News release

Beau Blois Named Woodland Owner of the Year

Natural Resources and Renewables

The winner of the provincial 2023 Woodland Owner of the Year Award is Beau Blois of Old Barns, Colchester County.

Mr. Blois, an emergency room physician, maintains a 1,226-hectare property with his wife Laura and their children. Their woodlot is Forest Stewardship Council certified and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife and plants. Their property also includes a black Angus beef farm and trails for outdoor recreation.

“Private woodlot owners play an important role in maintaining our forests, and it’s wonderful to have so many working with us to advance ecological forestry in Nova Scotia,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “Through sustainable management of their woodlots, the Blois family and our regional award winners show how forestry and biodiversity work together.”

The western regional winners are James and Linda Smith of Shelburne County, and the eastern regional winners are Stephen and Michelle Van de Weil of Antigonish County.

The awards recognize private landowners for outstanding stewardship of their woodlands and excellence in forestry techniques on private land. It encourages sustainable stewardship and increases public awareness of the importance of private woodlands in Nova Scotia.

Nominations were evaluated using integrated resource management practices; employing environmental standards; meeting sustainable goals; protecting wildlife habitats; improving woodlots; and understanding forestry and woodlot management.

Quick Facts:

  • the award has recognized private woodlot owners for more than 30 years
  • Nova Scotians who own between 20 and 2,000 hectares of woodland are eligible to be nominated
  • about 60 per cent of Nova Scotia’s woodlands are privately owned

Additional Resources:

More information on the Woodland Owner of the Year Award is available at: https://novascotia.ca/natr/woodlot/woya/

Department of Natural Resources and Renewables on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter: https://twitter.com/NS_DNRR

Nova Scotia Woodlands on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaWoodlands/

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