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Nominations Open Until Sept. 15, 2023

Lacombe County Environmental Stewardship Award now open

Jul 14, 2023 | 1:49 PM

Lacombe County is shining a spotlight on outstanding individuals who exemplify the essence of environmental stewardship.

The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes those who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to conserving and sustaining the environment on their properties within Lacombe County.

The Environmental Stewardship Award nomination process is now open to the public, encouraging everyone to put forward deserving candidates who embody the spirit of environmental stewardship. A committee will review nominations and select a recipient based on their contributions. Self-nominations are not permitted.

The nomination period runs from July 15, 2023, to September 15, 2023. Individuals wishing to nominate someone deserving, are invited to submit their applications in person or via email to jnakonechny@lacombecounty.com. A judging panel will choose the winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award and will receive a well-deserved one-time cash recognition of $1,500, recognizing their outstanding efforts in environmental stewardship.

Eligibility

  • The nominee must be a resident and practicing environmental stewardship within Lacombe County
  • Can only be a recipient of the award once
  • Nomination forms need to be submitted before September 15, 2023 and are available on the Lacombe County website: www.lacombecounty.com/EnvironmentalAward.

About Lacombe County’s Environmental Program

The Environmental Stewardship Award aligns with Lacombe County’s overarching commitment to supporting residents in their journey toward environmental sustainability. The County says it takes pride in empowering individuals to make informed decisions prioritizing natural systems, communities, and the well-being of future generations.

In 2021, the County introduced the Environmental Community Engagement Program, a comprehensive initiative that replaced the previous Environmental Improvement Grant program. This three-year program encompasses a wetland education program, the esteemed Environmental Stewardship Award, and a resident environmental sustainability program.

Past winners include:

– 2022: Joan Olafson, who carried forward her father’s legacy of being a steward over their home quarter (located seven miles northwest of the City of Lacombe), including 80 acres of wetlands, forest, and spring-fed streams surrounding 74 acres of agricultural land.

– 2021: Sharon and Rick Wiebe, who completed a number of projects on their property (located south of Blackfalds), including establishing a community garden that uses rainwater and compost from vegetable waste generated by the garden, as well as developing an off-site watering system to isolate cattle away from sensitive areas, planting trees to replace fallen/windblown trees, creating a bird habitat, and landscaping around their property with an emphasis on pollinators.