LEORA BERMAN RECEIVES MICHENER CONSERVATION AWARD

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

HALIBURTON — A longtime local environmentalist is being recognized for her “remarkable achievements in wildlife research, conservation and education.”

Leora Berman, of Haliburton, has received the The Roland Michener Conservation Award.

Berman call it “an incredible honour and very humbling not only to be chosen for this award, but to be in such amazing and inspiring company.”

Each year The Canadian Wildlife Federation honours nominees from across the country.

Berman has been developing small- and large-scale ecological projects for non-profit groups and governments for over 20 years. She has a worked in designing innovative solutions including hydro-dams to rehydrate both soils and wetlands in southern Ontario and which benefit both wildlife and farming.

Berman is the co-founder and current COO of The Land Between, a grassroots environmental NGO and charity.

She has made impressive and significant inroads to improve legislation to benefit these purposes. She has worked for laudable organizations such as Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Berman is the co-founder and current COO of The Land Between, a grassroots environmental non- government charity focused on a 12,000-square-kilometre bioregion in central Ontario from the Frontenac Arch (around Brockville) in the east to Georgian Bay and southern Parry Sound.

The organization, like Berman, builds relationships with all people and groups, as it works to advance cooperative solutions for conserving biodiversity, sustaining healthy water and fisheries, fostering sustainable economic development and engaging youth.

Berman was honoured, along with the co-honouree, MARS (the Marine Animal Rescue Service), a charity established to rescue beached marine mammals on the east coast.

Berman recognized that the award may positively impact the Highlands.

“It is encouraging to be able to represent the conservation sector in this way, but also to showcase the Highlands. This area, also known as the Land Between bioregion, is so vibrant and also essential to our collective future and wellbeing in Ontario. It makes me happy that this award distinguishes this region for all Canadians to appreciate.”

It was established in 1978 by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as a tribute to the former governor general of Canada, the Right Honourable Roland Michener, an exceptional outdoorsperson and past honorary president of the federation. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in wildlife research and conservation.

Berman and the staff of MARS, were presented with their awards in June in a special CWF Gala in Halifax. Directors, members, staff, and honoured guests from across Canada and from the National Wildlife Service in the USA attended to help present the 2019 awards.

Four other awards were given to extraordinary Canadians:

  • The Robert Bateman Award for exceptional conservation art, was presented to Caroline Jacques of Saint-Fabien, Quebec;
  • Sherri Owen, of Lakefield, Ontario was presented with the Wildlife Educator Award;
  • The Robert Haig-Brown Award provided for outdoors and conservation writing and journalism was awarded to Duane Radford of Edmonton;
  • And the Youth Conservation Award was presented to 17 year old Stephanie Quon of  Vancouver.

Berman recognized that the award may positively impact the Highlands.

“It is encouraging to be able to represent the conservation sector in this way, but also to showcase the Highlands. This area, also known as the Land Between bioregion, is so vibrant and also essential to our collective future and wellbeing in Ontario. It makes me happy that this award distinguishes this region for all Canadians to appreciate.”

You can read about the recipients and their achievements in the current edition of Canadian Wildlife Magazine.

Photo Canadian Wildlife Federation