This month’s Climate Hug recognizes longtime Parksville residents Ronda and Gary Murdock, whose entire lives have been dedicated to educating and promoting better stewardship of our forests.
Their forestry connection goes back to their early years in the East Kootenays, where Ronda’s father was in the B.C. Forest Service. Gary had migrated from Saskatchewan to B.C., where he worked in various forestry-related roles until he replaced Ronda’s father who was retiring. Ronda met Gary, they got married a year later and honeymooned on Vancouver Island. They fell in love with the Island and decided that’s where they wanted to be.
Before moving to Parksville in 1982, with their family Trevor and Nicole, Gary worked as a B.C. Forest Ranger, graduated from forestry school, while Ronda pursued other interests, including a stint as a disc jockey and owner of a record store in Fernie.
In Parksville, Gary’s forestry career continued with a posting in the B.C. Ministry of Forests, working from Duncan, covering the South Island and Gulf Islands. He was involved in many aspects of forestry management, including compliance, recreation, First Nations liaison and wildfire management before retiring in the year 2000.
Before moving to Parksville in 1982, with their family Trevor and Nicole, Gary worked as a B.C. Forest Ranger, graduated from forestry school, while Ronda pursued other interests, including a stint as a disc jockey and owner of a record store in Fernie.
In Parksville, Gary’s forestry career continued with a posting in the B.C. Ministry of Forests, working from Duncan, covering the South Island and Gulf Islands. He was involved in many aspects of forestry management, including compliance, recreation, First Nations liaison and wildfire management before retiring in the year 2000.
When asked about the keys to a more sustainable future for our forests, Gary said: “First Nations investment and stewardship and moving crop-rotations to longer, more sustainable levels.”
He and Ronda started up an Ecotour Company, Pacific Rainforest Adventures, which flourished out of Parksville for the next 20 years supporting our burgeoning tourist industry, while providing a platform to educate about the flora and fauna in our unique Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
He and Ronda started up an Ecotour Company, Pacific Rainforest Adventures, which flourished out of Parksville for the next 20 years supporting our burgeoning tourist industry, while providing a platform to educate about the flora and fauna in our unique Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
It was during these years that they were also actively engaged in a wide range of activities to protect the environment.
This included working with others to save a slice of Cathedral Grove from being turned into a parking lot; saving a wetland in DL33 in Nanoose; working with the Western Canada Wilderness Committee in celebrating Earth Day annually at the Qualicum Beach Town Square; and B.C. Rivers Day at the Little Qualicum River.
Gary tells a story which occurred during the fundraising campaign to save the Heritage Forest. Gary was invited, along with then QB Coun. Jack Wilson, to take the granddaughter of HR MacMillan on a tour of the forest. At the end of the tour she handed them a cheque for $50,000. A testamet to Gary’s deep knowledge and passion for the forest.
Gary and Ronda began volunteering as "citizen scientists” in 2019 as part of a study led by the Ministry of Forests and MABRRI (part of VIU) to observe and document how climate change is impacting the Island's forests and plant species. Their research location is Milner Gardens.
To add to their ongoing legacy, son Trevor is the manager of data and products at the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada. He became a climate scientist "before it was cool."
Gary and Ronda began volunteering as "citizen scientists” in 2019 as part of a study led by the Ministry of Forests and MABRRI (part of VIU) to observe and document how climate change is impacting the Island's forests and plant species. Their research location is Milner Gardens.
To add to their ongoing legacy, son Trevor is the manager of data and products at the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada. He became a climate scientist "before it was cool."
CPOC members have a deep appreciation for both for their incredible and continuing work to help residents better understand and protect the myriad of services our forests provide. A donation of $50 from the Nanoose Bay Lions Club will be presented to the Ecoforestry Institute Society on the couple's behalf.
