One of Bowen Island’s most recognizable faces on the local nature scene has been recognized with a prestigious award for his decades of community work.
Will Husby was presented with one of the Islands Trust’s 2022 Community Stewardship Awards during Monday night’s council meeting for his Thirty Years of Environmental Stewardship. Husby was nominated by the Bowen Island Conservancy, and received his award from Islands Trust Trustee Michael Kaile.
“I frankly can’t think of anybody who deserves it more than yourself. I think that is echoed by everyone in the room… Thank you for being such a great friend to the island,” began Kaile.
There is little that happens on Bowen in the environmental sphere that Husby has not played a part in. This of course includes the Conservancy, the Nature Club, Eco-Alliance, and Climate Action Committee, to name a few.
Husby was also a co-author of the Conservancy’s ‘Marine Atlas’ book, as well as providing photos and design work to the publication.
Kaile continued that Husby is the only person he and his wife can send a picture of a bug they find, and are guaranteed an answer to what it is – “he gave us a wonderful rendition of exactly what it was, and half of it in words we could understand,” joked Kaile.
“I’m very proud to present this certificate to you, it’s richly deserved,” the trustee concluded.
At the beginning of the meeting, former mayor and ‘Marine Atlas’ co-author Bob Turner spoke to Husby’s contributions to Bowen Island.
“We are so delighted that the Islands Trust has honoured Will with that award… For someone as accomplished as Will, he rarely beats his own drum, he’s a pretty humble guy,” said Turner.
“He’s always willing to volunteer, offer good ideas, do the hard work, have fun doing it, hit the deadline, and yet never seems to need to ask for any credit. He’s a remarkable guy that way, he’s just happy to get the job done.”
Turner specifically pointed out Husby’s well-known nature walks, which he says have inspired thousands of participants from young to old over the years. “This is really where Will shines. He really loves sharing his knowledge, and his very unique Will Husby-an metaphors and enthusiasm – like how the hind legs of a Caterpillar are akin to Velcro running shoes, or how the Predaceous Diving Beetle beat Jacques Cousteau to the scuba tank by several million years.”
“Will has so many skills to offer as a professional, heritage and nature interpreter, Will brings to any group the insights and skills of a biologist, an educator, nature photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, all wrapped up in his patented enthusiastic and positive view of life… We’re really, really lucky as a community to have Will,” says Turner.
