William McLean
Nominating Agency:

Since his conservation career began in 1959, Bill has dedicated his energy and efforts towards the protection of greenspace and the natural resources of our region. Upon graduating in geography from McMaster University in 1959, Bill joined the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as a Conservation Area Planner. He became Conservation Area Administrator in 1961 and was appointed Director of an Interagency Task Force to establish a Waterfront Division at MTRCA in 1970. As the first Administrator of the Waterfront Division, Bill was instrumental in developing a system of waterfront access and recreation sites over the 50 km stretch of waterfront. He also initiated shoreline management measures such as erosion protection works and regulations controlling shoreline alterations. Bill served as the Director of Planning and Policy from 1975 to 1981. In this capacity, he helped prepare a comprehensive Watershed Plan setting new directions and priorities for MTRCA. Bill became Deputy General Manager in 1981 and was seconded to the Conservation Authorities Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1982 to prepare a Provincial Strategy for Conservation Authority Waterfront Programs. Upon his return to MTRCA, Bill was appointed General Manager in 1983, a position which he held until his retirement in 1992.

When he retired from MTRCA, Bill directed his energy and dedication to The Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto. He's been a prominent member of the Conservation Foundation since 1992, including a four-year term as President.

In addition, he was a member of the Canadian Water Resources Association and the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, and he was President of the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. Throughout his career, he was a big supporter of the Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario, now Conservation Ontario. Bill has also been an active member of his community through his involvement in the Rotary Club, the Runneymede.

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