Hamilton Environmentalists of the Year Awards Winner Announcement 2023
Hamilton, ON – 20 October – The Hamilton Environmentalists of the Year (EOY) Awards Committee is excited to announce that the 2023 EOY Awards ceremony will be held on October 27, 2023, at the LR Wilson Hall on the McMaster University campus from 6 to 9. This year's event is particularly special as it introduces three new youth awards well as our legacy award.
Legacy Awards:
Dr. Victor Cecilioni Environmentalist of the Year Award: This prestigious award recognizes individuals, groups, or businesses in Hamilton who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in environmental activity. It is the highest honour awarded by the EOY and signifies a lifetime dedication to ecological restoration and stewardship in Hamilton. Stop the Sprawl is being honored with the 2023 Dr. Victor Cecilioni Environmentalist of the Year Award for their exceptional commitment and leadership in combating urban sprawl in Hamilton. Through a series of impactful campaigns, community outreach, and policy advocacy, the organization has been instrumental in preserving green spaces and promoting sustainable urban planning. Their work embodies a lifetime dedication to ecological restoration and stewardship, making them a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
2023 WINNER: STOP SPRAWL HAMON
Stop the Sprawl HamOnt (SSHO) won the Dr. Victor Cecilioni Environmentalist of the Year award for its exceptional impact on community engagement and policy change in Hamilton. The grassroots organization stood out for mobilizing over 3,200 individuals and significantly influencing a landmark city survey that led to the protection of 3,300 acres of environmentally-sensitive land. SSHO's innovative campaigns, which included multimedia content and public demonstrations, played a key role in their success. Comprising a dedicated team of volunteers, the organization has shown relentless commitment to their cause, meeting weekly and using a variety of platforms to maintain community involvement. Although not previously formally recognized, their work has received endorsements from various environmental organizations and government bodies. Overall, SSHO's comprehensive, effective, and sustained efforts made them a deserving recipient of the award.
Award of Merit: This award is a recognition of individuals, groups, students, and businesses in Hamilton who have shown excellence in environmental efforts. Here are the recipients of the awards of Merit for 2023:
Jordyn Boyer has been awarded the Award of Merit for her outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability in Hamilton. Through her leadership in environmental youth groups, her innovative community pollinator garden project and active participation Stop the Sprawl and Westmount Eco Ninjas, Jordyn has demonstrated a high level of commitment and excellence in environmental efforts. Her initiatives have not only enhanced community engagement but also significantly contributed to the betterment of local ecosystems.
Neal Bonnor has been honored with an Award of Merit for his dedicated "kayakleanup" on Spencer Creek, where he navigated natural obstacles and collected a full bag of waste, including notable items like a large plastic bucket and a glass insulator. This impactful environmental effort, dedicated to his friend and fellow activist Rose Janson, highlights Neal's commitment to ecological restoration and community engagement.
Sheelah Dooley is being honored with the Award of Merit for her multifaceted contributions to environmental conservation that include initiating a seed orchard at the Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary, recruiting a regular team of 10 volunteers for the Hamilton Naturalists' Club, and successfully fundraising for the EcoGoats to the Rescue project. Her efforts have led to impactful corporate collaborations, mobilized private donors, and educated the community on the importance of native plants and biodiversity.
New Youth Awards:
Post-Secondary Youth Conservation Award: This new award recognizes post-secondary youth who have demonstrated leadership in environmental protection at a local level in Hamilton.
WINNER: Armann Kotadia won the Post Secondary Youth Award for his outstanding leadership in environmental sustainability and community impact at McMaster University. Through initiatives like the Student Sustainability Ambassadors Program and "Planting For The Future," he has engaged hundreds in sustainable practices, while his educational contributions and various leadership roles amplify his influence. His efforts have garnered him multiple accolades, including the Canadian Youth Climate Action Award, affirming his commitment to making a substantial, lasting impact.
Environmental Youth Group or School Public Service Award: This award recognizes youth groups or educational entities with distinguished public service in environmental achievement in Hamilton.
WINNER: The Youth Stewardship & Professional Skills Program (YSP) from Green Venture won the Post Secondary Youth Award for its pioneering approach to environmental stewardship and community impact in Hamilton. Over its two-year existence, YSP has incubated 90 youth participants, leading to the development and funding of more than 8 unique, youth-led projects that address diverse environmental issues, from fast fashion awareness to eco-friendly garden designs. The program stands out for its dual focus: it not only facilitates the creation of tangible, community-beneficial projects but also equips its participants with essential professional skills for effective implementation, thereby making a multi-dimensional contribution to environmental awareness and education in the community.
Youth Eco Project Award: This 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 in Hamilton.
WINNER: The Carbon Sink Project, led by Herleen Sambhi, Abdullah Mumtaz, and Sama Hameed from McMaster University, won the Youth Eco Project Award for its impactful, multidisciplinary approach to carbon sequestration and community education. Completed in just three months as part of the SUSTAIN 3S03 course, the project organized a community tree-planting event, drawing 125 participants who planted 300 native trees. The site, named the McMaster Carbon Sink Forest, serves as a public resource for future research, carbon capture, and recreation. The project not only enhanced public awareness but also contributed to academic research and skill development, making it a comprehensive model for sustainable change.
Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System Landowner Stewardship Award:
Susan and Les MacMillan are the winners of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System Landowner Stewardship Award at the 2023 Environmentalist of the Year Awards Ceremony. This award recognizes a landowner who has contributed to ecological corridors between Cootes Paradise Marsh and the Niagara Escarpment. Ecological corridors are special pathways that plants and animalsuse to find food, friends, and safe places to live. The MacMillans have contributed to these local ecological corridors by creating pollinator gardens and planting native trees and shrubs on their property in Waterdown. They also led the effort to remove invasive buckthorn and garlic mustard on City of Hamilton property behind their house, helped plant native plants there, have been active volunteers in the community through the Bruce Trail Conservancy over the past 4 years.
For more information about the legacy and history of these awards, please visit www.eoyawards.com.
Tickets and Attendance:
Tickets for the event are now available for purchase at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hamilton-environmentalist-of-the-year-awards-gala-tickets-629367082887?aff=oddtdtcreator
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