Call for Nominations: 2016 Nature Inspiration Awards From the Canadian Museum of Nature

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 24, 2016) - The Canadian Museum of Nature is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Nature Inspiration Awards. This national program, now in its third year, recognizes the innovative people and programs that engage Canadians with nature and the natural world.

Previous nominees have included youth or adults who evoke action through books or films; educational programs that empower schoolchildren to learn more about biodiversity, nature and the environment; administrators who create links with governments to enact change; or businesses that promote sustainable practices and support community outreach.

Guidelines and application forms are available at nature.ca/awards. The submission deadline is April 22, 2016 (Earth Day) and a jury will select the winners from a shortlist in each of six categories. A gala to celebrate the finalists and announce the winners will be held November 2, 2016 at the museum in downtown Ottawa. The awards are supported by presenting sponsor Enbridge, Inc. and media partners The Walrus and the Globe and Mail.

"Many Canadians have a connection with nature, and we are eager to hear about the organizations and people that encourage a healthy and creative engagement with the natural world. We look forward to recognizing their accomplishments with this new call for submissions," says Meg Beckel, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Nature and Chair of the selection jury.

The six categories of applicants eligible for the Nature Inspiration Awards are: youth (aged 17 and younger), adults (aged 18 and up), not-for-profit organizations (small to medium-sized, and large), corporations and Lifetime Achievement (a new category added in 2015).

Entries can come from a direct application by the individual or organization, or through a third-party nomination. Through an essay and supporting documents, applicants must demonstrate leadership, innovative practices and accomplishments that encourage a positive interaction with the natural world. Each of the awards includes $5,000 to be donated to a program chosen by the recipient. For more information, email awards@mus-nature.ca.

Recipients of the 2015 Nature Inspiration Awards included: Miranda Andersen, a British Columbia teenager who has been making environmental films since age nine; Meredith Brown, head of the Ottawa Riverkeeper, which promotes conservation of the river watershed; ACAP Humber Arm, a Newfoundland not-for profit that lets high-schoolers experience a day of "science at sea"; the Homegrown National Park Project, which has mobilized citizens to create an urban "green" corridor in Toronto; and Adventure Canada, an Arctic tour company that promotes environmental sustainability through its educational journeys. Videos about each of the winners can be seen at nature.ca.

About the Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research, a 10.5 million specimen collection, education programs, signature and travelling exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.