31st Annual Emerald Awards

Since 1992, the Emerald Awards have showcased over 350 recipients and 850 finalists who are raising the bar in addressing local, regional, and global environmental & climate issues. These environmental awards celebrate excellence across all sectors, making them unique not only in Alberta but also in Canada.

The 31st Annual Emerald Awards took place on June 1, 2022, at the Calgary Central Library. If you missed it, you can watch it for free on our YouTube channel and read the digital program!

Legacy categories

Celebrating an organization or individual’s legacy of environmental excellence in addressing and mitigating the effects of local, regional, and global climate and environmental issues.

The 2022 Legacy Categories are:

Business presented by Edmonton Community Foundation
- Showcasing an organization engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities that have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to an environmentally sustainable future.
Community Group or Nonprofit presented by Syncrude Canada Ltd.
- Recognizing associations dedicated to furthering a particular social cause or advocating for a shared point of view that has demonstrated a significant commitment to the environment through their actions.
Education presented by Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation. & Beverage Container Management Board
- Acknowledging those that have raised the bar by showing leadership and creativity in educating students of all ages about environmental matters.
Youth presented by Capital Power
- Recognizing people, 25 years of age and under, who have made meaningful contributions and have taken positive action to improve the environmental health of their community.
Lifetime Achievement presented by Dow
- Celebrating environmental leaders who, throughout their lifetime, have made contributions of outstanding environmental significance.
Government
- Recognizing all levels of government whose ongoing commitment sets the example of environmental leadership and advocates sustainability as a major consideration in governance.

project/initiative categories

Showcasing the Albertan environmental projects and initiatives that have addressed and mitigated the effects of local, regional, and global environmental issues by achieving excellence aligned to certain environmental priorities.

The 2022 Project/Initiative Categories are:

Water presented by The Government of Alberta
- Recognizing projects and initiatives that demonstrate excellence through the monitoring, management and/or stewardship of water and watersheds.
Air
- Recognizing projects and initiatives that improve air quality.
Land presented by Alberta Real Estate Foundation
- Recognizing projects and initiatives that demonstrate excellence in sustainable land use.
Waste Management presented by Alberta Recycling Management Authority
- Recognizing projects and initiatives that innovate the repurposing, reduction, and disposal of waste in an environmentally conscious way.
Public Engagement & Outreach presented by City of Calgary
- Recognizing programs and initiatives that educate and empower the broader public by teaching the necessary skills to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible action.
Wildlife & Biodiversity presented by Alberta Forest Products Association
- Recognizing projects and initiatives that protect and conserve natural habitats and wild species.

Air

Award Recipient

Bike All Winter Program

Community Cruisers

The goal of the Bike All Winter program is to increase the number of people using bikes for transportation during the winter months by targeting residents of Canmore and Banff that are currently not using bikes for transportation during the winter months but would like to start.

The program is run entirely by volunteers and has been in operation since September of 2020. In 2020 the program supported ...

Shortlist

Idling Reduction Initiative

The City of Calgary

In November 2019, idling reduction targets for The City’s fleet were set by Calgary City Council, and Fleet Services was tasked with leading and coordinating the Idling Reduction Initiative. The City took several fundamental steps to reduce unnecessary idling including the following highlights:

– retrofitting fleet vehicles with technology to eliminate idling;

– supporting green driver training and safety initiatives;

– developing creative ...

Business

Award Recipient

Zeno Renewables Inc.

What does a better world look like? That’s a question we ask ourselves every day, and it’s one we spend a lot of time thinking about. To us, a better world is one where sustainability is embedded within every facet of our society. Where the barrier to renewable energy is so low that adopting solar is a no-brainer for everyone. In the midst of a global climate crisis, the ...

Shortlist

SunnyCider: UpCycling Organic Waste

SunnyCider utilizes wasted fruit and upcycles them into consumable beverages of cider, spirits, and vinegars. They work with a network of donors that collect and deliver the fruit which they convert primarily into apple cider.

Learn more!

Community Group or Non-Profit

Award Recipient

Newo

Newo is a non-profit social enterprise exploring ways to share abundance (Wêyôtan) through harmonious relationships (Wahkohtowin), and these foundational Cree principles guide our business practices:

Wahkohtowin: “We are all kin.” There are interwoven relationships between people, land, plants and animals, and our sense of responsibility to each other, our kinship ties, should determine our actions in the world and build foundations for our life together. Wêyôtan: ...

Shortlist

Society of Grasslands Naturalists: Three Decades of Conservation

The Society of Grasslands Naturalists (GN) is a registered non-profit charitable organization with the following objectives: – encourage study, appreciation, and protection of the natural world; – encourage the preservation of natural features, habitat and species; – assist in the collection of observational records of species for research, education, and policy development; – provide opportunities for responsible stewardship of the natural environment in the Medicine Hat area.

...

