Lawrence Edward Lamb

Larry’s love of nature began very early in his life as he began collecting butterflies, moths and all manner of insects.  He grew to love plants, birds and all aspects of nature and never lost his wonder of the natural world.  

Larry worked in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo for 40 years as the Manager of the Ecology Lab and an Adjunct Lecturer.  At the university, many students considered Larry their mentor and over the years have expressed to him how he set them on their career path.  Larry was responsible for the designation of many of the Region of Waterloo’s Environmentally Sensitive areas (ESAs) to protect threatened native plants and ecosystems.  He also assisted many municipalities throughout SW Ontario with their ESAs.  

A life-long volunteer, Larry served on many Boards of Directors including the Canadian Wildflower Society, the Society for Ecological Restoration, the KW Field Naturalist Club (Waterloo Region Nature), KW Gem and Mineral Club, rare Charitable Research Reserve and the Woodstock Field Naturalists’ Club.  He led nature hikes, gave nature talks illustrated with his beautiful photos, talks on naturalist landscaping teaching people how develop low maintenance and butterfly gardens, and travelogues of his many trips around the world.  

As a landscape architect, Larry designed many wonderful award-winning gardens including the East Meets West Garden at Renison College, University of Waterloo, the Bob Dorney Memorial Garden at the University of Waterloo, Ontario Die, and the Elmira Public Library Garden.  Larry was honoured to receive a Fellowship from Renison College for his East Meets West Garden, the Lt. Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement and the John Goldie Award in Recognition to his Dedicated Service to Field Botany.  Lady Bird Johnson invited Larry to a Texas White House conference in recognition of his commitment to using native plants from your own location in your own garden.  He was also delighted to have been on David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things, discussing his tallgrass prairie native ecosystem/garden.  

Larry is survived by his spouse Amy Burke, his sister Jane (Mark) Gingerich, his brother Wayne (Joanne) Lamb, nieces Ashley and Rachael, nephew Michael, several great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece.  He was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Mary (Pemkowski) Lamb, brother Ron Lamb, and niece Sonya Lamb.   Larry will be loved and missed by family and many dear friends, and will always be remembered for his intelligence, sense of humour and bizarre food rules.  

At Larry's request there will be no funeral service, instead enjoy a walk along the Larry Lamb Riverside Trail at rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge and please consider a donation to rare  https://www.raresites.org/donate in Larry’s memory.

Wareing Cremation Services, 225 Norwich Ave., Woodstock, Ontario was entrusted with Final Arrangements. Your messages of remembrance and condolence may be shared here at wareingcremation.ca