Coalition Updates

Bruce Kershner honoured

At a June 6 ceremony on the Buffalo waterfront co-hosted by Great Lakes United and the Canadian Consulate, Great Lakes United gave the eleventh John Manty Award to the late Bruce Kershner.

His wife Helene received the award in his memory and offered an impassioned plea for citizens across the region to follow-up on Bruce’s work to protect our ancient trees and forests. Many of his friends and co-workers were in the audience. Bruce is remembered for his love of wild places and his dedication to ensuring everyone knew how special and how worthy of protection these places are.

Bruce was an environmentalist, author, forest ecologist, and former staff person for Great Lakes United. He was a renowned authority on old growth forests, documenting hundreds of ancient trees and forests in eastern North America, where previously no one thought they had existed. He documented New York State’s oldest forest and the largest assemblage of old growth forest in the Niagara River and Escarpment corridor on both the Canadian and U.S. sides. Bruce published a dozen books and ancient forest guides, including a gem entitled, Secret Places: Scenic Treasures of Western New York and Southern Ontario. This book is hoped to be republished soon.

Bruce was committed to maximizing public involvement in protecting the old growth forest by ensuring people’s love for those special places. Bruce was constantly leading people into the forest. A trip with Bruce infected people with a love and respect for the remnants of ancient forests that need to be preserved. And it turned them into activists determined to protect those places.

Bruce died in February 2007 from esophageal cancer. In addition to his accomplishments above, we at Great Lakes United remember him as a dedicated staff member who helped us find the path we tread today.

The John Manty Award is given to people who have shown broad vision, a commitment to the grassroots, and a focus on networking. If you know someone who should be considered for this award contact John Jackson at jjackson@glu.org.

© 2008 Great Lakes News.