Partnering for our Future! Award Winners > Emerald Award Winner > Partnering for our Future! Annual Awards


2002

The Third Annual Partnering for our Future! Awards were presented to the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre to recognize their dedication to the river valley through their educational programs and to Sorgaard Ranches to honour their work and commitment to ensure their livestock have a minimal impact on the Little Bow River.

The Helen Schuler Coulee Centre has been educating the community about the river valley environment for more than 21 years. In 2002 an exhibit was created to focus solely on the Oldman River. Visitors learned about floods, river species, watersheds, historic uses and water quality concerns. To enhance the Nature Centre display, a special interpretive show called "The Oldman River" was also created. This western style play was performed in the summer in Galt Gardens and explored the complicated interconnectedness of the Oldman River. The Nature Centre staff and volunteers are committed to sharing their passion for nature and the belief that: Appreciation leads to Understanding which leads to Protection.

In the early spring of 2001, Sorgaard Ranches contacted the County of Lethbridge to discuss concerns regarding the impact their buffalo and cattle had on the riparian zone of the Lower Little Bow River. Even before Sorgaard Ranching sought outside help, they were developing ideas to lessen their livestock's impact on the riparian area.

With assistance from the County of Lethbridge (AESA Program) and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Sorgaard Ranches started to make their ideas work. Efforts lead to the use of a solar pump and an infiltration well for off-stream watering. They also fenced the banks of the Little Bow River to protect the riparian zone, which created a more elaborate pasture rotation for their livestock. In 2002, they structured a facility to winter the cattle away from the banks of the Little Bow River. Observations have shown that within the short time Sorgaard Ranches have been implementing their riparian management ideas, positive changes have occurred in the riparian zone.

Robyn Harrington & Shawna Cook accepted the award on behalf of the Helen Schuler Coulee Centre. From left to right: Robyn Harrington, Shawna Cook, Dory Rossiter, Barbara Lacey.	Stephan Sorgaard accepting the award on behalf of Sorgaard Ranches.

2001

The 2001 Partnering for our Future! Awards were presented to the Hutterian Brethren of Turin (rural category) and the City of Lethbridge (urban category). The Hutterian Brethren of Turin were awarded for their efforts to preserve water quality in the Lower Little Bow River subbasin, and the City of Lethbridge were honored for the upgrade to their wastewater treatment plant.

Chris Waldner accepted on behalf of the Hutterian Brethren of Turin. The Brethren had recognized that their livestock feeding operation posed a risk for water quality. They constructed a new feedlot and a lined catchbasin away from a nearby surface drain that released into the Little Bow. The Colony also decommissioned the old feedlot, constructed a lined pond and a geese-raising area away from the surface drain, abandoned an old lagoon used for storing hog slurry and constructed a steel storage facility to prevent the movement of contaminants into the groundwater. The Turin Colony has actively promoted its environmental stewardship by welcoming tours of their operation and by sharing their experiences and solutions so that others can learn about the practical aspects of beneficial management practices.

Robert Butler and Dalton Stafford accepted the urban award on behalf of the City of Lethbridge's wastewater treatment plant. In 1992, the City embarked on an innovative project to enhance the nutrient removal and effluent disinfection performance of its wastewater treatment plant. The primary goals were to reduce phosphorus and ammonia loading in the Oldman River and to disinfect the effluent with minimal use of chemicals. The final results of the project included an innovative biological nutrient removal process to treat the city's wastewater to a standard that exceeds regulatory requirements for nutrient removal. The project included the installation of an ultraviolet light to disinfect the effluent without the use of chlorine. Since the plant was upgraded, the Initiative has noticed a dramatic improvement in the water quality index downstream of the wastewater treatment plant.

City of Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck and The Hon. Clint Dunford, presenting the Initiative's 2001 Partnering for our Future! Awards at the Water Quality Workshop in February. Mr. Chris Waldner accepted on behalf of The Hutterian Brethren of Turin. Mr. Robert Butler and Mr. Dalton Stafford accepted on behalf of the City of Lethbridge. They are joined by Girl Guides of Lethbridge who gave a presentation on their participation in The Yellow Fish Road Project, an important initiative designed to protect against water contamination through storm drains.

2000

The first ever Partnering for our Future! Awards were presented to Fred Gould of Chinook Feeders Ltd. of Nanton (Award of Merit) and John Vander Heyden of Picture Butte (Honourable Mention). Both men were nominated in the rural category.

Mr. Gould was nominated for his work on controlling runoff from his feedlot operation. In 2000, Chinook Feeders Ltd. built the first constructed wetland in Alberta to treat runoff from a large custom feedlot operation. The wetland removes nutrients and bacteria, and reduces solids from the runoff. From the wetland, the treated water flows through a grass filter strip and into a clean water-holding pond before it is used for irrigation.

John Vander Heyden was recognized for his contribution to riparian zone management. Mr. Vander Heyden, in co-operation with the County of Lethbridge, has established a riparian zone of approximately one hundred by three hundred feet on his pastureland adjacent to the Oldman River. The riparian area was fenced off and a solar pump is now used to provide water to the cattle.

The Hon. Clint Dunford (center) presented the awards to John Vander Heyden (left) and Fred Gould of Chinook Feeders (right).

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