Press Release
Friday, June 27, 2008
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
Nature bursary awarded to local student pursuing environmental studies next year
The 2008 Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Award was awarded June 25th to Jasen Brousseau, a West Carleton High School student. The bursary, awarded for the first time last year, is awarded annually to a student from the Mississippi Valley who is moving on to post-secondary studies in an environmental field. Jasen has been accepted into Carleton University’s Environmental Studies BA programme.
 
L-R: MVFN President Mike McPhail, Jasen Brousseau, Cliff Bennett
Jasen Brousseau has always been interested and concerned with environmental issues. He started an environmental friendly lawn and garden care business using as many green techniques as possible. He especially took time to educate his clients and neighbours of the harmful effects of pesticides and the safe alternatives which could be used. Brousseau has also incorporated many environmentally friendly practices into his own lifestyle, eating mostly organic foods, composting religiously and using his bike or walking rather than driving.
The Carleton University Environmental Studies programme should help provide Jasen with knowledge and experience needed to meet his goals of entering political and/or governmental work as a champion of our natural world. “I really want to work towards encouraging an attitudinal change with people and government policy”, stated Jasen in his application for the bursary award. “We all know that the planet is going through some terrible environmental problems right now and I want to be part of the solutions to help fix these problems”.
The award was presented Wednesday in Almonte by Cliff Bennett, head of the bursary committee and Eastern Regional Director for Ontario Nature, and Mike McPhail, President of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN). MVFN is a supporter of the Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Award, which was established last year by MVFN members and friends and family of Cliff Bennett on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
Photo 1: Local student Jasen Brousseau (centre) is the 2008 recipient of the Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Award presented in Almonte by MVFN President Mike McPhail (left) and Cliff Bennett (right). Photo: Eileen Hennemann
