We are very please to announce the OuTstanding In Stewardship award winners of 2022.
Agriculture: Darrel Fipke
Individual: Rebecca King
Organization/Business: Scandia Roadside Native Prairie Restoration Project
Youth: Nipisihkopahk Wellness Social Development Department, Samson Cree Nation Mimiw Sakahikan Aquatic Habitat Project
The OTIS Award is a way to recognize individuals, agricultural initiatives, businesses and organizations, and youth in the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds who are OuTstanding In Stewardship. Stewardship is taking action to care for our watershed, including the land, air, water, and biodiversity. It also supports healthy communities, including our culture and economy, now and into the future.
The OTIS Award is named after the star character in the book series “Otis and Friends: Environmental Adventures.” This series was written by Ponoka high-school students in our Caring for our Watersheds Contest. Otis and his friends help people take action to create a better watershed. OTIS is also an acronym for OuTstanding In Stewardship! Otis, his authors, and the OTIS Award Winners are examples for us all. Nominations are accepted annually between July 1 and March 31. OTIS Award details.
Use the form below to nominate someone you know for an OTIS Award!
Darrel Fipke has used all the principles of range management to run a successful custom grazing operation for over 25 years, and protected water on his land. Darrell was a farm member of the ALUS Wetaskiwin-Leduc Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) from 2016-2023 and played an integral role in building the community program from its inception. Darrell still mentors and encourages other producers to adopt beneficial management practices on their property.
Rebecca King cares about her land, mother nature, and the environmental impacts of farming. From rotating her crops to provide nutrient-rich soil, to working with County of Vermilion River ALUS to return marginal land back to its riparian state, she works to ensure balance. Her passion for natural wetlands to lessen erosion and create natural habitats for birds, pollinators and wildlife, is exemplary. Rebecca advocates and spreads the
word to local farmers about the benefits of her experiences.
Scandia Roadside Native Prairie Restoration Project is a community-led pilot project to steward prairie ecology and biodiversity. This work was organized in conjunction with road reconstruction completed by Camrose County in 2019 and is supported by the Alberta Native Plant Council, the Edmonton Native Plant Society, and InnoTech Alberta. The volunteers remove invasive species and reintroduce wildflowers and other native species, creating a network of ecological corridors throughout the municipality.
Nipisihkopahk Wellness Social Development Department, Samson Cree Nation Mimiw Sakahikan Aquatic Habitat Project brought together youth, knowledge holders, and Elders to participate in community events. The focus was on sharing experiences, knowledge, and methods rooted in traditional practices to care for the land and water with land-based traditional education. Participants developed skills that align with Samson Cree Nation community values. The program provided youth with land-based traditional education grounded in ceremony and Nêhiyaw teachings about Pigeon Lake (mîmîw sâkahikan).
Individual: Robb Gibbs
Agriculture: Michael and Clara Hampton
Business/Organization: Ecoplast Solutions, Inc.
Youth: Altario School
Individual: Lorne Ferguson – Volunteer stewardship
Business: Dan and Harriet Liddle – Nature with agriculture
Organization: Wainwright Wildlife Society – Valuing wild spaces
Youth: Round Hill Renaissance Agricultural Foundation – Growing Rural Education
Individual: Glen Hvenegaard
Business: Camrose Energy
Organization: Millet & District Museum
Youth: Hughenden Public School
Individual: Pres Winter – Blue Bird Trail
Business/Organization: City of Wetaskiwin – Municipal Sustainability
Youth: Junior Forest Wardens, The Grove Grizzlies – Creek Restoration
Farm: Brenda Bohmer, Brenlea Farms – Improving Practices for Wetlands
Individual: Don and Marie Ruzicka – Leading by Example
Business/Organization: Nica’s Hair Salon – Reduce Salon Waste
Youth: Wainwright Girl Guides – Park Clean-up and Beautification
Farm: Tin Forest Farm – Caretakers of Farm Wetlands
Individual: Tom Tomaszewski – Conservation Volunteer
Business/Organization: Buffalo Lake Naturalist Club – Sharing their love of nature
Youth: Katelynn Cook – Environmental Educator
Farm: MSW Farms – Beneficial Agricultural Practices
Individual: Susan Ellis – Pigeon Lake Leadership
Business/Organization: Chinook Applied Research Association- Agricultural Best Management
Youth: Lougheed Colony School- Tree Stewardship
Individual: Roy and Judy Louis-Water Ceremony Leadership
Business/Organization: Blue Dot Camrose- City Declaration of Environmental Rights
Youth: Mina Shin and Brooklyn Green- Greening Golf Courses
Individual: Midge Lambert- Watershed restoration
Business/Organization: County of Vermilion River,- Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS)
Youth: EcoVision- Local Food production
Individual: Mike Black-Battle Lake Stewards
Youth: Maven Boddy and the Golden Prairie 4H club- Riparian Restoration
Business/Organization: Lacombe County-Environmental Management
Individual: Carol Wilson- Stewardship Advocate
Youth Category: Kaitlin Lomas, Katie and Vicki Wyering, Melissa Gartner-Otis and Friends Book series authors
Business/Organization: Darcy and Candace Goodrich, Pure Stock County Farms- Eco-farmers