Calgary, Alberta—As the winner of the 2016 Shared Footprint Award, ALUS Canada was among the Eco-Heroes honoured at the 25th annual Alberta Emerald Foundation awards gala, held at Telus Spark in Calgary on June 8, 2016.
“It’s such a thrill to accept the Shared Footprints Award, sponsored by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation,” said Christine Campbell, ALUS Canada’s Western Hub Manager, in her acceptance speech.
“For ALUS, winning the Emerald Award is proof of something we’ve always known: Albertans appreciate the environmental stewardship work that farmers and ranchers are doing, for all our sakes.”
ALUS in Alberta operates within ALUS Canada, a national not-for-profit organization that supports farmers and ranchers producing ecosystem services—such as clean air, clean water, drought and flood mitigation, biodiversity and pollinator habitat—for the benefit of all Canadians.
With the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, ALUS programs are currently established in six provinces, but it is in Alberta that this community-developed, farmer-delivered program has seen the most rapid growth, with ten municipalities on board and more than 3,500 acres of conservation projects on the ground, so far.
According to Campbell, winning the Emerald Award is also a testament to the dedication of ALUS communities in Alberta. The first three communities to adopt ALUS—Parkland County, County of Vermilion River and Red Deer County—have been instrumental in establishing ALUS as the preferred mechanism for delivering stewardship on the agricultural landscape.
“There is a real need, one that is deeply felt by Canadians, to make sure our farmers and ranchers aren’t left footing the bill for taking care of the land,” says Campbell. “ALUS Canada meets that need.”
ALUS Canada’s Executive Director, Bryan Gilvesy, agrees. Proprietor of a Texas Longhorn ranch featuring several ALUS projects, Gilvesy both walks the walk and talks the talk: “In Alberta, and all across this nation, ALUS farmers are part of the solution for improving the environment for Canadians,” he says. “We provide the opportunity for Canadians to support the producers of ecological services. Through ALUS, citizens can make a real difference on the ground.”
“Wearing this Emerald Award proudly in our caps, we look forward to being able to expand the program throughout Alberta, and across Canada, in the years to come,” says Gilvesy.
Established 25 years ago by the Alberta Emerald Foundation, the Emerald Awards is the only program of its kind in Canada, celebrating environmental achievements across all sectors. http://emeraldfoundation.ca/emerald-awards/
ALUS Canada is a community-developed, farmer-delivered program sustaining agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians, one acre at a time. With the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, ALUS Canada programs are now established in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec; while the PEI ALUS program is managed by the Province.
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- At the 2016 Emerald Awards gala, representatives from ALUS and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF) pose with the “Shared Footprint” Emerald Award, sponsored by AREF and awarded to ALUS in Alberta. From L to R: Larry Kaumeyer (ALUS Canada Board Director), Paul Douglas (ALUS Canada Board VP), Gabriel Clarke (ALUS Parkland), Ken Lewis (ALUS Red Deer County), reeve Daryl Watt (ALUS Vermilion River), Lara Ellis (ALUS Canada Director Strategic Initatives), Christine Campbell (ALUS Canada Hub Manager, Western Canada), Lorraine Becker (ALUS Canada Director of Development, Western Canada, Charlie Ponde (AREF Board Chair), Cheryl de Paoli (AREF Executive Director), Brent Alexander (AREF Governor, Managing Director for RBC Commercial Financial Services).
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- The ALUS delegation at the Emerald Awards gala included, from L to R: Lorraine Becker (ALUS Canada Director of Development, Western Canada), Paul Douglas (ALUS Canada Board VP) and Gabriel Clarke (ALUS Parkland).
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- ALUS in Alberta won the 2016 “Shared Footprint” Emerald Award, shown here during the awards presentation in Calgary.
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- ALUS in Alberta won the 2016 “Shared Footprint” Emerald Award, proudly held at the gala by Lorraine Becker (ALUS Canada Director of Development, Western Canada) on left, and Christine Campbell (ALUS Canada Hub Manager, Western Canada).
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- At the 2016 Emerald Award gala, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Lois Mitchell and ALUS Red Deer County program coordinator Ken Lewis are clearly on the same wavelength.
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- At the 2016 Emerald Award gala, ALUS Vermilion River PAC Chair Daryl Watt, Reeve of the County of Vermilion River, proudly holds the Emerald Award won by ALUS in Alberta.
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- ALUS and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF) pose with the Emerald Award, at ALUS Canada’s Alberta announcement in July, 2016. From Left to right: Charlie Ponde, AREF Board Chair; Christine Campbell, ALUS Canada’ Western Hub Manager; Carmen Boyko, Alberta Emerald Foundation Executive Director; Cheryl de Paoli, AREF Executive Director.
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- ALUS Canada CEO Bryan Gilvesy speaks at the organization’s July 2016 Alberta relaunch with the Emerald Award proudly displayed at the podium.
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- Seven of Alberta’s ALUS program coordinators proudly display the Emerald Award, at the ALUS Canada announcement at the Edmonton Corn Maze in July, 2016. From L to R: Aimee Delaney, ALUS Red Deer County conservation assistant; Lorelee Grattidge, ALUS Mountain View program coordinator; Benjamin Misener, ALUS Brazeau program coordinator; Kim Barkwell, ALUS Leduc-Wetaskiwin program coordinator; Megan Casey, ALUS Lac Ste. Anne program coordinator; Ken Lewis, ALUS Red Deer County program coordinator; Chris Elder, ALUS Vermilion River program coordinator; Darren Haarsma, ALUS Parkland program coordinator.
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- The Emerald Award won by ALUS in Alberta was taken on a sort of “victory tour” of ALUS communities in Alberta. Here, the ALUS Parkland PAC proudly displays the Award in Parkland County.
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- The team at ALUS Brazeau poses with the Emerald Award won by ALUS in Alberta, at the ALUS Canada relaunch in Alberta, July 2016. Second from right: ALUS Brazeau progam coordinator Benjamin Misener. Third from right: Reeve of Brazeau County and ALUS participant Bart Guyon.
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- The Emerald Award won by ALUS in Alberta was taken on a sort of “victory tour” of ALUS communities in Alberta. Here, the ALUS Lac Ste. Anne program coordinator Megan Casey proudly displays the Award in Lac Ste. Anne County.
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- The Emerald Award won by ALUS in Alberta was taken on a sort of “victory tour” of ALUS communities in Alberta. Here, the ALUS Northern Sunrise PAC proudly displays the Award in Northern Sunrise County.
