The Chatham-Kent and Lambton Children’s Waterfest took centre stage at this year’s Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) Annual General Meeting.
The event, held last week at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, highlighted the organization’s achievements in 2024 and honouring the work of volunteers with a number of awards.
Three Volunteer Hero Awards were handed out, for Special Event, Environmental, and Board or Committee. All three recognized the work in putting on the annual water festival, including a group of retired teachers who have supported the event for the past 18 years, a London couple who travel to the water festival at CM Wilson Conservation Area each spring to educate students about turtle conservation, and the event’s organizing committee for their work in ensuring the festival’s continued success.
The LTVCA also honoured three landowners with environmental awards. Mark Gagner with Enbridge was given the Most Dedicated Organization honour for collaborating with the LTVCA on multiple tree-planting initiatives across Chatham-Kent. Hadler Farms received the Most Dedicated Landowner-East for a two-acre tree planting project on its Glencoe property. The Most Dedicated Landowner-West award was given to Bob and Moira Kerr for transforming a portion of the Flook & Hinton drain into 10 acres of protected space for species at risk.
