Forester and conservationist, Dave Watson, knows Western Canada as well as he knows his own car

DAVE WATSON

A career in environmental conservation is one way to experience the wonder of our country’s great outdoors. Over the span of his career with Canadian Forestry Services, Dave Watson assembled the pieces of the puzzle that is forest management, and did survey work and economic research related to forest fire management. He was responsible for community education and building awareness on all matters environmental, from grizzly bear conservation to canoe recreation to how smoke moves after a fire.

Dave is Edmonton-born and a huge basketball fan. He is part of the Edmonton Basketball Association and plays recreationally whenever he gets the chance. The first car he brought to Sandy Lane was one he had acquired from his sister: a 1978 Volvo 240 sedan.

“It was green and rust.”

Today he drives a 1990 navy blue Volvo 240 sedan he bought off Kerry Morgan 18 years ago.

WHY HE COMES TO SANDY LANE:

“We were on vacation in Saskatchewan one year and the brake warning light lit up on the dash. There was nothing for service for miles around and I ended up calling John. He knew what was going on and assured me it wasn’t urgent and made me an appointment for the following week after I returned home. In the 30 years I have been a customer at Sandy Lane, I have always gotten good advice, no matter what.”

FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT:

“Home.

FAVOURITE BOOK:

“I just finished a 1200-page book about the crusades. I love history—China, Incas, the first explorers of Canada and the Indigenous—doesn’t matter where or who. I also really enjoy Hans Helmut Kirst. He is a German novelist who writes about Germany in the second world war.”