Obituary of Leonard Donaldson

Leonard Donaldson, a lifetime resident of the North Rolla area, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, May 26, 2022 in the Dawson Creek Hospital.

Len will best be remembered for his honesty, integrity, fierce determination, and sense of humor.  He lived by his values and morals and respected anyone else who did the same. After Grade 12 graduation (1956), Len’s early adult years were spent working off the farm to pay for the farm.  He worked various jobs from commercial ice fishing, to mining, to surveying, and everything in between; wherever he could make a buck for the farm he would go.   Len was cautious but not scared.  He proved this by marrying (1977) a widow with four small children and became an instant Dad.  He basically became a hero to five people who loved and respected him very deeply.  

Len’s love of nature and all that nature had to offer was second to none.  He spent his lifetime promoting conservation and enhancement, specifically focusing on farming in conjunction with nature.  Len and his wife Molly managed to create the “Donaldson Conservation Project” leaving a legacy that promoted all animals large and small and every form of bird and bug found in the Peace River Region. They were also recipients of the L.B. Thompson Conservations Award in 1999. Since 1987, this award has been bestowed on 24 individuals and conservation organizations who continue to make significant contributions to soil conservation in Canada. Len understood how to utilize local trees, flora, and fauna in all stages of development and if you let him, he would spend hours trying to convince you to plant a tree.  

Another big passion of Len’s was food; whether if it was growing his own or hunting.  He spent a great deal of time perfecting wild meat recipes.  He was famous for not wasting any part of the wildlife that he harvested. He was also known to drive miles for the right loaf of bread or piece of pie.

Len also spent his entire lifetime trying to preserve and protect Indigenous artifacts that were located on his farm which he ultimately donated to Treaty 8.  As kids, we were often told how important it is to know where we came from so that we would know where we are going and that these artifacts would be an asset to understanding our local history.   

Len will be missed by all that knew him.

An informal celebration of Len’s life will be held on his farm on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 2:00pm.

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in Len’s memory to the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society, 10233 100 Ave., Fort St. John, BC  V1J 1Y8.

Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium