George Doerksen
The first photograph is a graduation (University) photograph of George Doerksen, and the second photograph is a class photograph where George is the teacher in Quesnel, B.C. Both images are c. 1960s. One of the most popular exhibits we have here at the museum is our bugs exhibit. Before you ask, yes, the bugs are real. The bugs were collected by Doerksen in North and South America during his research. Doerksen mounted them as you can see on display today. Today, the bugs bring joy and sometimes fear from guests who view them, but who is the man behind the bugs? George P. Doerksen was born July 5th, 1940 in Pitt Meadows. He completed his secondary education at Maple Ridge High School (Haney) graduating in 1958. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and bacteriology from UBC in 1963. After he graduated he taught for a year at an elementary school in Quesnel, and then for two years he taught high school biology and chemistry in New Westminster. From 1967-1969 he attended Western Washington State College in Bellingham, WA and graduated with a Master of Science Degree in biology. In the fall of 1970 he began doctoral studies in entomology at North Carolina State University. During the first summer session of 1973 he was appointed instructor of insect biology. He obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on May 11, 1974 at the North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Doerksen travelled throughout North and South America in order to collect, photograph and document insects. His particular interest was the dragonfly, but the bulk of the bugs we have on display are butterflies mostly from Venezuela. Unfortunately, in 1981, George Doerksen died suddenly while he was pursuing his research on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. In 1982, Justina Doerksen donated her son’s collection to the museum. The family also donated a lot of his photographs and fieldnotes to the British Columbia Museum.
Details:
Latitude: 49.2262675267423
Longitude: -122.69146751750
Direct Link: https://www.pittmeadowsmuseum.com/locations/george-doerksen
