Six people receive Awards of Merit from Pine River Watershed Initiative Network

Six individuals have been honoured by the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN), with Environmental Awards of Merit for dedicating their time, leadership and expertise toward restoration projects and programs this past year.

The awards were presented by project co-ordinator Emily Martin and office administrator Penny Faragher Robertson, Friday night, during the ambassador pageant at the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair, to the following:

4-H Conservation Club leaders Anne MacInnes, Amy Hiscock and Steve Hallam

Last year, PRWIN was notified by these three leaders that they would be retiring from their leadership role with the Ripley 4-H Conservation Club in the fall of 2017. PRWIN did not want to see this great leadership team dissipate, but after years of dedicated management of this successful club, these three commanders deserve retirement!

It was a pleasure co-ordinating outings, volunteer tree-planting events, and project support with all three leaders over the years. They have left large shoes to fill for the new 4-H Conservation Club leaders, but have also shown everyone a blueprint for successful leadership.



PRWIN project co-ordinator Emily Martin (right) presents Environmental Awards of Merit to retiring Ripley 4-H Conservation Club leaders, Steve Hallam (left), Anne MacInnes and Amy Hiscock
 

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Darlene Smeltzer of Smeltzer's Garden Centre

Darlene Smeltzer was instrumental in helping PRWIN procure and organize its first successful Potted Tree Ash Replacement Program this fall. Huron-Kinloss shoreline residents, who have been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer, were able to order a potted native tree for their property.

A variety of 27 trees was ordered by residents, with a waiting list for spring of 2018. Smeltzer worked closely with PRWIN to procure all the needed varieties and helped organize the time-sensitive deliveries. She is also procuring local native plants for another PRWIN project, a Rain Garden, that will be planted this fall in Ripley. Her expertise, co-operative leadership, and professionalism has helped PRWIN expedite newly-funded programming. PRWIN looks forward to continuing to work with her on implementing more local in-ground projects!



PRWIN project co-ordinator Emily Martin (left) presents an Environmental Award of Merit to Darlene Smeltzer
 

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4-H Conservation Club member Megan Bruner

Megan Bruner just began college in Owen Sound college this fall. She has been a dedicated member of the Ripley 4-H Conservation Club for many years. She is a very responsible leader, and is certainly not afraid to get her hands dirty. Her quiet demeanor keeps her in the background, but she is one of the members that the 4-H leaders can depend on when they need a reliable hand. She is interested in many aspects of agriculture, and her work with PRWIN environmental in-ground projects, such as tree-planting, is a great fit for her. Thanks you, Megan, for your years of dedication to the 4-H Conservation Club, and to the tree-planting projects with PRWIN!
 

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Gib McIlwrath, president of the Point Clark Beach Association

Last year, Gib McIlwrath, president of the Point Clark Beach Association, approached PRWIN and asked if the two groups could work together to create a potted tree program for the shoreline residents in Huron Kinloss. Many have lost, or are losing, their mature ash trees along the shoreline from the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The decimation of the ash trees along the shoreline is very detrimental to that area's ecosystem.

The association was the first to donate to help kick-start the program, as PRWIN employees wrote applications to help fund this new programming. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the beach association, and funding from the PRWIN Sponsorship Program, implemented this important new programming.

Twenty-seven mature potted trees were planted along the shoreline this fall, with a waiting list for the spring of 2018. This new programming will be ongoing and available to shoreline residents in spring and fall. McIlwrath was instrumental in advertising the new programming to secure participation, and helped spread the word to all beach associations along the shoreline. Thank you to him and the Point Clark Beach Association for approaching PRWIN with the programming needs and helping get it off the ground!

PRWIN is a not-for-profit environmental charity, located in Ripley. Each year, it presents the awards of merit to recognize local citizens, associations and businesses for helping PRWIN in its mission of “clean water and a healthy ecosystem within the Pine River watershed,”