New $10,000 conservation prize honours slain philanthropist

WWF Canada (CNW Group/WWF-Canada)

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CNW Group/WWF-Canada)

The winner will have protected ecosystems in Canada and be in financial need

TORONTO, March 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Nominations are now open for the inaugural $10,000 Glen Davis Conservation Leadership Prize to honour the slain philanthropist, and to reward a conservation hero in financial need.

About Glen Davis

• Canadian businessman and philanthropist.
• Leading supporter of WWF-Canada's Endangered Spaces Campaign between 1989-2000, which resulted in the establishment of more than 1,000 new nature reserves, parks and wilderness areas, doubling the amount of protected lands and waters in Canada.
• Strong supporter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, particularly through its local chapters.
• Slain in Toronto on May 18, 2007 at age 66, shot in the parking garage below WWF-Canada's offices after a lunch meeting. Three people, including a cousin of Glen Davis, were convicted of first-degree murder in his death.

About the prize

• Established by WWF-Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to be given for the first time on the 10th anniversary year of Glen Davis's death in May, 2017
• Honours Glen Davis's nationally significant contribution to Canada, and continue that contribution through worthy individuals who deliver results in the tradition of his legacy.
• Helps a worthy candidate do things such as pay the rent and buy groceries, recognizing that conservation activists often experience financial hardship in order to do what they do.
• Financially rewards the worthy candidate, recognizing that conservation activists often make personal financial sacrifices to do what they do.

The successful candidate will have the one of following characteristics:

• Played a key role in bringing — or being on the cusp of bringing — meaningful protections to identifiable land or marine ecosystems in Canada.
• Or led a foundational initiative regarding species or spaces that leaves Canada measurably better off.

Plus:

• Have a demonstrated personal financial sacrifices.

Nominations accepted at wwf.ca/glendavis until 5 p.m. ET Monday May 1, 2017. Winner announced May 18, 2017.

David Miller, president and CEO of WWF-Canada, says:
"Glen Davis loved big wilderness and helped protect more of Canada than anyone before or after him. Glen also invested in people as individuals and he was known for supporting their costs of living as well as the costs of their work. To win this award in Glen's honour is one of the most prestigious recognitions of its kind."

Éric Hébert-Daly, national executive director of CPAWS, says: "Glen Davis had a passion and determination for wilderness that translated into the creation of a whole generation of conservation leaders. He was a dedicated mentor, a generous spirit and a movement builder the likes of which Canada has never seen since. CPAWS was a beneficiary of his approach, and his support made many of our successes possible. This award is a perfect way to honour his memory and his legacy by supporting and encouraging those leaders of today and into the future."

About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca.

About the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
CPAWS is dedicated solely to the protection of Canada's public land, oceans and freshwater, and ensuring our parks are managed to protect nature. We work with all levels of government including indigenous decision-makers, as well as communities and industry to protect Canada's irreplaceable wilderness – now and forever. cpaws.org

SOURCE WWF-Canada

Philippe Devos, WWF-Canada director of communications and media, [email protected], [phone]; Karen Turner, CPAWS national director of communications and development+1 613-569-7226, Ext. 232

Related Links

www.wwf.ca