About

Our committee is pleased to announce that the 2024 Environmentalists of the Year Awards ceremony will be held on April 4th, 2025, at the LR Wilson Hall on the McMaster University campus.

This year, we are awarding our legacy awards, and introducing three new youth awards! 

Here is a brief description of each award:

• The Dr. Victor Cecilioni Environmentalist of the Year Award recognizes individuals, groups, or businesses in Hamilton who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in environmental activity. This is the highest honour awarded by the EOY and demonstrated lifetime dedication to ecological restoration and stewardship in Hamilton.
  
• The Award of Merit recognizes individuals, groups, students, and businesses in Hamilton that have shown excellence in environmental efforts.
• The Post-Secondary Youth Conservation Award recognizes post-secondary youth who have demonstrated leadership in environmental protection at a local level. This applies to individuals who have shown exceptional engagement, leadership or innovation in stewardship or restoration events in the City of Hamilton. This award is open to post-secondary students who have volunteered during restoration events, led their own conservation projects or otherwise engaged or mobilized their community in the arena of environmental protection! 
• The Adam Chiravalle Post-Secondary Youth Conservation Award is a prestigious honour presented as part of the Hamilton Environmentalists of the Year Awards, recognizing exceptional contributions by post-secondary students to environmental conservation and sustainability. Named in memory of a dedicated environmental advocate, the award celebrates young leaders who demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship through impactful initiatives, research, or community involvement. Highlighting the importance of youth engagement in addressing pressing ecological challenges, the award is a testament to the transformative potential of student-led conservation efforts.
• The Betty Blashill Enviromental Prize An award in memory of Betty Blashill for her exemplary behind-the-scenes work on behalf of many environmental organizations and her careful lifestyle that minimized her ecological footprint. Her lifestyle was modelled after a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
• Environmental Youth Group or School Public Service Award recognizes youth groups or educational entities with distinguished public service in environmental achievement. This can include a school group, a club, or any youth that has participated in conservation or restoration efforts in the city of Hamilton. This award is open to groups up to and including high school. 
• Finally, the Eco Project Award recognizes young individuals, groups, or fledgling businesses that exhibit leadership and exceptional achievement in planning and implementing a program that protects and regenerates the natural environment. This is a project-based award and is accompanied by a small bursary, to assist in the implementation of more projects. The award is granted to the leader of a singular project, for example, a tree planting, beach cleanup, or some other restoration effort that has positively impacted the natural landscape of our great city! 

Nominees must show distinguished service that results in exceptional environmental achievement. This service may include the preservation of a species or area, environmental stewardship or restoration of an area in Hamilton, raising public awareness on conservation, sustainable leadership or another particular ecological issue. 

Please stay tuned for updates by signing up to our subscription list!

We invite individuals, businesses, organizations, and schools to nominate individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to the environment in the City of Hamilton.

Nominations will OPEN NOW and will close on February 20th, 2025.

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Who organizes and sponsors the Hamilton EOY Awards? 

The Awards program is organized by a volunteer committee, led by Nature at McMaster and chaired by the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Environment Hamilton, Royal Botanical Gardens, Friends of Red Hill Valley, and the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, with support from the Conserver Society of Hamilton and District, the United Nations Association in Canada-Hamilton Branch, and the Bay Area Restoration Council.

Sponsoring the Hamilton Environmentalists of the Year Awards is an excellent way to show your support for the environment and the people who work tirelessly to protect it. By sponsoring an award, your business or institution can gain visibility in the community while helping to recognize and celebrate the achievements of environmental leaders. Sponsors can choose to support an existing award or create a new award in line with their organization’s values and goals. Contact us today to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can make a difference in your community.

CONTACTS: 

• Julia Miller,  Millej69@mcmaster.ca
• Wayne Terryberry, Terryber@mcmaster.ca