The Conservation Pioneer Award honours individuals who have contributed significantly to the conservation movement in Ontario. These prestigious awards are presented annually to deserving individuals at the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium.
This award is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated life-long, outstanding contributions to the field of conservation. They are recognized for their innovation, leadership and dedication to the conservation field. Either through their personal activities and/or leadership, they have gone beyond the call of duty or responsibility to an employer, client or their community.
These individuals have helped to celebrate and inspire innovation in the conservation field and have made a difference in their area of expertise. Nominees have encouraged and motivated others to take similar leadership roles towards conservation work.
Nominations are reviewed and evaluated by a special sub-committee of the Latornell Steering Committee.
www.latornell.ca/pioneer
Lorne Smith
Nominating Agency: Gray Sauble Conservation Authority
Lorne Smith is a teacher. He chose teaching as his profession and taught for many years at various locations throughout Dufferin and Wellington County. Throughout his career Lorne believed in a handson approach to nature and passed on a love of nature to his students. His classroom always had a nature theme and on more than one occasion included the hatching of mallard and pheasant eggs.
Lorne has been retired now for 25 years and is still teaching. A self-described bit of a nature nut, he has been a conservationist since he was a child. He is now known by another moniker - the Bluebird Man. The Eastern Bluebird population in Southern Ontario has been in decline for many years as urban sprawl has replaced their natural habitat. Since joining the Sydenham Sportsmens Club in 1983, he has spearheaded the construction of over 6,000 bluebird nesting boxes from Orangeville all the way north to Manitoulin Island. Once completed, (often from scrap lumber), the boxes have a useful life of ten years and each of the boxes is subject to annual inspection and maintenance. Lornes passion for nature has been infectious. Today there are over 120 volunteers involved in the annual maintenance of the boxes. Lorne, his wife Mabel, and friend, Bob, are responsible for the upkeep of 600 of the bluebird boxes by themselves! Lornes efforts are credited with helping to reestablish the oncedeclining species.
Lorne has educated thousands of children and adults. He continues to speak about Bluebirds with cubs, brownies, and scouts as well as elementary schools and retirement homes. His efforts have been recognized by Sydenham Sportsmens Association, which has recognized him as Adult Conservationist of the Year on two separate occasions. Lornes newest project involves working with an Owen Sound school in the development of a nature trail along the east side of Owen Sound that will eventually join the Tom Thompson Trail. Lornes conservation legacy continues to grow.
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My day on the bluebird trail (#2)by CAbluebirder1,326 views
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