Watershed Guardian Awards

About the Awards

In early 2025, the OHI launched the Watershed Guardian Awards to acknowledge and celebrate people and organizations making extraordinary efforts to protect watershed security in Ontario.

The Watershed Guardian of the Year category consists of a 4 kg, 25 cm glass award, while the Community Advocate category is a 2 kg, 15 cm watershed droplet. Each is hand-blown by Ontario artist Tara Marsh, is mounted, and comes with a framed certificate.

Award categories are fluid, although the categories listed below may endure for a while. A nomination process will be developed downstream, as we like to say, with decisions on awards to be made by the Board of the Institute with input from our Watershed Advisory Council.

The Watershed Guardian of the Year	The Watershed Droplet

Recent Recipients

July 18, 2025

Jack Imhof, Freshwater Conservation Canada: Lifetime Achievement Award

Jacks’ blend of science-based policy and program delivery, and the hundreds of educational and naturalization projects he has delivered across Ontario while mentoring both people and organizations, have made him the un-official Dean of Watershed Management in Ontario. See Jack’s certificate here.

July 18, 2025

Kevin Eby, Retired Professional Planner: Watershed Guardian of the Year

Following 25 years with the Waterloo Regional Municipality, during which he led the integration of land use and watershed planning in the visionary 2009 Official Plan, Kevin has remained a clear and strong advocate on the need for ecosystem planning. See Kevin’s certificate here.

July 18, 2025

Ann Seymour, Belfountain, Ontario: Community Advocate Award

Faced with extensive local development and its projected increases in both storm-water and effluent from a new sewage treatment facility, at a temperature that might endanger local aquatic species, Ann led a petition that gained more than 23,00 supporters; met repeatedly with elected officials, agency staff, and consultants; and was a steady current creating public events and local coalitions. See Ann’s certificate here.

April 11, 2025

Five students who performed way above the norm in a University of Guelph capstone project on the Impact of Ontario’s Housing Action Plan on the Grand River Watershed were each awarded watershed droplets and certificates of appreciation. See their names and their certificate here.