
May 19, 2023May 19, 2023
“To protect and conserve the natural environment of the islands and shoreline of Mahone Bay, and the traditional, social and recreational opportunities valued by its various communities.”
The Mahone Islands Conservation Area has become very significant over that time. We sincerely thank our members, our donors, our corporate supporters, our government partners and all those who have contributed to MICA, since the first public meeting on March 29, 2003, in protecting and conserving this little part of the world and making it available for traditional public use.
The Mission of MICA is to protect and conserve the natural environment of the islands and shoreline of Mahone Bay, and the traditional, social and recreational opportunities valued by its various communities.
We are a non-profit charity run by volunteers, raising funds to acquire islands in the Mahone Bay Area. We do this through memberships, donations and fundraising events.
Since 2003 MICA has worked with the Province of Nova Scotia, they have been a tremendous partner in our work.
In addition, the District of Lunenburg and the Municipality of Chester have supported MICA in several important acquisitions.
This award is intended to recognise and honor an outstanding and exceptional contribution to the work of MICA, as defined by our Mission. It is considered very prestigious and is to be awarded only when MICA Directors consider it meritorious. Current MICA Directors are ineligible for the award.
The late Honourable Michael Baker MLA was a true friend and supporter of MICA. Michael was instrumental during the formation of MICA in the development of the strategy with the Province of Nova Scotia for partnered acquisitions. This enduring relationship resulted in so many successes for both our association and the Province.
We were very honoured to have presented Michael with the first Mahone Islands Conservation Award at the 2008 Annual General Meeting for his outstanding contribution to MICA. Michael’s legacy will live on through our beautiful islands.
Marg was very supportive of MICA from the start through her newspapers. The papers regularly ran articles about MICA activities including our clean up of Sheep Island for the NCC in 2003.
One major boost was a two page spread when we started fundraising for Andrews Island which was tremendously helpful in MICA being able to raise sufficient funds to meet our commitment for our first partnered island acquisition. This acquisition legitimized MICA as a serious conservation group.
MICA received a great deal of local ongoing press coverage, thanks to Marg.
Martin Rudy Haase was both humble and mighty. As Founder of the Friends of Nature Conservation Society in 1954, Rudy was an environmentalist before the word was coined.
Through his leadership environmental successes occurred worldwide. Rudy’s dedication, enthusiasm and quiet determination knew no bounds. Here in Nova Scotia Rudy became a leader in land conservation, purchasing and donating large parcels of wilderness. In 2010 Rudy became the third recipient of the MICA Award. This award is given to an individual who has been outstanding in furthering the spirit and intent of MICA’s Mission – To protect and conserve the natural environment of the islands and shoreline of Mahone Bay, and the traditional, social and recreational opportunities valued by its various communities.
It was Michael’s vision in 2002 that resulted in the founding of MICA. He served as Chair until 2007 and has chaired the Resource Documentation committee since then which has been responsible for the ever popular and informative annual MICA History Days (Evenings). Nikki was an original Director, served as our first Treasurer and had a huge contribution to the organization of the 17 Gala Dinner and Auctions that have been so important as a MICA fundraiser and promoter.
Michael and Nikki have certainly left a great legacy with MICA and the area and we wish them the best as they move forward to the next chapter in their lives in British Columbia.
Michael intends to stay on the board and as such the stipulation that current board members are ineligible for the award was waved.