Nechako Salmon Lose a Warrior
By Ben Meisner
Sunday, March 21, 2010 10:54 AM
Doctor Don Alderdice has died.
They will not hold a special parade for him, there won’t be any special tributes from Government or corporate Canada, in particular Alcan who he fought to have a once thriving salmon population continue to exist in the Nechako system. He believed from the outset that the diverting of the Nechako River system into the Pacific Ocean would have far reaching effects on the creatures that he devoted his life to studying. He was right, but being right did not earn him favour with either the industry that he fought or the government of the day that supported their interests.
During the Alcan hearings, he spoke out, it cost him dearly in his career, but the fish meant more. During those same hearings on the Kemano project, he was constantly producing new evidence; evidence that I might add went unnoticed pointing out the perils we were facing.
Hanging on my wall at my home is a picture of a salmon, along with a plaque from the “dissidents” who fought so hard to allow the salmon of our rivers to remain a part of our everyday life.
I cherish that picture and signatures, including that of Dr Alderdice far more than any other recognition or award I have ever received, because for a moment in time, I felt as though I was part of the group defending the salmon of BC.
I received the following comments from Dr. Gordon Hartman, a part of that group. I pass them on to you today, along with my deepest condolences top the family and friends of Don Alderdice, he was what a true scientist is all about.
Don Alderdice passed away on March 20. I wanted to let you know this because a few years ago we all went through so much together in the Alcan-Nechako affair. Don's commitment in that issue was like that which he had for his whole life as a research scientist and everything else that he did.
Dr. Alderdice was among the special kind of researchers for whom science and understanding were their own rewards. Integrity and competence were his hallmarks. He never sought prestige, he always had it. What marked him though, was the fact that he also had honour in regard to how science was used.
Beyond his accomplishments as a scientist he was great family man, musician, and family history researcher.
Don's contributions to 'salmon and science' will be remembered by us while we are here. They will be known long after in the many contributions that he has left for all in books and journals.
He was our friend.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gordon Hartman
This From Rafe Mair- Talk Show Host
Ben Meisner, in his tribute to Don Alderdyce, almost said it all but I can add a little to the memory of a man who put his profession and his principles ahead of the wishes of his political masters whom he tried to serve, but was unable to because they wanted him to lie.
Like your editor, I have that wonderful poster signed by the "Dissident Scientists", so called by Alcan and a sobriquet they all bore with pleasure.
Like Ben, I was into the Kemano II case and indeed got there because Ben quite properly chided me for being so damned ignorant - as I recall he used a different adjective!
The fight was tough. We had no money and were up against Alcan and both senior governments. The time came when I thought we'd run out of gas. It was coming down to the word of a few against the entire establishment. We needed something more and one Friday I got it - in a brown envelope there it was - the DFO scientists' report on the Nechako and Kemano II saying unequivocally to the Tory government and Minister Tom Siddon, DON'T BLOODY WELL DO IT!
I believe that turned the corner for us. The public realized that it wasn't just a couple of noisy talk show hosts making trouble for kindly old Alcan and our honest Mulroney government - noisy we may have been but we had the science on our side. The truth was out.
I need not tell you who leaked that document but he stands tall with his brave colleagues surviving - Don put his science, his province, a beloved and important river and his principles before any personal concerns.
Don, unlike Mr. Mulroney and his Alcan pals, was never given the Order of Canada he deserved, reminding one of Cato the Elder who said "I would rather people ask why there is no monument to me than ask why there is."
Don Alderdyce was a courageous man whose deeds made him stand high above the greedy men and political cowards he did so much to defeat on behalf of us all.
Rafe Mair
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Posted by: verballabel on March 21 2010 5:34 PM