SAVING THE PLANET, ONE HERO AT A TIME

September 13, 2003, Southwestern Ontario

Like Superman, your neighbour may be saving the planet, quietly making personal sacrifices to save the natural world, with little recognition or appreciation. Now, 17 conservation heroes have been nominated for Carolinian Canada's annual Conservation Awards for 2003 - 04, offering a window into some fascinating lives, throughout communities in southern Ontario.

Nominees hail from Essex, Elgin, Oxford, Lambton, Middlesex, Toronto, London, Sarnia, Windsor, Dundas, Walpole Island, Dorchester, Ingersoll, Rodney, as well as the Thames, Ausable and Sydenham Rivers. They come from farms, rural villages, big cities, First Nations, schools and local government. Their impact ranges from backyards to international policy. "We have received more nominations this year than any other. It's amazing to realize that each nomination represents thousands of hours of work and that is only a tiny part of the environmental movement that is spread across our communities," observes Michelle Kanter, Executive Director of the Carolinian Canada Coalition.

The nominees are from all walks of life from but share a devotion to our natural environment, dedicating time, passion and lives to bettering the local landscape, air and water for you and your children. Every nominee shows a different aspect of how to "do the right thing" for the environment in their own sphere of influence. From writing books, organizing school groups and saving urban wildlife to burning prairies and bringing national attention to the plight of endangered Mussels, these individuals and groups are making significant strides in protecting Carolinian Canada.

"This incredible participation across the Carolinian life zone is the hope for our future," says Kanter. "Small changes on each property and in every community that will add up to major positive differences in the Big Picture," said Kanter. The 'Big Picture' is a Carolinian Canada vision of a healthy landscape, available in poster format from the group. Nominee Friends of the Coves Subwatershed Inc. echoes these thoughts, "We believe that the quality of life in our community is enhanced through the protection, rehabilitation and wise stewardship of the Coves," their particular piece of green paradise.

Award recipients in individual, group, lifetime achievement and youth categories will be announced on October 1, 2004. The Awards ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Port Franks as part of "Thinking Big, Wild Ideas" Carolinian Canada's 20th Anniversary Conference, partially funded by the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation. All are welcome to this portion of the 2-day event. Details available from www.carolinian.org or 519-433-7077.

Nominees are: 

Carolinian Canada is a 20-year-old coalition of over 40 public sector and non-government organizations aimed at conserving the wildlife and habitats of southwest Ontario's Carolinian life zone - a unique ecological region lying south of Toronto and Grand Bend. Home to Tulip Tree, Magnolia trees, Opossum and other wildlife found nowhere else in Canada, the zone has the richest biological diversity in Canada-and the greatest number of rare and endangered species.

Each year Carolinian Canada presents awards for conservation and education efforts related to the special natural heritage of the Carolinian zone by recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations and government organizations.

- 30 -

• Nominee profiles
• High resolution image "Conservation Heros in Carolinian Canada - learning about species at risk" - photo by Susie Mah (1.6 meg jpeg)