Rest in Peace, John Sawkey

I just learned that longtime intactivist John Sawkey of Saskatchewan passed away on July 21 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. He was 73 years old.

John's passing comes the month after we lost Van Lewis and less than a year after we lost another Canadian stalwart, Dr. John Taylor.

Although we never met in person, John and I worked intensively together over many years, particularly in the nineties. Before the Internet had really become much of a force in the world, John regularly mailed me clippings, articles, thoughts, etc. relating to intactivism. Not a month went without an envelope or two from John arriving in my mail. We also talked regularly on the phone. He was one of the most important people to me in the early years of this work and always helped keep my spirits up and inspire me through his own determined, constant, perceptive efforts.

John was a longtime passionate lover of nature and particularly of birding. I knew he had his health challenges but he was a great fighter to the end. Memorials may be made to the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association, Nature Sask or Ducks Unlimited.