Recipient Stories

2018 Grand River Honour Roll Award

John  Parish,  Erin (posthumous award)      
John (1963-2018) was a fluvial geomorphologist who understood the complex interactions between water, land and nature. Sometimes referred to as a river doctor, he assessed rivers and found ways to restore those that had been damaged, so they could flow naturally. He had passion and a strong work ethic and was involved in many studies and projects for the GRCA. His work related to environmental flow has provided insights that the GRCA considers when making reservoir and flow management decisions. His legacy also includes mentoring a new generation of      geomorphologists.

2018 Grand River Watershed Awards

Jack Benham, Damascus
Jack is a passionate volunteer with the Arthur Trails Group, which has created two trails in Wellington North -- the West Luther Trailway and the River Trail along the Conestogo River. He has top-notch  woodworking skills, enjoys people and loves nature. Inspired by his enthusiasm, a dedicated team has worked with him to create, maintain and fund the local trails.  

Dr. Derek Coleman, Cambridge
 Dr. Coleman has brought his ecological expertise to the Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee and a wide variety of other ecological initiatives. He has also provided financial support through the Ages Foundation Fund that is administered by the Cambridge and North Dumfries      Community Foundation (CNDCF). Through this he has funded planting events, stewardship initiatives and many other projects. 

Grand River Fisheries Management Plan Implementation Committee   
This award recognizes the many partners across the watershed who have been working together to improve aquatic health over the past 20 years. This collaboration has resulted in hundreds of initiatives  across the watershed to improve local fisheries. This has brought provincial,  national and international recognition to the Grand River watershed. 

Jeff Grant, St. Agatha     
Jeff Grant is a dynamic Grade 10 student who loves butterflies, especially monarchs. He raises hundreds of caterpillars of several species on his family's farm. After seeing hundreds of milkweed plants destroyed in his township, he began to volunteer at Laurel Creek Nature Centre, where he educates people of all ages about monarchs and their habitat. 

Philip Holst, Woodstock   
Phillip Holst has been working with landowners to steward wetland projects on private land for 10 years. He is vice-chair of Stewardship Oxford and a national director for Ducks Unlimited Canada. As a volunteer, he works behind the scenes with agencies, companies and politicians. He  takes an active role in each project that he works on. 

Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA)     
OSSGA works in partnership with government and the public to promote a safe and responsible aggregate industry, with a focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability. In recent years, OSSGA has raised $280,000 for the GRCF. Members of the association have undertaken numerous environmental projects in the Grand River watershed. 

2017 Award Winners

Marilyn Murray - Fundraising volunteer (Guelph): Marilyn Murray has been a driving force at the Grand River Conservation Foundation for more than three decades. She has played an active role in every major initiative of the Foundation since 1986. She led the $2.5 million Living Classroom Campaign to bring thousands of children to the GRCA's nature centres. She was also the founding chair of the Grand Champions program that extended the reach of the Foundation throughout the watershed. Marilyn is now a member of the fundraising committee for the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre. She received the Honour Roll Award.

Apotex Pharmachem - Greening Brantford's parks (Brantford): In 2005, Apotex started a tree nursery. Since then, 300 trees have been removed from the nursery and replanted in city parks. Company Vice-President Jim Bertholder was also a founder of the Brant Tree Coalition, made up of local companies dedicated to greening the city. The coalition holds many planting events. Apotex has played a key role in creating the New Forest in the City in Brantford and contributes funds for planting events.

Karen Bateman and Marilyn Swaby - Sharing a love of nature (Guelph): Both Karen and Marilyn are volunteers with the Young Naturalist program that is offered by Nature Guelph. The GRCA is a partner in this program and it takes place at Guelph Lake Nature Centre. Marilyn is passionate about connecting children with the natural world through art. Karen engages children's curiosity about birds. Both play a key role in shaping the next generation of nature enthusiasts and stewards.

Cambridge City Green - Stewardship: Cambridge City Green's stewardship initiative has been underway for 11 years and has enhanced the city's natural environment. Impressive milestones include planting 12,000 trees, shrubs and wildflowers of 175 native species. The program has involved over 75 groups at 30 sites and undertaken 90 planting events.

Nature Guelph - Tuning in to Nature: Nature Guelph has been building a connection between nature and city residents for 51 years. There are multiple aspects to this club, including very popular talks by experts and nature excursions of all types to increase understanding and appreciation of nature. The club has also taken on many projects, including citizen science projects, stewardship projects and programs for children and teens.

Stuart Wright - Soil conservation leader (Kenilworth): Stuart has made an outstanding environmental contribution through his involvement in the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), which promotes stewardship practices that improve both crop production and water quality. He supports and encourages the Wellington, Perth and Huron SCIAs and helped to revitalize the Waterloo association, which had become dormant.

