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. 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.