Browse "Environmentalists"

Anahareo, or Gertrude Philomen Bernard, CM, conservationist, prospector (born 18 June 1906 in Mattawa, ON; died 17 June 1986 in Kamloops, BC). An independent, forceful animal welfare advocate, Anahareo is credited with converting her well-known husband, Grey Owl, into a conservationist.

Andy Russell, CM, writer, conservationist (born 8 December 1915 near Lethbridge, AB; died 1 June 2005).

Archibald Stansfeld Belaney (also known as Grey Owl), writer, conservationist (born 18 September 1888 in Hastings, England; died 13 April 1938 in Prince Albert, SK). Belaney was a well-known conservationist and writer in the 1930s who falsely presented himself as an Indigenous person. Although born in England, he portrayed himself as the son of a Scottish man and Apache woman and named himself Grey Owl. His articles and books stressed wilderness conservation and became bestsellers in Canada and Britain. Shortly after his death in 1938, a newspaper article exposed his real identity as Archibald Belaney.

Fredrick Bodsworth, nature writer (born at Port Burwell, Ont 11 Oct 1918, died 15 Sep 2012).

Charles Gordon Hewitt, administrator, economic entomologist, conservationist (born 23 February 1885 in Macclesfield, England; died 29 February 1920 in Ottawa, ON). Charles Gordon Hewitt was an expert on houseflies who served as Canada’s Dominion entomologist from 1909 until his death. He played an important role in expanding the government’s entomology branch, as well as in passing the Destructive Insect and Pest Act (1910).

Charles W. Peterson, agrarian editor, printer, NWT civil servant, farmer, businessman (b at Copenhagen, Den 28 June 1868; d at Calgary, 4 Feb 1944).

Daniel McCowan, naturalist, lecturer, writer (b at Crieff, Scot 20 Jan 1882; d at Cloverdale, BC 19 Feb 1956). After an early education in Scotland, he moved to Banff, Alta, where he soon acquired expertise on the local flora and fauna.

On scaling a London landmark, protesting Arctic drilling, and getting arrested for your causeThis article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on July 22, 2013

In 1906, Seton published Two Little Savages; Being the Adventures of Two Boys Who Lived as Indians and What They Learned. Based on his childhood experience of "playing Indian" in Ontario, it is now considered a classic of children's literature.

See Archibald Stansfeld Belaney.

Almost as soon as the man known as GREY OWL died in a Prince Albert, Sask., hospital on April 13, 1938, his many secrets began to emerge into the open air.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on October 4, 1999

Irving Kingsbury Fox, professor, resource planner, conservationist (born at Bolton, Michigan 7 December 1916; died at Smithers, BC 20 July 2006).

James Bernard Harkin, environmentalist (b at Vankleek Hill, Ont 30 Jan 1875; d at Ottawa 27 Jan 1955).

Joey Angnatok, hunter, fisherman, social entrepreneur, businessman, community leader (born May 1976 in Nain, Newfoundland) has worked with university researchers and his fellow Inuit for more than 30 years collecting climate and other environmental data. At the end of each fishing season, he turns his fishing boat into a marine research vessel.

John George Brown, "Kootenai," army officer, prospector, constable, whisky trader, buffalo hunter, wolfer, dispatch rider, guide, scout, driving force in establishing Waterton Lakes National Park (b at Ennistymon, Ire 10 Oct 1839; d at Waterton Lakes, Alta 18 July 1916).