The recipients of the 2014 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards were announced and the Town of Niverville made the list for innovation and research for sustainability. This announcement was made by Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh.
“We are constantly striving to reduce our impact on the environment and it’s great to see those efforts supported with projects like these,” said Minister Mackintosh. “I’d like to congratulate these award winners for the commitment they’ve shown to the challenge we have issued to all Manitobans. We all need to do our part and every little bit adds up to making a big difference.”
This year’s award winners demonstrate that private- and public-sector organizations are actively promoting sustainability in Manitoba. This year’s Champion for Sustainability award recipient is the Lake Winnipeg Water Walk. Katherine Morrisseau-Sinclair led more than 100 women, including grandmothers and dedicated community volunteers, 1,032 kilometres over 28 days from Norway House to Manigotagan along Lake Winnipeg. The water walk is a traditional Anishinaabe ceremony led by women to pray, acknowledge and heal the spirit that lives in life-giving water. The Lake Winnipeg Water Walk raised public awareness of the threat to the long term sustainability of Lake Winnipeg.
Other award winners include:
- the University of Manitoba – action on climate change, air quality and energy efficiency;
- Swan Valley Sport Fishing Enhancement Inc. – sustainability in water and natural area stewardship;
- CleanFARMS – sustainability in pollution prevention and product stewardship;
- Youth Encouraging Sustainability (Y.E.S.), Winnipeg – education for sustainability;
- Town of Niverville – innovation and research for sustainability; and
- ArtsJunktion, Winnipeg – sustainable community.
The Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards honour people, projects and ideas that successfully turn the Manitoba government’s principles and guidelines of sustainable development into concrete and lasting achievements.
Recipients are selected by the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development, an advisory board that provides support and advice to the provincial government about responsible resource management, land use, and environmental, social and economic development.
