Celebration of life for Bruce Hunter
Posted: October 21, 2011
A celebration of life will be held Oct. 25 for professor emeritus Bruce Hunter, who died suddenly on Wednesday at his farm in Belwood at the age of 61.
A private family service will be held. The celebration of his life will take place Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. at St. Andrews Church, 325 George St. W., Fergus, Ont. A reception will follow. For more information, contact Graham Giddy Funeral Home at 519-843-3100. Friends and colleagues are also invited to share a story or sign the book of condolences online.
Dr. Hunter is survived by his wife Daina, children Lija (Mike) Tovell, Freya (friend Josh), Nikki (Jarrett) Carty, grandchildren Halle and Owen Tovell and Jacob Hunter, as well as a large extended family in Ontario and on the Prairies.
He retired from the Department of Pathobiology in 2010 after a distinguished 30-year career at OVC. A graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, he came to OVC in 1981 and three years later joined what would become the Department of Pathobiology. He was a widely recognized expert on naturally occurring diseases of wild birds and poultry as well as mink. Over the years, he has taught popular courses in ecosystem and poultry health, published numerous articles and book chapters, and edited three books including a recent edition of Diseases of Wild Birds.
He was a longtime champion of integrating animal, human and environmental health at OVC and around the world. He played a key role in setting up a Canadian Community of Practice in EcoHealth (CoPEH) and a graduate-level course in ecosystem approaches to health involving U of G, the University of British Columbia and Université du Québec à Montréal. Recently, he was co-leader of a poultry project in Ghana for Veterinarians Without Borders / Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Canada. This year, he received the Aeroplan Volunteer of the Year Award from VWB/VSF in recognition of his work and commitment.
As a colleague, teacher, researcher and friend, Dr. Hunter’s loss will be felt profoundly by the OVC community.
