Canadian Geographic co-hosts Canadian Environmental Awards

Biologist,adventurer and film director and producer Jean Lemire, has won the lifetime achievement award of the 6th annual Canadian Environmental Awards, presented this week in Montreal. The Canadian Environment Awards are co-sponsored by the Canadian Geographic Society (publishers of Canadian Geographic magazine, the Government of Canada and Shell Canada, with individual awards supported by 14 other corporate sponsors.

Lemire, who gave the keynote address at the gala awards evening, has dedicated the past 20 years to forging a new model for environmental activism, one which mixes adventure with ecology in compelling documentary films that have been seen by millions of viewers around the world.

In addition to the lifetime achievement awards, the Community Awards honoured individuals and groups of Canadians chosen from more than 120 nominations submitted by the Canadian public.

For a complete list of award winners, nominees and sponsors, see the awards' press release.

Gisèle Jacob, president of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and Clive Mather, president and CEO of Shell Canada, lead corporate sponsor of the Canadian Environment Awards, presented the Gold and Silver recipients with prizes of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, which they will donate to the environmental cause of their choice. All winners also received framed plaques expressly designed for the Canadian Environment Awards by Canada Post.

The Ideas for Life Award, created to recognize environmental action demonstrated through the arts, entertainment and design, was given to TOHU, la Cité des arts du cirque. Employing the same ingenuity that has made Quebec the world leader in circus arts, TOHU is a sustainable "green" home for circus arts in Canada, an environmental learning centre and the anchor project for the revitalization of Montréal's Saint-Michel neighbourhood.

St. Jude School, Longueuil (Borough of Greenfield Park), Quebec, andRiverside Secondary School, Windsor, Ontario, were honoured as the Junior and Senior Gold Award winners of The Green Team Challenge, the CanadianEnvironment Awards' youth initiative. Each received a $2,500 prize in support of their project.

"For the past six years, the Canadian Environment Awards has celebrated exceptional individuals and groups who are working to develop sustainable strategies to protect Canada's biodiversity," said Paula Prociuk Blacklock, vice-president of sales and marketing for Canadian Geographic and managing director of the Canadian Environment Awards.

"This year, all Canadians have come to recognize the importance of the environment, and in that context, the program has truly come of age. Our winners' stories will resonate from coast to coast. As Canada's original environmental publication, Canadian Geographic is honoured to showcase the achievements and leadership of these extraordinary Canadians, who are an inspiration to the rest of the country."