About

Our committee is pleased to announce that the 2024 Environmentalists of the Year Awards ceremony was held on April 4th, 2025, 6-9 PM 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 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 Environmental 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. 

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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 are now CLOSED.

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We are thrilled to announce this year’s award winners for their environmental efforts and projects carried out in 2024:

• The Dr. Victor Cecilioni Environmentalist of the Year Award recognizes lifetime dedication to ecological restoration and stewardship in Hamilton. We are thrilled to announce Scott Peck as the winner for 2024. Through his role with Hamilton Conservation Authority, Scott has demonstrated continuous dedication to protecting, restoring and enhancing Hamilton’s watershed and conservation areas. In 2024, Scott led the creation and development of the Saltfleet Conservation Area.

• The Award of Merit recognizes individuals for their excellence in environmental efforts. This year three nominees were selected due to their outstanding work in the Hamilton community: Hamilton Naturalists’ club, Martha Howatt for her ongoing volunteer work and for her hard-working ‘boots on the ground’ approach to conservation.  Adele Pierre for her involvement with the Depave Paradise Program and commitment to projects championing stormwater management and carbon impacts. 

• Environmental Youth Group or School Public Service Award: This year, we are awarding two youth groups for their distinguished public service in environmental achievement. More Than Food for their dedication to sustainability and exemplary peer-led approach and,  Roots to Justice for their community-led, grassroots approach to food accessibility in Hamilton.

• The Adam Chiravalle Post-Secondary Youth Conservation Award: Ofure Itua

1. • recognizing exceptional contributions by post-secondary students to environmental conservation and sustainability. Named in memory of a dedicated environmental advocate. This year, we will be awarding two Adam Chiravalle awards. First,  sustainable transportation advocate Ofure Itua has been selected due to her ongoing involvement with cycling advocacy, pushing the envelope for cycling initiatives in the city and her work at McMaster University with the Trash to Treasure project and the Hamilton SustainabilityAction Program. McMaster University student  And Areeb Iqbal for her commitment to the stewardship of natural lands in Hamilton, her work with the McMaster Academic Sustainability program and her exemplary leadership in the community. 

• The Betty Blashill Environmental Prize: Charlie Briggs
  • In memory of Betty Blashill for her exemplary behind-the-scenes work and her careful lifestyle that minimized her ecological footprint. Charlie Briggs receives this year’s Betty Blashill Environmental Prize, for his quiet, behind-the-scenes approach to getting work done, along with his engaging and enthusiastic teaching styles and his extensive knowledge of plant species (that he graciously shares with the community through various workshops and teaching opportunities). 

• Eco Project Award:  Glenn Meldrum 
  • Recognizes project-based work that exhibits exceptional achievement in planning a program that protects and regenerates the natural environment. Glenn Meldrum has been awarded for an innovative eco project: the creation of a barn swallow nesting shed at Johnson Tew Park in 2024.

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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, Hamilton Conservation Authority, Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System, 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