On June 27, BCIT will confer its highest honour, the Honorary Doctorate of Technology, upon Mark Angelo, a globally recognized river conservationist, award-winning educator, and author. For Mark, the recognition is not just a professional milestone, but a personal one. His connection to BCIT spans decades, beginning as faculty in the Institute’s early days, to meeting his wife Kathie on campus, to later proudly watching his daughter graduate.
“It feels especially meaningful because BCIT has been such a big part of my life,” reflects Mark. “It’s where I developed great friendships, and it’s where I learned the value of applied, hands-on education.”
A recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, the founder of BC and World Rivers Day, and a former Program Head with the BCIT Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation program, Mark brought his passion for environmental stewardship into the classroom and the field. One of his most defining projects began at BCIT when he took on the restoration of Guichon Creek, a once lifeless culvert on the BCIT Burnaby Campus, and transformed it into a “living lab” for the community. Thanks to his efforts over the last fifty years, the creek has seen the remarkable return of wildlife including trout, salmon, eagles, heron, and even otters.
“It honed my belief that we should never give up on any river,” he says. “Nature can heal itself if only we give it a chance.”
This unwavering optimism is reflected in Mark’s latest book, River Magic: Tales from a Life on 1000 Rivers. A collection of short stories inspired by his global adventures, the book is a testament to the beauty, resilience, and cultural importance of rivers around the world.
“It’s written for a broad audience in mind, from young people to seasoned travellers,” he explains. “Whether you’re reading it on a camping trip, or in your backyard, my hope is that it will spark a love for rivers and a desire to protect them.”
The title, River Magic, captures what Mark describes as the awe and wonder that rivers evoke—much like the feeling he had watching magicians as a child. The book explores encounters with amazing animals, thrilling close calls, and transformative trips across continents including unforgettable moments on the Amazon, Fraser, Zambezi, Ganges, and Mekong rivers, among many others.
Looking ahead, Mark is also preparing for the September release of The Rewilders, a 40-minute film documentary in which Mark, in his role as Executive Producer, worked alongside a Vancouver-based production team. The film explores ecological restoration efforts around the world, from the heart of the Fraser River, to the grasslands of Montana, and from South Africa’s Eastern Cape to the southern tip of Patagonia.
“It’s an incredibly hopeful film,” he says. “It shows what’s possible when people come together with a vision to restore what’s been lost, whether it’s a small urban creek or a vast wildlife corridor.”
Whether through education, literature, or film, Mark Angelo continues to lead by example. His work, grounded in the belief that rivers are lifelines, urges us all to become stewards of the environment. The BCIT Honorary Doctorate of Technology is not only a recognition of a remarkable career and lasting legacy, but serves as a reminder of the enduring power of advocacy, restoration, and hope.