For Immediate Release
February 25, 2026听
UTRCA Honours Recipients of 2026 Conservation Awards听
The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Conservation Awards, recognizing听exceptional contributions to听community engagement and听environmental stewardship.听
This year's Outstanding Resident Award was presented posthumously to Diane Irving听to honour her听many years of volunteer service and commitment to supporting community events.听
For听nearly 20听years,听Diane听was a familiar and welcoming presence at听the UTRCA's听Children's听Water Festivals,听Celebrating Community Connection events, litter clean-ups, and much more.听Known for听her听warm smile and generous spirit, she went听above and beyond听鈥� sewing costumes, mending activity materials, and ensuring every detail was ready to help create memorable experiences for the children.听
"She made connections,听brought听positive energy, and carried听a quiet joy听in everything she did.听Whether she was volunteering in classrooms, leading community initiatives, or supporting environmental programs, she believed deeply in being part of something bigger than herself," shared Linda Smith, daughter of听Diane Irving and Community Partnerships Specialist with the UTRCA.
"All of听Diane's听efforts, all her activities,听and听her wonderful spirit听will听continue to be felt at our听future听events,"听said Teresa Hollingsworth, Manager, Community and Corporate Services, UTRCA.听
The Kayla Berger Stewardship Award was presented to Bill and Cecilia Davies in recognition of their decades of tree planting through the UTRCA's Tree Planting on Private Lands program.听The Davies have听purchased听trees听for听their rural property听nearly听every听year听since 1987,听missing only听one听spring planting season.听They听like to听plant the trees themselves,听contributing to local reforestation efforts, creating habitat, and supporting watershed health.听
"Over the years,听Bill and Cecilia听have planted more than 4,500 trees on their property," said Brenda Gallagher,听UTRCA's听Forestry Technician.听"Through听their听hard work and dedication,听they听have left a legacy for future generations."听
"Planting trees is like therapy. You plant them, and then you see them听leaf听out,听and they grow.听And then 30听or 40听years later, you have this magnificent tree听on your property. I think听it's听been good for us," shared Bill Davies.听听
The Conservation Awards were presented at听the UTRCA's听Annual General Meeting on February 24, 2026,听at the Watershed Conservation Centre.听Short tribute videos highlighting听the听award recipients'听contributions were shown at the meeting and are available online at:听听and听.听
Left to right: Karlee Flear (UTRCA, nominator); Tracy Annett (UTRCA, General Manager); Sarah Travnicek, Linda Smith, and Rob Irving (Outstanding Resident Award recipients on behalf of Diane Irving); UTRCA Vice Chair Dean Trentowsky (Deputy Mayor, Municipality of West Perth); UTRCA Chair Brian Petrie (Mayor, Town of Ingersoll)
Left to right: Brenda Gallagher (UTRCA, nominator); Cecilia and Bill Davies (Kayla Berger Stewardship Award recipients); Dave and Wendy Berger (parents of Kayla Berger)
Contact:听
Amy Bumbacco,
Communications and Marketing Specialist,
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