Vernon C. “Bert” Brink was born in Calgary, and educated at the universities of British Columbia and Wisconsin. His life was dedicated to conserving and enjoying our natural environment.

Bert was one of those unique individuals who combined a love of the natural world with the training and expertise of a scientist. As a respected university professor for 35 years, he taught hundreds about the need for sound management of our renewable resources. With boundless energy, he guided many graduate students in agronomy and range and vegetation ecology. Many of these graduates now have responsible positions in government, academia and industry where his values and philosophy continue to influence their lives and the management of our natural resources.

Bert was a tireless worker in many agricultural, recreational and conservation-based organizations, always seeking shared visions of wise use of our living resources. He had consistently tried to be a positive critic of government policy and to work with existing processes to accomplish his ends.

As an ardent naturalist, he dedicated thousands of hours in volunteer services to natural history organizations sharing his extensive experience and knowledge of the province. Long before the phrase became popular, he advocated for, and believed in, the interdependence of a sustainable environment and a sustainable economy.

Dr. Brink has devoted his life to making British Columbia and Canada a better place in which to live, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come.