2007 WAYLAND DREW NATURAL HERITAGE AWARD

ANNE LINDSAY

This year's recipient of the Wayland Drew Award is Anne Lindsay from Huntsville. Anne was born and raised in Renfrew in the Ottawa Valley. In 1990, she and her husband Gerry made the move to Huntsville and settled in the Bayshore area. Anne said that she knew she had come to the right place when she experienced the "Signs of Hope" environmental conference in 1991. This was the outstanding event envisioned and chaired by Wayland Drew, whose name we are honouring with this award.

From her arrival, Anne has been a leader in environmental education at the schools where she has taught -Riverside, Monck, Pine Glen, and Evergreen Public Schools. Not only were Earth Day activities spearheaded by her enthusiasm, but also a number of other long term programs such as the Nature Club at Riverside School that has grown to over 80 students from grades one to four. Plans are underway to re-naturalize a stream on the 50-acre school property. Anne has also been a leader in the Project Wild program. This is an activity based program designed to teach ecological principles to both elementary and secondary students. Anne has served as both an instructor and facilitator in this program for Huntsville teachers and for the Federation of Ontario Naturalists during her two year stint at the Leslie Frost Centre.

Anne is an active member of the Muskoka Watershed Council and spearheads their education initiatives. Anne often writes articles one of which was published in "The Green Teacher" magazine and used in the "Teaching Green" book.

Besides achievements in the educational area, Anne has the ability to work well with friends and neighbours to secure threatened ecosystems into land trusts. Anne was responsible, along with Nancy Bozek, in initiating the purchase of Huntsville's first land trust known as Indigo Marsh. Subsequently, the Marsh was donated to The Muskoka Heritage Trust. Following this, Anne teamed up with Ellen Stilwell to secure the Pileated Ridge nature reserve in the same area. To help fund the ongoing costs of these trust properties she and Ellen organized a Triathlon in September and raised $700.

Anne is a devoted member of her community. She has volunteered her time to run Eco Adventure Day Camps through the Town of Huntsville. She was also the Co-Chair of Huntsville's inaugural municipal Environmental Advisory Committee. In June, Anne received a Community Stewardship Award from the Parry-Sound Muskoka Stewardship Council. This award is presented to individuals who promote environmental stewardship projects within their communities.

Anne Lindsay is truly an outstanding choice for the Wayland Drew Natural Heritage Award. It is with great pleasure that The Muskoka Heritage Foundation presents the 2007 honour to Anne.