Canadian Museum of Nature Announces Winners of First National Nature Inspiration Awards

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 5, 2014) - The Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences, revealed this evening the winners of its first annual Nature Inspiration Awards at a gala celebration. Recipients are from Saskatoon, Toronto, Montreal, Kingsey Falls, Quebec, and Woodbridge, Ontario.

The awards recognize individuals, groups and organizations whose leadership, innovation and creativity connect Canadians with nature and the natural world.

The winners represent the award's five categories of Youth (aged 17 and younger), Individuals (aged 18 and up), Not-for-Profits (small to medium), Not-for-Profits (large) and Corporations.

Recipients for 2014 include Alana Krug-MacLeod, a Saskatoon teen who advocates for action against climate change; Mylène Paquette from Montreal, an ocean adventurer speaking up for marine conservation; Evergreen, a Toronto-based not-for profit that introduces inner-city kids to nature; Earth Rangers from Woodbridge, Ontario, a group that educates schoolchildren about wildlife conservation; and Cascades Inc, of Kingsey Falls in Quebec's Eastern townships, a company that pioneered the recycling of paper products. Videos about each of the winners can be seen at nature.ca.

"We received more than 30 applications this past spring and were truly inspired by the diversity of projects and people from across Canada that are active in encouraging a healthy and creative engagement with the natural world," says Meg Beckel, CEO and President of the Canadian Museum of Nature, which developed and manages the awards. "We congratulate the winners and look forward to building on the success of these inaugural awards in the coming years."

A jury whittled down the applications to a shortlist from which the winners were selected. Winners for each category receive $5,000 that they can designate to a program of their choice. The museum thanks media sponsors The Walrus and The Globe and Mail for their support.

Winners of the 2014 Nature Inspiration Awards:

Youth category (aged 17 and under) - Alana Krug-MacLeod, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

A trip to Antarctica when she was 14 served as a major catalyst for Alana's efforts to understand the impacts of climate change. Now aged 17, she uses videos, presentations and fundraisers to inform people and to encourage actions against climate change that are within everyone's reach.

Individual category (aged 18 and up) - Mylène Paquette, rower/ocean adventurer, Montreal

Adventurer Mylène Paquette completed a solo 5,000 km rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean in 2013, during which she blogged, shared pictures and videos, and interacted with scientists and experts. Her stories helped raise awareness of marine environmental issues. Mylène is a speaker at many symposiums and serves as Saint Lawrence River Ambassador for the David Suzuki Foundation.

Not-For-Profit category (small/medium organization) - Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto

Evergreen transformed Toronto's historic Don Valley Brick Works factory into a thriving community environmental centre. The centre offers children, some from underprivileged neighborhoods, a day of activities to foster an essential connection with nature. Evergreen also provides teachers with tools to pursue learning about nature in the classroom.

Not-For-Profit category (large organization) - Earth Rangers, Woodbridge, Ontario

Earth Rangers offers children the opportunity to learn about the conservation of wildlife through educational school presentations that involve live animals. The organization's Bring Back the Wild fundraising programme lets children get involved in a tangible way, to share a passion for nature and to take action for nature conservation.

Corporation category - Cascades Inc., Kingsey Falls, Quebec

The Lemaire family created Cascades 50 years ago based on a totally avant-garde vision: sell paper made from recycled materials. This incredibly forward thinking company now has more than 12,000 employees. Innovation and sustainable development are at the heart of its actions. Respect for the environment is part and parcel of the company's philosophy, as is its commitment to the community.

In addition to Meg Beckel, the jury included Shelley Ambrose, Executive Director/Co-Publisher, The Walrus; Jack Cockwell, Chairman/CEO, Partners Limited; Philip Crawley, Publisher, Globe and Mail; Kathleen Edwards, musician/songwriter; John Geiger, CEO, Royal Canadian Geographic Society; Geoff Green, Executive Director, Students on Ice; Mary Simon, Chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education; and Kristine Webber, Vice-Chair, Bateman Foundation.