Land Conservancy Wins Environmental
Awards
Islanders Honoured for Human Rights Work
November 10, 2004
Victoria- Every year the Skies Above Canada Foundation honours individuals, organizations and businesses whose environmental practices protect earth's atmosphere. This year's Environmental Leadership Award winners will be announced at a gala function co-hosted by the VI Human Rights Institute on Friday, November 12 at 11 am at Hatley Castle's Salon, Royal Roads University. Presenting the awards will be retired Senator, the Honourable Jean Forest. Also speaking will be Royal Roads President Richard Skinner.
"On Monday, Canada's Environment Minister Stéphane Dion admitted that, 'the Arctic is experiencing some of the most rapid and extensive climate change on Earth,' " said Skies Above Chair Bruce Torrie. Documents by United Nations officials completed in mid-October, reveal that the number of people in the world struck by natural disasters has doubled over the past decade. Economic losses have more than tripled.
"On Friday, we will honour those who are making a difference, achieving
real progress towards climate change reductions and human rights," said
Torrie.
This year's award winners include:
The Land Conservancy's outstanding work in protecting green space and special places will be recognized with awards to both Board Chair Murray Rankin and General Counsel Derek Ashurst, one of Victoria's few lawyers focussed on land conservancy. Murray Rankin is an Adjunct Professor at UVic's Faculty of Law, specializing in environmental law. [http://conservancy.bc.ca/]
Friends of the Nemaiah Valley President David Williams will receive an award for groundbreaking work in raising awareness of the unique and endangered Chilcotin Wild Horses and conserving the pristine habitat of the Brittany Triangle. The award also recognizes outstanding efforts in protecting the rights of the Xeni Gwet'in of the Chilcotin First Nation, by assisting with their rights and title lawsuit, currently being heard in the BC Supreme Court at Victoria, and helping them with their Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve/Elegesi Qiyus Wild Horse Preserve and traditional economic values. [http://fonv.ca/]
Bill Singbeil of Nanaimo will receive a human rights award to honour a lifetime of achievement in the support of justice. His concern for others began when he rode the rails during the great depression, like so many others, seeking employment. Later Bill was one of the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Nazi-held captives in Belsen, the largest of the extermination camps. After returning to Nanaimo, he devoted eight years to the Boy Scouts, served as a dedicated volunteer for 50 years with the Red Cross, and delighted the city's children as Santa Claus for 40 years. He was and continues to be a major philanthropist through his donations of handcrafted wooden items to a wide variety of organizations.
