Brad Whitcombe is the recipient of a posthumous honour roll award, the highest award given out by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).
The long-serving politician from Puslinch Township died suddenly in November 2014, leaving a long record of environmental service to the Grand River watershed.
“Stewardship captures Brad’s approach to life,” said Lise Burcher, Whitcombe’s spouse. “He believed his role was to convene all the forces and resources necessary to care for his community.”
Whitcombe grew up on a farm on Gore Road. He was a hog farmer in his 30s when he entered local politics. He became a township councillor in 1989 because he was concerned about agricultural challenges facing farmers. He remained active in politics and served as mayor of Puslinch for 15 years, until 2010.
He also served as Wellington County warden for three terms (2000, 2005 and 2006).
Whitcombe was the chair of the Mill Creek subwatershed study completed in 1996 and part of a broad-based committee that established the Puslinch Township Groundwater Monitoring Program – the first of its kind in Canada and still in operation today.
“Brad was the prime proponent of both the subwatershed studies and groundwater monitoring program, which were considered visionary and ground-breaking at the time,” said Larry Halyk, who was stewardship coordinator in the area.
In 1999, Whitcombe also chaired the committee that introduced the GRCA’s Rural Water Quality Program to Wellington County.
He co-founded the very successful Friends of Mill Creek in 1998, bringing together environmentalists, business leaders, landowners and local agencies to improve the creek.
Whitcombe also co-founded the Wellington Green Legacy program, which started as a one-time event to plant 150,000 trees during the 150th anniversary of Wellington County in 2004.
But Green Legacy has continued, and it has been recognized by the United Nations as the largest municipal tree planting program in North America. Through Green Legacy, nearly two million trees have been planted in the county over the years – and now there is a proposal to turn it into a province-wide program.
“We should be inspired by what is possible and get ready to roll up our sleeves and make it happen,” Whitcombe once said.
