About

Eco-Hero Annual Awards

In celebration of our 15th anniversary in 2007, the Nova Scotia Environmental Network launched new annual environmental awards. These awards will recognize groups and individuals who have made a significant contribution to environmentalism in our province. There are six award categories for both individuals and groups.The nomination form and more information is available below.

Award Categories and Descriptions

1. Nickerson Lifetime Achievement (Individual)
   Awarded to an individual with an impressive and long legacy of environmental stewardship and leadership in Nova Scotia. This award is named after Mil Nickerson of Yarmouth who has been a leader on environmental issues nationally, provincially and locally for over two decades. Mil is particularly passionate about his environmental work in his home region, SouthWest Nova Scotia. Believing that SouthWest Nova needed more representation on the provincial level, Mil joined the NSEN steering committee in 1994, and served as Chair from 1996-1998. He has also been involved with the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN) Oceans and Mining Caucuses, the Gulf of Maine Institute Without Walls Guide Team, the Minister's Clean Air Task Force and the Public Participation sub-committee of the Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. Mil was a founding member of the Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA) in 1986 and continues to provide invaluable leadership and support for that organization. He is also Chair of the Tusket River Gaspreau Dipnet Association, Past Chair of the Intertidal Harvesters Coalition, and a member of the East Tusket River Water Monitoring Committee. He and his wife Jean are the proud parents of four adult children. Mil Nickerson is the inaugural winner of this award.


2. Eco-Heroes Group of the Year (Group)
   Awarded to the community group that has taken determined environmental action, which has resulted in positive in Nova Scotia.


3. Eco-Hero Environmentalist of the Year (Individual)
   Awarded to an individual who has shown inspiring environmental initiative in Nova Scotia.


4. Cole Award for Excellence in Environment and Health (Group or Individual)
   Awarded to an individual or group who has passionately promoted the link between environment and health in Nova Scotia. This award is named after Sheila Cole of Halifax who has been an instrumental force in bringing the issue of Environment and Health onto the public radar in Canada. Sheila has been recognized as a leader and pioneer on this issue since the 1990s, and has been asked to speak on the issue by the National Roundtable on Environment and the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN). She is currently the Co-Chair of the CEN Health Caucus, and she sits on CEN Toxics Caucus and the Atmosphere and Energy Caucus. In 1991, Sheila was asked to develop a course entitled “Our Environment & Our Health” for Dalhousie University’s Henson College. The course was attended by many health care professionals and practitioners and was offered for seven terms. Recently, she spearheaded an initiative to bring Health Canada together with the CEN. Sheila is also active on the local level. She is a member of the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia (EHANS) and has traveled nation wide to give presentations and workshops on behalf of this provincial organization. She sat on the Board of the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) for nine years and was a founding member of that organization’s Wilderness Committee. She has been involved with the NSEN since its inception, as a board member, committee member and supporter. Sheila Cole is the inaugural winner of this award.


5. Marshal Award for Aboriginal Environmental Leadership (Group or Individual)
   Awarded to a First Nations individual or group who has demonstrated great environmental leadership in Nova Scotia. This award is named after Allister Marshall of Chapel Island First Nation. Allister has provided leadership on a variety of environmental issues locally, provincially and nationally for many years. He became involved with NSEN when he attended the AGM in 1992. He helped form the Save Our Seas and Shores Coalition. He also joined the First Nation Environmental Network and the Atlantic First Nation Environmental Network. Allister sat on the National Council of the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN) and he continues to be a member of the CEN Forest and Water Caucuses. He has led several environmental workshops and meetings in Chapel Island. He has also participated in First Nation workshops on Nuclear Waste, Climate Change, Water Protection and Forestry. Allister was on the provincial Voluntary Planning Committee on the Forestry Sector and the Committee to implement the policies for Off Highway Vehicles. He is a Fishery Guardian who promotes conservation and ocean protection. Currently, Allister is on the Steering and Management Committee of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability and chairs the Po'tlo'tek Watershed Protection Committee and the Po'tlo'tek Fish & Wildlife Association. He is also on the Elders Circle of the Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources. Allister Marshall is the inaugural winner of this award.


6. Youth Environmental Leadership Award (Group or Individual)
   Awarded to an individual youth (Under 30 years old) or youth group who has shown enthusiastic environmental leadership in Nova Scotia.
7. Award for Environmental Political Will (Group or Individual)
   Awarded to an elected official/politician(s) at any level of government who has exhibited a genuine commitment to protect the natural environment, advance sustainability and show eco-leadership in the last year
8. Langille Honour in the Woods Award (Group or Individual)
   Awarded to an individual or group who has worked hard over the course of the year to preserve and protect Nova Scotia's rich biodiversity - forests, wilderness, wildlife and endangered species – and who has exemplified Pam's values of perseverance and collaboration. This award is named after Pam Langille, a pioneer and an activist who passed away on July 12, 2008. She tenaciously advocated for the protection of the Acadian Forest, wilderness areas, and sustainable forest practices in Nova Scotia. Her approach to this work was collaborative and she became known as an environmentalist who took on forestry issues in the spirit of cooperation. Pam"s work was integral, in conjunction with Eastern Shore Forest Watch, a member of the NSEN, to the successful ten-year campaign to protect Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area. Pam also worked closely with the Ecology Action Centre's Standing Tall Campaign. Adamantly horrified by the practice of clear cutting, Pam participated in the film "Honour in the Woods" that interviewed thirteen woodlot owners and forest activists in Nova Scotia and captured their vision for healthy and sustainable forests. Pam was given this award posthumously and it was received by her daughter Katharine.

Award Nomination Form (.doc)	Award Nomination Form (.pdf)
Awards Information (.doc)	Awards Information (.pdf)

2009 Award Winners

1. Nickerson Lifetime Achievement
   Rudy Haase, Friends of Nature
2. Eco-Heroes Group of the Year
   Save Lincolnville
3. Eco-Hero Environmentalist of the Year (Individual)
   Peggy Cameron, renewable energy expert and passionate environmental activist
4. Cole Award for Excellence in Environment and Health
   Ron Zima, Children's Clean Air Network
5. Marshall Award for Aboriginal Environmental Leadership
   Albert Marshall, Aboriginal elder from Eskasoni, Cape Breton
6. Youth Environmental Leadership Award
   Mindshift, environmental youth project
7. Award for Environmental Political Will
   MLA Keith Colwell, Liberal Environmental Critic
8. *NEW AWARD* Langille Honour in the Woods Award
   Inaugural winner awarded posthumously to Pam Langille

2008 Award Winners

1. Nickerson Lifetime Achievement
   Walter Regan, Sackville Rivers Association
2. Eco-Heroes Group of the Year
   Partnership for the Sustainable Development of Digby Neck and Islands Society
3. Eco-Hero Environmentalist of the Year
   Lydia and Allan Sorflaten, Citizens Against the Burning of Tires
4. Cole Award for Excellence in Environment and Health
   Karen Robinson, Canadians for A Safe Learning Environment
5. Marshall Award for Aboriginal Environmental Leadership
   Bear River First Nation
6. Youth Environmental Leadership Award
   Karen McKendry, Young Naturalists Club
7. NEW! Award for Environmental Political Will
   Member of Parliament Bill Casey (nominated by Citizens Against the Burning of Tires)

2007 Award Winners

1. Nickerson Lifetime Achievement
   Mil Nickerson, Yarmouth
2. Award in Excellence in Environment and Health
   Sheila Cole, Halifax
3. Marshall Award for Aboriginal Environmental Leadership
   Allister Marshall, Chapel Island