When it came to protecting local salmon stock and the creeks critical to their survival, for decades Larry Ramsell was the man who knew what was going on, what was needed and how to get it done.
On Monday, those who knew the longtime Crescent Road resident will remember and celebrate his dedication, as they bid adieu to the easygoing octogenarian in a noon-hour service at Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery.
Ramsell died April 29.
Kathi Nicholson, a longtime neighbour of Ramsell's who worked alongside him as part of Residents of Elgin Saving Creeks from Urban Effects (RESCUE), said Friday that the easygoing, well-liked senior deserves the bulk of credit for the comeback of spawning salmon in Elgin Creek.
"The fact that the Elgin Creek has come back to life, there's been a few other hands, but we owe it all to him," Nicholson said.
"When I met him, there was hardly any fish in Elgin Creek. The last time I walked back there in the fall, they were everywhere."
Featured in the Peace Arch News many times over the years, Ramsell raised hatchery fish in ponds on his property, helped build weirs to help spawning salmon up the creek and known for giving respectful and respected presentations to support the cause.
"People could see that he was sincere and that he was committed," Nicholson said. "He didn't just talk, he walked the walk."
Following the noon-hour service, a celebration of life is planned for 1 p.m. May 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 240, at 2643 128 St.