Dr. Donald V. Fisher 1914 – 2007

Don Fisher was one of Canada’s leading horticultural scientists. He worked for 42 years at the Summerland Research Station, and achieved international recognition for the changes that he influenced in the Okanagan fruit industry.

He was born and raised in Kelowna, B.C., and was a Cub and a Scout in his youth. In 1941 he became an Assistant Scoutmaster and in the following year became Scoutmaster of the 1st Summerland Troop. He continued in this until he took over an administative role on the 1st Summerland Group Committee in 1956, which quickly led to his position as Group Committee Chair.

In 1977 Don shifted his focus to a higher level when he became President of the South Okanagan District Council where he contributed for three years. He then moved up to President of the Interior Region (1980 to 1982). In 1982 he was awarded the Silver Acorn for distinguished service to Scouting over 40 years.

The next few years he indulged his love for history, one of his projects being a thorough research of the history of the Scouting movement in Summerland, B.C. It is thanks to Don  that the proud heritage has been recorded from 1909 to 1985. His findings were published in the Okanagan Historical Society, and his archives were donated to the Summerland Museum.

Typical of so many of our exceptional adult volunteers, Don was not content to limit his community involvement to Scouting. At one time or another, he was also involved with the Okanagan Historical Society, he chaired a committee in 1949 which led to the development of the Summerland Youth Centre, and he was a member of the Summerland School Board. In 1964 he was named Summerland’s Good Citizen.