SAM Conservation Fund
In 2013 SAM members first established an externally managed, charitable endowment fund and continue to seek to build the balance of that fund over time. The vision and agreed long-term intent of this fund is that it will become a provincial source of habitat stewardship and conservation funding. Annual equity realized from the fund could be used to stabilize SAM’s operations, increase its public profile and contribute, in a way consistent with the Vision Statement of SAM, to the conservation activities of its members and the wider Newfoundland and Labrador conservation community. In particular, it is envisioned that such a fund could benefit municipalities, charitable partner entities and the wider conservation community involved in likeminded environmentally driven projects. In the shorter-term, portions of equity from the fund are being used to support the SAM Environmental Stewardship Awards, in particular the SAM Scholarship.
SAM Environmental Steward Award
The SAM Environmental Stewardship Award is used to recognize an individual, group, organization or business who has gone above and beyond in their community to support wildlife habitat stewardship, whose responsible management of wildlife habitat and the environment within Newfoundland and Labrador exceeds expectations.
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The SAM Environmental Stewardship Award will be awarded based on three levels (outlined below). Winners of this Award do not have to be from a SAM Member Community.
Award Levels:
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Innovative Organizations - Business or Non-Profit/Community Group
This award recognizes a local Business’, Non-Profit’s, or Community Group’s significant innovation or achievement in environmental stewardship. The Innovation Award recognizes a significant initiative or achievement of a Business or Non-Profit/Community Organization in Newfoundland and Labrador who is engaging in green activities and milestones. This could include business projects with a positive environmental impact, or contribution(s) to the community from an environmental or sustainable perspective.
2024 Innovative Organization - Corduroy Brook Nature Centre & Trail
(Grand Falls-Windsor)​
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The Corduroy Brook Nature Centre & Trail was awarded the SAM Environmental Steward Innovative Organization Award at the 2024 Spring AGM in Grand Falls-Windsor. Corduroy Brook Nature Centre & Trail is a great place to visit in the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor before heading out on the trail, get an up close experience of the flora and fauna found in the area. Running through the heart of Grand Falls-Windsor, the Corduroy Brook Nature Trail offers a relaxing wilderness experience for all ages and abilities.
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The Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association (CBEA) is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to the restoration and preservation of the Corduroy Brook, and to build and maintain a system of accessible nature trails along its course. The Association was incorporated in 1994 and now boasts over 20 kilometres of nature trail, and related infrastructure including bridges and boardwalks, playgrounds, viewing platforms, rest areas, tent sites, and a comprehensive system of signage.
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(Pictured L-R: Corduroy Brook's Environmental Technician-Riley Henniffent, SAM Executive Director-Zach Burrows, SAM Chair of the Board of Directors-Heidi Kolodniski, and Corduroy Brook's Executive Director-Barry Manuel.
Community Champion
This award recognizes an individual’s significant initiative or achievement in environmental stewardship in Newfoundland and Labrador. This individual’s actions will have had a positive environmental impact, proving to be a key force in conserving the environment. This Champion Award recognizes an individual’s contributions to environmental sustainability, bringing us one step closer to a greener future.
2023 Individual Community Champion - Madeleine Florent (Torbay)​
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Madeleine Florent, a resident of the Town of Torbay, was awarded the SAM Community Champion Award at the 2023 Fall Business Meeting in Bay Roberts. Madeleine was recognized for her commitment to conservation, as demonstrated by fighting environmental issues and for the protection of sensitive and valuable areas (including walking trails and wetlands) within her municipality and beyond for many years. Whether it is her involvement with the schools in the town, or being a part of the Torbay Environment and Trails Committee (TETC), or working hand-in-hand with the Town Council on a number of projects, or serving on the Torbay Beach Committee, there is no doubt about Madeleine’s dedication to the Town and the environment. Other accomplishments include: involvement with the East Coast Trail Association, and installing nesting boxes with SAM, as well as tree planting in The Gully along with the Nature Conservancy of Canada
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(Pictured L-R: 2023 Individual Community Champion Award Winner Madeleine Florent and SAM Chair of the Board of Directors Pat Woodford.)
The Innovative Organizations and Community Champion Award nominations will be considered prior to each of SAM's bi-annual meetings (Spring AGM and Fall Meeting) - in order to be considered, please have nominations in prior to the next meeting.
SAM Student Scholarship
First awarded in 2015, this scholarship is awarded to a student either from or studying in Newfoundland and Labrador whose interests, activities and post-secondary goals are focused on the conservation of habitat in this province.
Deadline to apply is May 1st of each year.
Award is a $1000 scholarship.
To be eligible for the SAM Student Scholarship:
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Applicant must be a resident of or must be studying in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador;
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Is (or will be) enrolled in a post-secondary program in the upcoming academic year;
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Have demonstrated an active commitment to conservation in Newfoundland and Labrador.
2024 Student Scholarship - Tori Burt
Tori is completing her Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology (Animal Behaviour) at Memorial University of Newfoundland under the supervision of Dr. Bill Montevecchi. While completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at MUN she took a MUCEP job with Dr. Montevecchi who introduced her to Leach's Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) to hold and feed before releasing them back into the wild. This instilled Tori's interest inbeing involved in seabird conservation. She would like to continue working on animal conservation in her home province as it is so rich with wildlife.
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Tori's research is on widespread reduction of coastal Artificial light at night (ALAN) as a conservation strategy, especially during avian fledging and migration periods. ALAN threatens many species of nocturnally active marine birds worldwide, including Leach's Storm-Petrel, whose population is declining, and they have been listed as “Vulnerable” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) in Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. These birds are prone to getting stranded on land (grounded and having difficulty taking off), assumedly due to ALAN, which exposes them to risks including collisions, predation, starvation, and dehydration. Tori's research has indicated that even partial light reductions can be effective in mitigating seabird strandings. This research provides evidence to support the implementation of widespread reduction of coastal ALAN as a conservation strategy, especially during avian fledging and migration periods.
(Pictured L-R: Tori Burt, winner of the SAM 2024 Student Scholarship, SAM Director Heidi Kolodniski, and Executive Director Zachary Burrows)
To apply or nominate anyone for the above awards, please fill out the below application form
and email it and any supporting documents to samconservation@gmail.com
SAM reserves the right to not to grant the Award if there are no eligible nominees.
For more information, please contact the Stewardship Association of Municipalities.