Tyler Seed won the small to medium not-for-profit category at the Nature Inspiration Awards on Nov. 9 at the museum. Martin Lipman, Canadian Museum of NatureA Centretown-based organization has been recognized with a national award for helping to lead the country towards a sustainable future, one step at a time.
The Natural Step Canada, headquartered on Bank Street in downtown Ottawa, works with individuals, communities and businesses around the world to lessen their impact on the environment.
When the Canadian Museum of Nature announced this year’s Nature Inspiration Award winners at its annual gala on Nov. 9, The Natural Step Canada took top honours in the not-for-profit category.
Meg Beckel, the museum’s president and CEO, said that the award is a way to acknowledge innovators working to better connect Canadians with the natural world.
“We started the award in 2014 as a way for the museum to step up and play a role as a national institution that recognizes the work of others in the area of nature, inspiration and engagement,” said Beckel.
The Natural Step Canada is not the type of organization normally nominated, Beckel said.
“What is really interesting is that their approach to connecting people with nature touches individuals, organizations and businesses and really helps people understand what they can do to be more sustainable,” said Beckel. “It has that wonderful ripple effect, where as soon as one organization is changing their practices, another organization might also change its practices.”
Tyler Seed, Interim Director of Communications and Marketing for The Natural Step Canada, said the organization is proud to win the award.
“It’s always great to be recognized for the work we do. It was a really nice surprise,” he said.
The Natural Step is a global organization that originated in Sweden. The Canadian branch was founded in 1996, with the national NGO office opening in Ottawa in 2003. Since then, The Natural Step Canada claims, it has helped more than 25,000 people realize their potential as sustainable practitioners and leaders of change.
The organization works with each of their clients to determine a greener lifestyle that is right for them.
This could include teaching people to use less water, fuel, and energy, and to help produce less waste.
The Natural Step has worked with a number of cities and towns across Canada, and helped them with aspects such as developing alternative and renewable energy systems, improving air quality, and refining waste diversion programs.
Seed said that it is important for people to be informed in order to maintain the planet.