The Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation has handed out the annual Malcolm Kirk Environmental Award.
This year, the award was presented to Hayden Wardell, a student from Owen Sound District Secondary School. Wardell will be starting the Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry Degree Program at Lakehead University this fall.
The award is named in honour of the late Malcolm Kirk, who passed away in 2012. Mr. Kirk, a long-time resident of the Town of The Blue Mountains, was instrumental in acquiring much of the land now owned and managed by Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, which offers recreational opportunities and is home to thousands of plant and animal species.
The award is presented to a graduating secondary school student pursuing post-secondary studies in an environmental or resource management related field and includes a $2,000 bursary.
Wardell’s passion for the environment was cultivated through outdoor education experiences at his high school, participating in tree planting efforts on his family farm, and an interest in natural resource management and woodworking. As he begins his post-secondary journey, Wardell aspires to develop the skills needed to monitor and manage forests with the goals of promoting biodiversity, ensuring sustainability, and combating climate change.
Each year through an application process, students can apply for the award, which is presented to a graduating student in the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority watershed. The deadline to apply for next year’s Malcolm Kirk Environmental Award is May 31, 2025.
For more information about the Malcolm Kirk Environmental Award and to submit an application, visit the website here.
