Nominate a Steward from your community

The OTIS Award is a way to recognize individuals, agricultural initiatives, businesses and organizations, and youth in the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds who are OuTstanding In Stewardship. Stewardship is taking action to care for our watershed, including the land, air, water, and biodiversity. It also supports healthy communities, including our culture and economy, now and into the future.

The OTIS Award is named after the star character in the book series “Otis and Friends: Environmental Adventures.” This series was written by Ponoka high-school students in our Caring for our Watersheds Contest. Otis and his friends help people take action to create a better watershed. OTIS is also an acronym for OuTstanding In Stewardship! Otis, his authors, and the OTIS Award Winners are examples for us all. Nominations are accepted annually between July 1 and March 31. OTIS Award details.

Use the form below to nominate someone you know for an OTIS Award!


 

 

2023 OTIS Award Winners

 

Agriculture: DArrel Fipke

Darrel Fipke has used all the principles of range management to run a successful custom grazing operation for over 25 years, and protected water on his land. Darrell was a farm member of the ALUS Wetaskiwin-Leduc Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) from 2016-2023 and played an integral role in building the community program from its inception. Darrell still mentors and encourages other producers to adopt beneficial management practices on their property.

Individual: Rebecca King

Rebecca King cares about her land, mother nature, and the environmental impacts of farming. From rotating her crops to provide nutrient-rich soil,  to working with County of Vermilion River ALUS to return marginal land back to its riparian state, she works to ensure balance. Her passion for natural wetlands to lessen erosion and create natural habitats for birds, pollinators and wildlife, is exemplary. Rebecca advocates and spreads the
word to local farmers about the benefits of her experiences.

 

Organization/Business: Scandia Roadside Native Prairie restoration Project

Scandia Roadside Native Prairie Restoration Project is a community-led pilot project to steward prairie ecology and biodiversity. This work was organized in conjunction with road reconstruction completed by Camrose County in 2019 and is supported by the Alberta Native Plant Council, the Edmonton Native Plant Society, and InnoTech Alberta. The volunteers remove invasive species and reintroduce wildflowers and other native species, creating a network of ecological corridors throughout the municipality.

 

Youth: Nipisihkopahk Wellness Social Development Department, Samson Cree Nation Mimiw Sakahikan Aquatic Habitat Project

Nipisihkopahk Wellness Social Development Department, Samson Cree Nation Mimiw Sakahikan Aquatic Habitat Project brought together youth, knowledge holders, and Elders to participate in community events. The focus was on sharing experiences, knowledge, and methods rooted in traditional practices to care for the land and water with land-based traditional education. Participants developed skills that align with Samson Cree Nation community values. The program provided youth with land-based traditional education grounded in ceremony and Nêhiyaw teachings about Pigeon Lake (mîmîw sâkahikan).

 

past winners

2022

Individual: Robb Gibbs

Agriculture: Michael and Clara Hampton

Business/Organization: Ecoplast Solutions, Inc.

Youth: Altario School

2021

Individual: Lorne Ferguson – Volunteer stewardship

Business: Dan and Harriet Liddle – Nature with agriculture

Organization: Wainwright Wildlife Society – Valuing wild spaces

Youth: Round Hill Renaissance Agricultural Foundation – Growing Rural Education

2020

Individual: Glen Hvenegaard

Business: Camrose Energy

Organization: Millet & District Museum

Youth: Hughenden Public School

2019

Individual: Pres Winter – Blue Bird Trail

Business/Organization: City of Wetaskiwin – Municipal Sustainability

Youth: Junior Forest Wardens, The Grove Grizzlies – Creek Restoration

Farm: Brenda Bohmer, Brenlea Farms – Improving Practices for Wetlands

2018

Individual: Don and Marie Ruzicka – Leading by Example

Business/Organization: Nica’s Hair Salon – Reduce Salon Waste

Youth: Wainwright Girl Guides – Park Clean-up and Beautification

Farm: Tin Forest Farm – Caretakers of Farm Wetlands

2017

*Starting in 2017, we moved from 3 OTIS Award categories to 4.

Individual: Tom Tomaszewski – Conservation Volunteer

Business/Organization: Buffalo Lake Naturalist Club – Sharing their love of nature

Youth: Katelynn Cook – Environmental Educator

Farm: MSW Farms – Beneficial Agricultural Practices

2016

Individual: Susan Ellis – Pigeon Lake Leadership

Business/Organization: Chinook Applied Research Association- Agricultural Best Management

Youth: Lougheed Colony School- Tree Stewardship

2015

Individual: Roy and Judy Louis-Water Ceremony Leadership

Business/Organization: Blue Dot Camrose- City Declaration of Environmental Rights

Youth: Mina Shin and Brooklyn Green- Greening Golf Courses

 

2014

Individual: Midge Lambert- Watershed restoration

Business/Organization: County of Vermilion River,- Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS)

Youth: EcoVision- Local Food production

2013

Individual: Mike Black-Battle Lake Stewards

Youth: Maven Boddy and the Golden Prairie 4H club- Riparian Restoration

Business/Organization: Lacombe County-Environmental Management

2012

Individual: Carol Wilson- Stewardship Advocate

Youth Category: Kaitlin Lomas, Katie and Vicki Wyering, Melissa Gartner-Otis and Friends  Book series authors

Business/Organization: Darcy and Candace Goodrich, Pure Stock County Farms- Eco-farmers

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