James Walker

36 Responses

1. Mostly said already, but I will repeat, one of the most decent human beings I have had the pleasure of working with. He will be missed.

   To his family and close friends, my sincere condolences.

2. It was a privilege to know and work alongside Jim. I was his assistant for almost 15 years, through the good times and the not so good times. The things I will remember most about him – his generosity, humour, his wonderful speeches, his integrity and his love for the environment – people, animals, fish and plants, all things, all the time. His ginger cookies. His backyard lobster fests. His relentless fascination with guns and wars and Custer and the Battle of Little Big Horn. His love for his East Coast family. His van. And cats! He loved his cats! I will never forget him and will always treasure our time together.

3. For almost fifty years, Jim has been the voice of wildlife conservation in my head. We first met in the summer of 1968 at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. Jim was working on his PHD. I was working for Dr David Narver, my first biological summer job. Jim’s stories, his humour, his sincerity and intellect, his absolute love for his far-off New Brunswick family, and his well-informed concern for the wildlife of the world, all had a powerful impact on my then teenage mind. A life-long friendship began.

   As a friend Jim was always there for you with generous support. He engaged personally with absolute focus, made you feel as if your chosen project or life direction was of utmost importance. He was a friend in a million.

   British Columbia is so fortunate that Jim Walker chose to make it his second home, and that he made sure that he would do everything he could to help its wild land and life. Jim’s “everything” was huge beyond most of our understandings. He dedicated his life to the conservation of wildlife and its habitat, and to building and working with a similarly dedicated team of biologists and others. Such generosity is rarely experienced. His legacy is in how deeply he cared, in the many he taught and inspired, in the lands, waters and their inhabitants that he helped preserve. All of this has value beyond measure, ammunition to continue his good fight.

   Jim will always be missed and remembered. My sincere condolences to his family.

4. The champion of habitat protection in BC, an inspirational leader, an unparalleled wit, and, one of the most decent people I ever had the privilege of working for.

5. I remember Jim well, he supported a lot of my work on biodiversity conservation when I was at the Ministry of Environment, work that would not have continued without his keen support. An energetic, dedicated public servant who was always happy to take you out for a beer! Seems this past month has been a hard one for local environmental champions. Jim you will be missed.

6. My first memory of Jim is when we were introduced in the Vancouver airport in 1974. I was on my way to Smithers, as the brand new Regional Fisheries Biologist, after a five-year stint in Habitat Protection. Jim, of course, was on his way to Victoria to begin his career in that same organization. LIke ships passing in the night.

   We had some contact during the ensuing decade or so, but nothing of any import until I became Fish and Wildlife Manager in Nanaimo in 1986. The very first task on my first day was to determine if a farmer should be allowed to keep a cougar that he had shot in defence of his sheep. I said no, and the farmer appealed the decision to the Director of Wildlife, who, of course, was Jim Walker! Jim overturned my decision! Aargh! The next decision Jim made shortly after the cougar event was to suggest that the Wildlife Program needed a new, totally redefined set of goals and objectives, and who should lead that effort? Why, Mike Whately, of course! Double aargh! The process was a grind at first, and I didn’t particularly enjoy it. In hindsight however, I realized that Jim had done me an immense favour. He had found a way to give this erstwhile fisheries biologist a crash course in wildlife management in BC and the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with many of the movers and shakers in the Wildlife Program of the day. Invaluable.

   There were other issues and situations that brought Jim and I together. None however, as time-consuming and gut- wrenching as Clayoquot Sound, otherwise known as “the war in the woods”. Jim, of course, was instrumental in getting individuals, special interests, industry and governments to work together towards the goal of sustainable management. I was there, I saw it. It was during one of those interminable meetings that I first heard “…apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?”

   Jim was a force. He will be sorely missed.

   My sincere condolences to the family.