Trees Company Blog
Donor Profile: Brian Dearden
Posted: 2025.03.19
Cover Photo (left to right): Forests Canada Giving Partnerships Manager Kirsten Kekewich, Brian Dearden, and Forests Canada Director of Business Development Kim Sellers at the Forests Canada Evening Social, February 19, 2025.
By Hilary Wright, Funder Stewardship Coordinator, Forests Canada
March 21 is International Day of Forests!
The critical importance of forests for food security, nutrition and livelihoods is the theme for this year's International Day of Forests. To celebrate, Forests Canada supporter Brian Dearden spoke to our own Hilary Wright about why he chose to donate to Forests Canada.
The natural environment is changing. With so much in the news about biodiversity loss and extreme weather events, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and think that one person can’t make a difference – something that Brian Dearden calls “doomerism”. Fortunately for Brian, a friend pushed him to turn his eco-anxiety into action by encouraging him to find an organization he could support that was creating the change he wanted to see. After a quick search, he found Forests Canada (then called Forests Ontario).
“I actually kept the website open on my phone for years,” Brian admits. But when the feelings of “doomerism” hit again, he decided to make a change.
Brian has been a continued supporter of Forests Canada ever since, having been inspired by our work to grow Canada’s forests as well as our education programs and their impact on the next generation of green leaders.
“You could say planting trees is good, but why? How does it make a difference? Forests Canada’s programs and resources show how forest restoration is a part of the larger fight globally against climate change… its good work and its interesting!”
Brian credits his parents for his enthusiasm for the outdoors and his passion to protect the environment. His mom is a prolific gardener who taught Brian about plants and trees, and how to care for and keep a garden healthy, which instilled a love of things that grow and a need to protect them. Brian especially loved the apple tree he had outside his bedroom window and the wildlife that loved it too. Watching the birds and animals build their homes and gather food was a favourite pastime of his and helped to deepen his appreciation for nature.
Brian’s family also took him on regular camping trips, and he continues to head into Ontario’s back country when he needs to get in touch with the natural world. “Put me anywhere there’s trees, water and sky and I’m happy, it’s that simple.”
Seeing the impact of his support of Forests Canada, Brian’s thoughts on “doomerism” have changed: “There are a million different problems in the world – I cannot solve all of them or even one, but if we all do just a little bit, it makes a big difference, not just in our communities but for the planet.”
Forests Canada would like to thank Brian and all our donors for their valued gifts.