This year’s volunteer awards were announced on 23rd May, 2024 at the AGM.

Kaye and Charles Ney Award

The premier award of the Society for “lifetime” exemplary service and dedication to the Society. Active Directors of the Society are not eligible for this award until they have served more than 10 years as a Director.

This award was established in 1975 in memory of Kaye Ney by her husband and renamed after his death.

Sheila Byers

It is with deep gratitude that we have chosen Sheila Byers as the recipient of the Kay and Charles Ney Award for 2024. Sheila, a member since 1999, has been involved with the Marine Biology Committee for over 20 years. She chaired the committee for several seasons, then was the committee membership representative until COVID put in-person presentations on hold. She continues to be an active contributor to planning evening presentations. She has even been a presenter herself on several occasions!

Sheila has also organized and led, or co-led, numerous beach walks and other marine biology related field trips, followed up with a written report for the Nature Vancouver website blog.

Outside of Nature Vancouver, Sheila was also deeply involved with the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, which was instrumental in having the glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound recognized for protection. Sheila has made several presentations to groups besides Nature Vancouver on this unique ecosystem. She is also on the planning committee of the Wonders of the Salish Sea adult education program, and has provided presentations and done beach walks for them.

The Discovery journal that you all enjoy would not be possible without the work of the editors. Sheila has been on the editorial committee since 2019, and in recent years, has been co-editor, along with Bev Ramey. In addition, she has contributed articles, photographs and book reviews to the journal over many years. Her attention to detail enhances the quality of this publication.

Sheila has contributed so much to Nature Vancouver over the years, all while volunteering and more recently, working, at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC.

Sheila, we sincerely thank you for the dedication and time you have contributed to Nature Vancouver.

Citation by Joan Lopez

Davidson Award for Conservation

The Davidson award recognizes achievements by Society members in the area of conservation.

This award was established in 1993 in honour of Society founder Professor John Davidson, a vocal conservation advocate.

Phil Edgell

I am delighted to announce that Phil Edgell, a member since 1958, is this year’s nature Vancouver Davidson Award for Conservation recipient for his 30 plus years of conservation work in the Alberni Valley area of Vancouver Island.

In 1991 Phil formed the Sproat Lake Enhancement Society and in 1994 they joined with 4 other groups to form the Alberni Valley Enhancement Association (AVEA)

One of Phil’s most impressive achievements is how in 2000 he was able to persuade NorskeCanada to release the remaining natural portion of the Somass Estuary and to work with Ducks Unlimited to acquire this property and thereby save environmentally valuable land for salmon and other species.

Furthermore, Phil worked with Ducks Unlimited and a broad stakeholder group to develop a comprehensive management plan for the entire estuary and lower portions of the Somass River which flows through Port Alberni which has helped in guiding conservation efforts since that time.

He continues to be involved in other enhancement and restoration activities around the valley including stream complexing and riparian planting including the western boundary of the protected area. The riparian planting and shrubs provide a thriving environment for wildlife.

The AVEA built a hatchery at McLean’s Mill which continues to this day. This is the site where the AVEA and the school district run the ‘Salmonids in the Classroom’ program with school children being taught about salmon and habitat.

He continues to be on the board of the Harvest Roundtable and the Barkley Sound Planning Group thereby continuing his conservation work to this day.

Please join me in applauding Phil for all his contributions with the Davidson Award for Conservation.

Citation by Nigel Peck

Kay Beamish Award for Nature Education

The Beamish award recognizes achievements by Society members in the area of nature education and/or contributions in promoting the aims of the Society. This award was established in 1995 in honour of Katherine (Kay) Beamish, a distinguished botanist and long-time member of this Society.

Peter Ballin

It is my pleasure to present the Kay Beamish Award for Nature Education to Peter Ballin. I first met Peter in the early 1980s when he was already providing nature education in Vancouver to many mature students as an instructor for Vancouver Community College. He taught first year biology throughout the years he worked there. Back then, I was a young and keen Park Naturalist at Richmond Nature Park, and each term Peter would bring his class there for a field trip. 

His students were all so interested and well prepared to explore the bog habitat, and by contrast, this was certainly not the case for many of the other classes of students that visited on field trips. Peter’s first degree was in Zoology at Berkeley, and then he came to British Columbia and to UBC to do his master’s degree in education. Peter is a scuba diver and has worked for a long time as a volunteer at the Vancouver Aquarium educating people about marine biology. 

