P.E.I. Environmental Awards handed out to students, schools

In recognition of environmental work on the Island, the province handed out is annual Environmental Awards in three categories on Monday.

Individual category

Stratford's Lilly Hickox, a Grade 11 student at Charlottetown Rural High School, won the award in the individual category.

Hickox is a member of the school's Envirothon Team and a founding member of the Green Club.

She also volunteers with the Sierra Club and is a member of Model UN.

Organization category

The Farmers of Barclay Brook captured the award for the organization category.

The award specifically recognized Bill MacKendrick for his role in a collaborative project with farmers, industry and government.

This group worked on the environmental protection of The Barclay Brook, a fish nursing area for the Trout River Watershed. 

Schools category

West Kent Elementary School captured the award in the schools category.

Students and staff at the school were involved in numerous environmental initiatives, including the IWMC Plastic Grab Bag Challenge, collecting recyclable material to raise funds and donate to the CBC Turkey drive, garden projects, collecting recyclable material for art projects, tree planting and adopting a bald eagle.

'I thought it was amazing'

Maeve Cunniffe, a Grade 5 student at West Kent Elementary School, was excited that her school won an award.

"I was like 'Oh wow!' I thought it was amazing ... I just thought that maybe another school would in this year.  So I was really surprised when we won it," she said.

"We need to help our environment, so we have air to breath and can live longer."

Charlie Ross, also a Grade 5 student at West Kent, was also happy and proud his school won.

"Treating the environment is just like treating anything else right?  We want to stay healthy, and we want the environment to stay health, because that's how we live."

The awards were handed out at a ceremony at West Kent Elementary School. 

Minister of Communities, Land and Environment Robert Mitchell attended the ceremony to congratulate the recipients.

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