BoFEP Environmental Stewardship Award
                          -  2004 Recipient       
                          - 2006 Recipient   
   

Gulf of Maine Council Recognition Awards
                        [Call for Nominations 2006 awards - deadline December 4, 2006]
 

NS Department of Environment and Labour Bay of Fundy Awards
                                 [Call for Nominations 2006 awards - deadline December 4, 2006]

The Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BoFEP) has created an award to recognize the significant efforts of individual citizens toward the environmental stewardship of the Bay of Fundy. The first of these awards was presented in 2004 at the 6^th Bay of Fundy Workshop held at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre, Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia.

You are invited to submit nominations for this Award
Nominators should complete the nomination form and submit it in confidence
by July 31 of the year in which a BoFEP Bay of Fundy Science Workshop is being held, to:

BoFEP Award Nominating Committee
BoFEP Secretariat
c/o Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research
23 Westwood Avenue, P.O. Box 115
Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6

Qualifications for the Award
This award will be presented to an individual who has "contributed significantly to the environmental health/sustainability of the Bay of Fundy" — preferably someone best described as an "unsung hero", who has not been in the limelight but has laboured behind the scenes in advancing the Mission and promoting the Principles of BoFEP listed below. The requirements are broad and flexible, but will specifically consider the qualities of dedication and achievement No one will be excluded because of their circumstances, job, position, location or other factor.

• Promoting the ecological integrity, vitality, biodiversity and productivity of the Bay of Fundy  ecosystem, in support of the social well-being and economic sustainability of its coastal communities.
• Facilitating and enhancing  communication and co-operation among all citizens interested in understanding, sustainably using and conserving the resources, habitats and ecological processes of  the Bay of Fundy.

• Conservation, protection and management of the Bay  of  Fundy’s living resources and their habitats should be ecosystem-based and reflect an holistic understanding of ecosystem structure, processes and interactions.
• Resource development and other coastal zone activities should be based on ecologically sound integrated coastal planning and management.
• Coastal planning and management should be transparent and open to participation by resource users, coastal communities, industries, scientists, governments, managers and all other individuals and groups with interests in the Bay of Fundy ecosystem.
• Effective communication and active co-operation among all citizens with an interest in the Bay of Fundy, and linkages with groups and programs that share similar objectives are vital to this enterprise.

Terms of Reference for the BoFEP Environmental Stewardship Award
Background:
During the first half dozen years of its existence, BoFEP established itself as a credible and consistent promoter of good environmental stewardship relative to the Bay of Fundy through its commitment to science and community sustainability. At its Steering Committee meetings of January 30, 2004, it approved the creation of an "Environmental Stewardship Award", and these Terms of Reference on April 15, 2004.

Objective:
This award will be presented to an individual that has "contributed significantly to the environmental health/sustainability of the Bay of Fundy", preferably one who might be described as an "unsung hero", who has not been in the limelight as a prominent player, but has worked hard behind the scenes toward the Mission and within the Principles of BoFEP. The requirements should be both broad and flexible, but specifically consider the qualities of dedication and achievement. It should not exclude anyone because of their current circumstances, job, position, location or any other factor.

Nominating Committee:
A three-member Nominating Committee will be appointed by the BoFEP Steering Committee at least three months prior to each Workshop to conduct the selection process. The Chair of BoFEP will also be an ex officio, non-voting member of the Nominating Committee. Nominations will then be requested from all members of BoFEP, although nominees need not be BoFEP members. They are to be submitted to the committee through the BoFEP Secretariat over a two-month timeframe leading up to a Workshop, with a deadline no later than one month prior to the workshop date. Each nomination must include a supporting statement outlining the candidate’s qualifications for the award. The Nominating Committee will then evaluate the submissions and select a winner, and inform the Chair of the outcome. The name of the winner will be held in confidence by the Chair, Nominating Committee (and Secretariat) until the presentation ceremony, unless the Chair decides for cause to do otherwise.

Presentation:
The Chair of BoFEP will present the award approximately every second year in conjunction with each BoFEP Workshop. It is intended that the presentation be a notable and publicized event, and associated with a social function rather than the formal workshop ceremonies. If required, reasonable travel expenses of the winning candidate to attend this ceremony will by covered by BoFEP.

Format:
The award will consist of a framed, matted document with the BoFEP logo, noting the winners name, the date, purpose of the award and a synopsis of his/her qualifications that supported their selection by the Nominating Committee. This award may be accompanied by some other suitable gift.

