Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award programIn 1987 the Niagara Escarpment Commission initiated an awards program to give special recognition to people and organizations for the creativity they bring to developing their property in harmony with the natural environment. Eight years later, the NEC expanded its program with the "Award for Individual Achievement," which honours the outstanding efforts that individuals bring to the Niagara Escarpment. 2012 Series"Queen of the Escarpment" honoured for lifetime contributions
The NEC honoured Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment (CONE) founder Lyn MacMillan with the Lifetime Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Massey College at the University of Toronto. Family and friends from the Federation of Ontario Nature (now Ontario Nature), CONE, and the NEC celebrated Lyn's achievements and her dedication to the conservation of the Niagara Escarpment.
Escarpment Guardians: West Hills Secondary School and Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
On May 9, 2012, the NEC acknowledged the students of West Hills Secondary School in Owen Sound and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority with Niagara Escarpment Achievement Awards for their 10-year cleanup of West Rocks Conservation Area. The project, called "Operation Green Sweep," enhances West Rocks Conservation Area to ensure the community's enjoyment of this beautiful Escarpment landscape. West Rocks is one of 140 parks of the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System.
2009 Series
In a presentation by the Hon. Bill Davis, former Ontario Premier, NEC Chair Don Scott and Ted McMeekin, MPP (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) artist & naturalist Robert Bateman was awarded the Niagara Escarpment Lifetime Achievement Award on April 16, 2009.
The Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award for Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation recognizes the building’s innovative design, based on the LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) guidelines from the Canada Green Building Council (CGBC). The 12,000 square foot building has been awarded LEED Gold Certification. This beautiful facility, located in an historical park of the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System, enhances the community and promotes the principles of the Niagara Escarpment as a Biosphere Reserve. The Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation sets a new benchmark in realizing the intent and purpose of the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act for Public Structures within the Plan, particularly in providing public access to the Niagara Escarpment and protecting unique ecologic and historic areas. The award was presented on Wed., May 20, 2009. Left to right: NPCA CAO Tony D'Amario, Chair Doug Ransom and NEC Chair Don Scott
In 2008 these two schools were the first in Ontario to be designated with national status as part of the Associated Schools Project Networkthrough the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). There are some 40 schools in Canada that are part of the network. However, only 3 schools in Canada, among few in the world, are actually located within World Biosphere Reserves; one in Saskatchewan and the Bruce Peninsula District School and St. Edmund’s Public School within the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. This recognition by UNESCO came as a result of years of focused studies, school projects and community partnerships around environmental and global issues. Bruce Peninsula District School and St. Edmund’s Public School have both demonstrated long term dedicated commitment to the ideals UNESCO sets out for the schools involved in the Associated Schools Project Network. This dedication to both education and action, aimed in part at understanding and protecting the natural environment, exemplifies commitment to the principles of the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act.
In August 2004, the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula passed a proclamation which proclaimed the Municipality as a "Dark Sky Community." The municipality passed the proclamation in recognition of the Bruce Peninsula being a unique location where people can still experience the wonders and benefits of the dark night sky. The proclamation noted that the use of dark sky-compliant lighting practices will preserve, protect and enhance the community's use and enjoyment of the natural environment of the night by eliminating hazardous and annoying glare; reduce light trespass; minimize light pollution which results in the degradation of the night-time environment and will conserve energy and resources. The Bruce Peninsula Environment Group was the inspiration behind the educational efforts that lead to the Dark Sky proclamation. The group continues to assist the municipal proclamation through of the publication of a Dark Sky Brochure, fundraising to contribute to the replacement of lighting with dark sky compliant lighting at the Lions Head marina, encouraging and supporting the municipality in the replacement of lights along Highway 6, and at Tobermory and creating educational portable display boards for use at peninsula events, etc. The Municipality of Northern Bruce Dark Sky Proclamation and implementation of the Proclamation sets high standards in protecting the night sky from excessive or "stray" lighting. In doing so this extensive part of the Escarpment will be protected from an aspect of the impact of development not often considered. It preserves the natural scenery of the night sky along this section of the Escarpment. The value to the NEP is significant in that it creates an additional measure of protection in accordance with the Purpose of the NEPDA:
It alsoexemplifies the following objective of the NEPDA:
This residence, known as “Blue Mountain House,” is located in the County of Grey south of Ravenna in an Escarpment Protection Area. This unique development not only met the requirements of the Niagara Escarpment Plan’s Development Criteria, but surpassed them, particularly in landscape siting to minimize visual impact. The NEC staff report quotes that “This development is an outstanding example of building in complete compatibility with the open landscape character of the Escarpment in keeping with the highest expectations we might have for development meeting the Objectives of the Act.” Hundreds of permit applications are assessed by the Commission every year, and some, like this particular project, stand out for their exceptional design and the sensitivity the architect and owners have shown to the Escarpment landscape. The award was presented on Thursday, May 21, 2009. Left to right: homeowner Barry Parrell, NEC Chair Don Scott and architect Paul Syme of 3rd UNCLE design inc.
