Ian Ross Church (1947 - 2016)
	
Ian Church was born in New Westminster, British Columbia and grew up in Maple Ridge. He was an ecological consultant before joining the Canadian Parks Service in 1970. He worked in several Canadian parks and met his wife Nancy at Riding Mountain. In 1998, Ian and Nancy moved to Whitehorse where he joined Indian and Northern Affairs as Environment Director. After devolution he became the senior science advisor for the Yukon Government, with a leading role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. His volunteer work included the Yukon Science Institute and the Science Fair.((//Yukon News// (Whitehorse), 4 November 2016.))
	
Church was a champion of northern science and a long-time member of the Yukon Conservation Society. He was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Climate Forum (CCF) and helped to shape their mandate and activities. He worked with David Hik, from the University of Alberta, and others to ensure that Canada was a lead player in the International Polar Year (IPY), 2007-2012. He helped to flip an old paradigm in the Old Crow Flats IPY project.((Bob Van Dijken, Sandy Johnson, and YCS staff, “Remembering Ian Church (1947-2016).” //Walk Softly,// Yukon Conservation Newsletter, Winter 2016: 10.)) The group that fostered Canada’s role in the IPY was honoured with the Royal Geographical Society’s Gold Medal for their significant achievements in geography.((The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, 2020 website: http://www.rcgs.org/awards/gold_medal/winner_gold2010_polar_year.asp.))
	
Church served on the selection committee for the federal Students on Ice program. He is remembered for his dedication to environmental science and its links to the general public through educational initiatives, particularly with respect to climate change.((Bob Van Dijken, Sandy Johnson, and YCS staff, “Remembering Ian Church (1947-2016).” //Walk Softly,// Yukon Conservation Newsletter, Winter 2016: 10.))