Three local environmentalists have received a prestigious award for their work in protecting turtles along the North Shore Corridor.
Jenifer Brousseau, and Rhonda and Tom Kirby, received the 2024 Eugene Rogers Environmental Award for inspiring leadership and community engagement to protect the Serpent River watershed, wetlands and Blanding’s turtles.
Brousseau is a member of the Serpent River First Nation and Rhonda and Tom Kirby are residents of the Township of the North Shore.
Officials say the Kirbys have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the potential detrimental environmental impacts of a proposed 100-year lease for a rock quarry near their home in the Serpent River watershed on the north shore of Lake Huron near Blind River.
They add Brousseau, an Anishnaabe/Cree and French interdisciplinary artist and teacher led the campaign to protect the Serpent River watershed from destructive resource extraction.
Through her engagement with elders and youth, and a documentary titled “Ten Thousand Turtles,” she’s sharing Indigenous knowledge and relationship building to guide the long-term stewardship of the lands and waters.
This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Eugene Rogers Environmental Award.
The Wilderness Committee presents it each year, accompanied by a $1,000 contribution, to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to protecting the environment and fostering societal change.
The involvement of the Indigenous communities of Serpent River, Garden River and Mississaugi First Nations has been a key factor in delaying the proposed quarry while consultation takes place. Tom, Rhonda and Jenifer have all played key roles informing the communities of the threats to water and wildlife. Most recently, they led the community in erecting a sign to mark the location as traditional and treaty territory of the Robinson-Huron Anishinaabek and as an Indigenous ceremonial site for species-at-risk.
“Rhonda and Tom Kirby, and Jenifer Brousseau, are true examples of how dedication to land and water can inspire communities and build the connections necessary to propel people-powered environmental protections on the local level,” said Katie Krelove, Wilderness Committee Ontario Campaigner. “It has been a gift to organize with and learn from them as we continue to hold the government accountable to laws and regulations meant to conserve species at risk.”
