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Middle Row: Jack H. Hole, (President – DUC), John Sawkey, His Honour, Lieutentant Governor Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Jeff Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, DUC)
Front Row: June Toovey, Lori Wilson
Missing: Dale & Cindy Garling (nominees) and 2009 recipient, Gregg Sheppard
Related Links
- Backgrounder: 2009 Nominees (PDF, 35KB)
Former NHL player wins distinguished conservation award
Regina, Sask., November 25, 2009 — At a ceremony at Government House in Regina, wetland conservationist Gregg Sheppard of North Battleford, SK was presented with the Lieutenant Governor's Greenwing Conservation Award.
Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Award recognizes those who have taken leadership roles in contributing to the public awareness of conserving wetlands and recognizes people who demonstrate outstanding volunteer service in assisting organizations that benefit wetland conservation.
A dedicated volunteer for wetland conservation in Saskatchewan, Sheppard has served in multiple capacities during his 26-year volunteer tenure with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). He started working with DUC in 1974 as a fundraising volunteer for the North Battleford chapter, and went on to serve as Dinner Chair, North West District Chair and sat on the provincial volunteer council. In all of these capacities he has been a strong leader and staunch promoter of wetland conservation.
Sheppard knows a lot about being a team player. He played for six seasons in the NHL in the mid ‘70s with the Boston Bruins with the likes of Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. And he’s a proven champion for wetland conservation when he brought Bobby Orr to the DUC team.
In 2003, when Sheppard was the DUC North Battleford zone chair, he approached his former Bruins teammate and good friend Orr to step forward on behalf of wetland conservation to support DUC’s conservation work.
Sheppard’s instrumental introduction of DUC to the NHL Hockey Hall of Famer led to DUC’s “The Original Six” conservation fundraising campaign, which featured signed replica jerseys from key players on each of the NHL’s original 6 teams.
This Original Six jersey program has raised over $2.5M for DUC since the program began and is still producing results with hockey heavyweights today.
“I’m thrilled that Gregg is being honoured in this way,” said Orr. “Gregg is a great proponent of Canada’s wetlands and it was his contagious enthusiasm and passion for wetland conservation that convinced me to join him and DUC in the fight against wetland loss. Today, I’m still a strong supporter and am proud to be helping raise funds for DUC. In fact, autographed replicas of the Team Canada jersey I wore when we won the Canada Cup in ‘76 will be auctioned off in 2010 at Ducks Unlimited Canada fundraising events across the country.”
“Mr. Sheppard’s grown-in-Saskatchewan idea continues to have a tremendous impact on conservation at a national level,” says Jack H. Hole, President of DUC. “DUC is proud to recognize individuals like Mr. Sheppard who volunteer their time and energy to protect and conserve Canada’s wetlands”.
“It’s a tremendous honour to receive this award,” said Sheppard. “I place a high value on the environment, and want to share that outlook with future generations. Throughout my volunteering with DUC I have been able to contribute to an on-going legacy of wetland conservation. There’s satisfaction in raising awareness of DUC because it’s a good cause and I know the money raised goes toward worthwhile projects.”
The Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, presented Sheppard with the award certificate and medal.
For more information, contact:
Lori Gasper, l_gasper@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: 306-665-7356
