Awards and Grants

Volunteer Award
The Nature Canada Volunteer Award recognizes individuals who have made a substantial contribution in time and effort to any of our programs. Nature Canada is especially pleased to recognize those individuals who dedicate their time to further our conservation efforts. Volunteerism is at the heart of non-profit organizations and our work would be impossible without this support.

Pierre Gratton is the vice president of sustainable development and public affairs with the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). He played a key role in the development and implementation of the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, which won MAC the Globe Foundation Award for Environmental Performance.

For many years, Gratton has been a strong promoter of Nature Canada and its cause within his industry, building consensus and fostering understanding among seemingly disparate groups. He has also volunteered his time to help
Nature Canada achieve its conservation mission.

As a member of a volunteer working group, Gratton partnered with Nature Canada in a 10-year campaign to have federal species at risk legislation enacted, thereby helping to bring about important protections for endangered wildlife in this country.

He acted as a broker between non-government organizations and industry leaders to help successfully negotiate boundaries for a proposed national park on Northern Bathurst Island, essential wilderness for the endangered Peary Caribou.

Most recently, Gratton has joined Nature Canada’s Leadership Committee, acting as a goodwill ambassador among his peers on behalf of Nature Canada, and helping to build a Nature Nation where more Canadians appreciate nature and act to conserve it.