Natural Leaders We proudly present CWF's Conservation Achievement Awards Recipients for 2021 - Canadian Wildlife Federation
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Natural
Leaders
We proudly present CWF’s Conservation Achievement Awards Recipients for 2021
TAKPANNIE
Water keeper Autumn Peltier,
KATHERINE
this year's recipient of CWF's
TKTK
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Youth Conservation Award
16 CANADIAN WILDLIFE JUL + AUG 2021 17
Youth Mentor Award
This award honours an individual or group that
has made a significant contribution in creating or
presenting programs that introduce youth to the
importance of conservation, habitat and wildlife.
Shannon
Chernick
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN
I
n times of crisis and stress, often
it is the simplest things that offer
the greatest relief. Canadians have
rediscovered this during the past 18 months
of repeated lockdowns and constant worry.
Seeking respite in nature in record numbers,
people in Canada went outdoors to breathe
Wade Luzny Youth Conservation Award a little easier, to socialize (distanced) and
This award was renamed in honour of CWF’s much-admired executive director just to get a break.
who died in 2016. It recognizes Canadian youth who have undertaken wildlife or In Regina, Shannon Chernick had
habitat conservation projects and activities that have helped make a difference just been hired as the youth engagement
to the environment. coordinator at Nature Regina when the
COVID-19 crisis began. She knew first-hand
the effect of school closures and the
isolation, boredom and restlessness that
Autumn Peltier resulted. Inspired by her two young sons
and their excitement at being outdoors,
OTTAWA she recognized the need to create engaging
outdoor programming for homebound
W
young people and their families. For the
ater activist Autumn Peltier is from the Wikwemikong summer, she developed a program called
First Nation on Manitoulin Island and of Ojibway and Odawa Wandering Wednesdays, offering weekly
heritage. She lives in Ottawa, where she attends high school. adventure and activity guides linked to
In the last five years, Autumn Peltier has travelled across the country and Regina’s conservation areas and parks.
internationally to talk about the importance of clean water. Since 2016, These self-guided family activities proved
when she told the prime minister she was disappointed in him and gave to be very popular. Building on that success,
a speech saying it was time to stop “terrorizing Mother Earth and give her with the return of school in September IN HER WORDS
time to heal,” she has been named by the Assembly of First Nations as 2020, Chernick worked with Nature
Growing up, exploring in nature
a water protector, was a keynote speaker for World Water Week in Stock- Saskatchewan and SaskOutdoors to start
provided me with a safe place
holm, Sweden, and has addressed the United Nations General Assembly Get Outside! Kids Club. Each week at
to go, be myself and experience
and the World Economic Forum. In 2019, at age 16, she appeared on the a different greenspace around Regina,
quiet and calm. I have always
BBC’s annual list of 100 most influential women. She was the only facilitators and volunteers lead children
appreciated the restorative
Canadian on the list. and families through educational games, experience of spending time
The source spring of Peltier’s passion should be well known to activities and knowledge-sharing focused outside. I believe strongly in
Canadians: as of March 2021, there were at least 58 outstanding water on species of plants and animals in the providing opportunities for all
advisories affecting 38 First Nations communities. Some have not had area. In the constrained and dreary days of youth to experience their local
clean, running drinking water for more than two decades. In Canadian COVID-19 lockdowns, these programs were environment, no matter where
KATHERINE TAKPANNIE.
Geographic magazine recently, Peltier recalled at age 8 saying, “There’s popular because they offered a few hours of they live — city or country. It
kids my age and younger not knowing what it’s like to drink clean water togetherness and fun outdoors, to everyone builds resilience in young people
from a tap,” and deciding she had to do something about it. Ever since from children aged 6 to 12 and their siblings
DANE ROY
to have positive experiences in
then, she has. to caregivers, parents and grandparents. nature from an early age.
18 CANADIAN WILDLIFE JUL + AUG 2021 19
Past Presidents’ Canadian Legislator Award
The Past Presidents’ Canadian Legislator
Award was established in 1988 by former
Canadian Wildlife Federation leaders. This
award is presented annually to an elected
provincial, territorial or federal legislator
in recognition of a significant contribution
to the conservation of wildlife in Canada.
The
Honorable
Blaine
Wild Educator Award
Pedersen
ELM CREEK, MANITOBA
Established in 2015, this award honours an exceptional WILD Education facilitator
or instructor who has provided innovative and meaningful experiences for youth
F
that focus on wildlife and the building of a conservation ethic. irst elected as the MLA for
the Manitoba constituency
of Midland in 2007, Blaine
Leah Japp Pedersen is now Minister of Agricul-
ture and Resource Development.
