Earth Day group seeking award nominees

Earth Day Canada, in partnership with Cascades, has launched its search for the 2008 Hometown Heroes Award winner. The award recognizes and encourages personal environmental achievement at the local level. This year's winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000. The winner will keep $5,000 of the prize, and donate the remaining amount to an environmental cause of their choice.

The most important environmental action happens at the local level. Some people are involved in the community garden movement, while others in the protection of natural spaces.

Some have even started their own environmental network or organization. The environmental issue focused on is really a personal choice.

Award staff are looking for the environmental leaders who have shown commitment and achieved results in their community.

According to Robert O'Brien, founder of Ocean Net and the 2007 Hometown Heroes Award winner, the recognition was gratifying.

"For Ocean Net and all the volunteers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, a prestigious award such as this gave all of us a tremendous boost of pride and energy for what we do," he said. "The award has helped us secure funding."

This year's winner will be recognized as part of the fifth annual Earth Day Canada Gala in Toronto on June 18. For more information, or to nominate an individual or group from the community, please visit www.earthday.ca.

The deadline for applications is April 22.