Phil Cotton, founder of the Wabakimi Project and the Friends of Wabakimi, passed away in Thunder Bay, Ontario this past weekend.

May the Great Spirit grant him many paddles on still waters.

RIP.

I posted this in the general forum but I also wanted to copy it here.

I'll miss him! I just attended his Wabakimi talk at MWM expo. He's truly a legend and will be missed.

His efforts in Wabakimi will live on.

I just saw his talk at Midwest Expo. A great inspiration as someone who saw a problem and decided to tackle it. I know I will definitely be saying a thankful prayer for him as I carry my canoe over the portages during my canoe trip to Wabakimi in a few weeks.

Favorits saying of Phil... " a reminder..thirty percent of the boreal forest is on its side at any given time"
After clearing a portage we were at the same portage six weeks later. It was again a mess.

There will be a Celebration of Life July 7 location and time to be determined though it will be in Thunder Bay.
I think a canoe trip in Wabakimi should follow.. Or at least go to Quetico's Chatterton Falls where his wife's ashes were distributed.
I wonder if he will go there too..

deerfoot: "Phil Cotton, founder of the Wabakimi Project and the Friends of Wabakimi, passed away in Thunder Bay, Ontario this past weekend.
"

So glad I got to know Uncle Phil in the last few years. He was a fount of information about Wabakimi conservation issues. I loved how he would find historical information about long lost canoe routes and send us out find them and reclaim them. Because of Phil's leadership there's five volumes of maps covering the greater Wabakimi area, with a few remaining routes to be improved this year. With Phil's passing we need a few more people to help the Friends of Wabakimi organization with the conservation issues, especially if they live in Ontario (and or Thunder Bay area). Active involvement in the forest plans is needed to ensure the MNR and the forest managers actually recognize the historical canoe routes on the Crown Lands bordering the provincial park. The last year of the Wabakimi Project is going forward, and we'll be there with Phil in our hearts and minds.

Phil Cotton interview June 4, 2017

Terrible news.
I had the pleasure to share a few emails with him. What a life. What a legend.
He'll be missed.