Gulf of Maine Council Annual Awards Ceremony

Several deserving Nova Scotians were honoured for their commitment to protecting the Gulf of Maine body of water and surrounding ecosystem at a ceremony today, Feb. 26.

Two Gulf of Maine Visionary Awards and two Nova Scotia Bay of Fundy Awards were presented by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Gordon Balser and Energy Minister Ernest Fage on behalf of Environment and Labour Minister Ron Russell. The ceremony was held at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax.

"These awards and their recipients represent an impressive commitment to the preservation of marine and land environments and their ecosystems," said Mr. Balser. "These few men and women prove that the work of an individual can make a big impact on the health of our environment."

Recipients of the Gulf of Maine Council Visionary Awards have shown dedication and commitment to marine conservation and protection of vulnerable areas that support important ecosystems. Dr. Martin Willison of Halifax, chair and professor of Biology at Dalhousie University, received the Individual Visionary Award for establishing the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Oceans Committee and an international network of marine protected areas.

The Group Visionary Award was presented Ducks Unlimited Amherst, accepted by Mark Gloutney, manager, in recognition of the organization's 35 years of commitment to conservation, restoration and enhancement of wetlands and associated habitats throughout the Bay of Fundy and Maritime region.

The Nova Scotia Bay of Fundy Environmental Awareness Award 2002 was presented to Gini Proulx of Clementsvale, Annapolis Co., in recognition of her research and conservation of rare plant species, particularly in the area of Brier Island, Long Island and Digby Neck.

Stephen Rand and Joseph Hickman, both of Port Williams, Kings Co., have worked to conserve and restore wetlands and to protect waterways on land holdings through partnerships with conservation agencies. They received the Nova Scotia Bay of Fundy Business Partnership Award 2002 for their efforts.

"The awards presented today recognize those who have done great work to keep Nova Scotia's environment healthy," said Mr. Fage. "Their actions will help keep our wetlands and wildlife habitats healthy and vibrant for years to come."

The ministers also congratulated recipients of the Gulf of Maine Art Longard Award and Gulf of Maine Special Recognition Award, which were presented during the Gulf of Maine Council meeting in Boston, Mass., in December 2002.

Don Rice and Jim Todd, both of Bear River, Digby Co., received the Gulf of Maine Art Longard Award in recognition of 10 years of volunteer work to preserve the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, which covers 100,000 hectares in southwest Nova Scotia near Kejimkujik National Park.

The Gulf of Maine Special Recognition Award was given to members of the Gulf of Maine Expedition including Dan Earle and Sue Hutchins, both of Yarmouth, and Natalie Springuel and Rich MacDonald from Maine. The Gulf of Maine Expedition was a sea- kayaking journey organized in the summer of 2002 to raise awareness and caring about ecology and cultural legacy of this vast international watershed and to promote low-impact coastal recreational practices, safety and stewardship.

The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment was established in 1989 by the governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine to foster co- operation, conservation, protection and sustainable management in the Gulf of Maine watershed and marine environment. The council's mission is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the gulf and to ensure that existing and future generations use the resource sustainably.