A Williams Lake man was of three people to be recognized by Forest Professional British Columbia (FPBC).
At the 78th annual forestry conference on February 5, John Walker was honored as a Distinguished Forest Professional.
This category recognizes significant accomplishments over a career, for providing outstanding service to the profession of forestry and for furthering the principles of Forest Professionals BC, it’s the profession’s highest honor for a registrant.
“A member of the association needs to nominate you,” Walker said, “then they have to supply ten other letters of support to provide the Professional Forestry Association then it goes to their Board to decide if you deserve that distinction and I’m very honored.”
Walker added that he had never acted in such an emotional way just finding out about this nomination saying it was unreal.
“John is a respected collaborator and mentor across BC, particularly in the Cariboo region, where he builds strong connections between forestry practices, First Nations stewardship and research,” Forest Professionals BC Board Chair Dave Clarke said.
“I’ve been in Williams Lake since 1996 starting in consulting making decisions on a block by block level. Now working with Williams Lake First Nation it’s more landscape level working towards different policies and then also being operational. A lot of the Fire Mitigation work around town we’ve been a part of and helped push for,” Walker said.
He has also collaborated with the BC Wildfire Service to develop thinning methods for prescribed burns, reducing wildfire risk, restoring culturally important plants, and enhancing operational efficiency.
We asked Walker how he got interested in the Forestry profession.
“When I was a little boy I would go out with my dad, we had 300 acres so we’d be out cutting wood and we had a Christmas tree farm and I just wanted to be out there doing things, it was just a natural progression.”
Walker has also served on the Boards of the Southern Interior Timber Cruisers Association and the Williams Lake Community Forest, and currently sits on its standing committee.
He actively supports education initiatives, professional development, and research partnerships.
“John has advanced innovative forest practices and demonstrated exemplary service to the profession making him a Distinguished Forest Professional for 2025,” Clarke said.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing cariboonews@vistaradio.ca.
