Past Award Winners - Stew Hilts
Over the course of a 40- year career, Dr. Stewart Hilt’s accomplishments and contributions to the conservation community have been numerous and significant both as a professional and a volunteer. As a professor at the University of Guelph’s Department of Land Resources Science, Stew’s commitment to experiential learning and teaching outdoors has provided his many students with their introduction to environmental stewardship and conservation.
Often cited as the”grandfather of stewardship” in Canada, Stew first became interested and involved in conservation issues as an active participant in a local woodlot preservation project as a high school student. He carried this penchant for the environment to the University of Guelph where is spearheaded the establishment of the university’s B.Sc. (Environmental Science) degree program.
Stew founded the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium (sponsored jointly by the University of Guelph’s Centre for Land and Water Stewardship and Conservation Ontario, representing the network of 36 Conservation Authorities). This Symposium has grown into the premier annual conservation conference in Canada.
Committed to mentoring young conservation professionals, Stew helped to found a new career development program called the Young Conservation Professionals (“YCP”). YCP is a comprehensive personal and professional development progam designed to encourage young leaders within the conservation sector in Ontario. Using residential retreats, interactive workshops, and guided, on-the-job practice, YCP has been central to the training of nearly 100 young conservation professionals since 2005.
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