David Lamble (Fergus)- Honour Roll: David received a Watershed Award from the GRCA in 1999, when he had already banded 60,000 birds. He has continued his work as a master bird bander and has now banded over 200,000 birds of nearly 200 species. He works independently as a volunteer and bands at Luther Marsh, Belwood Lake and many other locations. A retired teacher, he also enjoys sharing his knowledge of birds with others, especially young people.

Youth Outdoors Day (Luther Marsh): For 15 years, volunteers have held a special free event each September at Luther Marsh for young people. This event started out small and has grown. About 150 volunteers give kids the chance to learn new skills and connect with nature in new ways. Over the years, the event has engaged an estimated 3,000 youth and their parents in many outdoor activities. In the technological era, connecting kids with nature encourages an understanding of nature and land stewardship in the next generation.

The Neighbourhood Group of Companies (Guelph and Kitchener): The planet comes first for The Neighbourhood Group of Companies (NGC), founded by Bob Desautels. The company has three restaurants in Guelph and one in Kitchener. Since opening the first restaurant in 1990, NGC has focused on sustainable operation in all areas of business. NGC holds an annual River Restoration Dinner at each restaurant and is supporting their major commitment to a new nature centre at Guelph Lake. Bob has served on the Foundation board and the nature centre fundraising committee.

Dr. Paul Karrow (Waterloo): Dr. Paul Karrow is a pioneering geologist who mapped the surface geology in much of the Grand River watershed. He taught and mentored many geology students. He also worked closely with the geologist who updated the surface geology and created 3D geology mapping of the Waterloo moraine. Understanding the underlying geology in a watershed is fundamental to understanding and modeling how water flows through and infiltrates into the landscape.

John Rowe (Guelph): For almost 50 years, John Rowe has been a leader in sustainable farming. He started out growing antibiotic-free and hormone-free beef that he sold at his farm. Now Rowe Farms has stores in Toronto and Guelph and a network of farmers who share his approach to growing food.  John also shares his farming philosophy with numerous groups who visit his farm including high school students on field trips to the Guelph Lake Nature Centre. John grows grass-fed beef and believes this farming method can reduce the impact of climate change. He is making an old agricultural practice new again.

Brad Whitcombe (Honour Roll Award): Brad died suddenly of a rare disease in November, 2014, leaving a long record of service. The former mayor of Puslinch and Wellington County warden undertook many long-term environmental initiatives that continue to grow. He found solutions to water issues, and co-founded Wellington Green Legacy and the Friends of Mill Creek.

Bill Christmas: As founding president of the Ted Knox Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada in 2005, Bill has led this group for 10 years. It is restoring Mill Creek and its small tributaries in the southern Grand River area.

The Grand Adventure: Derek Lippert and J.P. Bartle from Quiet Nature have paddled the entire Grand River each spring for the past four years. So far they have raised about $15,000 to plant trees.

Barry Lee: Barry served on the GRCA board representing Halton Region for 25 years. An avid tree planter, he also helped to bring in the current structure of the GRCA board and was chair of the Blue Springs Creek corridor study.

Bob Scott: Bob has had a hand in many environmental initiatives in Brantford. He was the trails coordinator, sat on the Fisheries Management Plan, helps with the Forest in the City each year and monitors bald eagles and frogs.

Waterloo Region Nature: Formed 81 years ago, this organization does environmental education and monitoring, protects wildlife and supports wise policies that increase biodiversity. It purchased and set aside natural areas, including some GRCA properties.

Dr. Hugh Whiteley: Hugh is retired from the University of Guelph engineering department where he taught hydrology. He developed the program used by the GRCA and other conservation authorities to forecast flooding. He continues to influence policy and river planning decisions.

Hillside Festival (Honour Roll Award): After 31 years, this annual music festival at Guelph Lake is a leader in green initiatives thanks to a legion of volunteers and a supportive community that includes the 5,000 festival-goers who come out each year.

Guelph Hiking Trail Club: Since it started in 1972, the Guelph Hiking Trail Club has developed and managed 80 kilometres of trails and provides over 250 events each year that are open to everyone and free.

Emil Frind: Professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Emil Frind is a pioneer in water modelling and has brought his expertise to many initiatives.

Buck Ross and Joyce Spies: Buck and Joyce have been planting trees with the assistance of the GRCA since 1985.

Bird Studies Canada: This national organization fosters an interest in birds through many education and monitoring programs within the Grand River watershed.

Fraser Gibson: Fraser is a retired outdoor education teacher who loves nature and shares this knowledge with adults and children alike. He encourages stewardship of natural areas and participation in many programs.

Heritage River Awards: Eva Salter, Heritage Resources Centre, Barbara Veale: These were some of the key supporters of the designation of the Grand River as a Canadian Heritage River in 1994.

