Gary Doer answers questions from reporters a day after announcing in August that he was stepping down as premier. Doer used his farewell speech Friday to ask people to get behind a bid to protect lands on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. (CBC)

Outgoing Manitoba Premier Gary Doer asked well-wishers gathered to bid him farewell Friday to remain committed to one of his favourite environmental projects.

He urged people at a tribute dinner to remain committed to protecting four million hectares of boreal forest in eastern Manitoba and western Ontario.

"Do not ever give up on the dream of protecting the east side of Lake Winnipeg,” Doer told about 1,000 people at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

He is stepping down as premier to become Canada's next ambassador to the United States. New Democrats choose a new leader Saturday.

Doer used the farewell Friday night to promote efforts to get a world heritage designation from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

“Let's have a world UNESCO site in Manitoba with that beautiful, beautiful boreal forest," he said.

Doer's last policy announcement as premier came Tuesday when he pledged $10 million in provincial money to bolster a trust fund set up by four First Nations communities working on the UNESCO campaign.

The Poplar River, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi and Pikangikum First Nations will present a final bid for the designation in 2011 and have established a non-profit corporation to seek international recognition for the land.

Tributes to Doer come from all over

Glowing tributes to Doer and his time in government poured in from many who have had dealings with him.

He's been premier since 1999 but was first elected as the MLA for the Winnipeg riding of Concordia in 1986.

Local business magnate Mark Chipman, who worked with Doer to build Winnipeg’s MTS Centre arena, said he was “humbled and honoured” to have earned his friendship.

There were also video tributes from Jean Charest, the Liberal premier of Quebec, and Bernard Lord, the former Conservative premier of New Brunswick.

But the most touching words came from Doer’s eldest daughter, Emily.

“I am sad to know that this is the end of a wonderful journey but so excited for the next chapter,” she said. “Dad, there has been much accomplished but more to do. We love you.”

In his last remarks as premier, Doer indicated his successes in government had much to do with the people he’s been surrounded by.

“I know the old song that Paul Anka wrote, and you’d say ‘I did it my way,’” Doer said.

“I want to say it’s been an honour and I want to say the way we’d sing that song is … 'we did it our way.'”

A new premier will be chosen Saturday, when about 2,000 NDP delegates vote for either Greg Selinger or Steve Ashton to lead the party.

CBC News will be providing live coverage of the convention on television, radio and online.