Nominations are now open for 2012 Saanich Environmental Awards!

You can nominate a person or business for a
2012 Saanich Environmental Award today!

Jim and Paul are both receiving individual awards this year for the work that they do together in the natural areas surrounding Cedar Hill Golf Course.  Jim and Paul met at a ‘broom bash’ in the park and started working together to clear invasive plants such as blackberry, broom and ivy, and to plant native plants.  They have been working together for about 5 years now, and the results of their endeavors can be seen in the revived natural areas in the park.  They call themselves the Friends of Cedar Hill Park.

Volunteer Organization - Friends of Knockan Hill Park Society

The Friends of Knockan Hill Park Society was created in December 1990 to serve the interests of the park in the face of the development of surrounding properties. Its purpose is to protect, preserve and perpetuate the wilderness character, and the flora and fauna of the park.  The society provides local stewardship of the park and practices habitat restoration by removing exotic plant invasive species. The Friends have hosted numerous invasive plant removal days.  Working each year since 1992, members have reduced the Scottish broom in the park to reveal abundant colonies of native plants, especially plentiful on the summit of the hill.  An annual goal is to keep the summit clear of broom by "weeding" it of broom seedlings.   

Business/Commercial - Clean Air Landscaping

Clean Air Landscaping was created to become Canada's first truly "green" landscaper, utilizing renewable solar energy to power all of the company’s yard care equipment.  Cordless and electric mowers, trimmers and blowers are all powered from the mobile solar trailer pulled by a hybrid truck.   Yard care services by Clean Air therefore produce no harmful emissions, no greenhouse gases and very little noise.  Since Clean Air Landscaping started in 2010 it has developed residential, commercial and strata contracts in the community.  Clean Air Landscaping is a leader in the use of green energy for residential and commercial services in Saanich. 

Youth Group/School - Craigflower Elementary School

The Green Team at Craigflower is a group of 15 students who help to take care of the school and its grounds.  Craigflower has an extensive recycling and composting program, which includes composting food waste from its hot lunch program.  Craigflower School has gone one step further and has taught the students the importance of taking care of the greater community, and once a week, the students share the job of cleaning the school grounds.  Craigflower students and staff deserve recognition for their environmental stewardship efforts and make us proud to have them as members of our Saanich community.

Biodiversity Conservation Award - Ray & Judy Galey

Ray and Judy Galey are the first farmers in Saanich to voluntarily place a natural state covenant on their property.  The covenant protects Garry Oak ecosystems that have been left to nature over the years, rather than farmed.  When the owners subdivided the property, a natural state covenant was suggested to protect the areas they had already set aside.  The Galeys willingly agreed.  Special permission was needed from the Agricultural Land Commission, who authorized the covenant.  Now that the property has been subdivided (to separate 2 existing homes and farmland), Ray and Judy will continue to steward these important remnant ecosystems.

Sustainability - Robin Tunnicliffe

Robin’s interest in environmental issues began in her youth. As a co-owner of Saanich Organics, she has been instrumental in making locally grown organic produce available to families in and around Saanich for over fourteen years.  Robin, who holds an MA in food policy from the University of Victoria, shares her expertise and skill by mentoring new farmers in their efforts to establish organic farms.  She also teaches courses, speaks at conferences and writes for publications.   Robin, along with many others, shares a vision for a food-centric region, where food production and food access are facilitated everywhere, enhancing environmental sustainability and quality of life for all. 

Long Term Achievement - John Jungen

John Jungen has been a volunteer with Saanich Parks for approximately 12 years.  John is a Co-steward for the Friends of Mt Douglas Park and beyond the huge number of hours he regularly works each year (about 300) he is always willing to work extra hours whenever local community groups or schools want to schedule a special Community Service work party in the Park. He is also a regular volunteer in Saanich's Garry Oak Restoration Program.  He is an exemplary volunteer and an exemplary citizen of Saanich and richly deserves the Individual Environmental Achievement Award for 2011.