Left to right: NEC Chair Don Scott, homeowner Marvin Green and architect Peter Clewes of architectsAlliance.
The Blais/Green residence is located in the County of Grey north of Kimberley on a property under the Niagara Escarpment Plan designations Escarpment Natural and Escarpment Protection Areas. Designed by Rob Cadeau & Peter Clewes of Toronto's architectsAlliance, this unique home and garage with viewing platform is a modern interpretation of 19th century Ontario farm homestead. Nestled among working farm fields and an orchard, the home's scale, siting and landscaping reflect great sensitivity to the rural landscape and the cultural heritage of the rural community. The homeowners also planted 2,500 trees on their property, providing further screening and ecological benefit to the property. The Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award was presented to Marvin Green and Peter Clewes on July 18, 2009 in Georgetown, Ontario.
From left to right: Niagara West-Glanbrook MP Dean Allison with Featherstone owners Louise Engel and David Johnson.
Featherstone’s operators Louise Engel and David Johnson are farmers and entrepreneurs whose deep respect for their property and its unique ecology is demonstrated in very creative ways. This is a farm where sheep, birds of prey and insects are as hardworking as the winery production team. Using natural and sustainable methods for vineyard maintenance, Featherstone is leading the way in ecologically-sensitive farming. In addition to the ecologically sound practices on their farm, Featherstone operators have made outstanding efforts to preserve the property’s historic charm. The farm’s buildings are maintained respecting the historic cultural landscape of this very scenic rural community. The Niagara Escarpment Commission encourages landowners to consider their properties’ cultural and ecological landscape and Featherstone is an exceptional model of that awareness.
The Optimist Club of Greensville was honoured for its restoration of the beautiful cobblestone bridge at Webster's Falls. NEC Director Mark Frawley, Hamilton Councillor Robert Pasuta, and Optimist Club members George Flosman, Brian Green and Woody Thompson joined Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Councillor Lloyd Ferguson for the presentation on Sept. 30th, 2009. The Optimist Club of Greensville, with the support of the Trillium Foundation, the Town of Dundas and numerous community members and groups, spearheaded the bridge’s restoration, saving the original 1938 structure from possible demolition. Spanning Spencer Creek at Webster’s Falls, the cobblestone bridge is a treasured local landmark in the Town of Dundas.
On October 28, 2009 the Regional Municipality of Halton received the Niagara Escarpment Achievement Award for its outstanding forest management plan.
Recipients of the Niagara Escarpment Achivement Award by Region:Award for Individual Achievement Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association - 2005 Bruce County Grey Sauble Conservation Authority - Spirit Rock staircase - 1988 City of Hamilton Frances & Jim Bull - house design and siting -1993-94 Dufferin County John Cholvat - addition design -1995 Grey County Arnold Bennett - house design and siting - 1995 Halton Region Peggy & Gordon Sturgeon - house design and siting -1988 Peel Region Grice Coppeland - house design and siting -1990 Region of Niagara Carol & Bill Bannister - renovation of grist mill -1993-94 Simcoe County
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