26th Annual Emerald Awards
Emerald Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding environmental achievements across all sectors in Alberta.
The finalists of the 26th Annual Emerald Awards were selected by a panel of knowledgeable third-party judges.
The 26th Annual Emerald Awards was presented on June 6, 2017 at Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton.
Community Group or Not-for-Profit Association: Grassroots
Award Recipient
Decentralised Energy Canada
In 2001, Alberta’s electricity market fully deregulated. Industry saw an opportunity for Decentralised Energy (DE) to substantially reduce emissions, energy costs and system losses while diversifying Alberta’s economy and creating jobs. In response, a small group of stakeholders established Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC) to connect and support businesses in the DE industry and to drive…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Community Group or Not-for-Profit: Large Organization
Award Recipient
Recycling Without Limits
Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta
In 1995, the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta (CPAA) established a clothing donation program to generate revenues that would provide funding support for the valuable services offered to its members. Through a partnership with Value Village, donations of gently used clothing and small household items dropped off at bins placed around the community are exchanged…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Education: Post-Secondary
Award Recipient
Alternative Energy Technology Program
NAIT
NAIT’s Alternative Energy Technology program was launched in 2011 with the goal of developing highly skilled, specialized workers to fill roles in Alberta’s nascent renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The interdisciplinary program focuses on technical design and project development in areas as diverse as solar PV, biorefining, geothermal and energy management. Based on these…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Education: School or Classroom
Award Recipient
Aspen Heights MicroSociety
For the past six years, Aspen Heights MicroSociety (AHM) has embarked on a mission to transform their school and community through environmental Initiatives and projects with the students as the driving force behind their projects. Aspen Heights Microsociety projects include: exploring their local watershed by raising and releasing of trout in a local pond,…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Emerald Challenge: INNOVATION
Award Recipient
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce
Cuku’s Nest Enterprises Ltd.
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce is Alberta’s first net-zero commercial office building, which opened in the Edmonton community of Summerside in February 2015. Since then, it has been dubbed Edmonton’s “crown jewel” of sustainable construction, as well as a model of a triple bottom line commercial building – capturing the essence of…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Government Institution
Award Recipient
Root For Trees
City of Edmonton
Root for Trees, an enhanced tree planting program, works to preserve and expand Edmonton’s urban forest through partnerships with corporations, community groups, and individual residents. Edmontonians are invited to participate in tree-planting events where they are provided with all the materials required for an exciting and educational day in nature. Volunteer groups involved in planting…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Individual Commitment
Award Recipient
Wild Rose Consulting Inc.
Ann Smreciu
Ann Smreciu is a champion of native plants. For more than 30 years she has worked to re-establish Alberta’s native plants on disturbed lands, from dams and utility corridors to landfills and mine spoils. At the outset of her career, relatively few species could be considered for such projects because supplies of viable seed…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Large Business
Award Recipient
Sustainability Program
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Located on the shores of one of the world’s most picturesque lakes, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is tasked with minimizing its impact on the environment it inhabits. Through innovative practices and employee engagement, the hotel rises above and beyond expectations, becoming a role model for the hotel industry around the globe. Some of the…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Public Education and Outreach
Award Recipient
Advancing Environmental and Energy Education in Alberta
Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE)
The Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE), a non-profit with charitable status, just celebrated the end of its first decade. Their mission is to work in collaboration with others to advance environmental education in Alberta. In 2005, they engaged the community across Alberta who created the “Framework to Advance Environmental Education in Alberta,” which…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Shared Footprints Award
Award Recipient
Foothills Stream Crossing Partnership
In 2005, a group of companies and government agencies came together under the umbrella of fRI Research with the goal of developing a better system to inventory, manage and repair stream crossings. The Foothills Stream Crossing Partnership (FSCP), a multi-industry partnership with the objective of improving the condition and performance of stream crossings by inventorying,…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Small Business
Award Recipient
Bullfrog Power
Bullfrog Power, Canada’s leading green energy provider, offers individuals and businesses clean, renewable energy solutions. By choosing Bullfrog Power’s green energy, Canadians can reduce their environmental impact, support the development of new, community-based renewable energy projects across the country and help transition Canada to a cleaner, healthier future. Together with its customers, Bullfrog is helping…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.
Youth
Award Recipient
The Green Medium
The Green Medium (thegreenmedium.com), an environmental awareness blog, showcases a collective of youth “Resident Writers” that write for the blog on environmentally related topics that they are passionate about. The overall mission of the blog is to increase environmental literacy and awareness as well as to engage an audience that may not be conscious of…
Shortlist
There are no other finalists in this category.