L to R: Donald Steele, 2005 Hometown Hero ; Jed Goldberg, President, Earth Day Canada; Robert Schad, President and CEO of Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.

Don has served on the City of St. John's Environmental Committee since its inception 20 years ago. He was also a member of the Outer Ring Road Environmental Advisory Committee, helping to ensure increased awareness of the environmental impacts of development and road-building in sensitive areas. For example, Lundrigan's Marsh, now recognized as 'protected' by the Nature Conservancy, was initially spared from further road development based on the Committee's work.

Dr. Steele has performed long-term field studies of local ecosystems around St. John's, on behalf of the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. His resulting extensive knowledge of the Rennies River and Quidi Vidi Lake water systems made him a natural choice as valuable member of the Quidi Vidi Rennies River Development Association, and as President of Friend's of Pippy Park. The latter seeks to protect this beautiful wilderness space, which serves as headwater of the Rennies-Quidi Vidi Lake system.

The positive impacts of Dr. Steele's long-standing environmental work have reverberated through the greater St. John's community, to be manifest in significantly greater public awareness of the local natural environment, as well as tangible changes with respect to municipal land-use laws and regulations. His efforts reflect the true essence of a 'Hometown Hero'.