Advocating for beavers is one of the reasons Port Moody named Judy Taylor-Atkinson and Jim Atkinson as its 2018 Environmental Award winners at a volunteer appreciation dinner held Saturday at city hall.
The couple was recognized for their stewardship and protection of wildlife in Port Moody, including a beaver family that arrived in the Klahanie community in 2016, as well as a great blue heron colony that has taken up residence along the Shoreline Trail. According to a city press release, the Atkinsons’ advocacy contributed to city council deciding to develop a beaver management plan to make co-existing with beavers a priority. They also do many events every year advocating for wildlife protection and restoration.
Other award winners Saturday:
• The 2018 Arts Award went to Jim Millar and Markus Fahrner for their many collaborative exhibits and promotion of Port Moody Station Museum.
• The Evergreen Line Public Art Liaison Committee took the Heritage Award for working to incorporate art into the stations along the new SkyTrain line that opened in 2016.
• The Sports Award went to dragon boat and Coquitlam Crunch Diversity Challenge organizer Brian Kenny, and Runners’ Den owners Paul Slaymaker and Penny Plamandon.
