Eleven awards recognizing outstanding environmental achievement and leadership on Vancouver Island were presented to environmental leaders during a gala at the Laurel Point Inn on Wednesday night.
November 14, 2021
By: Andrew Duffy
www.timescolonist.com/business/ecostar-gala-returns-with-two-new-pandemic-inspired-awards-4754578
Eleven awards recognizing outstanding environmental achievement and leadership on Vancouver Island were presented to environmental leaders during a gala at the
Laurel Point Inn
on Wednesday night (November 10, 2021).
Because of the pandemic, the
Ecostar Awards
, which returned to a live event after a year off, included two new entries: the COVID-19 Community Leadership Award and the Hospitality Heroes Award, to acknowledge the efforts of local organizations to support Island communities over the last year and a half.
The COVID-19 Community Leadership award was shared by
Cowichan Green Community
,
Outer Shores Expeditions
and
Victoria Distillers
, while the Hospitality Heroes Award went to the
Red Cedar Café
, a non-profit community meal program that provides meals on a “pay what you can” basis.
The Clean Oceans Award was given to the
Small Ship Tour Operators Association
of British Columbia for its leadership on ocean protection.
The Climate Action Award, for greenhouse-gas reduction, went to
Polar Engineering
, while the award for ecological leadership was given to
Pacific Wild
.
The Eco-Preneur of the Year went to Melodie Reynolds of
Elate Cosmetics
, which creates beauty products using cruelty-free ingredients and sustainable practices, while the Inspirational new venture went to
joni
for its line of all-natural feminine protection products.
The Innovation Award went to
Cascadia Seaweed
, while the Local Food Award, for companies that produce or sell Island products, went to the
Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace
.
The Social Impact Award was shared by
Community Salons
and the
Harvest & Share Food Relief Society
for their work on addressing social needs, and the Waste to Resource Award, handed out for diverting waste from the landfill and turning it into new products, went to
BinBreeze
, which produces a natural, non-toxic odour reducing composting powder.
Dr. Jennifer Clark was proud to receive the Innovation Award on behalf of Cascadia Seaweed at the Ecostar ceremony, hosted by the Synergy Foundation last Wednesday!