Thirty years a farmer and long an
BETHUNE, SASKATCHEWAN
avid outdoorsman, he has been active
H
in nature his whole life. Since taking
ow do you encourage teachers to offer outdoor play and on the Agriculture and Resource
discovery during a pandemic? Well, it’s not easy. As we Development portfolio in 2019, Min.
learned in the past year, school closures, lockdowns and Pedersen has undertaken several key
orders to isolate make it very difficult indeed. initiatives, each of which should
For Leah Japp, general manager of SaskOutdoors, an organiza- show conservation benefits lasting
tion promoting and facilitating outdoor learning and environmental for generations. These include
stewardship among Saskatchewan teachers, school administrators, promoting three recently established
parents and students, it meant doing things differently. As a trained trusts with investments totalling
WILD Education facilitator, Japp has been promoting Project WILD more than $200 million in endow-
and Below Zero for more than five years, working with innumerable ments to generate ongoing funding for
K-12 teachers and other educators around the province through conservation projects. His department
IN HER WORDS
in-person workshops and toolkits to help them connect youth to is also piloting reforms to the funding
My motivation for this work nature and grow their conservation ethic. and operation of Manitoba’s Wildlife
comes from seeing the profound When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Japp Management Areas. Further, since
positive effect outdoor and recognized the challenge but refused to let the cancellation of Manitoba is “the land of 100,000
environmental education — and, all in-person opportunities stop her. Instead, she embraced the lakes,” Min. Pedersen has introduced
more generally, time outdoors challenges presented by the pandemic by adapting her environ- significant reforms to the regulations
— can have on people of all mental education work for a remote, online learning environ- governing the province’s sizable
ages. From an education per- ment. Working collaboratively with CWF staff, Japp was the first commercial fishery and recently
spective, I really value how it WILD Education facilitator in the country to develop and pilot an launched a new strategy to modern-
draws on multiple different ways online Project WILD workshop. According to those who worked ize angling regulations and be a leader
of knowing and being and how closely with her, it was her plucky pioneering spirit, creativity in recreational fisheries management.
people who don’t necessarily and enduring optimism that enabled her to reimagine and then Working closely with stakeholder
excel in a classroom environ- retool CWF’s WILD Education program to meet a sudden need for groups, Min. Pedersen’s stated aim
ment can shine when you take
activities that could be done online, outdoors and in physically is to make Manitoba’s among the
DANE ROY
them outdoors.
distanced classrooms. most sustainable freshwater fisheries
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in North America and a popular
destination for outdoor recreation.
20 CANADIAN WILDLIFE JUL + AUG 2021 21
Roland Michener Conservation Award
This award was established in 1978 by the Canadian
Wildlife Federation as a tribute to former governor
general Roland Michener (1900-1991). An outstanding
outdoorsperson and role model for a generation, he
served as an honorary president of the CWF. The award
is presented to an individual or organization demon-
strating a commitment to conservation through
responsible activities that promote, enhance and further
the conservation of Canada’s natural resources.
Fred Cheverie
SOURIS, P.E.I.
A
fter a 30-year career as an admired
teacher, during which time he
fostered a love of nature in a great
many of his students, Fred Cheverie didn’t
retire and dedicate himself to his golf game.
He got to work. First, he turned his consider-
able energy and personal drive to a local
conservation effort. That grew into him
becoming watershed coordinator of the
Souris and area branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife
Federation, a fledgling group Cheverie helped
transform from two summers-only staff to
a thriving and influential organization with
major funding and four full-time and many
part-time employees planning and carrying
out innovative agricultural programs,
in-stream and shoreline work and securing
land for conservation. What’s more, thanks to
the organization’s example and inspiration,
watershed groups supported by public funding
now lead conservation efforts across the entire
province. Not surprisingly, Cheverie served on
the board of the movement’s umbrella group,
the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance. That was only
the beginning. Since then, Cheverie has made
a meaningful contribution to wildlife in P.E.I.,
IN HIS WORDS
from Irish moss to Atlantic salmon, from
stewarding a local creek to supporting the There are significant connections
creation of the Basin Head Marine Protected we all make in life — family, friends.
Area by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Connection to the natural world
Among the important and lasting contribu- around us is one I value just as
tions noted by his nominators, Cheverie, ever much. To take time immersing
the teacher, has through the years brought yourself in nature, listening to the
many conservationists together with scientists trickling brook, the birds, the leaves,
and researchers, creating links, advancing and enjoying the beauty it has to
projects and even launching several conserva- offer, that is time well spent. It is
tion careers. Thanks to his “no-nonsense, ‘let’s both physical and mental. Volunteer
get it done’ approach,” one nominator said, with your local watershed or
SEAN BERRIGAN
Cheverie “has influenced the entire evolution conservation group and ask lots
of conservation and stewardship on P.E.I.” of questions — they need you.
22 CANADIAN WILDLIFE JUL + AUG 2021 23
IN HER WORDS
Roderick Haig-Brown Award
I have always lived near Presented to an individual or group who has made a significant
the North Saskatchewan contribution to furthering the sport of angling and the conservation,
River. My late father instilled development and wise use of Canada’s recreational fisheries.
in me a love of the land
and especially the river.
Mi’kmaw
A trapper, hunter and canoeist
throughout his lifetime, he
taught me to see and
experience the land from his
Métis value system, to be Conservation
curious and observe the
patterns and laws of nature.
