Henry Kock
Encyclopedia
Henry Kock was a noted horticulturist, eco-activist, and founder of the Elm Recovery Project in Ontario
.
Born near Sarnia
, Ontario, Kock grew up working for the family business, Huronview Nurseries. A graduate of the University of Guelph
in 1977 with an emphasis on horticulture
, he stayed connected to the university until his death. Affectionately known as "Mr. Arboretum", he was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2004; he finally succumbed to the disease on Christmas Day, 2005, at the age of 53.
on the provincial elm
population, Kock created the Elm Recovery Project, collecting scions from the survivors, developing a breeding program and raising the young trees for eventual restoration of DED-tolerant elms in the wild. Another notable legacy left by Kock is the Guelph
Hillside Festival
, which he co-founded. Celebrated every year in July at Guelph Lake
, just north of the city, folk and other musical acts gather for a three-day weekend event attended by hundreds of people.
, public transit and urban bicycling, as well as being a regular attendee of the International Women's Day
in Toronto
each year with his wife. At the time of his death he was working on a book on growing native trees from seed, a project which some of his botany colleagues at the University of Guelph Arboretum
completed. Additionally, Kock often travelled the province with talks and slide shows about protecting wild placing, propagating native plant species, and alternatives to garden pesticides. Most notably, however, Kock is recognized for establishing gene banks for rare native plants, including elms.
; his sister Helen Rykens and her husband Dan McDermott in Toronto; and a niece and two nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Irene.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Born near Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
, Ontario, Kock grew up working for the family business, Huronview Nurseries. A graduate of the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in 1977 with an emphasis on horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, he stayed connected to the university until his death. Affectionately known as "Mr. Arboretum", he was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2004; he finally succumbed to the disease on Christmas Day, 2005, at the age of 53.
Legacies
After the devastating effects of Dutch elm diseaseDutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
on the provincial elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
population, Kock created the Elm Recovery Project, collecting scions from the survivors, developing a breeding program and raising the young trees for eventual restoration of DED-tolerant elms in the wild. Another notable legacy left by Kock is the Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
Hillside Festival
Hillside Festival, Guelph
The Hillside Festival is an annual three-day, five-stage summer festival occurring in Guelph, Ontario hosting musicians, spoken word artists, workshops and more. The Hillside Festival occurs in late July on Guelph Lake Island.-History:...
, which he co-founded. Celebrated every year in July at Guelph Lake
Guelph Lake
Guelph Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Speed River, in the Township of Guelph/Eramosa. It is located upriver and slightly northeast of the city of Guelph, Ontario. The reservoir was created in 1974, with the construction of the Guelph Lake dam...
, just north of the city, folk and other musical acts gather for a three-day weekend event attended by hundreds of people.
Other projects
Kock was also known for his many activist activities, especially those regarding plants. He helped to organize the first Guelph Organic Conference, which has increased in popularity each year. He rallied for peace in Iraq, renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
, public transit and urban bicycling, as well as being a regular attendee of the International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
each year with his wife. At the time of his death he was working on a book on growing native trees from seed, a project which some of his botany colleagues at the University of Guelph Arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
completed. Additionally, Kock often travelled the province with talks and slide shows about protecting wild placing, propagating native plant species, and alternatives to garden pesticides. Most notably, however, Kock is recognized for establishing gene banks for rare native plants, including elms.
Accolades
- 1998 - Governor General's Award for Forest StewardshipForest Stewardship CouncilThe Forest Stewardship Council is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products...
- 1999 - Forest Stewardship in Canada Award
- 2004 - Named one of two of Canada's best naturalists by Gardening Life magazine
Family
Kock met Anne Hansen in 1991, whom he later married. He is survived by his wife Anne; his parents Mary and Dick of Bright's Grove; his brother John Cook and his wife Cynthia in ForestForest, Lambton County, Ontario
Forest is a small town located near Sarnia, Ontario in Canada. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores and the county of Lambton.- Population :...
; his sister Helen Rykens and her husband Dan McDermott in Toronto; and a niece and two nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Irene.