Shelagh Levey led the winners of the 2018 Saanich Environmental Awards.

Coun. Leif Wergeland said Levey won the Long-Term Achievement award for her leadership in environmental protection and education.

The Gordon Head resident pioneered the first recycling program in Western Canada in 1960s, said Wergeland during a ceremony held Monday at Municipal Hall. B次元官网网址淎s a teacher, she led Gordon Head Elementary School to achieve Earth School status through 1000 environmental projects,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ver the years Shelagh has led and participated in many community initiatives to protect the environment in Saanich, especially at Prospect Lake and within the Todd Creek Watershed.B次元官网网址�

Levey remains active by helping to restore Sayward Hill Park.

The ceremony started with Audrey Barnes receiving the award for Individual Environmental Achievement for helping to protect and restore local ecosystems. B次元官网网址淎udrey has contributed significant time and leadership with community groups in the Tod Creek Watershed area,B次元官网网址� said Wergeland. B次元官网网址淪he works weekly on restoration projects, especially at Whitehead Park, but including East Lake Park and the native plant garden at Prospect Lake Elementary.B次元官网网址�

Saanich recognized the Friends of Bow/Brodick Park as the Volunteer Organization of the year. B次元官网网址淪ince 2006, this group of volunteers has invested almost 4800 hours in persistent removal of invasives and replanting of native vegetation in these parks as well as the Feltham Trail,B次元官网网址� said Wergeland.

McCall Gardens received the Business Award for their achievements in building a facility that honours and enhances the natural environment in Saanich. B次元官网网址淎fter 90 years of service to the Victoria area, McCall Gardens developed a vision of a new facility in the Royal Oak area combining modern technologies with a connection to nature,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he facility that was developed is a green building, built in harmony with the creek and natural landscape on the property.B次元官网网址�

Saanich recognized the trio of in the Youth category. B次元官网网址淥ver the last four years, these students , led a petition, have spoken publically about the dangers of plastics and micro-plastics in our oceans and have worked on beach clean-ups with the Surfrider Foundation,B次元官网网址� said Wergeland.

Julian Anderson received the Biodiversity Conservation Award. B次元官网网址淛ulian has been a tireless volunteer and advocate for this park since the 1980s, creating the Friends of Cuthbert Holmes Park in 2005 and serving as the Lead Steward of the park,B次元官网网址� said Wergeland. B次元官网网址淗e has spent countless hours in the park monitoring, cleaning up, removing invasives, planting native vegetation, preserving fish spawning grounds and native biodiversity.B次元官网网址� He has also monitored the

Linda Geggie, executive director with the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable who also writes the column in the Saanich B次元官网网址, won the Sustainability Award for her leadership and achievements in building sustainable food systems.

B次元官网网址淟indaB次元官网网址檚 early work led to the establishment of Lifecycles in 1994 and from there the development of a network of organizations providing sustainable food services,B次元官网网址� he said Monday. B次元官网网址淭his network eventually became the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable to develop healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems in the Capital Region. LindaB次元官网网址檚 vision and leadership have served this and other local organizations, contributing to many services, initiatives and partnerships.B次元官网网址