Prout leadership awards emcee

Exeter's Tom Prout speaks on leadership as emcee at Latornell Leadership Awards ceremony at Conservation Symposium in Alliston

Latornell Leadership Awards in 2016 recognize five conservation leaders

Exeter-area native Tom Prout was invited to be master of ceremonies at the Latornell Leadership Awards on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Prout spoke before more than 1,000 delegates at the Latornell Conservation Symposium, in Alliston, about the importance of leadership.

The past General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer (now retired) of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), is a director on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation. He is a past winner (2015) of a Latornell Leadership Award. Tom Prout's local leadership also includes being a key figure in the establishment of the South Huron Community Fund. "Leadership is key to the success of any business or organization," Prout said. "I am honoured and humbled to have received a Latornell Leadership Award in 2015 and to have been emcee at the Latornell Leadership Awards in 2016."

Latornell Leadership Award winners were Clarke Birchard, of Chesley, nominated by Saugeen Nature of Hanover; Richard (Dick) Hunter, of Peterborough, nominated by Otonabee Region Conservation Authority; Peter Gray, of Bright, nominated by Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival; Thomas McClenaghan, of London, nominated by the City of London; and Gord MacPherson, of the Toronto area, nominated by Toronto and Region Conservation.

A special subcommittee of the Latornell Steering Committee reviews and evaluates nominations. Videos about the award winners are available for viewing on youtube.com at the Latornell Conservation Symposium channel at this link: www.youtube.com/channel/UCZIQp9gCstrsDuQk7lOe3fA.

Award winners are recognized for their innovation, leadership and dedication to the conservation field. Through their personal activities and leadership, they have gone beyond the call of duty or responsibility to an employer, client, and their community. These individuals have helped to celebrate and inspire innovation in the conservation field and have made a difference in their field of expertise. Nominees have encouraged and motivated others to take similar leadership roles towards conservation work. For more information visit latornell.ca.

A Meaford native, Arthur D. Latornell had a career in public service that lasted more than 35 years. He was also the first Canadian president of the International Society for Soil and Water Conservation. Although the late Art Latornell had a long professional career with many accomplishments, many people have said his greatest impact was through his influence as a mentor with colleagues and a teacher of students and youth.

Latornell entered the Ontario Agriculture College in 1946, at the age of 23. Upon graduation he was employed by the Department of Agriculture as a fruit and vegetable inspector. He later enrolled at Michigan State University for a Master's degree in agricultural extension. He served as a Field Officer with the Conservation Branch of the Ontario Department of Planning and Development. In 1977, he became Deputy Regional Director with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, a position he held until 1988, when he retired.

The late Art Latornell was also an active member of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Nature Federation and the Canadian Arctic Resources Commission. In addition to being a Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) and a charter member in the Ontario Institute of Professional Agrologists, he served on several committees of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) at the provincial and international levels and became the president and secretary of the Ontario chapter. He served as a Canadian member of the SWCS National Council for two terms and was the vice-president and later the first Canadian president of the International Society for Soil and Water Conservation. Later he chaired the editorial board for the SWCS's journal, The Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

To learn more about the late Arthur D. Latornell visit this link: www.latornell.ca/general-info/arthur-latornell.