Canadian Environment Awards

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The Canadian Environment Awards were established in 2002 through a partnership between the Government of Canada and Canadian Geographic Enterprises. The national program recognizes dedicated Canadians who act locally to help protect, preserve and restore Canada’s environment. There are three levels of award: the flagship Community Awards, Green Team Challenge for youth and the Citation of Lifetime Achievement, recognizing exceptional individuals.

Shell Canada has sponsored the awards for five years. As founding corporate sponsor, the company supports the Community Awards program where Gold Award recipients receive $5,000 and Silver Award winners get $2,500 for the environmental cause of his or her choice.

The 2008 Canadian Environment Awards sparked protests due to Shell's controversial efforts to drill for coalbed methane at the headwaters of British Columbia's Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers -- a place known as the Sacred Headwaters. Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians, who was honoured with a lifetime achievement award, used her acceptance speech to draw attention to Shell's project, which threatens wildlife and wild salmon.