Dr. Joseph Lin

Dr. Joseph Sheng-Che Lin (1954 – 2020)
Founder of Green Club

Dr. Joseph Lin (1954 – 2020) was a retired pediatrician and family physician from Taiwan and an environmental activist and educator throughout his adult life in both Taiwan and Canada. He is best known for his work as the founding President of the Green Club Community, a non-profit organization focused on environmental education among Mandarin and Chinese-speaking communities in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Dr. Lin had a wide rage of interested including ecology, environmental conservation, botany, zoology, history, anthropology, architecture, art, music, films and medicine. He is an interpreter, organizer, writer, commentator and publisher on environment, heritage and eco-tourism. He was also a co-host of a weekly Chinese TV programs.

Dr. Lin was born the third of four children in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. He was a seventh generation Taiwanese, coming from a long line of scholars and citizens who contributed to Hsin-Chu’s civic life. Dr. Lin completed his medical school education at National Taiwan University in 1979. After medical school, he completed his compulsory military service as a Navy medical officer on Wuqui, Kimen, and his pediatric residency at McKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei. In 1983, he returned to Hsin-Chu to open his medical practice and to establish the Taiwan Medical Association, Hsinchu Chapter.

Between 1987 and 1993, Dr. Lin became an active environmentalist with the non-profit grassroots organization Hsinchu Environmental Protection Agency. One of the most famous cases that he worked on is what is now known as the Lee Chung-Ron Chemical Plant incident. Exposing the horrendous conditions there, this incident is recognized as the beginning of the environment movement in Taiwan.

In 1993, Dr. Lin and his wife moved their family to Vancouver, B.C. His professional and personal activities demonstrated his commitment to Taiwanese Canadian culture and the environment. He joined the Vancouver Natural History Society (now knows as Nature Vancouver) and attend weekly seminars at night to learn about native wildlife and environment in the greater Vancouver area. He also worked as the executive director of the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society from 1995-1998.

The Green Club became a registered non-profit organization in British Columbia in 1999. As President, Joseph organized weekly seminars on a variety of topics, such as nature, biodiversity, wildlife, plants, health/medical, art, music, architecture, history, current events, photography and home improvement. He led nature walks, community heritage walks and ecotours in Mandarin for the Taiwanese and Chinese communities.

In addition to his work with the Green Club, Joseph was also board member of B.C. Multi-ethnic Marrow Transplant Society, Vancouver Natural History Society, and Pacific Spirit Park Society. He was a member of B.C. Chinese Canadian Committee on National Unity, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Forum and EcoAction Funding Community of Environment Canada. Since 2006, he had actively participated in Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival as the Chari of the Sakura Team, which selected all the favorite locations for the community viewing map and helped publish the booklet “Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver”.

Joseph received local and national recognition for his work connecting local environmental groups with new Canadians. His list of Awards and Achievements include:

  • 2018, Naturalist Mentor of Distinction Award of BC Nature
  • 2017, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Champion in 50 Anniversary
  • 2016, Metro Vancouver Parks Community Appreciation Award
  • 2008, The Land Conservancy BC Conservation Award
  • 2008, Vancouver Parks Board Volunteer Award
  • 2008, Vancouver Natural History Society Conservation Award
  • 2001, Federal Environment Volunteer Award for International Year of Volunteers
  • 2000, Kay Beamish Award for Nature Education of Vancouver Natural History Society
  • 1999, Richmond Mayor’s Environmental Achievement Award
  • 1994, Outstanding Volunteer Award of Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society

Community Services:
Since 2014 , Volunteer Guide of VanDusen Garden in Vancouver
Since 2006, Chief cherry scout of Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Since 2000, Webmaster of Green Culture Website
Since 1999, Publisher of Green Culture Daily E-News
Since 1999, Founding President of Green Club
Since 1994,  Member of Vancouver Natural History Society

2000~2005, Public Advisory Committee of EcoAction of Environment Canada
1999~2010, Member at large of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Forum
1999~ 2003, Board Director of Pacific Spirit Park Society
1999~ 2004, Board Director of Vancouver Natural History Society
1998,  Committee of B.C. Chinese Canadian Committee on National Unity
1996~2016, Board Director and Secretary of New Life Stem Cell Society
1995~1998, Executive Director of Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society
1994~2000, Member of Wild Bird Trust British Columbia
1994~1998, Founder of Green Club under Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society
1994~1996, Member of British Columbia Waterfowl Society
1994~1995, Board and General Secretary of Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society
1993~1998, Family member of Science World
1993~1994, Board Director of Taiwanese Canadian Health Professional Association
1992~1993, Founding President of Taiwan Medical Professionals Alliance of Hsin-Chu
1976~1977, Chairperson of Medical Student Association of National Taiwan University

Environmental Protection and Education Experience:
2002~present, Guide of weekly Heritage Walk in Vancouver and Metro Vancouver
1996~present, Organizer of weekly Environmental and Healthy Living seminars
1994~present, Organizer and guide of the eco-tour on BC Rivers Day
1994~present, Organizer and guide of weekly nature walks
1993~present, Organizer and guide of around 12 eco-tours every year

2006~2009,  Fairchild TV weekly program on regional parks & heritage in Mandarin
2003~2007, FM 96.1 Fairchild Radio weekly program on nature walks and eco-tours
2001, Eco-tourism columnist for weekly Chinese Sing Tao Sunday Magazine
1999,  Eco-tourism columnist for weekly Chinese Ming Pao Daily News
1999~2015, Eco-tourism columnist for World Journal Daily News every other day
1998~2009, Eco-tourism columnist for seasonal Visitors Only Handbook
1998, Guide monthly nature walk for Vancouver Roundhouse Community Centre
1995~2006, Coordinator of exhibition and guide of nature walks on Fraser River Festival
1995, Participant in wild bird survey for Burrard Inlet Environment Action Plan
1994~2009, Translator and guide of the nature walk on annual Coho Walk
1993~2015, Eco-tourism and conservation columnist for local major Chinese media
1989~1991, Chairperson of Environmental Protection Society of Hsin-Chu City(EPSHC)
1987~1989, Life member and Information Section Director of EPSHC

In the Media:

2020-03  追思林聖哲 櫻花樹下傾訴思念與感恩 – 大紀元

2020-03 Green Club of Vancouver founder and environmental educator Joseph Lin dies – Georgia Straight

2020-03 IN MEMORIAM – JOSEPH LIN – Nature Vancouver

2017年,Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Champion in 50 Anniversary

2017, 17年致力環保教育 綠色文化俱樂部再獲褒獎 – 大紀元

2014, ‘Rewilding Vancouver’ aims to make city greener – Vancouver Courier

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