Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards Recognize Exceptional Achievements in Conservation

TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell is presenting the 2015 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards recognizing individuals, groups and communities for exceptional contributions to conserving Ontario's cultural and natural heritage.

Recipients of the 2015 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards include:

1. Seven individuals receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer contributions to the conservation of community heritage over a period of 25 years or more.
2. 72 young people receiving Youth Achievement Awards for exceptional voluntary contributions to heritage conservation by youth age 24 and under.
3. Seven conservation projects receiving the Excellence in Conservation Award.
4. One community receiving the Community Leadership Award for exemplary leadership, commitment, creativity, positive impact on community and good conservation practices.

Among the Youth Achievement Award recipients are two individuals, each receiving a $2,000 post-secondary scholarship, jointly funded by the Ontario Heritage Trust and Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life – sponsors of the Trust's Young Heritage Leaders program.

QUOTES

"The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards are an excellent way to honour people and communities who have dedicated themselves to preserving and conserving the cultural and natural heritage of Ontarians. I thank each award winner for helping to ensure that Ontario's rich and diverse legacy endures for future generations."
— The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

"Each year, the Trust is greatly impressed by the incredibly creative work being done by so many people across the province to preserve and celebrate our precious heritage resources. I am honoured to recognize these remarkable individuals, groups and communities. Their commitment to conserving Ontario's heritage and sharing our stories is commendable."
— Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust

"Heritage enriches our quality of life, sense of identity and the environment in which we live, work and play. In working to conserve and share that heritage with others, the Ontarians being honoured today have given so much to their communities and the province as a whole. I applaud them for their outstanding achievements."
—   The Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"We've supported the Ontario Heritage Trust's youth program for over a decade. It provides important recognition for young people serving their communities by preserving local heritage, protecting the environment, and demonstrating leadership. It's a wonderful way to inspire others to become involved and commit to building strong, vibrant and diverse communities for the future."
— Jan Belanger, Vice-President, Community Relations, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life

QUICK FACTS

• Established in 2007, the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards are annual juried awards administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust to recognize exceptional achievements in heritage conservation.

• In addition to these awards, this year another 240 youth are being recognized at the community level through the Trust's Young Heritage Leaders program, which recognizes hundreds of young volunteers each year for contributions to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.

LEARN MORE

• Read the backgrounder about the 2015 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award Recipients

• Submit a nomination to the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards and Young Heritage Leaders

• Watch this video about the Young Heritage Leaders program and scholarship

The Ontario Heritage Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.

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SOURCE Ontario Heritage Trust

Catrina Colme, Ontario Heritage Trust, 416-325-5074, [email protected]; John Gross, Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, 416 325 7786, [email protected]; Marlene Klassen, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, 204-946-7705, [email protected]