Ottawa, Ontario — Peter deMarsh is among the 2022 recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal awarded by the Government of Canada. The Medal recognizes individuals who have carried out meritorious acts bringing benefit and honour to Canada.
The Meritorious Service Medal is among the highest Canadian distinctions and was awarded to deMarsh posthumously in recognition of his tireless work for landowner rights.
“Peter was a champion of rural communities and private woodlot owners,” said Vice-Chair of the Canadian Federation of Forest Owners (CFO), Susannah Banks. “He believed that woodlot owners are in the best position to manage sustainably since they have an intimate knowledge of their land.”
Peter deMarsh was respected across Canada for his work in sustainable forest management. He served as president of the York Sunbury Charlotte Forest Owners Marketing Board and helped to establish the New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners in 1977.
“Peter was a driving force in the creation of the International Family Forestry Alliance (IFFA),” said IFFA Chairman, Antti Sahi. “As the Chairman of the organization, he worked tirelessly to connect forest owner’s association from across the globe. He convinced the tens of millions of woodlot owners around the world to take collective action through their local, regional, national, and international organizations to defend and promote woodlot owners’ interests and make their voice heard in international forums.”
“Peter’s passion for sustainable forest management benefitted many in Canada’s forest sector. His tireless advocacy is an inspiration, and the Meritorious Service Medal is proof of his enduring legacy,” said Beth MacNeil, Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Forest Service.
A memorial bursary has been established to honour Peter deMarsh’s memory. The bursary consists of two annual awards: a research bursary, and a travel bursary for attendance at an international conference. Details are at www.forestowners.ca/peter-demarsh-memorial-bursary.
About the Canadian Federation of Forest Owners
The Canadian Federation of Forest Owners (CFO), located in Ottawa, Ontario, is the united national voice of private forest owners promoting economic and social interests in sustainable management. For more information, visit www.forestowners.ca
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Sandra Bishop
Tel: 778 269 3050
Sandra Bishop
Tel: 778 269 3050