Alberta West News: Kevin Van Tighem Profile

Kevin Van Tighem is a distinguished Alberta naturalist, conservation biologist, and award-winning author who has devoted over four decades to protecting and interpreting western Canada's natural heritage. Born in Calgary in 1952, he grew up along the Bow River in an environment that cultivated his lifelong connection to the natural world.ulethbridge+3

Career and Professional Background

Van Tighem earned a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences with Distinction from the University of Calgary in 1977, which launched a remarkable career spanning three and a half decades with Parks Canada. His professional trajectory included diverse and influential roles across western Canada's national park system:pandemicuniversity+1

Canadian Wildlife Service (1970s-1980s): Van Tighem began as a biologist conducting original wildlife inventories of the mountain national parks, working alongside renowned scientists including Geoff Holroyd, Margaret Skeel, Joe McGillis, and George Scotter. This comprehensive ecological land classification represented the most exhaustive study of ecological conditions ever undertaken in the mountain parks.kevinvantighem+1

Conservation Biology Leadership: He served as a conservation biologist at Waterton Lakes National Park, where he focused on complex cross-boundary conservation issues, including wolf recovery and predator-prey dynamics. He worked extensively with ranchers, government agencies, and private landowners to achieve conservation outcomes in complicated landscapes.parkwardenalumni

Banff National Park Superintendent (1997-2011): Van Tighem served as superintendent of Banff, Canada's oldest and most renowned federal park, where he oversaw significant ecosystem restoration initiatives. During his tenure, he promoted the use of prescribed fire as an ecological restoration tool and implemented wildlife crossing structures on the Trans-Canada Highway. These management strategies resulted in healthier aspen groves, increased songbird populations, and reduced grizzly bear mortalities. He retired from this position in 2011.ulethbridge+1

Academic Recognition

The University of Lethbridge recognized Van Tighem's exceptional contributions by presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at its Spring 2022 Convocation. The university noted his role in deepening Albertans' understanding of and respect for their natural spaces while promoting ecological literacy as an essential foundation for a sustainable economy.ulethbridge

Writing and Publishing

Van Tighem has established himself as a prolific and accomplished writer, having authored more than 14 books and over 200 articles, stories, and essays on conservation and wildlife. His publications have earned numerous prestigious awards, including Western Magazine Awards, Outdoor Writers of Canada book and magazine awards, and the Journey Award for Fiction.wordfest+2

Notable Recent Publications:

Understory: An Ecologist's Memoir of Loss and Hope (2025) – His most recent memoir, released in September 2025, reflects on his career protecting the natural world and grapples with environmental grief and the search for meaning and hope amid ecological decline.rmbooks+1
Wild Roses Are Worth It: Reimagining the Alberta Advantage (2021)rmbooks
Our Place: Changing the Nature of Alberta (2017)rmbooks
Heart Waters: Sources of the Bow River (2015)rmbooks
The Homeward Wolf (2013)rmbooks
Bears Without Fear (2013)rmbooks

Van Tighem also writes a regular column titled "This Land" for Alberta Views magazine, where he contributes commentary on conservation, policy, and environmental issues affecting Alberta.pandemicuniversity

Conservation Advocacy and Activism

Since retiring from Parks Canada, Van Tighem has become increasingly active in environmental advocacy and activism. Freed from bureaucratic constraints, he has focused on writing, activism, and political engagement to protect the landscapes and species he loves. His work emphasizes what he describes as "re-storying" our culture, helping readers develop healthier relationships with nature and their places. He advocates for shifting from what he calls "a very dysfunctional relationship with place" characterized by the "othering of our relatives" and reducing them to mere resources and consumers.wordfest+1

Personal Life

Van Tighem lives with his wife, Gail, in High River, Alberta, where he maintains his connection to the landscapes that have defined his career and writing.rmbooks

Legacy and Impact

Through his combination of scientific expertise, eloquent writing, and passionate advocacy, Van Tighem has made profound contributions to environmental stewardship in Alberta. His work bridges the gap between technical ecological knowledge and public understanding, demonstrating that ecological literacy and love for nature are not merely philosophical pursuits but practical necessities for building a sustainable future. His recent memoir, Understory, continues this mission by inviting Canadians to confront their relationships with nature and find purpose and hope amid environmental challenges.wordfest+1

Kevin Van Tighem Videos

Kevin Van Tighem has created and appeared in numerous videos covering his conservation work, scientific expertise, and advocacy for Alberta's natural landscapes. Here is a comprehensive overview of his video content:

Major Video Presentations

"What's Upstream?" (April 2022) – A 1-hour 13-minute educational presentation delivered to the Northumberland Learning Connection in Ontario, this is one of Van Tighem's most comprehensive public lectures. He discusses the critical importance of Alberta's Eastern Slopes for water management, explaining how snowmelt, groundwater recharge, and landscape management affect water supply for the prairie provinces. The presentation covers topics including the historical importance of protecting headwaters, impacts of logging and off-road vehicle use on water systems, and the role of beavers in natural water management.youtube

"Protect Our Parks: Kevin Van Tighem" (June 2022) – Appearing on the "Real Talk Ryan Jespersen" podcast, Van Tighem discusses park health, coal exploration on Alberta's Eastern Slopes, user fees for parks, and conservation challenges in Canada's national park system. This interview provides candid commentary on park management policies and the balance between public access and conservation.youtube

"Book Talk with Ken Davis" (2021) – Van Tighem sits down with Ken Davis for an interview about his book Wild Roses Are Worth It, discussing Alberta's future, the eastern slopes protection movement, and his vision for a more sustaining relationship with the province's landscape.readalberta

Documentary and Water Content

Eastern Slopes Water Documentary – Van Tighem produced a documentary with filmmaker Yvan Lebel about declining water levels in Alberta's Eastern Slopes region, intended to raise awareness about water security impacts and stimulate discussion about solutions.livingstonelandowners

Public Speaking and Event Videos

Wordfest Festival Appearances (2025) – Van Tighem has been featured at literary festivals discussing his conservation work and latest memoir Understory, which was released in fall 2025.wordfest+1

"Protect Our Water" Town Hall (2025) – Van Tighem participated in an Edmonton Council of Canadians town hall addressing coal mining threats and water protection, speaking alongside other conservation advocates including Latasha Calf Robe and Ian Urquhart.protectalbertawater

Radio and Audio Content

CBC Radio Interview (October 2025) – Van Tighem appeared on CBC to discuss his memoir Understory, reflecting on his life work and the emotional toll of witnessing environmental decline while maintaining hope for future conservation efforts.cbc

Recent Political Appearance

NDP Campaign Video (May 2023) – Van Tighem attracted attention when a video surfaced of him as an NDP candidate for Livingstone-Macleod, discussing Alberta's oil and gas sector during the 2023 provincial election campaign.globalnews

Other Media Appearances

Park Warden Alumni Oral History Interview (December 2024) – Van Tighem participated in an in-person oral history interview conducted by the Park Warden Service Alumni Society, recounting his early career experiences and path to Parks Canada.parkwardenalumni

Van Tighem's video content consistently reflects his dual mission of educating the public about conservation science while advocating for protecting Alberta's critical ecosystems, particularly its headwaters and Eastern Slopes.

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Kevin Van Tighem Profile