Arthur Herbert Richardson
Nominating Agency:

A.H. Richardson is one of Ontario's great conservation pioneers. He had a hand in forming 31 of the province's conservation authorities. A.H. Richardson had exceptional skills on how to market and communicate the conservation message to the people of the province. By teaching forest conservation to boy scouts, he was attempting to instill in youth a heightened regard for the complex relation between man, animals and nature. He wrote many publications, but one in particular - The Ganaraska Report - set the stage for the future.

Monuments to his public service are spread throughout the Province in the form of parks, playgrounds, swimming areas, flood control and reforestation projects, pioneer villages and land use demonstrations. One such place is Richardson's Lookout, which was dedicated to Mr. Richardson in 1964. This location takes in a spectacular view of the Ganaraska Watershed where it all began. Richardson described it as a place where you can absorb the splendour of man's work in harmony with nature.

With his drive, determination and leadership, he was a major player in the advancement of forestry in Canada. Mr. Richardson always thought that it was important to bring the government to the people.

Mr. Richardson retired after 41 years of service with the provincial government at 71 years of age. During his 10 years of retirement, he wrote the book Conservation for the People. The completion of the book seemed to be a signal that he had finished what he wanted to do in his life.

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