Meewasin Announces Two Awards

News Release
Meewasin Conservation Award and Friend of Meewasin Award Recipients
DECEMBER 3, 2009

FRIEND OF MEEWASIN AWARD
Richard Nieman is the 2009 recipient of the Friend of Meewasin Award presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to Meewasin .

Dick Nieman recently retired from his volunteer position as the sixth Chair of the Meewasin Valley Authority, having served five years in that position. Dick has been a volunteer with Meewasin since 1987 when he joined the Education Advisory Committee. He served on various Meewasin committees over time, and in 1966 was appointed to the Meewasin board as a representative of the provincial government. He was elected Chair in 2005. For more than 20 years Dick has volunteered and been totally committed to the concept of Meewasin – that the three participating parties: The City of Saskatoon, Province of Saskatchewan and University of Saskatchewan have agreed that they can better conserve the cultural and natural resources of their riverbank lands through a single agency – Meewasin. Throughout the last five years, Dick has provided special leadership enhancing Meewasin’s role in managing the Riverfront Development at River Landing, allowing for more public access to the river valley. He has played a key role in enriching the quality of life for all residents and visitors to Saskatoon.

MEEWASIN CONSERVATION AWARD
Michael Williams is the recipient of the Meewasin Conservation Award presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the natural or human resources of the Meewasin Valley.

Saskatoon resident Michael Williams, a geological engineer, spent a career mapping and conducting mineral exploration. It was his love for the outdoors that had him choose a career as a field geologist. Throughout that time he developed a growing appreciation for the beauty and value of the natural world.

Now in his retirement years Michael is passing onto others what he has learned hoping to instill in them enthusiasm for the natural world, the need for conservation and the need for decision makers to make the right environmental choices.

Michael is a life member of the Camera Club, was president in 1987/88 and has received several awards for nature photography. He has been a member of the Saskatoon Nature Society since 1984. He has served on several committees connected with Meewasin and the City of Saskatoon at the local, provincial and federal levels. He is an author and publisher of nature articles and books. He has conducted many educational workshops on birding and has volunteered to work at the many bird counts in and around Saskatoon.

For more information contact Susan Lamb or Doug Porteous at Meewasin 665-6887
-30-