Ken Farquharson

b. 1935

Determination and a pragmatic approach to nature conservation have made Ken a driving force of the BC environmental movement and a major contributor to parks. Working with committees, he fought for — and won — the protection of Cypress Bowl and the Skagit Valley. As an engineer and a consultant, Ken worked to reduce the impacts of major projects through thoughtful engineering and design. Ken was originally attracted to BC by the opportunities to ski, hike and climb, and his passions and values have materialized in his work in many areas, like his early calls for environmental assessment studies, and his participation in the founding of the Sierra Club of BC and the Outdoor Recreation Council.

Ken outside his home on Vancouver Island, 2008.
(Photo: Edith Ladu)

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Tsusiat Falls on the West Coast Trail of Pacific Rim National Park

Affiliations:

• University of Cambridge - MA Mechanical Sciences 1957
• Imperial College, London - Diploma Concrete Structures and Technology 1963
• Save Cypress Bowl Committee - Secretary and spokesperson 1968-1970
• ROSS Committee (Run Out Skagit Spoilers) - Secretary and spokesperson 1969-1983
• Sierra Club of BC - Founding member 1971
• Outdoor Recreation Council of BC - Founding member 1976
• Wilderness Advisory Committee 1985-1986
• Cypress Park Special Planning Commission 1995
• Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, Canadian Commissioner 1983-1985, 2003-

Awards:

• Association of Professional Engineers of BC Community Service Award 1982
• Roderick Haig-Brown Conservation Award 1983
• BC Environment Award (as part of ROSS Committee) 1983
• Sierra Club of Western Canada Conservation Award 1983
• Confederation Medal 1992
• Lieutenant Governor's Conservation Award 2007

Parks:

• Cypress Provincial Park
• Skagit Valley Provincial Park
• West Coast Trail part of Pacific Rim National Park
• Kakwa Provincial Park