Dufferin, Scouts honoured with conservation award

The North Halton Area Scouts and Dufferin Aggregates were both recipients for their active involvement in tree planting at the recent Conservation Halton awards night. The 2006 Conservation Awards of Excellence ceremony, held at Conservation Halton's (CH) administration centre in Burlington, was an expanded version in recognition of the environmental agency's 50th anniversary. Awards were presented in numerous categories to more than 40 recipients. "Conservation Halton needs the help of all our partners and citizens who really make a difference," said Allan Elgar, Oakville councillor and CH's chair of resource planning, who presented the Stewardship Conservation awards. The scouts hold an annual tree planting at Dufferin's Milton and Acton quarries, where up to 5,000 trees are planted in one day. Dufferin has worked with Scouts Canada since 1990 to plant these trees. "Our vision at Dufferin is to keep turning our lands into something very beautiful," said Sarah Lowe, Dufferin's property and resource manager. The Town of Halton Hills was applauded for its irrigation monitoring program installed by the parks department to conserve water. Watering takes place only when and where it's necessary. "In Halton Hills, we're on a well and stream-based system, so it's important to monitor our water use," said Councillor Clark Somerville.