I am honoured to be a national finalist in the 2021 Nature Inspiration Awards by the Canadian Museum of Nature

I was really honoured to find out not only was I nominated but I was selected by a prestigious jury to be a national finalist in the adult category of the 2021 Nature Inspiration Awards from the Canadian Museum of Nature. There are only 4 adult finalists chosen across Canada, so this truly means a lot to me. I was selected because of my work to promote diversity and inclusion in birding and my work with young birders and my nature work with Indigenous youth on the downtown eastside.

"This awards program from the Canadian Museum of Nature recognizes adults, youth, not-for-profits and businesses that are connecting Canadians with nature and providing leadership for a sustainable future.

Previous nominees have included youth or adults who initiate change through community action, teaching, and advocacy; not-for-profits that inspire Canadians through hands-on experiences with nature and the environment; leaders who mobilize people to appreciate nature and its connections to a sustainable society through advocacy and creative programs; and businesses that promote sustainable practices and support community outreach."

You can read more about these awards at the press release and read the whole list of deserving finalists including my profile HERE

The jury is made up of the following people:

Shelley Ambrose, former Executive Director/Co-Publisher, The Walrus; Caitlyn Baikie, Education Policy Advisor, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Carolynn Beaty, Director of Granting, The Sitka Foundation; Kevin Chan, Senior Global Director and Head of Public Policy, Canada, Facebook; Philip Crawley, Publisher, The Globe and Mail; Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo; John Geiger, CEO, Royal Canadian Geographical Society; Danika Goosney, Vice-President, Scholarships and Fellowships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council; Geoff Green, Founder and Executive Director, Students on Ice Foundation;and Erica Thompson, Senior National Director, Conservation Engagement and Development, Nature Conservancy of Canada. 

I and the other finalists will be featured in this week’s Globe and Mail physical newspaper, at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and in the November issue of the The Walrus magazine.

On Nov 24, 2021 the winner will be announced at a Gala event at the museum, due to Covid this event will not be held in person this year, only virtually. You can register to watch the gala live HERE.

Even if I don't win I am truly honoured that I was nominated and that the jury felt I was worthy of being a finalist.

Thank you to Margy MacMillan of Victoria for nominating me! It means so much to me that you were inspired by my work and that you felt that I showed leadership in contributing to the preservation of nature and for encouraging youth in particular to take an interest in birding and that you support the diversification of this hobby for all.

Prizes Offered to the Winners

  • One Grand Prize of $5000 in each category. Each winner then gives this prize to a nature-related program of his or her choice
  • For Adult, Lifetime and Youth winners: The Canadian Museum of Nature will sponsor membership in the Canadian International Union for the Conservation of Nature
  • National recognition through different media, including press release, advertisement in The Globe and Mail and The Walrus, social media, brochure and the Nature Inspiration Awards web pages

Prizes Offered to the Finalists

  • National recognition through different media, including press release, advertisement in The Globe and Mail and The Walrus, social media, brochure and the Nature Inspiration Awards website
Photo credit - Alia Youssef


Comments

  1. PacificnorthwestkateSeptember 23, 2021 at 4:32 PM

    Awesome!! Congratulations Mel!! Well deserved recognition for your outstanding work!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingSeptember 23, 2021 at 11:13 PM

      thank you so much for the support kate it means a lot!

      Delete
  2. LonelytravellerSeptember 23, 2021 at 7:58 PM

    Congratulations!! What an outstanding honour!! It’s amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingSeptember 23, 2021 at 11:13 PM

      thanks yes it is an honour just to be a finalist no matter what the outcome! thanks.

      Delete
  3. ILPOSeptember 23, 2021 at 8:52 PM

    Congratulations Mel! It is indeed an honour to be selected as one of four finalists from across the country. It is also well deserved for all your work to promote inclusivity in birding and mentoring youth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingSeptember 23, 2021 at 11:25 PM

      thank you so much for your unwavering support and for helping me on several young birder field trips. through all we have been through in the last 7 years and seeing what I've gone through (especially behind closed doors) it means a lot that you have had my back in my mission for making birding more inclusive. we still have a long way to go in this hobby but I won't give up and I know one day we will get there. the young birders here in BC give me so much Hope and pride. they are passionate about conservation and making birding equitable for all. I'm grateful to have you by my side <3

      Delete
  4. harrySeptember 23, 2021 at 10:15 PM

    this is so cool and well deserved mel! I am always happy to run into you when birding and am always grateful for the help you give mel. you inspire me to no end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingSeptember 23, 2021 at 11:14 PM

      thanks harry I really love your photography and it is nice to hear I have inspired you that means so very much to me! hope to run into you soon.

