Our Projects

• Alice Chambers Memorial Library
• Children's Health and Environment Partnership
• Climate Change Connection
• Eco-Journal
• GIS/Mapping Centre
• Manitoba Environmental Youth Network
• Organic Lawn Care Education
• Protecting Our Earth Awards
• Reel Green Film Festival
• Water Caucus

An affiliate of:

Nominations for the 2012 awards are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination.

The award recipients will be announced on Feb. 3 at the opening night of the 2012 Reel Green Film Festival.

Congratulations to this year's nominees:

• The Landless Farmers Collective
• Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association
• Manitoba Conservation District Association
• Dennis Cunningham
• Gerry Dube
• Anika Terton
• Julie Fine
• Jaret Olford 
• Ron Thiessen

First established in 1990, the Anne Lindsey Protecting Our Earth Awards are presented by Manitoba Eco-Network annually in recognition of  achievements in protecting and stewarding Manitoba’s environment.  The environmental community acknowledges the creativity, diligence and commitment of our peers in presenting the Individual and Environmental Group awards. A Special category is open to nominations of Manitobans in all walks of life that have made a difference to the environment.

In 2011, Anne Lindsey retired from Manitoba Eco-Network after serving for 23 years as Executive Director.  In recognition of her extensive service, the Board of Directors voted to re-name Manitoba Eco-Network’s Protecting Our Earth Awards in her honour.

For over 20 years, Manitoba Eco-Network has provided recognition to groups and individuals for their contributions in promoting sustainability and protecting ecosystems with its annual awards. Anne, an award winner herself, provided inspiration and mentoring for many of the groups and individuals who have won the award over the years. Anne has been active on nearly every environmental issue that concerns Manitoba.  She helped spearhead the campaign in the 1980s that kept nuclear waste out of this province, led initiatives on children’s health, and raised awareness about toxicity in our environment. It was under her leadership that the Manitoba Eco-Network took on important causes like food, climate change, and water. 

2011 AWARD WINNERS

Individual Category - Curt Belton (Winnipeg)

Curt Belton is the principal of Rockwood Elementary School. His activism began at age 9 when he and a friend drafted a petition to get phosphates out of detergents. As an adult he has gone on to be a moving force in education for Sustainable Development, in the Winnipeg School Division and beyond. He's an active participant in the Manitoba Education for Sustainable Development Working Group. Curt has put his beliefs into practice at his school, spearheading projects like educating staff and students about Fair Trade, developing organic gardens and outdoor classrooms and raising trout as a way to learn about water issues. Curt also strives to model sustainability in his own life including being an active bike commuter and community gardener. Curt was nominated by Carolyn Lindner.

Group Category - Daniel McIntyre / St. Matthews Community Association (Winnipeg)

Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association is a neighbourhood community development organization in west Winnipeg. In just 2 to 3 years of activity, they have contributed to a real improvement in sense of agency, sustainability and self-sufficiency in the neighbourhood. DMSM is engaged in a wide range of environmental programming, including the community bike shop, community garden, composting, and developing a green plan. They also facilitate or support other green programs such as organic lawn care, building energy efficiency and tree banding. They provide a model for community engagement and empowerment. DMSM was nominated by Ian Hall.

Special Category - The Forks - Target Zero Project (Winnipeg)

The Forks Target Zero Project: The goal is to obtain zero waste, zero water consumption and zero carbon emissions at the Forks! So far, they have installed a geothermal heat pump system in the Forks market, installed low-flush toilets and waterless urinals to save water, and started converting used oil from the restaurants to biofuel to power their equipment. So far, the Forks market has saved over a kilotonne of CO2 and their utility bills are significantly reduced. With 4 million visitors a year, this ongoing environmental improvement project provides a fabulous showcase, along with tangible benefits. Francine Pym nominated The Forks.

Manitoba Eco-Network wishes to acknowledge the other 2011 award nominees:

• Ken Corley (Winnipeg) - a teacher (Vincent Massey) who has been a fantastic facilitator and role model for the student sustainability organization.
• Kevin Freedman (Winnipeg) - created and led the Water Conservation Challenge, living on 25 litres of water per day for a month, as an awareness tool and fundraiser.
• Lloyd Jensen (Stonewall) - created a large scale community compost project for yard waste in the Town of Stonewall,
• Tracy Maconachie (Winnipeg ) - responsible for Winnipeg's Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project.
• Canuck Nanooks (RM of Springfield) -  sisters doing a wide range of interesting environmental and greenhouse gas reduction projects in their community, under the aegis of Polar bear International.
• Keepers of the Water (Thompson) - part of a coalition of water keeper groups working to protect the drainage basins of the Arctic Ocean. 
• Dave Weiss (Morden) - has made many practical and innovative energy and waste reduction innovations at his business, Pembina Valley Containers, and inspired great work in the community.
• Northern Sun Farm Coop (near Steinbach) - an off-grid sustainable farm community demonstrating alternative energy systems, water conservation, organic food production and complete composting of all organic wastes.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 

Individual Awards

Anders Swanson ; Vicki Burns ; Alice Chambers (twice) ; Sasha Kopelow ; Anne Lindsey ;
Helen McCullough ; Eva Pip ; Jennifer Shay ; David Barnes ; Janine Gibson ; 
Glen Koroluk ; John Barker ; Nick Carter ; Walter Danyluk ; Joe Dolecki ;
Kenneth Emberley ; Bill Goddard ; Claude Huot ; Peter Miller ; Dave Kattenburg ;
Brian Pannell ; Mitch Podolak ; Dan Soprovich ; Don Sullivan ; Roger Turenne ;
Harvey Williams ; Ian Greaves ; Ruth Pryzner
 

Group Awards
 
Organic Food Council of Manitoba ; Anishinaabe Turtle Island Protectors ; Brandon and Area Environmental Council; Concerned Citizens of Manitoba ; Concerned Citizens of the Valley ;
Friends of Oak Hammock Marsh ; The Global Change Game ; Manitoba Naturalists Society ; Organic Producers Association of MB ; Rainforest Action Information Network ; Resource Conservation Manitoba ; Save Our Seine ; Western Canada Wilderness Committee - MB ; Harvest Moon Society ; The 'Idle Free Girls'
 

Special Awards
 
Greg Holden ; Fred Tait ; Noah Erenberg ; Habitat Re-Store ; Harvest Collective ; Humbodt's Legacy; Manitoba Environmental Council ; The Mathias Colomb Cree Nation ; Val Werier ;
Carl Driedger ; Helen Fallding ; Richard Gamble and the Lake Winnipeg Foundation; Dave Pancoe, Northern Soul Wilderness Adventures
 

Lifetime Achievement

Carl Ridd