About the EOY Awards

Our committee is pleased to announce that the 2023 Environmentalists of the Year Awards ceremony will be held on October 27, 2023, 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 breif 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 is a recognition of individuals, groups, students, and businesses in Hamilton who 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 whom have volunteered during restoration events, led their own conservation projects or otherwise engaged or mobilized their community in the arena of environmental protection! 

  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 group of youth that have participated in conservation or restoration efforts in the city of Hamilton. This award is open to groups up to and including highschool. 

  Finally, the Youth 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 OPEN and will close on September 16, 2023.

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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 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: 

• Veronique Audette,  audettev@mcmaster.ca
• Wayne Terryberry, terryber@mcmaster.ca