The Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Wins a Canadian Environmental Award

(Ottawa- September 24, 2002) - New Brunswick's Petitcodiac Riverkeeper organisation has won a Canadian Environmental Award for its work in protecting Canada's wildlife species and their habitat on the Petitcodiac River. The prize was offered by the Canadian Geographic and the announcement made at a special gala held at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation.

Daniel LeBlanc, the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper's executive director was in Ottawa to receive the award and was thrilled to hear the good news. "We're very proud to receive this award on behalf of all those who have fought so long to restore the Petitcodiac", said LeBlanc. "I want to thank all those who voted for us and who supported us over the years".

In describing the importance of this national award, LeBlanc was reminded of the fact that the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper's work had national implications. Recently designated Canada's second most endangered river in 2002 by Earthwild International, the Petitcodiac River has also been the focus of several national stories in the past years, largely as a result of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper's work.

The current river study (EIA) that will review a proposal to replace part of the causeway with a bridge, initially proposed by the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper in March 2000, will constitute Canada's most important river restoration project to date if successful. As Canada's first chapter of the influential Waterkeeper Alliance, the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper has also been active in enforcing Canadian environmental laws. Its investigation into the leachate problem at the Moncton landfill in 2000 led to the first such charges being laid in Canada against a municipality (Moncton) and a private consulting firm. This case is now before the courts.

The Canadian Environment Awards 2002 is a new national program that this year recognized 29 nominees who are acting locally to help protect, preserve and restore Canada's environment. The awards program was inspired by the community-action objectives of the Government of Canada's Environment Week. This year's award recognized a variety of grassroots endeavours on behalf of the environment in the areas of Clean Air; Clean Water; Climate Change; Environmental Health; Environmental Learning; Lands and Forests; Sustainable Living; and Wildlife and Nature.

"All the nominees are leaders in their communities who are devoting their talents and energies to benefit our country", said Paula Prociuk, Program Director of the Canadian Environment Awards.

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INFORMATION:
Daniel LeBlanc, Office: (506) 388-5337
Diane Chaperon-Lor, Canadian Environment Awards, Cell: (416) 871-8882