BoFEP Environmental Stewardship Award
BAY OF FUNDY ECOSYSTEM PARTNERSHIP
"Environmental Stewardship Award"
The Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BoFEP) has
created an award to recognize the significant efforts of individual
citizens toward the environmental stewardship of the Bay of Fundy. The
first of these awards was presented
in 2004 at the 6th Bay of Fundy
Workshop held at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre, Cornwallis Park,
Nova Scotia.
You are invited to submit nominations for this Award
Nominators should complete the
nomination form and submit it in confidence
in the year (see workshop
page for deadlines)
in which a BoFEP Bay of Fundy Science Workshop is being held, to:
BoFEP Award Nominating Committee
BoFEP Secretariat
c/o Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research
23 Westwood Avenue, P.O. Box 115
Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6
Qualifications for the Award
This award will be presented to an individual who has
"contributed significantly to the environmental health/sustainability of
the Bay of Fundy" — preferably someone best described as an "unsung
hero", who has not been in the limelight but has laboured behind the
scenes in advancing the Mission and promoting the Principles
of BoFEP listed below. The requirements are broad and flexible, but will
specifically consider the qualities of dedication and achievement No one
will be excluded because of their circumstances, job, position, location
or other factor.
BoFEP's Mission
Promoting the ecological integrity, vitality, biodiversity and
productivity of the Bay of Fundy ecosystem, in support of the
social well-being and economic sustainability of its coastal
communities.
Facilitating and enhancing communication and co-operation
among all citizens interested in understanding, sustainably using and
conserving the resources, habitats and ecological processes of the
Bay of Fundy.
BoFEP's Principles:
Conservation, protection and management of the Bay of
Fundy’s living resources and their habitats should be ecosystem-based
and reflect an holistic understanding of ecosystem structure, processes
and interactions.
Resource development and other coastal zone activities should be
based on ecologically sound integrated coastal planning and management.
Coastal planning and management should be transparent and open to
participation by resource users, coastal communities, industries,
scientists, governments, managers and all other individuals and groups
with interests in the Bay of Fundy ecosystem.
Effective communication and active co-operation among all citizens
with an interest in the Bay of Fundy, and linkages with groups and
programs that share similar objectives are vital to this enterprise.
Terms of
Reference for the BoFEP Environmental Stewardship Award
Background:
During the first half dozen years of its existence, BoFEP established
itself as a credible and consistent promoter of good environmental
stewardship relative to the Bay of Fundy through its commitment to science
and community sustainability. At its Steering Committee meetings of
January 30, 2004, it approved the creation of an "Environmental
Stewardship Award", and these Terms of Reference on April 15, 2004.
Objective:
This award will be presented to an individual that has "contributed
significantly to the environmental health/sustainability of the Bay of
Fundy", preferably one who might be described as an "unsung hero", who has
not been in the limelight as a prominent player, but has worked hard
behind the scenes toward the Mission and within the Principles of BoFEP.
The requirements should be both broad and flexible, but specifically
consider the qualities of dedication and achievement. It should not
exclude anyone because of their current circumstances, job, position,
location or any other factor.
Nominating Committee:
A three-member Nominating Committee will be appointed by the BoFEP
Steering Committee at least three months prior to each Workshop to conduct
the selection process. The Chair of BoFEP will also be an ex officio,
non-voting member of the Nominating Committee. Nominations will then be
requested from all members of BoFEP, although nominees need not be BoFEP
members. They are to be submitted to the committee through the BoFEP
Secretariat over a two-month timeframe leading up to a Workshop, with a
deadline no later than one month prior to the workshop date. Each
nomination must include a supporting statement outlining the candidate’s
qualifications for the award. The Nominating Committee will then evaluate
the submissions and select a winner, and inform the Chair of the outcome.
The name of the winner will be held in confidence by the Chair, Nominating
Committee (and Secretariat) until the presentation ceremony, unless the
Chair decides for cause to do otherwise.
Presentation:
The Chair of BoFEP will present the award approximately every second
year in conjunction with each BoFEP Workshop. It is intended that the
presentation be a notable and publicized event, and associated with a
social function rather than the formal workshop ceremonies. If required,
reasonable travel expenses of the winning candidate to attend this
ceremony will by covered by BoFEP.
Format:
The award will consist of a framed, matted document with the BoFEP
logo, noting the winners name, the date, purpose of the award and a
synopsis of his/her qualifications that supported their selection by the
Nominating Committee. This award may be accompanied by some other suitable
gift.
