Yves O. Fortier Earth Science Journalism Award
Press Release:
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER WINS AWARD
ST. JOHN'S, NL (June 24, 2004) The Geological Association of Canada (GAC) is very pleased to announce that Bob Burtt, a twenty-year veteran of THE RECORD in Kitchener, Waterloo has been chosen as the 2004 recipient of the GAC Earth Science Journalism Award. GAC Honorary Life Member, Dr. Alan Morgan, presented the award to Mr. Burtt at the Canadian Science Writers' Association annual conference held at Ryerson University, Toronto, June 5-7, 2004.
The Yves O. Fortier Earth Science Journalism Award is awarded by the (GAC) for excellence in journalistic presentation of earth science in the newspaper medium. The award shall recognize a journalist who is a resident of Canada and who has been exceptionally effective in presenting a story dealing with earth science in one of Canada's daily or weekly newspapers.
Mr. Bob Burtt (Photo Available) has been a reporter or editor for almost forty years, the last 20 years as an environmental reporter with THE RECORD in Kitchener, Waterloo. Bob has a lifelong interest in nature and the environment. So it is not surprising that his winning articles focus on water challenges. His article, Our Buried Treasure, along with related story, Display on hiking trail explains moraine's significance was published in THE RECORD in June 2003. The first article details the threats posed to drinking water supplies by developments on the west side of Kitchener and Waterloo. He explains the dangers posed by new suburbs being built in areas where rainfall infiltrates the moraine and recharges the aquifers that supply much of the region's drinking water. The second article chronicles the development of an intriguing series of signs along Waterloo's West Side Trail explaining the moraine's importance for drinking water and related history of the area.
In 1991, Bob was a co-recipient of the environment award with the Ontario Newspaper Association for work on a water crisis in the Town of Elmira when industrial chemicals from Uniroyal Chemical Ltd. Knocked the town's drinking supply out of commission.
The GAC is a not for profit, multi-faceted, national association dedicated to fostering the progress of geosciences in Canada. Incorporated in 1947, the Association serves its members and the wider geoscience community through leading edge publications, annual conferences, field trips and short courses. GAC has contributed significantly to the promotion and development of the geological sciences in Canada.
The vision of the GAC is a geoscience community, which is knowledgeable, professionally competent and respected, whose input and advice are relevant, widely sought and utilized, and whose vital contribution to the economic prosperity and social well being of the nation is widely acknowledged.
GAC is very pleased to provide recognition to Mr. Burtt for his contribution to the geosciences by providing readers with some understanding of a geological feature about which they wouldn't ordinarily know a great deal. To read the articles, go to GAC's website at www.gac.ca/MEDALS/Yves.html.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Bates
GAC Communications Committee (Outreach)
(902) 426-4386
Cecilia Edwards
GAC Media Relations
(709) 737-4378