From creating a bog garden to building a strawbale house, local citizens and businesses have been recognized by the City of Kawartha Lakes for their environmentally conscious efforts.
During a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday (October 7), Kawartha Lakes councillor Pat Warren, along with the city’s environmental advisory committee chair Deb Pearson and Mayor Doug Elmslie, presented the “Bee a Hero” and Environmental Hero awards.
“This is always a special time of year to honour some of our environmental heroes,” councillor Warren said. “I know there are lots out there, but these are people who have been brought forward by their community as heroes.”
First up was the Bee a Hero award, which recognizes residents who create pollinator-friendly gardens.
Winner Catherine McNeely bought a house in winter 2023 and saw an opportunity where the sump pump drains. She created a bog garden in 2024, planting keystone native species, which are pollinator friendly.
“It is an effective, positive environmental act which everyone can do to make a change from traditional gardening,” the slide in the slideshow presentation about McNeely noted.
The environmental business hero award was bestowed to Zachary Steele of Kawartha Bird Control. Steele is involved in a variety of local environmental projects, centred around bird and wildlife conservation in City of Kawartha Lakes.
He is focused on falconry-based bird abatement, bird-window collision mitigation using feather-friendly window markers, and community conservation outreach.
Steele has been involved in more than 14 local projects and partnerships, including being a founding member of Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes and the Fleming Bird Conservation Committee.
Warren then presented the other environmental hero awards.
Diane and Glenn Hunt built a straw bale house on an angle to optimize solar radiation with “smart windows,” a fireplace with a warming oven, and solar panels. They also helped maintain the butterfly garden in the Rosedale Parkette and also managed and maintained garbage and recycling in the parkette.
Ashton Goble, LilyAnna Goble, Caprice Henwood, and Aiden Peel are young residents who “worked tirelessly” to clear trees and help out wherever needed after the spring ice storm.
John Bush, grounds director of Port 32 Community in Bobcaygeon with a background in conservation management, has volunteered with Bobcaygeon Public School, Kawartha Settlers’ Village, Bobcaygeon Wilderness Park, Big Island, and Kawartha Land Trust’s Hammer Family Nature Preserve in Lakehurst, and also has encouraged others to volunteer.
Warren noted Bush is also co-president of Environmental Action Bobcaygeon and a proponent of active transportation.
Julia Taylor is a passionate environmentalist who has been instrumental in tree planting and runs a business called Country Cupboard that is focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling. At her business, she has implemented a discount program for customers who bring in a reusable jar for bulk food purchases.
Kristie McCabe, interim director of planning and development services at Kawartha Conservation, has built a career in environmental protection and has worked for many environmental organizations. She is also a certified forest therapist who helps people reconnect with nature, and led clean-up efforts “with strength and resilience” after the ice storm damage at Ken Reid Conservation Area.
Bonita O’Neill has made significant contributions to the Lindsay Community Gardens, a showcase for environmentally responsible gardening hosted by Fleming College that include 88 individual plots as well as shared herb/pollinator gardens, an orchard of 15 trees, and a demonstration bed for native perennials.
As well as designing the garden layout, O’Neill tended the herb/pollinator garden, entry plantings, and other communal spaces, did weeding, kept the pathways topped with wood chips, and labelled plants for the convenience of gardeners and visitors.
