Bennett Metcalfe (October 31, 1919 – October 14, 2003) was a Canadian journalist and first chairman of

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by a group of Environmental movement, environmental activists. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its biod ...

, which was founded in 1971. Ben Metcalfe was born in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

. Later he moved to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and at the age of 16 joined the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

. He was posted in India and North Africa. After World War II he worked as a journalist in France. He moved back to Canada in 1951, living in Winnipeg, West

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, and Shawnigan Lake. He worked as a journalist, editor, and freelance correspondent for Winnipeg Free Press, the Province in Vancouver and other publications. He also started a public relations company with his second wife Dorothy Metcalfe. In 1971 he joined the crew member of the Greenpeace boat sailing to protest against U.S. army nuclear bomb test near Amchitka island. When the Greenpeace Foundation was established, Metcalfe became its first chairman. He recognized the importance of a media campaign as a tool to gain support for environmental issues. He left his post when Greenpeace changed focus from nuclear weapons to fighting against whaling and seal hunting. He is the author of a biography of Roderick Langmere Haig-Brown: Metcalfe, E. Bennett (1985). ''A man of some importance : the life of Roderick Langmere Haig-Brown'' Published by James W. Wood, Vancouver. , . Metcalfe died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

at age 83. He had three daughters Michelle, Charlotte, and Sophie; and sons Christopher (1958-1980), and Michael (1956-2002)

References

External links

Article in Globe and Mail

Obituary

Metcalfe reporting aboard Greenpeace vessel (CBC archive)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metcalfe, Ben Canadian environmentalists Journalists from Winnipeg 1919 births 2003 deaths People associated with Greenpeace Canadian expatriates in the United Kingdom Canadian expatriates in France Royal Air Force personnel of World War II