With input from Susan Lin, Daphne Solecki, and Denis Laplante

It is with great sorrow and regret that we inform the members of Nature Vancouver, that a long time member of Nature Vancouver, Dr. Joseph Lin, passed in the early morning hours of Feb 25, following complications from a heart surgery. 

Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Joseph moved from Taiwan with his young family to Vancouver in 1993.  He pursued his interest in nature by joining Nature Vancouver, going out on field trips to build his knowledge of these new natural surroundings. He also joined the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, where he found that many members knew little of the environment they now lived in.

Joseph believed that environmental experience would give him and other immigrants a deeper understanding and appreciation of their beautiful new home, so in 1994 he launched the Green Club.

Joseph organized field trips for fellow Taiwanese and Mandarin-speaking participants, inviting local naturalists to join them. As they walked along, Joseph translated.  

His credo was: “The more residents know about the environment around them, the more they will cherish and protect it.”

Joseph believed that recent immigrants are often overwhelmed by life in their new home.  He tried to make them feel welcome by offering his message in the language of their homeland – Cantonese and Mandarin. He also emphasized involvement by families – about half his participants were children and youth. 

Joseph’s affable and unassuming nature made him easy to work with and easy to learn from. We were fortunate indeed to have Joseph Lin as a member, one who has contributed so much to the Taiwanese and Chinese communities, the naturalist community and to the Metro Vancouver community at large. 

Joseph served on the Nature Vancouver Board of Directors for many years and was presented with Kay Beamish Award for Nature Education.

To learn more about Joseph and his efforts to educate general public about our natural world, click on the links below: