On Thursday, Feb. 7, Rob Prosper, Parks Canada’s vice president of Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, was in Jasper to present eight current or former Jasper National Park employees and five partners with a 2012 CEO Award of Excellence.
Parks Canada`s Acting Resource Conservation Manager, John Wilmshurst, was recognized in the category of fostering a culture of conservation, for his role on a team that developed a comprehensive restoration plan for Grasslands National Park on the southern Saskatchewan border. The team’s accomplishments included the reintroduction of black-footed ferrets and bison to Grasslands National Park, restoring cultivated fields to native grasslands, restoring breeding bird habitat through prescribed grazing, and restoring fire by prescription.
In the categories of engaging partners and facilitating memorable visitor experiences, the Jasper Haida Totem Pole team and the Aboriginal Cultural Celebrations team were recognized for their work on a two-year project that culminated in the raising of the Two Brothers Totem Pole and Aboriginal Cultural celebrations on Parks Day 2011 in Jasper National Park. The project provided an important opportunity to strengthen relationships between the Haida, local and regional Aboriginal groups and Parks Canada. At the Feb. 7 ceremony, four Aboriginal team members, one partner organization and six current or former Jasper National Park employees were presented with CEO Awards for their roles on the project teams. Congratulations to Howard Mustus Jr. (Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation), Ken Groat (Upper Athabasca Valley Elders Council), Joe Fromhold (Asini Wachi Mountain Cree), Terry Calliou (Sucker Creek First Nation), Heather Aussant (Friends of Jasper National Park), and Lori Dowling, Amber Legault, Ray Magnan, Darlene Skehill, Thea Mitchell and Sherrill Meropoulis from Parks Canada.
Retired Parks Canada Fire and Vegetation Specialist Alan Westhaver received a CEO Award of Excellence in the category of outstanding career with the Parks Canada Agency. Westhaver began his 32-year career with Parks Canada in 1979, and throughout his career, in particular with the Firesmart and non-native plant programs, he showed a great commitment to developing and mentoring staff, students and Aboriginal youth. Westhaver has become a leading expert on the topic of Firesmart and worked to develop partnerships with many organizations from the Municipality of Jasper to the Metis Nation of Alberta.
Superintendent Greg Fenton presented with a 2012 Commemorative Medal for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
As part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s accession to the Throne, a new commemorative medal was created as a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country, and to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.
As a recipient of this prestigious award, Jasper National Park’s Superintendent Greg Fenton was presented with a commemorative medal on Feb. 7. Fenton has devoted more than 30 years of his life to serving Parks Canada with passion and integrity. He began his career with Parks Canada in 1979, and has played important leadership roles on a variety of national committees and working groups. Fenton is well respected for his excellence in building and maintaining aboriginal relationships and partnering with community and business leaders. He championed the initiative that led the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre to become a national leader in youth education and worked closely with the Municipality of Jasper to complete the first joint Community Sustainability Plan.
Congratulations to all award recipients!
