Hamilton’s Environmentalists of the Year Awards Committee is pleased to announce this year’s Environmentalists of the Year award recipients. Established in 1979, and now celebrating 40 years of recognizing efforts to protect, improve and steward the environment in our community, these awards celebrate the dedicated efforts of citizens, businesses and organizations who make Hamilton a better place to live. Three categories of awards will be presented at a community dinner on June 12.
The Dr. Victor Cecilioni Award for the Environmentalist of the Year recognizes long-term efforts that create a significant impact in the community and this year recognizes Peter Topalovic for his professional and personal commitment and leadership role in expanding the use of sustainable transportation and encouraging sustainability thinking in our community.
Lifetime Achievement Awards are celebrating two individuals and an organization for their sustained efforts to improve the environment in Hamilton:
- Dr. Denis Corr is being recognized for his lifelong efforts to improve air quality in Hamilton,
- Sandi Stride for her efforts to make Hamilton and Burlington a more environmentally sustainable community in the founding of Sustainable Hamilton Burlington, and
- Hamilton Naturalists’ Club for being the voice for nature and the protection of natural areas in Hamilton for 100 years, since 1919, when the group lobbied successfully for the protection of Cootes Paradise.
Three Awards of Merit recognize a variety of environmental action activities of citizens across the community. This year’s recipients are:
- Joyce Munro for her professional and personal commitment to raising environmental awareness in schools, organizations, and her own life;
- Kelly McKinney for her commitment to the environmental education of children through her activities with the Sprouts Summer Growing Camp and the McQuesten Urban Farm; and
- Kerry Brookes (posthumously) for her commitment to the environment through her activities in the Canadian Organic Growers and the Friends of Red Hill Valley.
These Awards will be presented at the 40th Annual Environmentalists of the Year Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the Michelangelo Banquet Centre at 1555 Upper Ottawa Street in Hamilton. Doors will open for refreshments at 5:30 PM, and dinner will be served at 7 PM.
Anyone interested in celebrating the environment in Hamilton is invited: tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance by June 7. Tickets are available online (follow the secure link posted at eoyawards.com), or in person at Royal Botanical Gardens’ Shop (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily) or in the city centre of the city at Environment Hamilton, 22 Wilson Street #8, (905) 549-0900. Tables of eight or ten may be reserved through cebrown466@gmail.com.
Who sponsors the EOY Awards?
The Environmentalists of the Year Awards and Dinner have been held each year for 40 years. An independent committee of community members judges the nominations. The Awards program is co-sponsored by the Conserver Society of Hamilton and District, the United Nations Association in Canada-Hamilton Branch, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Environment Hamilton, Royal Botanical Gardens, Friends of Red Hill Valley, and the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club with support from the Bay Area Restoration Council. For additional information on the Awards Dinner, please call (905) 547-5116, visit our website at eoyawards.com, or look for us on Facebook.
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- John Struger (john.struger@sympatico.ca) (905) 547-5116
- Barbara McKean (bmckean@rbg.ca) (905) 379-3302
