The RM of Dufferin and the Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy Project were among several recipients of the 2011 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards honoured April 5.
“These awards are an important mechanism for change as they bring deserved recognition to champions of sustainability and inspire us all to take action,” said Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh. “We need to honour these individuals and groups, and the projects that have turned the province’s principles and guidelines of sustainable development into concrete and lasting achievements.”
The recipients included:
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- The Marquis Project in Brandon for outstanding achievement in sustainability. Marquis is a community-based, non-profit organization committed to strengthening international development for over 30 years. It educates Manitobans on economic, political and social issues at local and global levels, and actively participates in sustainable projects and partnerships to improve the quality of life in small, rural communities in developing countries;
- The RM of Dufferin for sustainability in water and natural area stewardship.
Dufferin has introduced the Dufferin Wetland Tax Credit Program to encourage wetland preservation and restoration;
- Lake Friendly Campaign was developed by mayors and reeves from municipalities along the South Basin of Lake Winnipeg for sustainability in pollution prevention and product stewardship. The campaign educates Manitobans about products that are the best environmental choice for reducing nutrients and improving Lake Winnipeg’s water quality;
- The Evergreen School Division in Gimli for education for sustainability. The division has implemented a comprehensive plan for sustainability in the division. The plan focuses on increasing education for sustainable development and sustainability in governance, human resources, and facilities and operations;
- The Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy Project for innovation and research in sustainability. The project examines how cattail plants capture and store nutrients, how harvesting the plants can reduce nutrients entering Lake Winnipeg and how the plants can be harvested for use as a low-carbon fuel source. The project is a collaborative effort by Richard Grosshans, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the University of Manitoba and Ducks Unlimited Canada;
- Shane Johnston, co-owner of Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners in Winnipeg, was named a champion for sustainability. He has increased sustainability by using an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional dry-cleaning chemicals, creating an eco-friendly laundry detergent, increasing energy efficiency, and using Enviro bag programs and green cleaning products in the company’s operations;
- Prairie Architects of Winnipeg was recognized for action on climate change, air quality and energy efficiency for using green building strategies in their building designs to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve indoor air quailty.
Recipients of the annual Sustainable Development Scholarships to assist students in Manitoba who are engaged in post-secondary studies and research that embrace the spirit and principles of sustainable development are: Megan Klassen-Wiebe, University of Manitoba (undergraduate), agriculture (agroecology); and Kayla George Orten-Lederhouse, Red River College (undergraduate), the Joint Applied Environmental Studies Program of Red River College and the University of Winnipeg.