The Resilience Institute

Wicked challenges, like climate change, require multi-pronged and transdisciplinary approaches for successful adaptation and mitigation. The Resilience Institute’s work focuses on co-developing initiatives that weave local and cultural knowledge with scientific and technical expertise and foster multi-generational engagement.

The Resilience Institute partners with local and Indigenous communities, academia, governments, and other charities on initiatives that advance our charitable objectives. They co-develop activities that unite multi-generations in learning ...

Education

Award Recipient

Seeing is Believing: A Legacy of Providing EdTech for Sustainability to Alberta Students

Alberta Tomorrow Foundation

In 2003 Dr. Brad Stelfox and Matthew Carlson recognized the need for an educational tool to help Albertans understand the complexities of land use planning in Alberta. With limited resources and a booming economy and population, the need to create land-use plans that looked at the cumulative effects of our activities on the land and balanced our environmental and socio/economic needs led to the first free, online educational ...

Shortlist

Future Energy Systems

Future Energy Systems (FES) is a research program at the University of Alberta funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Their mission is to enable a brighter future for energy, in Canada, and around the world, supporting the energy transition towards a sustainable, economically viable, and just system where energy and environment exist in harmony and the needs of people and communities are met without strife.

...

Evergreen Theatre Society

The Evergreen Theatre Society (ETS) proudly offers curriculum-based musical theatre touring shows and artist-in-residency programs.

ETS performs a 50-minute signature show with 2 professional actors in schools. Their theatrical performances engage children from Grades K-6, with opportunities for students to perform in the show. All shows feature curriculum-based scripts, exciting sets, props, and costumes – and popular music based on hits that kids and teachers love. All ...

Government

Award Recipient

25 Years of Environmental Achievements at the M.D. of Ranchland No. 66

The Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66 prides itself as one of the most environmentally conscious municipalities in Alberta. Nestled away in the foothills and Rocky Mountains, the M.D. is home to countless watersheds, rangelands, forests, and wildlife, and has made it a top priority to take care of them.

For 25 years, Ranchland has consistently implemented creative solutions to environmental issues. The M.D. has gone ...

Shortlist

Fish in Schools (FinS)

Bow Habitat Station, Government of Alberta

FinS is a provincial fisheries management education program coordinated by Bow Habitat Station (BHS) that provides schools across Alberta unique and hands-on opportunities to raise rainbow trout in their classrooms. Since its inception in 1998, the program has engaged close to 45,000 students in over 30 communities across the province – from Hines Creek in the north to Pincher Creek in the south.

This sought-after program directly ...

Land

Award Recipient

Edmonton Urban Farm is growing!

Explore Edmonton

Since 2014, the Edmonton Urban Farm (EUF) has helped make Edmonton a greener, more sustainable city in several ways.

1) It has transformed 2 acres of excess urban land (abandoned, strewn with garbage and invasive weeds) into a productive space providing 300 plus people and their families with nutritious, locally grown food. This reduces the city’s carbon footprint AND it serves as a model to other ...

Shortlist

West Ritchie Community Gardens

West Ritchie Community Gardens (WRCG) is a youth-led project to transform neglected land in Ritchie into a vibrant community space. This garden has created a community gathering space, with picnic tables, community art, and native edible landscaping. The WRCG also has garden boxes, water barrels, and composters to support local growing and better organics management. In addition to this, they also host events in the space, such as ...

Highfield Regenerative Farm

Highfield Farm is located on 15-acres in the heart of an industrial community in the city of Calgary. In partnership with the Compost Council of Canada and the City of Calgary, they are transforming this vacant property into a vibrant and productive urban farm through soil revitalization, food production and community programming. The Highfield Farm urban agriculture project produces locally-grown food, raises general awareness of urban agriculture, generates entrepreneurial ...

Lifetime Achievement

Award Recipient

Steve McIsaac

Steve’s career began in 1992 as the first full-time educator at Inside Education (then FEESA). With his background as a social studies teacher, Steve ensures a balanced approach to exploring environmental issues and sustainability. The legacy, consistency, and opportunities that Inside Education provides as an organization are directly attributed to Steve’s leadership.

In addition to co-leading Alberta’s first climate change education program, 1992’s Atmospheric Change Teacher’s ...

Shortlist

There are no other finalists in this category.

Public Engagement & Outreach

Award Recipient

WILD Outside and Canadian Conservation Corps

Canadian Wildlife Federation

WILD Outside

WILD Outside is a national conservation-based youth leadership program designed for youth ages 15 to 18. The program is open to all regardless of physical, economic or any other barriers; this is a no-cost program with free enrolment that encourages youth of all levels of capability to join. By participating in this unique and flexible program, youth across Canada experience opportunities for ...

Shortlist

Becoming Less Podcast

Waste Free Edmonton

Becoming Less is a podcast about an Edmontonian journey to less waste, less impact, less consumption, and less clutter. With a focus on mindset, episodes fall into four different themes. Some episodes focus on ways our culture affects us unconsciously, bringing awareness to how our surroundings influence us. Some are about concrete swaps and solutions that individuals can make. Then there are interview episodes that include talking with local ...

