Community involvement defines the character and approach of Ontario Nature. With its member groups and individual members, Ontario Nature has made a significant impact on conservation issues in communities across Ontario and continues to build a natural legacy for future generations. The Ontario Nature Conservation Awards recognize excellence by honouring individuals, groups, government agencies, and corporations who have worked to protect Ontario’s nature.
Click for nomination information and deadlines. View our 2007 Conservation Awards flyer (PDF 179kb)
Awards
Ontario Nature Achievement Award
Nominee: Individual
Criteria: Ontario Nature member who has made an outstanding contribution to the activities of Ontario Nature. The contribution may have entailed significant effort over a long period or intensive work over a shorter period.
Richards Education Award
Nominee: Individual
Criteria: Nominees must succeed in helping people understand the natural world and become enthusiastic supporters of conservation and environmental protection. This can be accomplished through a special contribution to natural history education and communication. Nominees who acted as volunteers will receive preference, although people employed to do this work are also eligible.
W. W. H. Gunn Conservation Award
Nominee: Individual
Criteria: Nominees – acting either independently or as a group leader – must demonstrate oustanding personal service and a strong commitment to nature conservation over a number of years with exceptional results.
Lee Symmes Municipal Award
Nominee: Town, city, municipality or region
Criteria: Nominees must exhibit community leadership and exceptional achievement in planning or implementing programs that protect and regenerate the natural environment within a community. This may be accomplished directly through protection or creation of natural areas, or indirectly through policies or planning measures that encourage or support energy conservation or native biodiversity.
J. R. Dymond Public Service Award
Nominee: Individual, group, or government agency
Criteria: Nominees must show distinguished public service that resulted in exceptional environmental achievement. This public service may include a change in legislation or policy, preservation of a species or area, or leadership in a particular environmental issue.
Ontario Nature Corporate Award
Nominee: Corporation active in Ontario
Criteria: Nominees must demonstrate outstanding leadership or sound action in the environmental field. The award is given to a corporation for protecting the natural environment either directly through corporate policies or through a major initiative(s), such as the creation of parks, the protection of wetlands or forested areas, or indirectly through other undertakings that have stimulated significant environmental actions.
W.E. Saunders Natural History Award
Nominee: Individual or group
Criteria: Nominees must achieve a significant goal related to an aspect of natural history or natural science research. This could include developing key natural history resources (e.g., atlases, inventories, studies), raising public awareness of natural history, demonstrating local leadership, saving a natural area, or generating conservation funds or publications.
Ian Shenstone Fraser Memorial Award
Nominee: Individual or group
Criteria: Nominees must produce innovative work of exceptional quality that makes a contribution to the maintenance, protection, or preservation of the Niagara Escarpment. The work may include a policy document, article for publication, speech, audio-visual presentation, or other endeavour that consolidates previously disjointed information or develops a new perspective towards conservation. The achievement must demonstrate superior organization, thoroughness, and meticulous attention to detail.
Carl Nunn Media and Conservation Award
Nominee: Individual or group
Criteria: Nominees must engage in effective communication on one or more conservation issues. Nominees can be from print, radio, TV, or website organizations.
Margaret and Carl Nunn Memorial Camp Scholarship
Nominee: Individual
Criteria: Nominees, who are 10-15 years of age, must display promise and interest in natural history interpretation or education and have the potential to take an increased leadership role in club programs. A written statement from the nominee must accompany the nomination indicating that she/he is interested and available to attend a 4-day Nature Camp at Camp Kawartha. Individual must be nominated by a member group.
