Peel advocate dies of cancer

The former executive director of CPAWS-Yukon, Mike Dehn, died Feb. 4 after a long struggle with cancer.

Dehn spearheaded the organization's work to protect the Peel watershed since 2007. He retired three months ago due to his illness, just before the government launched the last round of public consultations.

In a tribute sent out by CPAWS-Yukon and the Yukon Conservation Society, they said Dehn will remembered for "his compassionate nature, his fighting spirit and his unwavering dedication to the protection of the Peel watershed, to which he devoted the last years of his life."

Fueled by his passion for wildlands and wildlife, he used his determination, courage and brilliant intellect to try to save "one small piece of the world," they said.

"His was not a fight against individuals, it was against the mindset of industrial 'progress' at all costs, which threatens wildands and life support systems the world over...

"He chose the Peel because of the opportunity it presented - to save a large tract of wilderness and wildlife habitat before it became fragmented and parcelled off to industrial interests."

Dehn never doubted the Peel would one day be protected and was inspired by the amount of support behind that belief.

They said the greatest tribute people can make to Dehn is to tell the Yukon government to accept the Peel commission's final recommended land use plan.

The government is accepting submissions until Feb. 25. They can be sent to peel.consultation@gov.yk.ca.

A formal celebration of life for Dehn will be held, but no date has yet been set.

A memorial fund has been set up in his name to raise money to help protect the Peel watershed.