The Power of Nature for Newcomers

Green Calgary

The Power of Nature is a series of workshops designed to engage ESL learners with actions they can take to reduce their energy consumption, lower utility bills, understand the connection between actions and climate change, and learn about jobs in the alternative energy industry. The program was delivered through 16 – 1-hour presentations and 4 – 1-hour in language sessions. Connecting environmental experts with immigrant-serving agencies, Power of Nature ...

Waste Management

Award Recipient

Blenderz Garment Recyclers Inc

Blenderz Garment Recyclers reclaims and recycles textiles that are deemed unsellable by thrift stores, charities, the general public, and businesses. Blenderz uses a zero-waste, no landfill approach through a mixture of solutions that keep these textiles from the traditionally linear supply chain stream and recycles them in a closed-loop system.

In nine months Blenderz has reclaimed and upcycled, 81.35 tons of textile waste from the local ...

Shortlist

Alternative Root Compost

AltRoot is an Alberta-based waste management company that specializes in the handling of organic waste streams from municipal sources to produce organic compost and nutrient-dense soil. Their facility north of Edmonton is licensed to receive 20,000 tonnes of organic waste each year from surrounding towns and rural municipalities. They use covered aerated static pile (CASP) techniques and technologies that provide rapid biodegradation. CASP effectively provides the required environmental controls ...

Microgreens Club – A Zero Waste Initiative

Micro YYC

Micro YYC is an urban indoor microgreens farm that provides microgreens to local markets, grocers, and restaurants. Their latest initiative: The Microgreens Club, is an entirely zero-waste service that delivers microgreens directly to customers in reusable containers. Containers are returned each week, sanitized, and reused indefinitely.

In the world of packaging, a reuse model – as a part of a circular economy – is the only model ...

Water

Award Recipient

Riparian Web Portal

North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance

Riparian Web Portal is an exciting new project created by Alberta’s watershed community. Officially launched in 2021, this online space is designed to encourage Albertans to conserve and improve riparian health today for a better tomorrow.

The Riparian Web Portal:

1) provides access to riparian data and summary tools,

2) shares examples of on-the-ground restoration and conservation projects, and

3) ...

Shortlist

A Very Visual Field Guide for Wetland Classification in Alberta

Ducks Unlimited Canada

The Alberta Wetland Classification System Field Guide provides wetland information clearly and logically, for users to navigate while assessing a wetland in the field. The introductory content of the guide exposes users to wetland functions, values, and classification concepts like the five main wetland classes in Alberta (bog, fen, swamp, marsh, shallow open water). The guide then walks users through wetland classification with:

1. 24 detailed fact ...

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Award Recipient

Plant Biodiversity Lab

Dr. Jana Vamosi at the University of Calgary

This research program has been operating with the mission to prevent the extinction of plants in Canada by identifying and maintaining resilient ecosystems that foster their persistence for 15 years.

In Canada, there are more than 650 plant species at some level of risk of extinction. Determining the level of risk for each species is a time-consuming endeavor. The vision of this research program is to ...

Shortlist

Impact of long-term behavioral studies on the management and conservation of ungulates

Dr. Kathreen Ruckstuhl at the University of Calgary

Dr. Ruckstuhl is particularly interested in what drives gregariousness, the social organization within groups, affinities and associations between group members, cost and benefits of group living, such as competition for food and mates, parasite and disease transmission, and cooperation, to name but a few aspects. She mainly studies different ungulate species in the field, mostly bighorn sheep and elk (or red deer). Current topics under investigation include among others: ...

Living with Wildlife

Dr. Shelley Alexander at the University of Calgary

Living with Wildlife is an initiative on the University of Calgary (UCalgary) campus that includes an active human-coyote co-existence program, combined with a public education and outreach website. The aim is the non-lethal prevention of conflict.

Education outreach is derived from ecological and community-based research conducted in Dr. Alexander’s Canid Conservation Science Lab (@canid_lab), infused with 30 years of personal experience in wolf and coyote ecology, conservation ...

Youth

Award Recipient

The Alberta Youth Leaders for Environmental Education

Initiated in 2016, the Alberta Youth Leaders for Environmental Education (AYLEE) is a collaborative, inclusive program for students grades 7-12 that demonstrates leadership in environmental education and climate action.

AYLEE provides members with opportunities to connect with like-minded youth; learn about the environment and climate change; collaborate on projects that advance climate action and climate education, and take action within their schools to help build a ...

Shortlist

The Power of Skate

Next Step High School

The Power of Skate is a student-led project that is built around environmental sustainability and conservation. We create skateboards and goods that are centered around what’s important to us and the world at large.

In The Power of Skate program, students create their own brand that engages in energy conservation topics that are important to them. In turn, they create brands that promote their cause. Students explore ...