Colleen McCrory

Colleen McCrory, born in New Denver, British Columbia, in 1949, emerged as a prominent Canadian environmental activist. Raised in a large family with eight siblings, she was instilled with a strong sense of community and nature from an early age. Colleen was a devoted mother to her three children: Sean, Rory, and Shea.

In 1975, she founded the Valhalla Wilderness Society, a pivotal organization in British Columbia dedicated to environmental conservation. Initially, she supported her activism through a small clothing store in New Denver. However, a three-year boycott by loggers led to the closure of her business in 1985, plunging her into significant debt.

Colleen's relentless dedication to environmental causes earned her numerous accolades, including the Governor-General's Conservation Award in 1983 and the IUCN's Fred M. Packard Award in 1988. Her contributions were further recognized in 1992 when she was named to the United Nations' Global 500 Roll of Honour and awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. In 2010, an old-growth forest lichen was named Pertusaria mccroryae in her honor, celebrating her lasting impact on the environment.

Her advocacy played a crucial role in the establishment of several protected areas, including Valhalla Provincial Park, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Goat Range Provincial Park, and the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. Colleen also ran as a candidate for the Green Party in the 2001 British Columbia provincial elections, further demonstrating her commitment to environmental issues.

Colleen McCrory passed away in 2007 at the age of fifty-seven due to a brain tumor, leaving behind a legacy of environmental stewardship and a profound impact on conservation efforts in British Columbia.