Colleen McCrory
Colleen McCrory (1949/1950 – July 1, 2007) was a Canadian environmental activist.[1][2]
Colleen McCrory | |
---|---|
Born | 1949/1950 New Denver, British Columbia |
Died | July 1, 2007 |
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Environmental activist |
Known for | Founded Valhalla Wilderness Society |
She was born in New Denver, British Columbia. McCrory founded the Valhalla Wilderness Society, a British Columbia environmental group, in 1975.[3]
McCrory funded her campaign at first through a small clothing store in New Denver. However, a three-year boycott by loggers forced her out of business in 1985 and forced her deep into debt.[4]
She was awarded the Governor-General's Conservation Award in 1983 and the IUCN's Fred M. Packard Award in 1988. In 1992, she was named to the United Nations' Global 500 Roll of Honour and awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize.
She ran as a candidate for the Green Party in the 2001 British Columbia provincial elections.
McCrory's efforts helped lead to the creation of:
- Valhalla Provincial Park in the Kootenay region of British Columbia [3]
- Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site in the Queen Charlotte Islands
- Goat Range Provincial Park in the Selkirk Mountains
- Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and the Spirit Bear Conservancy in the Great Bear Rainforest on the central coast of British Columbia
McCrory died of a brain tumor at home in Silverton, British Columbia in 2007, aged 57.
References
- Connelly, Joel (5 July 2007). "She stood up, and made parks happen". Seattle PI Blogs. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- Hume, Mark (24 February 1987). "Valhalla victors battle on". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- Canadian Press via CANOE "Environmentalist Colleen McCrory dead at 57" July 3, 2007 Archived June 23, 2007, at Archive.today
- Toufexis, Anastasia (27 April 1992). "Endangered Species No, not owls or elephants. Humans who fight to save the planet are putting their lives on the line". Time Magazine. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
External links
- Prominent B.C. eco warrior dies at 57, CBC British Columbia
- Heroes for the Planet, Time
- Entry from Canadian Who's Who