Recipient of 2004 BoFEP Environmental Stewardship Award

Patricia Rae Hinch
Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour

This award recognizes an individual who has "contributed significantly to the environmental health and sustainability of the Bay of Fundy", preferably someone best described as an "unsung hero", who has worked hard behind the scenes, out of the limelight, in advancing the mission and within the principles of BoFEP. Pat Hinch was recognized for her steadfast vision, energy and dedication toward a healthy Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine during recent times when provincial coastal policies and commitments have been in a period of uncertainty and change. She exemplifies an individual who cares about our coasts, coastal communities and marine resources, and one who translates such concern into action, making significant contributions to sustainability of the ecosystem. BoFEP was proud to honour Pat with its first Environmental Stewardship Award as a fitting tribute to her achievements over many years on behalf of the Bay of Fundy.

Recipient of 2004 BoFEP Special Recognition Award

Graham Daborn
 Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Acadia University

This award recognizes Graham's long-standing leadership of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, both as a founding member and its first Chair, a position he has served in with distinction, dedication and ability during the first years of BoFEP's existence.
 

BoFEP Student Presentation Awards
BoFEP encourages and recognizes exceptional achievements by University students in research pertaining to the Bay of Fundy by awarding prizes for the best student papers and posters presented at its Bay of Fundy Science Workshops. First and second place awards are presented in each category. Panels of judges carefully review all eligible oral paper presentations and poster displays before rendering their decisions. The prizes consist of a modest cash award, a suitable book, a certificate and a letter of commendation for the students portfolio.

Recipients of 2004 Student Presentation Awards

First Place Student Paper
Ashley Sprague
 University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"F actors Affecting Movement of Semipalmated Sandpipers ( Calidris pusilla)
Migrating Through the Upper Bay of Fundy"

First Place Student Poster
Vanessa Paesani
 Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB
"Intraspecific Genetic Variation in the Centric Diatom
Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii Cleve"

Second Place Student Paper
Sam Ng' gang' a
 University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"The Proposed Musquash MPA:
A Case Study on Boundary Delimitation Concepts"

Second Place Student Poster
Nancy Chiasson
Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS
"Controls on the Distribution of Vegetation Characteristics
in a Tidally Restricted Macrotidal Salt Marsh"

Recipients of 2006 Student Presentation awards

First Place Student Paper
Alexander Bond
 University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
 "Patterns of Mercury Burden in the Seabirds of  Machias Seal Island, New Brunswick"

First Place Student Poster
Korreen Millard
 Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
 "High-resolution LIDAR elevation data of inter-tidal areas:
A potential tool for examining salt marsh vegetation communities"

Second Place Student Paper
David Drolet
 University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"Effect of density of the gastropod Ilyanassa obsoleta on distribution
and movement of the amphipod Corophium volutator."

Second Place Student Poster
Shannon O'Connor
Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
"The Atlantic Coastal Zone: all the little fishes"

The Longard Volunteer Award
The Longard Volunteer Award is made in memory of Art Longard, a long-time employee of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries who committed countless volunteer hours to the conservation of marine life in the Gulf of Maine. Art was one of seven people who conceived of and ardently supported the international Gulf of Maine program, and the Council is proud of his accomplishments. The Longard Volunteer Award is presented to an individual in recognition of volunteer efforts toward environmental protection and sustainability of natural resources within the marine, near shore, or watershed environment of the Gulf of Maine. Nominees for this award must be involved in volunteer community-based or cross-jurisdictional initiatives, which may include:

i stewardship/research programs designed to rehabilitate, enhance, or preserve the environmental quality of the Gulf;
i educational programs to improve public understanding and appreciation of the historic, cultural, biological, and economic value of the Gulf ecosystem, or to exchange information on specific Gulf issues;
i volunteer monitoring programs designed to collect, synthesize and deliver scientifically credible information to decision makers and managers of environmental protection and restoration programs throughout the Gulf;
i scientific research programs to investigate issues of concern within the Gulf.

Deadline for 2006 GOMCME Awards: December 4, 2006

Nomination forms and additional information [PDF format]

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i environmental stewardship, conservation, development and support of environmental management programs;
i promotion of public awareness of the Bay of Fundy ecosystem; and
i dedicated service to the Gulf of Maine Council program.

The Business Partnership Award
The Business Partnership Award recognizes a contribution made under partnership to address issues related to environmental stewardship and sustainable management of Nova Scotia's Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy environment. Nominees for this award may as a participant or leader be involved in a collaborative program involving community organizations, government or the private sector, to address issues of responsible and sustainable use of the natural environment of the Bay of Fundy.

Environmental Awareness Award
The Environmental Awareness Award recognizes dedicated effort to increase public knowledge and understanding of environmental issues concerning the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy ecosystem. Activities nominated for this award may be a public awareness initiative, of a scientific, educational, or policy nature, that benefits the marine/watershed environment or results in a positive change in practice/behaviors to address an environmental concern.

Deadline for 2006 NSDEL Awards: December 4, 2006

Nomination forms and additional information [PDF format]