March 10, 2003
DELTA BC – The second annual “Celebrating Women
and the Spirit of the Cranes”, an event held by the
Burns Bog Conservation Society to celebrate the return of
the Greater Sandhill Cranes was sold out well in advance
and brought together a very special group of our community.
This event showcased women who work countless hours and
strive to help our environment in every aspect of their
lives.
“Celebrating Women and the Spirit of the Cranes”
was held to celebrate the return of the Greater Sandhill
Cranes to Burns Bog and International Women’s Day.
This dinner brought out a diverse group of people from our
community. This included Bird lovers, artists, and leaders
in the environmental community, politicians, community activists
and First Nation’s representatives.
Following dinner and keynote speech my Wendy McDonald,
of the BC Bearings Group winners of this years Celebrating
Women and the Spirit of the Cranes Environmental Excellence
Award were Announced.
The winners of these awards were as follows: The Environmental
Excellence in Arts award went to Kate Collie, a well known
Vancouver artist with a love for painting cranes that
has spanned the globe. The Environmental Excellence in
Business Award went to Donna Morton, Donna Morton is the
founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Integral
Economics (formerly NEW BC) –- a charitable organization
that promotes market-based approaches to sustainability--
based in Vancouver. She was recently recognized by Ashoka
Foundation as a leader in social change innovation.. The
Environmental Excellence in Education awards went to Annette
Lebox, a retired teacher and author of children’s
books. The Environmental Excellence in Community Spirit
award went to Olga Schwartzkopf, a woman who has been
instrumental in helping to bring a number of key environmental
issues to the fore, including: water quality and supply
issues, erosion and its impact on food production, unsustainable
timber cutting practices and more. The Environmental Excellence
in Young Women (under 25) awards went to Alexis Brogden,
Alexis is a student at LA Matheson Secondary, Surrey.
She was nominated for her continued volunteer work with
the Burns Bog Conservation Society.
“ We have struck a cord within our community. People
are very intrigued when they realize the relationship
between cranes and women, this event has brought us into
contact with people that we would not otherwise have had
the opportunity to meet” said Eliza Olson, President
of the Burns Bog Conservation Society.
Speakers for the event included: Keynote speaker Wendy
McDonald of the BC Bearing Group, Delta Councillor Vicki
Huntington, MLA, Val Roddick, and Surrey Councillor Judy
Higginbotham.
Corporate sponsors for the event were, Lehigh Heidelberg
Cement Group, Toyota, The BC Bearing Group and White Paper
Company. Our media sponsors were The Delta Optimist and
the Now Newspaper.
Burns Bog and Blaney Bog are the only two places left
in the lower mainland where cranes nest and raise their
young. There are only an estimated 20 Greater Sandhill
Cranes left in the Lower Mainland.
