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 2004 Stewardship Recognition Awards
The Countryside Canada Stewardship Recognition Program recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts on Canada's agricultural land. This year 19 award recipients are being honoured.
Beaver Creek Watershed Group, Pincher Creek, Alberta
Watershed protection
Under the leadership of Dixon Hammond, neighbouring landowners along Beaver Creek in southwestern Alberta joined forces in a grassroots effort to rehabilitate the Beaver Creek watershed. The group's basic message to local landowners is that good stewardship is the key to improving the health of the creek and that landowners not only own the problem, but they also own the solution.
Wilson Clifton, Clifton Ranch, Keremeos, BC
Conservation of grassland habitat
Clifton Ranch is a family-owned livestock operation. In partnership with the Nature Trust of BC, Wilson Clifton is working to maintain and restore natural grasslands and associated habitat in the South Okanagan. Clifton Ranch is also being used as a demonstration site to promote wildlife friendly ranching practices.
Bruce and Valve Forrest, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Environmental stewardship
The Forrest's proactive approach to farming and environmental protection has improved the production of their cattle operation, while enhancing wildlife habitat on their land. They have adhered to an environmental farm plan for more than a decade, and their farm is used frequently for workshops, tours and other educational initiatives promoting good stewardship.
Jim Ginn, Clinton, Ontario
Environmental stewardship
Jim Ginn operates a dairy farm near Clinton in southern Ontario. He is well known throughout Huron County for promoting environmental stewardship. Ginn's farm is adjacent to the Maitland River and he has implemented numerous conservation and stewardship initiatives in support of local wildlife.
Cam and Shelly Hamilton, Glenboro, Manitoba
Conservation of native prairie grasslands
Cam and Shelly Hamilton operate a livestock farm in southern Manitoba. Their farm, which borders on Spruce Woods Provincial Park, has become a model for sustainable agriculture.The Hamilton's are strong proponents of the Mixed-Grass Prairie Stewardship Program and they have demonstrated how an integrated approach to farming can be profitable, sustainable and beneficial to wildlife.
Lee McFadyen, Cawston, BC
Environmental stewardship
Lee McFadyen operates an organic farm in the BC interior. She is a long-time proponent of environmental stewardship. During the past three years, McFadyen has worked with The Land Conservancy of BC to develop and launch the Conservation Partners Program - a highly effective agricultural stewardship project that promotes the protection of natural habitat on working farms.
Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC), Ontario
Environmental Farm Planning
The OFEC was formed about ten years ago by agricultural organizations that were interested in promoting sound environmental practices. The coalition, in cooperation with many partner groups and organizations, developed and launched the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) project, which has gained national and international recognition for its effective, innovative approach to environmental stewardship. The EFP has been invaluable in bringing environmental awareness to the farm community throughout Ontario.
Denis Perrault, Navan, Ontario
Leadership in stewardship and conservation
Denis Perrault owns a mixed farming operation near Navan in eastern Ontario. Mr. Perrault leads by example and he has implemented numerous conservation and stewardship initiatives on his farm. He is also recognized throughout his community for being a strong supporter of conservation and environmentally friendly agriculture practices.
The Pharis family, Elkhorn Ranch, Lundbreck, Alberta
Environmental stewardship
Hilton, Alta, Nolan and Leona Pharis operate the Elkhorn Ranch in southwestern Alberta. The family is strongly committed to environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation and they have incorporated this land ethic into all aspects of their ranching operation - protecting forests, riparian areas, streams and natural grasslands. The familys mission statement for the ranch is simply to "conserve and maintain wood, water and wildlife".
Perry and Susan Phillips, Vilna, Alberta
Environmental stewardship
The Phillips have focused on sustainable agriculture in the operation of their Alberta cattle ranch. They have three large wetlands on their property, as well as Bonnie Lake. All of their management activities are designed to protect the lake and riparian areas and to maintain the wildlife habitat that exists on their property. They also spearheaded the formation of the Bonnie Lake Sustainability Association to involve all local stakeholders in efforts to protect the lake and surrounding habitat.