Recipient of
2004 BoFEP
Environmental Stewardship Award
Patricia Rae Hinch
Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour
Pat Hinch was recognized for her steadfast vision, energy and dedication
toward a healthy Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine
during recent times when provincial coastal policies and
commitments have been in a period of uncertainty and change. She
exemplifies an individual who cares about our
coasts, coastal communities and marine resources, and one who translates
such concern into action, making significant
contributions to sustainability of the ecosystem. BoFEP was
proud to honour Pat with its first Environmental Stewardship Award
as a fitting tribute to her achievements over
many years on behalf of the Bay of Fundy.
Recipient of
2004 BoFEP Special Recognition
Award
Graham Daborn
Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Acadia University
This special award recognizes Graham's long-standing leadership
of the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, both as a founding member and
its first Chair, a position he has served in with distinction,
dedication and ability during much of the first
decade of BoFEP's existence.
Recipient of
2006 BoFEP
Environmental Stewardship Award
Peter G. Wells
Environment Canada (retired)
At the workshop Banquet, Dr.
Peter Wells, recently retired from Environment Canada in Dartmouth, NS, was
presented with the BoFEP "Environmental Stewardship Award"
for 2006. Peter has been a driving force behind many of BoFEP's science-oriented
activities, particularly the biennial workshops, technical reports and the
activities of several of the working groups. He has been untiring as an editor
of, and contributor to, all of the Workshop Proceedings.
Congratulations Peter on this well-deserved award and thanks for all the
energy, enthusiasm and support you have given to BoFEP ever since its
inception.
Recipient of
2009 BoFEP Environmental
Stewardship Award
Moira Brown
New England Aquarium & Canadian Whale
Institute
One of
North America’s leading specialists on North Atlantic Right Whales, Dr. Moira
Brown, was honoured at the 8th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop held from May
26-28th at Acadia University. Dr. Brown,
currently a senior right whale scientist with the New England Aquarium and the
Canadian Whale Institute, has dedicated her career to
saving the North Atlantic Right whale in Canadian waters. The biennial
Bay of Fundy Stewardship Award is presented by the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem
Partnership (BoFEP) to an individual who has
“contributed significantly to the environmental health/sustainability of the Bay
of Fundy”. At Right, Peter Wells, the Chair of BoFEP, presents the award
to Moira Brown.
Dr. Brown has not only increased our knowledge of Right Whale biology and
ecology through her innovative and wide-ranging research, but has also played a
major role in the development of the federal government’s Right Whale Recovery
Plan (2000) and the more recent Recovery Strategy for the North Atlantic Right
Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in Atlantic
Canadian Waters. Her research and informed counsel led to the moving of the
shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy in 2003, thereby reducing the potential for a
ship striking a right whale by 90 %. Her efforts also contributed to the
designation in 2008 of a seasonal and voluntary “Area to be Avoided” on Roseway
Basin on the Scotian Shelf (another critical Right Whale habitat). The latter
ruling affects all vessels of 300 gross tonnage and upwards, with the exception
of fishing vessels. Dr. Brown and Dalhousie researchers Angelia Vanderlaan and
Chris Taggart used decades of Right Whale sighting data, coupled with vessel
transit data, to provide the information that enabled Transport Canada to
convince the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt significant
conservation measures to reduce the risk of vessel strikes for Right Whales in
Atlantic Canadian waters.
Dr. Brown’s conservation efforts and research have also recognized the need to
understand and appreciate the effects that her research, and the decisions based
on it, has on all stakeholders involved around the Bay. As a result, she has
developed a unique relationship with the marine communities (fishing, shipping
and whale watching) that share the waters of Atlantic Canada with these
threatened whales. By working closely with, and making her research available
to, these communities Dr. Brown has directly and indirectly promoted the
ecological integrity, vitality, biodiversity and productivity of the Bay which
has led to enhancing communication and cooperation throughout communities in the
Bay.
Recipient of 2011 BoFEP
Environmental Stewardship Award
Stephen Hawbold
Former Executive Director of Clean Annapolis River Project (Retired)
The 2011 Award was presented to Stephen in recognition of his vision,
energy and dedication toward healthy watersheds and wetlands around the
Bay of Fundy. For the past two decades, as Executive Director of the Clean
Annapolis River Project, he has been the pre-eminent voice for
environmental conservation and stewardship throughout the Annapolis Valley
and adjacent areas of the Bay of Fundy. His inspiring leadership,
formidable networking and management skills, and his infectious enthusiasm
have sparked a host of environmental success stories throughout the
region. He has always been adept at bringing the right partners to the
table and encouraging them to work together to develop win-win solutions.