      Delete
  5. JimSeptember 24, 2021 at 6:12 PM

    really proud of you girl! the work you have done with young birders is inspiring but you also help us old farts out all the time too and we appreciate it. all the stuff on your plate you do for us all is something we all take for granted sometimes and shame on us for it. thank you for all you do. I realy hope you WIN!!!!!!!!1

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Dowitcher Identification

Image
Birders notoriously find it difficult to tell Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers apart. I have got a request to do an identification explanation on them so here goes, I hope it will be helpful. Short-billed Dowitchers and Long-billed look so similar. Using their habitat is helpful but not diagnostic. Short-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer Salt water and brackish water and Long-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer fresh water. However, I have OFTEN seen Short-billeds in freshwater and Long-billeds in brackish and salt water. Therefore, DO NOT rely on habitat. Another feature many people will tell you to rely on is spotting on the side of the flanks of Short-billeds and barring on the side of Long-billeds. Usually this is a mark that you can use but it is not always as distinct as you like. I have seen Short-billeds with a barred appearance to the flanks. It is only at the side of the breast where you have to look for this diagnostic feature for the spots on a Short-billed and t...
Read more

Hawk Identification Tips from every angle (Sharpie vs Cooper and Red-tailed Subspecies)

Image
I get several questions about the difference between accipiters. The most common ones are between Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks and between Cooper's Hawks vs Northern Goshawks (to a lesser degree). Next, I get many questions dealing with a certain race of buteos the Western Red-tailed Hawk and Harlan's. So I thought I would do a post on these to help answer those questions. I will deal with Cooper's and Sharpies and not Goshawks because they are much more common here and look much more alike. My friend John Reynolds inspired me to write this up. COOPER'S AND SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS EYE COLOUR - YELLOW OR ORANGE? RED? Normally a juvenile Cooper's hawk has a bright yellow eye and a Juvie Sharpie has a orange eye but some cooper's can have a dull yellow eye that looks a bit orangish. Cooper's Hawks usually only transition to the orange eye colour when they are sub adults, so in good light, it's a very very reliable feature. However you ...
Read more

STINT IDENTIFICATION

Image
As per request, here are some tips that I hope will be helpful in identifying and differentiating Red-necked Stint from Little Stint. I will also do a brief intro on Long-toed and Temminck's Stint... if you build it they will come right?😉 Red-necked and Little Stints look very much alike in worn breeding plumage. The amount of Red on the face, throat and breast in Red-necked Stint is vary variable). They look even more alike in non-breeding plumage, that is why it is essential to learn structural differences to separate the two. They are similar to Semipalmated Sandpipers as well as Sanderlings. Both species are often confused for Red-necked Stints. Little Stints rarely get confused with Sanderling because they have a hind toe which helps differentiate it from this species. Sanderlings in breeding or worn breeding are usually confused with Red-necked Stints but they are much larger than Red-necked Stints. Let's first start with Bills in this complicated ID proces...
Read more

*Updated - The most famous Red-tailed Hawk is eating fish on the ground just like a Bald Eagle!

Image
Update - There are plans in the works to make a documentary film on this young Red-tailed Hawk who thinks he's an Eagle. You can read the latest news about that on CBC HERE . Watch this incredible footage of the little Red-tailed Hawk who grew up in a family of three Eaglets and 2 Bald Eagle Parents. He is imprinted now on Bald Eagles. He looks and acts just like one, as you can see here in the video below. He is standing over a large salmon carcass, just like a Bald Eagle would and he's eating the decaying flesh. Red-tailed Hawks like to eat voles and rabbits etc. not fish! Imprinting is usually irreversible according to raptor expert David Bird. However, I hope it's reversible so that he doesn't attempt to mate with a Bald Eagle, as the Eagle would kill him because it would view him as a Hawk. Eagle expert David Hancock said that the bird will likely starve and get killed by an eagle. He said this possibly can be prevented if someone grabs it and takes it to O...
Read more

1 year since I lost my father

Image
My dad and I whom I miss terribly. One year on since I lost him. Today would have been my mother's bday. Her name was Valerie and it is also the first year anniversary of the death of my beloved father, Arne. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think of them. Now for ever more the day of his death will be connected to her birthday, a very sad day but in a way that connection is beautiful to tie them together. My beautiful family before we lost both parents. I put flowers down at their grave to celebrate them both today. I hate that it is one year since I told him I loved him and hugged him. I miss him so very much. I miss his voice, his love and guidance and support. The ground for me feels shakier without his guidance and safety. I hate I will never see him again or talk to him again. Can't believe how quick time passes. This is why it is so important we treasure every single day to the fullest and tell those we love them. I will never forget the day he passed aw...
Read more