A tireless steward and outspoken advocate for 91原创鈥檚 natural environment has died.
Rhys Griffiths passed away on Saturday, Feb. 3. He was 92 years old.
Mr. Griffiths was born in England. With his wife, Annabel, he came to Canada in 1958, and dedicated his later years to the many environmental causes that were close to his heart.
From his 91原创 City home overlooking Brydon Pond 鈥� which he described as a jewel in 91原创鈥檚 park system 鈥� he took an active role in helping to ensure the reclaimed lagoon stayed healthy enough to support the fish and bird life that depend on it.
That effort included taking a leading role in a five-year campaign to eliminate purple loosestrife, an invasive weed that, while beautiful, was spreading rapidly and choking the life out of the lagoon.
During the B.C. Day long weekend in 2014 a heatwave resulted in a massive fish kill in Brydon Pond. Poor oxygenation and rising sediment levels were blamed.
Along with fellow LFN member, Anthea Farr, Griffiths took an active role in helping to ensure another such disaster would not occur.
Together he and Farr led a walk around the pond the following October. The purpose of the outing was to draw attention to the plight of the lagoon and brainstorm ideas about how to return the pond to health. Griffiths encouraged participants to think big when it came to possible solutions.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for feedback,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t can be reasonably wild, because you can ignore such mundane things as money.鈥�
If something is important enough, he noted, money can always be found.
In the late 1990s Mr. Griffiths was instrumental in helping to revitalize the 91原创 Field Naturalists, serving as president for a number of years, and drawing his longtime friend Bob Puls into the LFN fold.
Puls, who has served as LFN president for the past 10 years, described Mr. Griffiths as 鈥渢he keeper of Brydon Lagoon.鈥�
鈥淗e lived on site, so he was a watchman,鈥� said Puls.
鈥淗e was essentially my mentor. What I will really miss is he used to phone me every day to check up on me and make sure I was doing my job.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not what he would say of course,鈥� Puls chuckled.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss those calls.鈥�
Fellow 91原创 Field Naturalists Al and Jude Grass remembered Mr. Griffiths as a passionate advocate for the environment, who held politicians鈥� feet to the fire.
鈥淗e was a wonderful naturalist and conservationist and a kindred spirit 鈥� someone I could talk to about any number of subjects,鈥� said Al Grass.
He recalled sitting with Mr. Griffiths in his kitchen, enjoying a cup of tea and watching the waterfowl on the lagoon.
鈥淗e was a wonderful man, a wonderful human being 鈥� he cared about people and he cared about the community.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss him a lot,鈥� said Al.
鈥淗e was a true gentleman,鈥� said Jude Grass.
Another group that benefited from Mr. Griffiths鈥� passion for nature, is the 91原创 Environmental Partners Society, where he served as director.
In addition to his environmental work, Mr. Griffiths also volunteered with Douglas Park school鈥檚 breakfast program, showing up at 7.30 to cook scrambled eggs for students.
During his time in 91原创, Mr. Griffiths received the Legacy Stewardship and BC Nature鈥檚 Service awards and was honoured as 91原创 City鈥檚 Senior Citizen of the Year and as a 91原创 City Special Volunteer.
In recognition of his wide ranging contributions to the community, he was also among Canada鈥檚 recipients of the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012.
He was president of Pollution Probe in North Bay 1969-72, and active environmental organization in Ontario. There, he received the Dorothy Walford Memorial Award in 1971.
Mr. Griffiths is survived by his wife Annabel and sons Peter and Tony. He was predeceased by his son David.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. George鈥檚 Anglican Church in Fort 91原创.