Peter is so effective as an educator because he is a storyteller. I have seen Peter capture the rapt attention of many people by his enthusiasm as he involves people in the story. His stories usually include a conservation and a historical perspective for the species or areas that he is describing. He is very good at identifying birds by song and plants by detail, while sharing this knowledge with others. Peter has long been associated with Nature Vancouver, including participating in Christmas Bird counts. He recently presented a Thursday night Special Topic on Painted Turtles, on which he has done research for years. Peter, and his wife Shirley, are also very involved with the Kamloops Natural History club.

You may have recognized Peter’s name as the Conservation Chair with BC Nature and where he authors quarterly reports in the BCnature magazine. Peter, you are the consummate educator in every way about the natural world and the ever-increasing threats to the environment.

Citation by Donna Underhill

Frank Sanford Award for Community Service

The Sanford award recognizes the achievements of the wider community that support the aims and objectives of Nature Vancouver. This award may be presented to any member of the community or another organization but is not usually presented to a member of Nature Vancouver. In general, only one Sanford award is presented per year.

This award was established in 1995 in honour of Frank Sanford, Society Treasurer for 35 years.

Zaida Schneider

This year, we are delighted to nominate Zaida Schneider for the Frank Sanford Award for Community Service. 

Zaida is a champion for the tiny sliver of the Salish Sea called False Creek, located right in the urban heart of Vancouver. While many of us may think of False Creek as polluted and altered beyond any redemption, Zaida’s efforts have shown us that False Creek is, despite its many challenges, very much alive, and that underwater it is teeming with a surprising amount of life.

In 2021, Zaida co-founded False Creek Friends Society, a non-profit that aims to restore False Creek to a thriving body of water that can be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike. Since then, he has been reaching out to individuals and groups to share his passion for the Creek. In his brightly coloured heritage tugboat, he has toured many people along the waters of the Creek. And his guests, ranging from politicians to scientists and conservationists, can’t help but come away sharing his enthusiasm. 

Zaida understands that by working together we can achieve something that is much greater than the sum of its parts. We might even be able to achieve things that previously seemed impossible.

It turns out that bringing people together is one of Zaida’s superpowers. And because of his efforts, the collaborative work in False Creek has increased tremendously. Soon, both rights holders and stakeholders might start visioning what a healthy future for False Creek could look like. And how, by working together, we could get there in practice. This process would involve learning from the stewardship values of First Nations and doing our best to contribute towards reconciliation.

It is in fact Zaida’s efforts towards the False Creek BioBlitz in 2022 – in which Nature Vancouver also participated – that led to the creation of the False Creek oyster project. Oysters, as filter feeders, we thought, could make a big difference in reducing pollution in the Creek. And so last summer many Nature Vancouver volunteers participated in counting and measuring oysters and other intertidal life. In the process, all of us got muddy and wet and felt proud of the work we did. But we also felt a new connection to the Creek and its future.

As a retired TV journalist and educator,  Zaida understands that without restoring the human connection to the ocean, conservation and restoration efforts will never be successful, and human well-being will suffer along with nature. The little urban water body of False Creek is a microcosm where this human-nature relationship can be re-discovered and nurtured. And if False Creek becomes a success story, it can inspire wider action in urban ocean areas around the world. 

To quote Zaida:

…if we fail to revere the world’s oceans, human civilization will falter, just as certainly as the planet’s living coral reefs are turning to stone. Let all life thrive. Let’s start caring about this slender finger of the mighty Pacific Ocean, right in downtown Vancouver.

Citation by Marjo Vierras

Garibaldi Awards for Club Services

The Garibaldi awards recognize members who have performed significant service to the Society over several years. Up to four Garibaldi awards are presented each year. These awards were established in 1993.

Caroline Penn

Caroline Penn has been a member of Nature Vancouver since 2017. When she joined us, she was a busy GP in Vancouver and very involved in music, playing accordion with a band that practiced and performed often. She also is involved in the Field Hockey scene and still plays for Canada at the highest level, now with the Masters’ team that will be playing in Auckland, New Zealand this year. You can get the idea that Caroline is a very busy person.

Caroline was brought up in BC and with a strong affinity for natural history. When she joined Nature Vancouver she immediately started becoming active in the Botany Section. Since then Caroline has taken many other roles, one of which was participating on the Nature Vancouver board in 2021 and 2022. Along with Laura Cottle, Caroline is a key member of the Special Topics committee to bring our members 4th Thursday Special Topics programming. 

It is Caroline’s quiet, behind the scenes help that I have really noticed. Caroline has helped Vicky Earle organize the sketch club and she is often the person that you will register with on a variety of events and field trips.

Last week, we had a Special Topics Thursday presentation when Caroline had just returned from a trip but she still took the time to bake a cake for the event and to be early to help with the set up. Caroline did the same for tonight’s AGM. We are all thankful for the volunteer effort that you have put towards Nature Vancouver. Thank you Caroline for all that you do and all that you have done for Nature Vancouver.

