Trent University Mourns the Passing of Honorary Degree Recipient Dr. J. Bruce Falls, O.C.
Dr. Falls was active in protecting Canada’s natural landscapes and left indelible mark in academia
The Trent community mourns the loss of honorary degree recipient Dr. J. Bruce Falls, O.C., a distinguished figure who had a lifetime of achievements protecting Canada’s natural landscapes and left an indelible mark in the fields of zoology, conservation, and academia.
As a pioneer in his field, Dr. Falls’ research extended from the intricate behaviours of birds to the dynamics of mouse populations, culminating in numerous scientific papers and book chapters that enriched our understanding of ecology. Beyond academia, he was a tireless advocate for conservation, co-founding the Nature Conservancy of Canada and championing efforts to preserve wilderness areas across the country.
Dr. Falls began teaching in 1954 at the University of Toronto, where he was a professor of Zoology for 35 years. He helped to initiate field courses at U of T because he believed that contact with nature stimulated students' interests.
As president of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, he was instrumental in the 1962 founding of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), an organization that he went on to chair. The NCC has played a major role in land conservation, helping to protect more than one million hectares of ecologically-significant land nationwide.
He was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Trent in 2013 for his contributions as a founding member of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and his achievements in science.
Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Dr. Falls’ family and friends.