Photo Credit: UNBC

By Sam Bennison

Conservation

UNBC to award Jim Good an honorary degree

Apr 17, 2024 | 1:17 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— lifelong conservationist, nature enthusiast, and community builder, Jim Good is set to receive an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from UNBC during their 2024 Convocation ceremony.

Good is the founder of Goodsir Nature Park a 160-acre botanical park with two museums a campsite, walking trials and over 3000 plant species. First opening in 1989 the park was the realization of Good’s dream of sharing his passion for botany and nature with others.

Good says that he fell in love with plants at an early age during camping trips with his parents.

“Growing up in Vancouver, I began collecting plant samples as a young boy of six or seven and by the time I was 13, I knew that I wanted to buy land someday,” says Good. “In 1973, I moved to Prince George to be closer to nature and I set my sights on opening a park and sharing my interests with others.”

Working on a janitor’s salary, Good began the homesteading the land, working to single handedly craft the park and raising his family in the meantime. During two cross-country road trips Good collected numerous trees, plants, flowers and other botanical species to add to the park

Motorcycle safety

ICBC preaches motorcycle safety

1h ago

To Your Health

How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke

7h ago

Business

Community Futures new campaign highlight entrepreneurial spirit in northern B.C.

7h ago

Over the past 35 years, Good has given his time and shared his knowledge freely with visitors, while operating the park independently with no admission cost. Hundreds of interpretive signs dot the landscape showcasing the wealth of knowledge Good has accumulated over decades of pursuing his passion.

The Goodsir Botanical Museum displays a curated collection of pressed plant, rock and types of soil. The second on-site museum, the JL Good Vinyl Museum, is home to more than 42,000 vinyl records purchased from every town and city that Good visited during his travels across the country. Good uses the vinyls to take park guests back in time through broadcasts from his park speakers in studio of CGNP.

“Being a caretaker of this land has been my life’s work and sharing it with others has brought me immense joy,” says Good. “To now be receiving this honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UNBC in acknowledgement of my efforts is above and beyond the goals I set for myself as a young man.”

Good notes that one comment in his guest register will always stand out to him as he reflects on his life’s work. Penned by a university student, it reads: “Words fail me. A must for all of Canada to see.”

Good will receive the honorary degree on May 31, during the afternoon ceremony celebrating the Class of 2024.

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your inbox every evening.

***

Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com