MEDIA RELEASE / September 15, 2015
OTTAWA – Former Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty, received the Sierra Club Distinguished Service Award at a ceremony in San Francisco on Saturday, September 12, 2015. The award honours individuals serving in the public sector who have demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to conservation. He was nominated by Sierra Club Canada Foundation for his outstanding environmental dedication. Mr. McGuinty is responsible for closing Ontario’s coal-fired power plants, passing the Green Energy Act, and creating the Greenbelt around Toronto.
“We honour those who despite significant challenges make the right decisions for our environment. Premier McGuinty persevered in the face of strong dissenting forces to close power plants and create a green power industry in Ontario. No other government leader in North America has made a greater contribution to fighting climate change,” said Diane Beckett, Interim Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada Foundation.
In his video acceptance speech, Mr. McGuinty said “But the truth is premiers, just like governors and all our politicians, come and go. Lucky for all of us, the Sierra Club has become a permanent voice and actor in our quest to live sustainable lives demonstrating respect for this planet that sustains all of us.” His book “Making a Difference” will be available from Dundurn Press in November.
Founded in 1892 by legendary conservationist, John Muir, with more than two million members and supporters, Sierra Club is now the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in North America.
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