Harold Ridgway, Cache Creek, BC
Watershed protection
Harold Ridgway is a rancher living in the BC interior. Mr. Ridgway single-handedly organized other landowners in his community to rehabilitate and protect the Bonaparte River. They have formed the Bonaparte River Watershed Stewardship Society. In the past four years, the society has raised $150,000 for river restoration projects. The once-degraded Bonaparte River is being transformed - water quality has improved, erosion has been reduced and fish habitat has been enhanced.
Don and Marie Ruzicka, Sunrise Farms, Killam, Alberta
Environmental stewardship
Don and Marie Ruzicka have operated Sunrise Farms for more than 20 years - always striving to improve the sustainability of all aspects of their agriculture operation. Streams have been fenced to keep cattle out, off-stream solar watering stations have been installed and naturalized buffer zones have been established along watercourses and around riparian areas. A permanent wetland has been created for waterfowl.
Reg and Liz Samis, Samis Farms, Alma, Ontario
Environmental Stewardship
Reg and Liz Samis operate a pork, beef and cash crop farm in the Grand River watershed of southern Ontario. They have been involved in stewardship and conservation activities for almost two decades, often in partnership with the Grand River CA. They are strong proponents of both sustainable agriculture and sustainable woodlot management.
Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP), Regina, Saskatchewan
Conservation of native prairie grasslands
The PCAP is a partnership of more than two dozen organizations working to conserve Saskatchewans remaining native prairie grasslands. The PCAP has introduced a cooperative, shared approach to prairie conservation. PCAP promotes land stewardship among agricultural producers and a common vision for protecting native prairie ecosystems and biodiversity.
Edgar, Philip and Doug Smith, Beaver Meadow Farm, Comox, BC
Watershed protection
The Smith family has operated Beaver Meadow Farm in Comox for three generations.Today, brothers Edgar, Philip and Doug Smith holistically manage their 700-acre heritage dairy farm in an environmentally sensitive manner. Their property includes ten kilometres of restored stream habitat along the Upper Little River - now one of the most productive coho salmon streams on the east coast of Vancouver Island. The Smith family was instrumental in the formation of the Little River Enhancement Society in 1985.
John and Eadie Steele, Norwood, Ontario
Environmental stewardship
John and Eadie Steele emigrated from England in 1990, purchasing a farm near Norwood in eastern Ontario. In the past decade, the Steeles have transformed their century farm into one of Canadas leading sheep operations, advanced both technically and in management practices. The Steeles have achieved this success while maintaining an environmentally friendly and profitable farming operation. They have focused on soil improvement, erosion control, water conservation and management, woodland improvement and energy conservation.
Lloyd Thomas and Morris Thomas, Thomas Ranch, Okanagan Falls, BC
Conservation of native grasslands
The Thomas brothers are fourth generation owners of the Thomas Ranch in the BC interior. They have a long history of using innovative land stewardship techniques that have allowed their 500-head cow/calf operation to thrive on land that is also the winter home for a healthy herd of threatened big horn sheep. The Thomas brothers are also participants in the South Okanagan Biodiversity Ranch Program, which promotes wildlife friendly ranching practices.
Ron Tiessen, Pelee Island, Ontario
Environmental stewardship
Ron Tiessen is a historian, conservationist and farmer who has lived on Pelee Island in Lake Erie for more than 20 years. During his time on the island, Mr. Tiessen has been a champion of stewardship, constantly encouraging other landowners to take an ecosystem approach to their farming and land management practices. He has written A Guide to Pelee Islands Wildlife, as well as other articles about the islands human and natural history.
Garth Toombs, Bedeque Farms, Summerside, PEI
Environmental stewardship
Garth Toombs has been a potato farmer for more than 40 years and his Bedeque Farms is one of the most modern and successful potato growing operations in PEI. Garth Toombs has achieved this success while practising sustainable agriculture. Throughout his career in agriculture, Mr. Toombs has always been a leader in adopting environmentally friendly farming practices, such as strip cropping, diversion terraces and grassed waterways.
For more information contact:
Lynn McIntyre
Director of Stewardship Programs
Wildlife Habitat Canada,
Ottawa
Tel: 1-800-669-7919 ext. 234
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