Community Leadership Award winners announced

Winners have been selected for the 2009 Ecology Ottawa Community Leadership Awards. They are:

Community Leader of the Year

Winner: Rebecca Aird, who, as chair of Sustainable Living Ottawa East, has spearheaded the establishment of a local farmers' market, a community garden, a children's garden, the restoration of the Rideau River Nature Trail, and a neighbour-to-neighbour home electricity efficiency audit program in Old Ottawa East.

Honourable mention: Ken McRae, described by one of his nominators as "Ottawa's one-person protector of wetlands and watercourses", through his meticulous tracking of and intervention into development projects that threaten local water ecosystems.

High School of the Year (awarded in partnership with the Sierra Youth Coalition)

Winner: École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde, where students are establishing a compost system and greenhouse garden in addition to their solar panels and windmill on school grounds.

Honourable mention: Ashbury College, for its school-ground organic gardens, online carpooling system, pursuit of "LEED" green building certification for its new boys residence, and fundraising towards an outdoor classroom with green roof.

In addition to these publicly nominated awards, Ecology Ottawa is also recognizing outstanding workplace teams participating in our Green Buildings and Workplaces Challenge, as well as Ecology Ottawa volunteers. They are:

Workplace Green Team of the Year

Winner: Beechwood Village Chiropractic Centre, which has installed an on-site composter and rain barrel, switched to compostable cups and paper towels, and developed a set of green office policies to establish strict standards for staff behaviour related to waste, use of electronic equipment, etc.

Honourable mention: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health, which has switched to double-sided printing, motion-sensor lighting and refurbished furniture in its boardroom, and more.

Ecology Ottawa Volunteer of the Year

Winner: a tie between Josh Snider, for his super-human efforts and success raising funds and diverting waste from landfills at the Great Glebe "Green" Garage Sale, and Andrew Hawryshkewich, for his dedication, dependability, and countless hours of volunteer design work.

All award recipients will be honoured at Ecology Ottawa's Annual Gala Dinner this Thursday, November 12, 6 pm, at Christ Church Cathedral Hall, 420 Sparks Street.

For more information or to arrange an interview with award recipients, please contact:
Sabrina Bowman, 613-860-5353, volunteer@ecologyottawa.ca