We are pleased to announce the 2011 winners of the Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
Winners were chosen in the following categories:
| Category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Small Business | Paul and Fritz Klaesi, Fepro Farms |
| Large Business | Steam Whistle Brewing |
| Individual | Bonnie Jean-Louis |
| Non-Governmental Organization | Summerhill Impact REEP Green Solutions |
| Community | Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative |
There was no winner in the institutions category this year.
Pictured here are the 2011 winners: From left to right are: Individual Category - Bonnie Jean-Louis; Community Category - Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative, Andrea Hicks and Pat Learmonth; NGO Category - Summerhill Impact, Corey Diamond; Large Business Category - Steam Whistle Brewing, Sybil Taylor; NGO Category - REEP Green Solutions, Mary Jane Patterson. Minister Bradley is seated in the centre.
Paul and Fritz Klaesi, Fepro Farms (Small Business)
Biogas innovations to improve environmental performance on farms
Paul and Fritz Klaesi of Fepro Farms are leaders in the biogas sector throughout both Ontario and North America. Their highly innovative biogas system for farmers to use on their livestock operations is environmentally and economically beneficial, diverts waste and provides green energy.
Among other features, the biogas system effectively treats manure to reduce E.Coli, Salmonella and other manure-based pathogens and provides an effective destination for wastes that are difficult and expensive to treat. This reduces the risk of contamination to local water sources.
The Klaesi brothers are actively promoting their system in the biogas and farming communities. Their efforts have been well received and highly regarded by other biogas farm operators, which has created an exciting new industry in Ontario.
Steam Whistle Brewing (Large Business)
Water and energy efficient operations
In 2008, Steam Whistle Brewing installed a new brewhouse to incorporate technologies that have greatly reduced the company’s environmental footprint, saving 4,500,000 litres of water and minimizing the amount of sewage/wastewater produced every year. The brewhouse decreases energy consumption by capturing and recovering energy from the steam coming from the brewing process and using it to generate all the hot water needed for brewing, bottling, canning, kegging and cleaning.
Steam Whistle promotes environmental stewardship through educational sessions with school groups, involvement in various environmental organizations, and tours of their facility where visitors can see the green features incorporated throughout the entire operation.
Bonnie Jean-Louis (Individual)
Citizen collaboration to ensure a healthy community
Bonnie Jean-Louis of Hawkesbury started La Ligne Verte. Through this grassroots initiative, Bonnie has coordinated outreach activities in the community that focus on preventing pollution, managing waste, and improving water quality.
Bonnie organized a volunteer-based collection of electronic waste. This effort diverted 19 tonnes of waste from landfills. Bonnie also organized the Hawkesbury Creek Clean-up and Appreciation Day, where volunteers helped remove debris, garbage and other pollutants from the shoreline.
Community engagement is a key area of Bonnie’s efforts. She has provided educational workshops for local organizations, businesses, schools and city employees. As a leader in the community, Bonnie sets a positive example for others to take an active role in environmental protection.
Summerhill Impact (Non-Governmental Organization)
Outreach, education and management infrastructure for automotive mercury switches
Summerhill Impact developed the first mercury recovery program in Canada. “Switch Out” collects, recovers and properly manages mercury switches found in hundreds of thousands of retired vehicles.
Mercury is a highly toxic substance commonly found in vehicles produced prior to 2003. If not properly contained and disposed of, mercury has the potential to harm air, water and the health of ecosystems.
Since its launch in 2001, Switch Out has grown from an Ontario initiative to a nation-wide program. To date, Switch Out has collected over 440,000 mercury switches, translating to 377 kilograms of mercury recovered.
REEP Green Solutions (Non-Governmental Organization)
Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) House for Sustainable Living
REEP Green Solutions completely renovated a century brick home with environmentally sustainable building features. The REEP House for Sustainable Living is a model for energy and water efficiency.
The retrofits have reduced energy use by 90 per cent, which means a 63 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The house showcases renewable energy technologies including geothermal and solar power, which can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions that a house produces.
Water use was reduced by 60 per cent through innovative technologies such as installing a grey-water system, low-flow fixtures and a rain water capture system.
The house shows homeowners that it is possible to achieve smart, green, and profitable renovation choices that effectively reduce their home’s environmental footprint.
Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative (Community)
Protection of water quality through on-farm improvements
Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative, a partnership of twelve organizations in the Kawartha region, provides funding, technical support and physical resources to farmland owners looking to reduce on-farm risks to the environment.
The projects funded through the collaborative focus on water quality and habitat protection on farmland, as well as areas downstream. Projects include restoring wetlands, controlling erosion, and separating livestock from watercourses, wetlands and ponds.
In 2010, twenty projects were funded by the Collaborative, totalling more than $240,000. The farm owner also has a responsibility to contribute to the project, either financially, or through physical labour or using on-farm materials or equipment to carry out the project.
- 2011 Award Winners
- Paul and Fritz Klaesi, FEPRO Farms
Small Business Category - Steam Whistle Brewing
Large Business Category - Bonnie Jean-Louis
Individual Category - Summerhill Impact
Non-Governmental Organization Category - REEP Green Solutions
Non-Government Organization Category - Kawartha Farm Stewardship Collaborative
Community Category
