Captain Paul Watson first met Gary Gallon in 1968 in Vancouver when he volunteered to help with the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC). Since then, Gary and Paul have been life long friends. In 1978, Captain Watson stayed with Gary occasionally in Nairobi, Kenya, when Paul was working on elephant poaching issues. Gary was heading up the United Nations Environmental Liaison Program that year. 

"Gary will be very much missed in the environmental movement. He was a man who understood that the strength of this movement is it's diversity - diversity of individuals, groups, strategies, and tactics. Gary knew what his skills and abilities were, and he put them to use in the areas he was most talented in, yet he had incredible respect for the strategies and tactics of others, be they radical or conservative. He was Canada's answer to David Brower. We will miss him" - Captain Paul Watson

Below is the story as reported in ENS (Link: http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2003/2003-07-08-01.asp)

Environmental Advocate Gary Gallon Dies in Montreal

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada, July 8, 2003 (ENS) - Gary Gallon, president of the Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment, and editor of "The Gallon Environment Letter," died after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, July 3. He was 58. A memorial service was held for Gallon this afternoon at the Church of the Advent, Montreal.

Six weeks ago, on May 23, Gallon was awarded Canada's Life Time Achievement Citation for his environmental contributions. The award, established in 2002 by "Canadian Geographic" magazine, was presented by Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson at a gala ceremony at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

Gallon entered the work force on the floor of the Vancouver Stock Exchange in the late 1960s. His days were spent writing investment outlines for natural resource extraction companies, while at night he helped to found the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC), now one of the oldest environmental organizations in British Columbia.

His early campaigns attempted to raise public awareness of the hazards of pesticides and the benefits of household recycling. He worked on oil spill prevention and the protection of wildlife from coal mining.

"Canadian Geographic" quoted him as saying, "I've always been bothered by excess consumption and wanton destruction of habitat. Human ethics must allow space for other lifeforms."

In 1977, Gallon was chosen to be executive director of the Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI) in Nairobi, Kenya, where he served for four years. There he met Janine Ferretti, now Canada's Chief of Environment for the InterAmerican Development Bank in Washington, DC, who would become his life partner.

Upon Gallon's return to Canada in 1982, he helped to found Toronto based Probe International, and became an environmental researcher for Ontario's Liberal Party, then in opposition. When David Peterson's government came to power in 1985, Gallon was named senior policy adviser to Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley.

In the early 1990's Gallon opened a consulting business, Environmental Economics International, which advised corporations on their environmental rights and responsibilities.

During the 1990s he worked with the Canadian Environment Industry Association, and at the time of his death, Gallon was president of the Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment.

In 1996, Gallon began publishing the "Gallon Environment Letter," a twice monthly compliation of articles by newswires, service organizations, and other environmental sources, that was widely circulated to media and to the general public.

Gallon leaves his wife, Janine Ferretti, and children Kalifi and Jenika. He leaves his parents Thomas and Marilyn, brother Jack and sister Becky in California.

Gallon has asked that he be remembered with donations to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, PO Box 48446, Vancouver, British Columbia V7X 1A2, or the Sierra Club of Canada, 1 Nicholas Street #412, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7.

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Sea Shepherd welcomes your support and donation.

Note: The address reported by ENS is for Canadian donations.