10 Jun APPALACHIAN CORRIDOR HONORED AT BROME-MISSISQUOI EXCELLENCE GALA
Bromont, Quebec (June 9, 2022) – Appalachian Corridor won three awards at the 12th edition of the Brome-Missisquoi Chamber of Commerce Excellence Gala, including the prize for Company of the Year. The conservation organization’s contributions were also highlighted with the Innovation and Sustainable Development awards.
Present at the event were five representatives of the team, including Executive Director Mélanie Lelièvre and President of the board, Marie-José Auclair.
“This is a touching testimony from our community, which shows us the importance of our gains for nature and for present and future communities,” said the President with emotion and surprise. “We continue to build on our momentum during this critical time for the environment.”
Appalachian Corridor congratulates all the evening’s nominees, as well as the Brome-Missisquoi Chamber of Commerce for organizing the event. “A big thanks to all those who allow us to propel our mission including our employees, board members, 17 affiliate members, conservation partners, funders, land donors, financial donors and volunteers. The result of this award is the best show of support we could have received,” said Mélanie Lelièvre, Executive Director. “You all deserve a piece of these awards!”
From left to right: Marie-José Auclair, President of the Board, Martine Ruel, Director of Stewardship and Partnership, Marie-Hélène Thibeault, Department Head – Communications and Philanthropy, Mélanie Lelièvre, Executive Director and Luc Dumouchel, Vice-President of the Board
Since 2002, Appalachian Corridor has been working to protect the natural environments on its territory of action, which extends from Granby to Sherbrooke, and south to the Canada-U.S. border. As part of its conservation activities, Appalachian Corridor aims to create a vast network of protected areas in perpetuity through private land donations and the acquisition of properties with high ecological value. In collaboration with its 17 local affiliates members and several funding partners, the organization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has helped to protect 15,600 hectares to date, the equivalent of the size of the city of Granby.
The last three years have been a busy for the conservation organization with the realization of major projects such as the acquisition and development of Mount Foster (225 hectares), the creation of the Nadeau protected area (125 hectares), the realization of the Khartoum-Simard project (442 hectares), the obtaining of a grant of more than one million dollars to promote the protection of species in precarious situations, as well as the launch of a guide to promote ecological connectivity among Quebec municipalities. Over the last two years, more than $5M was invested in conservation efforts through Appalachian Corridor.
Mélanie Lelièvre points out that “the message we want to convey is that everyone can do their part in protecting nature and biodiversity. It’s not just large landowners who can contribute: planting a meadow for pollinators around your business, installing bat houses, organizing a volunteer chore with a conservation organization, and making a donation are all gestures that make a real difference.”
Appalachian Corridor
Appalachian Corridor is a non-profit conservation organization created in 2002, whose mission is to protect the natural environments of the Appalachian region of southern Quebec. Through the implementation of its conservation strategy, Appalachian Corridor provides local communities with the means to maintain and restore a living environment that respects the ecology of the region, in a perspective of sustainable development. 17 local organizations are affiliated members of Appalachian Corridor.
CONTACT
Frédérique Vuillermoz
Communications Coordinator
450-543-4999