Les Edgeworth
BA '48, BASc '49
Les Edgeworth is an environmental engineer with a vast spectrum of experience in Canadian and global fisheries. Over his esteemed career he has overseen policy and fisheries management on the federal and provincial level, and consulted on fisheries projects in South East Asia and Argentina.
Born on August 22, 1925 in Vancouver, BC, Les worked for over two decades as an Engineer and Chief Engineer for the Federal Department of Fisheries. In the 1970s, he served as the Chief of the Resource Development Branch in Vancouver, and the Assistant Deputy Minister for Environmental Protection Services in Ottawa. The latter position involved the development of National Environmental Protection regulations and codes, as well as the improvement of Federal environmental legislation.
In the late 1970s, Les served as Executive Director of the Salmonid Enhancement Program for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He oversaw the design and consultation of various fish facilities including fishways, spawning channels and hatcheries.
Since 1980 he has worked as a fisheries and engineering consultant. Several key projects include:
- Salto Grande Project on the Uruguay River in Argentina
- Consultant to the Pearse Royal Commission reviewing Canadian fisheries management policies
- Evaluation mission of the Mekong Committee secretariat for the UN Development Program, a committee established to assess the resources of the Mekong basin of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand