Reg Balch
Encyclopedia
Dr. Reginald Ernest Balch (December 29, 1894–1994) was a Canadian
photographer
and scientist
.
, England
, the son of the Rev. Alfred Earnest Balch and Sarah Hawkes. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School
and Kingswood School
. Balch received a University scholarship but waived it to be a farmer.
He arrived in Canada
in 1913, departing from Liverpool
and disembarking ten days later at Saint John
. He took a train to Ontario
but found little work there. In 1914, he was hired by the Ontario Reformatory and later, with the outbreak of World War I
, enlisted, serving three years in France
with the Canadian Field Artillery
.
After World War I, his interest in forest biology led him to enroll in the Ontario Agricultural College
. He graduated in 1923 with a BSA
degree. Afterwards, he took a summer job as a fire ranger
and assisted an American forest entomologist. This led to his receiving an MS degree at Syracuse University
's New York State College of Forestry
in 1928.
In 1930 he was appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Dominion Entomological Laboratory, a federal government
facility on the University of New Brunswick
campus in Fredericton
, New Brunswick
. He settled in Fredericton with his wife, Martha.
His five half-hour radio lectures for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's University of the Air series in the spring of 1965 were essential in introducing the word "ecology
" to the public. He later served as the honourary president for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, one of the first modern Canadian environmental groups (established in 1969).
He travelled and photographed in Europe, especially Ireland. His photos illustrated a book of Alden Nowlan
's poems, Early Poems.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
photographer
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and scientist
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
.
Biography
He was born in SevenoaksSevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of the Rev. Alfred Earnest Balch and Sarah Hawkes. He was educated at Bedford Grammar School
Bedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
and Kingswood School
Kingswood School
Kingswood School, referred to as 'Kingswood', is an independent day and boarding school located in Bath, Somerset, England. The school is coeducational and educates some 950 children aged 3 to 18. It is notable for being founded by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in 1748...
. Balch received a University scholarship but waived it to be a farmer.
He arrived in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1913, departing from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and disembarking ten days later at Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. He took a train to Ontario
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....
but found little work there. In 1914, he was hired by the Ontario Reformatory and later, with the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, enlisted, serving three years in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the Canadian Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
.
After World War I, his interest in forest biology led him to enroll in the Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
. He graduated in 1923 with a BSA
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, usually abbreviated as either B.Sc. or B.S.A. or BScAg, is the first undergraduate degree awarded by university faculty of agriculture and agricultural colleges. The program is 4 years of study above Grade 12 High School graduation.The B.Sc. degree differs...
degree. Afterwards, he took a summer job as a fire ranger
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
and assisted an American forest entomologist. This led to his receiving an MS degree at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
's New York State College of Forestry
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is an American specialized doctoral-granting institution located in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, immediately adjacent to Syracuse University...
in 1928.
In 1930 he was appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Dominion Entomological Laboratory, a federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
facility on the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
campus in Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He settled in Fredericton with his wife, Martha.
His five half-hour radio lectures for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's University of the Air series in the spring of 1965 were essential in introducing the word "ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
" to the public. He later served as the honourary president for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, one of the first modern Canadian environmental groups (established in 1969).
He travelled and photographed in Europe, especially Ireland. His photos illustrated a book of Alden Nowlan
Alden Nowlan
Alden Albert Nowlan was a critically acclaimed Canadian poet, novelist, and playwright-History:Alden Nowlan was born into rural poverty in Stanley, Nova Scotia, adjacent to Mosherville, and close to the small town of Windsor, Nova Scotia, along a stretch of dirt road that he would later refer to...
's poems, Early Poems.
Sources
- http://www.lib.unb.ca/archives/balch.html
- Introduction to A Mind's Eye by Astrid Brunner