First Nations luminaries, innovative paper company, and a global forest
monitoring network are among the 2010 Boreal Award winners

OTTAWA, Nov. 25 /CNW/ - The Canadian Boreal Initiative presented the annual Boreal Leadership Council's Boreal Awards at a gala dinner in Ottawa last night.

The Boreal Award winners represent a panoply of approaches and interests. Attendees at the ceremony at the National Arts Centre represented a national audience, and included members of Parliament and leaders from the Aboriginal, environmental, business, and industry realms.

The 2010 Boreal Award recipients are:

• Aventures Ashini and the Friends of the Mushuau-Nipi run annual seminars in Northern Quebec at the stunning George River. Serge Goupil Ashini and his team share the beauty of the Nordic area, educate participants on the importance of protecting the territory, and explain and contextualize aboriginal rights and culture to the larger public;
• Cascades Fine Paper Group, from Saint-Jérôme, Québec recognized for business practices that emphasize 100% recycled paper and production practices that results in Cascades producing 94% less carbon emissions than the industry average of blank paper in North America;
• Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta is a strong leader and an integral force in mobilizing forces in a joint effort against environmental destruction. Through his words and actions Chief Adam consistently demonstrates a great love for the land, the water, and his people;
• First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining (FNWARM) is a coalition of First Nations women leaders from northern BC with extensive experience in dealing with mining issues, most recently the Fish Lake campaign. FNWARM seeks to promote environmentally sound mining exploration and development processes that respect First Nations rights and full participation;
• Global Forest Watch Canada is one of Canada's most important providers of the tools and the data that conservationists, governments, First Nations, and industries require to plan for  and protect Canada's Boreal Forest. The provision of these data ultimately will result in forest management regimes that provide a full range of benefits for both present and future generations;
• Professor Louis Bélanger, a long-time volunteer with Nature Québec, has used his expertise in forest ecology and forest management for positive on ecosystem standards in Quebec, including the passage of the Sustainable Forest Development Act.

"This year's winners once again demonstrate the depth of talent and commitment that is evident across Canada's vast boreal forest," said Larry Innes, Executive Director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative. "They share a vision that incorporates a balanced approach to boreal forest conservation and sustainable development. The work we celebrated tonight makes these goals that much more feasible."

The Boreal Awards, chosen by a committee of the Boreal Leadership Council, recognize leadership, innovation, cooperation and excellence among those who live and work in Canada's Boreal Forest region. All of the nominees have made an outstanding contribution to protecting the Boreal Forest and advancing the balanced vision of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework.

The Canadian Boreal Initiative brings together diverse partners to create new solutions for Boreal conservation and acts as a catalyst for on-the-ground efforts across the Boreal forest by governments, industry, Aboriginal communities, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions and scientists.

The Boreal Leadership Council is made up of leading conservation groups, Aboriginal organizations, resource companies and financial institutions, all of which have an interest and a stake in the future of Canada's Boreal Forest. Members of the Council are signatories to the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, and are committed to Framework implementation in their activities.

For further information:

Suzanne Fraser
Director of communications, Canadian Boreal Initiative
[email protected]
613.552.7277 (mobile)