Citation by Donna Underhill

Jan Lowcock

Jan Lowcock, a member of Nature Vancouver since 2013, has become very active over the last two years where her positive outlook, get-it-done attitude and organizational skills have made a significant contribution to Nature Vancouver.

She has shared her extensive knowledge of local birds and birding sites by leading or co-leading over eight birding trips in the last 18 months. She also volunteers extensively with WildResearch, carrying out birding survey work at Iona Park and Banding Station during the Spring and Fall Migration period. For this she received recognition as volunteer of the month at WildResearch in 2023.

She has helped to revitalize the Birding Section by coordinating a birding field trip leaders meeting in the Fall of 2023. Subsequently, she and Harvey Dueck developed an on-line birding field trip leaders’ sign-up calendar to facilitate and simplify trip planning and organization. This has helped to encourage additional birding trip leaders, destinations and themed walks. 

As well, Jan participated in early discussions and helped develop the Welcome Walks concept of outreach at Nature Vancouver to a broader and more diverse community. She has co-led several Welcome Bird Walks for Beginners. We are very appreciative of her engagement, serious attention to detail and friendly manner and are happy to present Jan with this Garibaldi Award for Service.

Citation by Janet Snell, Read by Harvey Dueck

Margaret Bear

For most of our membership, Margaret’s volunteer involvement will not be evident. She is one of those people working behind the scenes to improve communications and connectivity with members of the community making enquiries. For the past couple of years, Margaret has been taking care of the info@NV email. She makes the utmost effort to determine who in Nature Vancouver the enquiries should be directed to, and follows up to ensure a response is initiated. News releases of environmental activities are also received at this email, and Margaret assesses these before forwarding them on to the relevant parties or the Board. She has done an excellent job of improving our external communications, even responding while on vacation in Norway!

Margaret is also willing to help out wherever she can. When a member was disposing of their nature book collection, Margaret was the recipient. She brought all those books to the Spring Social at Van Dusen Gardens for members to take what they liked, and then found homes for the remainder. She has also received collections of past Discoveries from members who were downsizing. She and her husband Robert volunteered to do a shift at the Nature Vancouver display during Diver’s Weekend at the Vancouver Aquarium, and they brought (via transit!) a selection of those past journals to hand out to individuals who showed interest. She has more if anyone is looking for items for an outreach display.

Thank you Margaret for your service to Nature Vancouver.

Citation by Joan Lopez

Michelle Baudais

The recipient of the Garibaldi award is going to someone who has been very active in supporting and leading many birding walks. She has never hesitated to step in and help or welcome new participants to the wonderful world of birding. She has hosted walks and co-led many in new areas for others and even herself. The birding walks are often full such as a recent one at Jericho beach. One walk on the north shore was so oversubscribed that it had to be split into two groups, one of which she led with great enthusiasm. In addition to normal birding walks she has also supported and led Christmas bird count events and often shared her knowledge about birds and always in the most cheerful and welcoming manner. An exciting spotting by her group of the Pinyon Jay in West Vancouver this past CBC was a rare treat and got many others in the province who came to see if they could also spot it.

One great example of her leadership is that she recognized that some new to bird watching may not be prepared with the normal equipment and introduced a lending service which provides a great pair of binoculars on loan for bird watching outings to anyone new. Everything about this new offering was dealt with from choosing a great intro model to managing how to administer this service. This has been received very well and the new members greatly appreciated being able to see birds close up for the first time and expressed surprise and very positive comments of appreciation. This initiative will serve Nature Vancouver and new members to birding for a long time to come.

Please join me in recognizing Michelle Baudais as the recipient of the Garibaldi Award.

Citation by John Martin

Susan Garber

Sue Garber as Nature Vancouver’s Social coordinator has been instrumental in providing social events for members since 2019. Sue began by coordinating both the 2019 Christmas Social and the 2019 Christmas Bird post-Count dinner and celebration.

Sue’s contributions have been particularly valuable in the past few years, due to pandemic restrictions, there were fewer opportunities for members to meet each other.

Two events in particular stand out in 2023.  One was at VanDusen Botanical Garden, and the other in the Unitarian Hall.  Both events were very well attended, and it was plain to see (and hear!) how much members enjoyed meeting up with others. I noticed that many people at these events are those who used to be leaders in our Society, but are not able to go on field trips now, for various reasons, but were happy to have an event to go to, such as this.

Sue had her helpers, but she was the instigator of these events, and is so much appreciated.

Thank you, Sue.

Citation by Cynthia Crampton