He has long been, and continues in retirement to be, a forceful voice for
environmental reason and responsibility in the Fundy region.
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BoFEP
Student Awards
BoFEP encourages and recognizes exceptional
achievements by University students in research pertaining to the Bay of
Fundy by awarding prizes for the best student papers and posters presented
at its Bay of Fundy Science Workshops. First and second place awards are
presented in each category. Panels of judges carefully review all eligible
oral paper presentations and poster displays before rendering their
decisions. The prizes consist of a modest cash award, a suitable book, a
certificate and a letter of commendation for the students portfolio.
Recipients of
2004 Student Presentation
Awards
First Place
Student Paper
Ashley Sprague
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"F actors Affecting Movement of Semipalmated Sandpipers ( Calidris
pusilla)
Migrating Through the Upper Bay of Fundy"
First Place Student Poster
Vanessa Paesani
Mount Allison University, Sackville,
NB
"Intraspecific Genetic Variation in the Centric Diatom
Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii Cleve"
Second Place
Student Paper
Sam Ng' gang' a
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"The Proposed Musquash MPA:
A Case Study on Boundary Delimitation Concepts"
Second Place
Student Poster
Nancy Chiasson
Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS
"Controls on the Distribution of Vegetation Characteristics
in a Tidally Restricted Macrotidal Salt Marsh"
Recipients of
2006 Student Presentation
awards
First Place
Student Paper
Alexander Bond
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"Patterns of Mercury Burden in the Seabirds of Machias Seal
Island, New Brunswick"
First Place Student Poster
Korreen Millard
Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
"High-resolution LIDAR
elevation data of inter-tidal areas:
A potential tool for examining salt marsh vegetation communities"
Second Place
Student Paper
David Drolet
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB
"Effect of density of the gastropod Ilyanassa obsoleta
on distribution
and movement of the amphipod
Corophium volutator."
Second Place
Student Poster
Shannon O'Connor
Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
"The Atlantic Coastal Zone: all
the little fishes"
Recipients of
2009 Student Presentation
Awards
Paper Undergraduate
First - Miriam Coulthard (Mount Allison)
The Effect of Ilyanassa obsoleta on the Vertical
Distribution of Corophium volutator in
Mudflat Ecosystems of the Bay of Fundy
Second -
Beth MacDonald (Mount Allison)
Nocturnal
Habits of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) and
Corophium volutator on
Bay of Fundy mudflats.
Paper Graduate
First -
Elizabeth Wallace (Acadia/Mount Allison)
Effects of Foraging Semipalmated Sandpipers on the
Vertical Distribution of Corophium volutator.
Second -
Aaron Frenette (UNB,
Fredericton)
Contemporary diagnosis of an
intracellular parasite of cod: Application for
investigating the life history of
Loma morhua.
Poster Undergraduate
First -
Amanda Savoie (UNB Fredericton)
Effects
of Density of the Amphipod Corophium volutator on Sediment Properties.
Second -
Laura Bursey (UNB, Fredericton)
Abundance
of Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia demissa) in Salt Marshes Located in
Contrasting
Tidal Regimes: Northumberland Strait vs Upper Bay of Fundy.
Poster Graduate
First -
David Drolet (UNB, Fredericton)
Diel and
Semi-lunar Cycles in the Swimming Activity of the Amphipod
Corophium volutator
in the Upper Bay of Fundy.
Second -
Kyle Smith (Dalhousie University)
The
Characterization and Tracking of Sediment-Laden Ice in Minas Basin, Nova Scotia.
Recipients of 2011
Student Presentation Awards (Photo)
Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation
Melissa Hebert of Mount Allison
University for:
Diurnal and Nocturnal Foraging Behaviours of Staging Semipalmated
Sandpipers in the Upper Bay of Fundy.
Best Graduate Oral Presentation
Andrew Taylor of Mount Allison
University for:
Movement Patterns and Habitat use of Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser
oxyrinchus,
from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada.
Best Undergraduate Poster
Alison Bijman of Saint Mary’s University
for:
The Influence of Tidal Creek Networks on Wetland Vegetation
Colonization in a Macro-tidal System.
Best Graduate Poster
Betsy Barber of UNB, Saint John for:
Predation Effects on Juvenile Invertebrates in Two Rocky Subtidal
Communities
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