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Environmental Champions Honoured for Conservation Efforts
Ontario Nature Celebrates its 2025 Conservation Award Recipients
Ontario, December 10, 2025 – Ontario Nature announced the recipients of its 2025 Conservation Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to nature protection by individuals, youth, organizations and municipalities across Ontario. These champions exemplify leadership, innovation, and dedication to protecting biodiversity and fostering environmental stewardship.
This year’s award winners are:
Ontario Nature Media and Conservation Award – In The Hills magazine for its influential environmental journalism and advocacy in Ontario’s Headwaters Region.
Ontario Nature Corporate Award – Toronto Nature Stewards for pioneering urban ecological restoration and community engagement in Toronto’s ravines.
Ontario Nature Youth Leadership Award – Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project (Taylor Denton, Paige Denton, Maggie Lentine, Ellen Lentine, Emilie Leclerqc) for linking a solar eclipse to Monarch conservation and raising $75,000 for habitat protection.
Lee Symmes Municipal Award – City of Markham for groundbreaking natural heritage and natural assets studies, integrating ecosystem services into municipal planning.
Steve Hounsell Greenway Award – Citizens for Marshland Conservation for securing a Provincially Significant Wetland designation for McLennan Marsh through grassroots advocacy and scientific rigor.
Ontario Nature Education Award – Sean McCommon for inspiring more than 100,000 students through innovative outdoor education and conservation programs in Waterloo Region.
Ontario Nature Natural History Award – Dr. Douglas C. Tozer for leading large-scale wetland monitoring programs and producing influential research shaping conservation policy.
Ontario Nature Public Service Award – Land Over Landings for five decades of advocacy culminating in the cancellation of an airport project and preservation of 18,600 acres of farmland and watershed.
Ontario Nature Conservation Leadership Award – Miptoon, Knowledge Holder from Neyaashiinigmiing, for advancing Indigenous-led conservation and mentoring future environmental leaders.
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Ontario Nature Media and Conservation Award – In The Hills magazine for its influential environmental journalism and advocacy in Ontario’s Headwaters Region.
Ontario Nature Corporate Award – Toronto Nature Stewards for pioneering urban ecological restoration and community engagement in Toronto’s ravines.
Ontario Nature Youth Leadership Award – Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project (Taylor Denton, Paige Denton, Maggie Lentine, Ellen Lentine, Emilie Leclerqc) for linking a solar eclipse to Monarch conservation and raising $75,000 for habitat protection.
Lee Symmes Municipal Award – City of Markham for groundbreaking natural heritage and natural assets studies, integrating ecosystem services into municipal planning.
Ontario Nature Education Award – Sean McCommon for inspiring more than 100,000 students through innovative outdoor education and conservation programs in Waterloo Region.
Ontario Nature Natural History Award – Dr. Douglas C. Tozer for leading large-scale wetland monitoring programs and producing influential research shaping conservation policy.
Ontario Nature Public Service Award – Land Over Landings for five decades of advocacy culminating in the cancellation of an airport project and preservation of 18,600 acres of farmland and watershed.
Ontario Nature Conservation Leadership Award – Miptoon, Knowledge Holder from Neyaashiinigmiing, for advancing Indigenous-led conservation and mentoring future environmental leaders.
About
Ontario Nature protects wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement. Ontario Nature is a charitable organization representing 9,500 members, 130,000 supporters and 150 member groups from across Ontario. For more information, visit ontarionature.org.
We acknowledge that there are 46 treaties and other agreements that cover the territory, now called Ontario, and our roles and responsibilities as Treaty partners. We recognize the inherent rights and responsibilities of Indigenous Nations, who have cared for and governed Turtle Island since time immemorial.
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