Ron and Nancy Clark (Honour Roll Award): The Caledonia couple supported rail trail and outdoor education fundraising campaigns, as well as the restoration of Taquanyah Conservation Area and nature centre. Ron was also a vice-chair of the GRCA for 10 years.

Paul Clarke: The Guelph teacher and his students plant trees near St. Peter School every year, transforming the school yard and Margaret Greene Park.

Turtle Island News: The Six Nations newspaper holds an annual Earth Day event with displays, workshops and education opportunities. Thousands of trees have been given to attendees.

Lynne Wolstencroft: The late Waterloo mayor and GRCA board member promoted a long list of environmental programs including expansion of recycling, naturalizations of creeks and banning the cosmetic use of pesticides.

Bernd Brandt: The Oxford County farmer has planted 25,000 trees of 20 species on his property.

George and Peggy Sarson: The Sarsons started the annual Run for the Toad event at Pinehurst Lake which has become one of the biggest trail runs in North America. Money raised at the event has supported trail improvements, interpretive signs and other amenities in the park.

Grand Valley Trails Association: (Honour Roll Award): Starting in the 1970s, the association developed and maintains a 275 kilometre trails running from the headwaters of the Grand to Lake Erie.

Rick Ludkin: Rick operates a bird banding station at Ruthven National Historic Site, Cayuga.

Waterloo Cattlemen's Association: The cattle producers of Wellesley Township have erected 37 kilometre of fence along rivers and streams and planted more than 20,000 trees.

Friends of Mill Creek: A dedicated group of volunteers from Puslinch Township has supported the rehabilitation of Mill Creek back to a coldwater stream. They developed the successful Mill Creek Rangers program.

Len and Sue King: The Kings planted 50,000 trees to create a diverse Carolinian forest south of Brantford.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada: The Cambridge company has adopted environmental sustainability as part of its corporate vision, and put it into practice by supporting many GRCA projects and programs.

Ken Rosin: Ken has worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the GRCA to develop several wetlands.

Barbara Kidd: Barbara was known as the Green Queen at Arthur Public School for all her work with students, parents and community partner to adopt various green projects in the school, including establishing outdoor spaces for kids to learn and play.

Jim Phillips: Jim and his father George, planted a combined 70,000 trees on their property in Wellington North Township. Jim's company, Copernicus Educational Projects also gives out thousands of trees each spring to students.

Fergus Lions Club: The club developed the Grand River Arboretum in Fergus, a quiet area of remembrance that includes 350 trees with commemorative plaques to remember loved ones.

Cambridge WATERS: This volunteer group tells Cambridge's water story to people by creating education materials, overseeing the Yellow Fish Road program and setting up displays at special events.

Conestogo River Enhancement Workgroup (CREW): This group of volunteers has worked for years to develop and advance the brown trout tailwater fishery on the Conestogo River. They have helped stock the river with hundreds of thousands of fish and planted more than 3,000 trees.

Allan Holmes (Honour Roll Award): Allan was the chief administrative officer of the GRCA from 1991 to 2000, a time when it went through significant changes, completed major projects such as rail trails, and was winner of the Thiess Riverprize.

Clare Rennie: Clare was the quiet leader behind the Guelph Rotary Forest, a project to plan 60,000 trees over 12 years near the Guelph Lake Nature Centre.

Paul and Steve Cressman: The brothers planted more than 7,000 trees on their farms near New Hamburg.

Ducks Unlimited Canada: The group has been working more than three decades to return lost wetland habitat to the watershed. They invested $1.6 million 80 projects on 1,900 hectares.

Chuck Beach: Chuck is a motiving force behind many environmental projects in the Brantford area, including annual Earth day tree plantings, schoolyard projects and others.

Wellington Green Legacy: The county-based organization has become one of the largest municipal tree planting programs in North America, planting over one million trees since it was founded in 2004.

Peter Krause (Honour Roll Award): Peter was a member of the GRCA board for 21 years and chair for nine.

Murray Schlueter: Murray builds and oversees bluebird boxes in Wellesley Township to help them come back from the brink of extinction.

Tom Sitak: A teacher at Pauline Johnson CVI in Brantford, Tom has worked with many generations of students to improve D'Aubigny Creek.

Norman Lundvall: A member of the Grand River Conservation Foundation for 36 years and its president for several years, Norm raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the foundation's environmental projects.

Blount Canada: Blount, in Guelph, has been a leader in adopting environmentally sound landscaping projects, foregoing the use of chemicals and promoting the planting of native species.

Trout Unlimited Canada Speed Valley Chapter: Group members worked for several years to improve Marden Creek near Guelph to return it to its natural state and make it more hospitable for trout.