For Immediate Release
Canada’s Environmental Hometown Hero announced
(Toronto, ON) June 29, 2009 – Earth Day Canada, in partnership with Cascades Inc., is pleased to announce that Liz Benneian has been chosen as Canada’s 2009 Environmental Hometown Heroes Award winner. Liz, recognized at the 6th Annual Earth Day Canada Gala, received a cash-prize of $10 000; $5 000 to keep and $5 000 to donate to the environmental cause of their choice. Liz chose to give $5 000 of the cash award to the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association.
“Liz is a passionate leader and motivated environmentalist,” states Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. “She has initiated a great deal of change in the environmental community in the past four years and is very deserving of the Hometown Heroes Award. As we take time to celebrate Canada Day, we are also celebrating the efforts of Canada’s green heroes like Liz.”
Benneian has been a full-time volunteer President of Oakvillegreen Conservation Association for the past four years. With Liz as the lead, the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association
- Convinced the Government of Ontario to preserve the 24-acre Wildglower Woods
- Established a Tree Protection Bylaw protecting Oakville’s mature forest and halting clear-cutting of properties slated for development
- Established a Pesticide Bylaw forbidding cosmetic and chemical pesticide use
- Created the 650-acre Glenorchy Conservation Area in north Oakville
- Launched Oakville’s first community teaching garden
- Created a local volunteer group, Ground Breaks, which plants over 2 000 trees each year
- Founded Zero Waste Ontario to influence policy development and practices at the
municipal, regional and provincial levels.
Interested parties can read more about Liz in the upcoming issue of Alternatives Journal, Hometown Heroes print media partner.
“There are so many unsung environmental heroes working in their towns and cities across Canada every day to make their communities more resilient and hopeful,” says Benneian. “Earth Day Canada is performing an important service by acknowledging their contributions and providing a platform for their stories. Hopefully, they will inspire others to make a difference.”
The Hometown Heroes Program recognizes environmental leaders who have fostered meaningful, long-term community awareness and action. For more information on Liz Benneian and the 2009 Hometown Heroes Award Program please visit www.earthday.ca/hometown.
About Earth Day Canada
Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004 it was recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world’s largest association of environmental educators. In 2008 it was chosen as Canada’s “Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. www.earthday.ca
2009 Finalists
Donna Dillman
On October 8, 2007 Donna began what would become a 68 day hunger strike in support of a moratorium on the exploration and mining of uranium as well as a public inquiry. The community rallied in support.
DreamRider Theatre
DreamRider Theatre is Greater Vancouver’s environmental education theatre company. Their recent production Keep Cool! teaches kids about what they can do to reduce their consumption of energy and natural resources.
London Green Festival Team
The London Green Festival Team promoted environmental responsibility to over 450 000 visitors during the 2008 London festival season. The Green Festivals Team has grown from representing three festivals to representing eight events.
Maia Green
At ten years old, Maia Green wanted to create a world-wide environmental club that would save the world. Now, Maia’s Friends Uniting for Nature Society gives youth the opportunity to build a connection with nature and learn the importance of environmental change in communities.
Marie-Josée Corneau
Marie-Josée launched Projet sans Frontièrs, teaching children to be aware of their role as responsible green citizens. Marie-Josée also developed green partnerships with the community IGA and Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
North Vancouver Outdoor School Alumni Society (NVOSAS)
NVOSAS formed to ensure children and youth develop an ethic of environmental caring for the natural world by encouraging and supporting environmental and cultural education. With the support of NVOSAS, the Outdoor School has become an inclusive and accessible, internationally recognized model for environmental education and conservation.
The Rideau Environmental Action League (REAL)
REAL opened the REAL Deal Store to reduce the environmental impact of Smiths Falls and neighbouring municipalities through waste diversion. REAL created the Well Aware Program to educate residents on the importance of well stewardship, water conservation, and the contamination of ground and surface water.
Roxanne Welsh
In 2004, Roxanne began to challenge the lack of action on the cleanup and containment of the Historic Turner Valley Gas Plant site. She succeeded in ensuring a containment wall was built for the protection of the Sheep River, pressed for the abandonment of the Dingman 2 well and the extinguishing of the illegal hillside flare, and ensured that Turner Valley’s water testing program includes additional parameters.
We Are Many (WAM)
Guided by their desire to facilitate change in their community, WAM teaches residents of Saskatoon about the importance of simple environmental action. The WAM Festival attracted over 10 000 people, 150 youth volunteers, 34 workshops and presentations, nearly 50 Eco-Fair booths and more.
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To arrange an interview or request photos of the event please contact:
Keith Treffry | Communications Director | Earth Day Canada | 416.599.1991 x 107 | keith@earthday.ca
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