Nova Scotia Forestry Hall of Fame
Ralph Johnson
Inducted (2008)
A native of New Jersey, Ralph began his forestry career in NS timber cruising in 1923. After working in several provinces and states, Ralph was hired by Bowater Mersey becoming Chief Forester from 1933 to 1965. Ralph was active in a number of forestry organizations including Society of Amer. Foresters; Canadian Inst. of Forestry; Woodlands Section CPPA, recipient of award for Meritorious Service in Forest Conservation; Director Forest Products Assoc. of NS; MFRS advisory Comm.; President NS For. Assoc.; NS Resource Council and a member of the Forestry Section NS Vol. Planning Board. Ralph was also an author publishing articles in several forestry journals. In 1986, he published "Forests of Nova Scotia" a definitive history of Nova Scotia's forests and the development of the forest industry from the ice age to the mid 1980's.Graduate New York State College of Forestry; Syracuse University 1924.
Girvan Harrison
Inducted (2007)
Girvan began his forestry career as a contractor in Nova Scotia moving to the Dept. of Lands & Forests working as a forest technician and district supervisor before embarking on a career as an educator at the Maritime Forest Ranger School. Primarily through his dedication as an educator and author of several forestry books he has had a strong impact on foresters, technicians, land owners, and others whose life's work is a stewards of the forests. Girvan has been an active participant in many organizations including the NS and NB Forest Technicians Assocs. and has been awarded the L.B. Pearson Canadian Poetry Prize and CIF Tree of Life Award. He was also inducted into the NB Forestry Hall of Fame in 2004.Graduate, Maritime Forest Ranger School, 1980.
Leif Holt
Inducted (2007)
Born in Russia, Leif began his forestry career in Sweden before moving to Canada. He was a strong proponent of investing in forest management to improve quality and increase yields from forest land and as Woodlands Manager of Bowater Mersey initiated their first silviculture program in the 1970's. Leif's vision resulted in the first use of computers in woodland departments in Nova Scotia. Leif was a strong supporter of various forestry organizations serving as President of the CIF-NS Section and NS Forest Products Assoc. and was a member of the committee to draft provincial legislation for forestry practices. Leif was awarded the Charles Bullard Fellowship to study forestry at Harvard University in 1964.Univ College Sch. Of London, 1936;
Forest Ranger School Norway, 1938;
Forestry College Aas Norway, 1946.
Owen Barr
Inducted (2006)
Owen's forestry career began in 1937 when he was hired to assist with building a fire tower near his home in Barr Settlement. He later became the fire tower operator. In 1940, given his natural ability to fix and maintain equipment, he established a workshop in his home to repair pumps, back tanks and other fire suppression equipment. Between 1940 and 1945, the Department of Lands and Forests relied solely on Owen for his mechanical abilities. In 1948, the Provincial Fire Depot was built in Shubenacadie and Owen was appointed its first Mechanical Superintendent, a position he held until his retirement in 1971. Owen was an integral and indispensable part of the Province's forest fire protection team. As a result of his passion for his work, the Department's ability to fight forest fires expanded greatly under Owen's direction.
Bob Murray
Inducted (2006)
Bob began his 36-year forestry career with the Department of Lands and Forests in 1946 as a district forester. From there he joined Hollingsworth and Whitney, later a subsidiary of Scott Paper Company. In 1959, Bob and his family moved to Truro to assume management of Scott's woodland operations. In 1966, Bob became responsible for establishing a woodlands office and securing a wood supply for the mill. He was appointed Woodlands Manager with Scott Maritimes in 1967, a position he held until his retirement in1981. In 1971, Bob was elected President of the Nova Scotia Forest Products Association. In 1978, he partnered with Hugh Erskine to establish Mactara Ltd. Bob was widely known as a capable and knowledgeable manager who dealt effectively with the challenges that arose during the 1960's and 1970's, a period of rapid growth in the forest sector.BSc (Forestry), UNB, 1941.
Robert Burgess
Inducted (2006)
Graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. His forestry career began overseas during World War II where he worked with the Canadian Forestry Corp. in France, Scotland and Belgium where he set up mills to provide lumber for hospitals and pilings to aid the the military in crossing the Rhine River into Germany. Upon his return, he lectured at the Maritime Forest Ranger, was Chief Forester of Nova Scotia from 1950 to 1965, Director of Forestry and later appointed Deputy Minister in 1969, a position he held until his retirement in 1977. Later he served as members of the environmental control council and is life time member of the surveyors association. An accomplished curler, he won both the Provincial Mens Junior and Senior Championship.
Russell McNally
Inducted (2005)
Graduated from the Maritime Forest Ranger School in 1968. During his 25 year career with the Department of Natural Resources, Russell supervised, implemented and assisted in the planning of forest research programs designed to improve the growth and yield of Nova Scotia's forests. As part of this work he was responsible for developing computer software for yield tables, growth models and timber cruising. Russell was an excellent communicator who had the ability to transfer technical research to the person in the field. He was instrumental in compiling the first Forestry Field Handbook which is now part of the curriculum at the MFRS. Russell was the 1996 recipient of the Graduate Forest Technicians Award, issued by the Council of Eastern Forest Technicians Schools, in recognition of his accomplishments and contribution to the field of forestry and public education