A tribute to Allan Hawryzki, Founding member of Nature Nanaimo. Among his many accomplishments, we are grateful for his legacy and inspiration.
It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Allan Hawrzyki. Allan was a founding member of Nature Nanaimo, a former board member and the recipient of our first Honorary Lifetime Membership. Most notably, Allan was a wonderful person and an inspiring true lover of nature.

A brief bio of Allan’s accomplishments:
Allan was born in Vancouver, where he attended Simon Fraser University after graduating from high school and where he obtained his undergraduate degree
in biology.  He worked there for three summers as botanical research assistant studying the geographical distribution and evolutionary biosystematics (taxonomy) of Ranunculus eschscholtzii (subalpine buttercup) in western North America.  While studying this species and visiting various populations in British Columbia, Alaska, Yukon, Alberta and various western American states, he enhanced his interest in the outdoors and natural world.  His graduate work at the University of Victoria centred on the Conservation Biology of Allium amplectens (slim-leaf onion).  Until retirement, he has taught courses at Vancouver Island University in introductory biology, botany, education, biodiversity, conservation biology and taxonomy. 
He was a founding executive member of the original Nanaimo Natural History club 1973 and editor of its newsletter; regional Vice-President (Vancouver
Island) of the Federation of B.C. Naturalists. Amongst the projects he coordinated during the 1970’s was a successful campaign to increase public
awareness of and funding for the conservation of the Vancouver Island Marmot.
He has served as a member on the City of Nanaimo, Advisory Committee on the Environment, and ‘Inspire Nanaimo’ (sponsored by the City of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island University and the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce).  He is also a former Director of the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust.

Publications:
Hawryzki, A. R. 2002. Natural History, Population Ecology, and
Conservation
Biology of Slim-Leaf Onion (Allium Amplectens ). M.Sc. Thesis.
Dept. of
Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. 102p
Research Projects
Geographic expansion of invaders database system (awarded

2003) 6/30/2005
Herbarium Biology Department
Hawryzki AR, Allen GA, Antos JA (2011) Prolonged dormancy in
the geophyte
Allium amplectens on Vancouver Island. Botany 89:737-744
Botany BC
<http://members.shaw.ca/dmeidinger/botanybc/index.htm> 
 Annual
meeting of botanists and plant enthusiasts of British Columbia July
14-15