I find inspiration in these
Group
TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA
natural patterns in my own
artistic practice. He taught
B
me that nature is so wise Robert Bateman Award
and has many answers if we efore European contact, the Mi’kmaw peoples thrived
In commemoration of its 50th anniversary and in
listen and observe. It is my throughout the Fundy watershed, nature’s resources
salute to an extraordinary artist and nature lover,
Métis heritage that has kept the Canadian Wildlife Federation established this and waterways providing all their necessities of life,
me connected to the land award to recognize those who, through artistic for which the people felt great thanks. Today, there exists
emotionally, mentally, expression, have furthered the awareness of and still a spiritual and respectful connection between the Mi’kmaq
spiritually and physically. As appreciation for Canada’s wildlife and habitats and who live there and their natural environment.
an artist, I see Mother Earth their conservation. The mission of the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group is to
as an amazing artist who does “promote and restore the concept of Netukulimk in the Bay
the work of our Creator. of Fundy watershed.” Netukulimk can be interpreted as the
philosophy of sustaining yourself and your community with
Leah Dorion the fruits of the Earth while also conserving them for future
generations. The group’s work includes hosting multistake-
PRINCE ALBERT, SASKATCHEWAN holder symposiums on marine policy and running grassroots
conservation projects on the Minas Basin, the Shubenacadie
L
River, the Stewiacke River and multiple rivers in Pictou County.
eah Dorion is a Métis artist This is in addition to the extensive coastline work on the tidal
born and raised in Saskatchewan. barriers on the Bay of Fundy recognized by this award.
A painter, filmmaker and writer, The Bay of Fundy area, of course, is famous for the
she is also a teacher and mentor to other tidal effects on the long shallow ocean bay. This Mi’kmaw
artists. She has written everything from Conservation Group project focuses on restoring vital tidal
research papers for the Royal Commission shorelines and clearing innumerable barriers — culverts,
on Aboriginal Peoples to children’s books dykes, collapsed roadways — that impede ecologically
to video documentaries that showcase essential tidal flow from reaching upstream to nourish the
Métis culture and history. salt marsh habitat that’s beneficial for birds, fish and
In her paintings, Dorion speaks to humans. This project is focused on creating restoration plans
the spiritual strength of Indigenous for 10 such barriers on the Bay of Fundy and completing the
women, often emphasizing the key role first restoration.
women play in passing on vital knowledge The Mi’kmaw Conservation Group is a program of
in every culture, especially given that the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia,
women are often the first teachers of the a tribal council and non-profit established in 1986 that assists
next generation. She describes her work its eight member communities in advancing “initiatives
as “elemental,” often representing nature toward self-determination and enhancement of community.”
and air, earth, fire and water in brightly It does so by delivering community programs and advisory
coloured, boldly patterned canvasses. services with uniquely Mi’kmaw perspectives, such as the
Nature and animals feature heavily in all Mi’kmaw Conservation Group. The group is also a member
her works. Her vivid and inspiring work of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Atlantic Aboriginal aquatic
can be seen at leahdorion.ca. As artist-in- resource and oceans management program.
residence at the Mann Art Gallery in Prince
Albert, she mentored youth and collabor-
TENILLE CAMPBELL
ated with several young artists in the
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creation of five outdoor installations over
the summer of 2020.
24 CANADIAN WILDLIFE
IN HER WORDS
I didn’t get really interested in
nature until I was older. After my
first meeting, I felt like I had met
so many kindred spirits. There
have been so many people since
then who have inspired me,
starting with David Suzuki and
Jane Goodall. She once said,
“The greatest danger to our
future is apathy.” So speak up,
get involved, plant native flora.
Do whatever it takes to make
this planet a green and healthy
place to live.
Stan Hodgkiss Outdoorsperson of the Year Award
Since 1975, the Outdoorsperson of the Year Award has been presented to a Canadian who has demonstrated an active
and enduring commitment to conservation. The award is named in honour of CWF’s founding president, Stan Hodgkiss.
Marcie Jacklin
NIAGARA REGION, ONTARIO
M
ore than 30 years ago, Marcie Jacklin was conservation organizations including the Bert Miller
introduced to birdwatching. So began a Nature Club, Niagara Falls Nature Club, Peninsula Field
heartfelt embrace of birds and their conserva- Naturalists, Buffalo Ornithological Society and Ontario
tion. It led to a passionate commitment to protecting and Field Ornithologists.
preserving all wildlife and the landscapes they need to As a passionate and informed advocate for nature and
thrive. Since then, she has gone on to inspire countless its conservation, Jacklin has spearheaded community
others in Ontario’s Niagara Region and beyond. action in defence of precious natural spaces under threat
Jacklin was a longtime librarian at Brock University of development and has played an important role on the
and a founding member of the Environmental Sustain- Niagara Region’s biodiversity and climate action commit-
ability Research Centre there. A tireless and avid citizen tee, working to conserve and protect some of the last
scientist, she has participated in countless bird counts intact Carolinian forest in the area. Jacklin has co-auth-
CALLUM PINKNEY
and surveys, all while mentoring and inspiring less ored numerous articles and publications. She’s currently
experienced participants. She has also taken on active the Niagara regional coordinator for the third Ontario
leadership roles on the boards of local and regional Breeding Bird Atlas.
26 CANADIAN WILDLIFE
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