Headquarters Fish & Game Club (Ottawa), Grenville Land Stewardship Council (Prescott) and Pleasant Corners Public School (Vankleek Hill).