| Residents |
| Robert Dyke (Recipient of Award) |
| In response to efforts of the community to protect and preserve the environment around Jackfish Lake, Robert Dyke installed a septic tank to replace an outhouse and prevent the contamination of the surrounding land and water. Mr. Dyke acted on motivation from the Jackfish Management Association to encourage lake users to use the lake responsibly and sustainably, and Parkland County’s offer of a subsidy (Green Acreages Program) to encourage lake users to contain their sewage. He was a major motivator to other cabin owners to follow suit and install septic systems as well. Many residents continue to install septic systems with encouragement from Mr. Dyke. The stewardship of sustainable practices such as this, will continue to benefit the Jackfish Lake area and the Parkland County environment by protecting and preserving our water quality. |
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| Businesses |
| Parkland County Food Bank (Recipient of Award) |
| In 2017 by the Parkland Food Bank started the Food Rescue Program in Parkland County. The program collects surplus food regardless of quality, 6 days a week, offering retailers a cost effective and environmentally friendly way of disposing of food that they are unable to sell. Volunteers then get busy sorting into food that is fit for human consumption (according to the standards of Food Banks Canada), and any leftovers are made available to farmers in the community to feed livestock. Last year a total of 164,000 kg was diverted from the landfill and delivered to 3,600 clients, who make meals and school snacks, as well as three farmers who used expired products for their livestock feed. This initiative will continue to benefit the community and the environment while working towards a zero waste policy. |
| Little Explorers Child Care (Nominee) |
| Michelle Ducharme opened a day home that provides quality childcare to families within Parkland County. The children are encouraged to play outside and learn about sustainable practices such as gardening, composting, growing and harvesting food. They utilized the harvested food to make canned goods and sauces as well as baking which was delivered to the neighbours during their afternoon walks. The children also learn about the animals found in Parkland and are encouraged to make their environment more animal friendly. These practices not only allow the children to learn about where their food comes from, it also provides them with a sense of accomplishment and allows them to connect with nature. The children learn compassion and caring for the environment in which they live, which will be carried into the community as they get older. |
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| Schools |
| Nature Kindergarten Extension Program (Recipient of Award) |
| Rae Finlayson, the Early Childhood Development Supervisor at Parkland School Division saw a need to address several alarming trends her team was witnessing as children entered the school system. They developed the program as they believed that play-based learning in nature will help students with cognitive, verbal and motor functions that would lead to their success in future years. They rent an equipped area at Chickakoo Lake and hired and trained certificated teachers as Forest School Practitioners through the Forest & Nature School Canada program. They designed and implemented a program of study based on nature, play and child-led inquiry. They provide assistance and support to all students as they learn to discover the world around them and go on daily adventures. The children are able to connect with nature, and they develop an ethic of care and stewardship for the land. They are encouraged to use sustainable practices and are taught of the impact that they have on the land and how human activities affect wilderness. This school is key to reversing the trend of being taught indoors only, and in turn, allowing children to grow to respect the land and use sustainable practices. The connections that the children have with the land, will continue to inspire them as they move into adulthood they will have a positive impact on the environment and the community. |
| Muir Lake School (Nominee) |
| Muir Lake School has initiated an Environmental Club and a student led Sustainability Awareness Program which has moved above and beyond recycling programs. Some of the new initiatives include creating digital field guides for local plants and animal identification, building habitat for wildlife, Back-to-the-Land Program and litter less lunches. The students are also involved in programs such as Eco-Motion Auto show, Muir Lake Community Blooms project, and animals and are members of Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program, to name a few. The students are involved in stewardship throughout the school, including announcements, posters and classroom visits. Money generated from bottle recycling is put toward future green initiatives and compost bins donated by Parkland County are also being utilized in every classroom. The school has commissioned the students, staff, parents and the community to become involved in their programs. The school has initiated environmental awareness throughout the community and has created students who are engaged in sustainability and will become ambassadors for sustainable practices and a better future. |
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| Agricultural Producers |
| Julie & Curtis Burger (Recipient of Award) |
| Julie and Curtis Burger own approximately 160 acres of land, which is used for cattle and cereal production. Approximately 20 acres of their land is unutilized for agricultural purposes as it is a bog. This area was being damaged from access by the public and they applied for and received permission from the County to fence off the right of way where people were gaining access. They have engaged in multiple projects to further protect their land for conservation. They installed a fence to stop the cattle from entering the wetland on their property, allowing for the riparian area to recover and naturalize. They also utilize a portable solar waterer to eliminate the cattle from entering wet areas in search of water. A shelterbelt was also planted on the property which will provide habitat for wildlife and enhance ecosystem services. The Burgers continue to support a diversity of agricultural land uses and are active in preserving important ecosystems. |
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| Youth |
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| Dixie Clothing (Recipient of Award) |
| Katrina Hillyer was working in the fashion industry and couldn’t help but notice the immense amount of waste being generated. She was disheartened at what she had witnessed and stepped away from the industry for a short while. During this time, she began to work at Sunrise Organic Gardens and learned about the importance of a healthy environment and reducing our impact on the planet. When she returned to the fashion industry she was determined to be more sustainable. With the help of textile donations from family and friends, she saw an opportunity for starting a sustainable business in Parkland County and began to up-cycle items into creative and unique pieces, starting a zero waste clothing and accessories line. She has collaborated with the Onoway Thrift store, collecting anywhere from 60-200 pounds of their garbage textiles every week. Through Dixie Clothing, Katrina has created reusable grocery bags from pre worn denim and donates 30% of these sales towards ocean cleanup. Any pieces that are too small to use, are put aside for compost or are given to the Gruger Family Fungi for spores to be planted in, which will greatly reduce the amount of time the fabric needs to compost. Thread spools are also kept for seed planting, a practice she hopes to expand and use in conjunction with her textile compost. Dixie Clothing was asked to be involved in the 90th OSCAR awards show as a part of the gifting lounge, where she was able to further share and showcase her sustainable practices. Dixie Clothing continues to grow and utilize innovative ideas for diverting waste from the landfills and establishing a strong sense of community within Parkland County. |
| Ben & Mark Keymer- Edmonton Ice Swap (Nominee) |
| Ben Keymer has a passion for sports, as well as giving back to the community. He organized a not-for-profit hockey and ringette equipment swap meet with the goal of giving all kids the opportunity to play organized sports. The event saved families within the community thousands of dollars and reduced the amount of waste generated, as equipment is quickly outgrown and discarded. The Edmonton Ice Swap also brought members of the community together providing an opportunity to network. The event is the first of its kind in the Edmonton and surrounding area and they are anticipating an even greater turnout this year. |
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