DR. TREVOR ATKINS

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DR. TREVOR ATKINS 1957 - 2008 Trevor Atkins was tragically killed in a gliding accident on February 11th at the national gliding championship in Matamata, New Zealand. Trevor was born in Canada in 1957 and grew up in Kapuskasing in northern Ontario where he spent a good deal of his time canoeing and skiing. He was also a member of the Air Cadets which first kindled his interest in flying. He spent a short time working at Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company before moving to Thunder Bay where he completed a Diploma and then a Degree in Forestry at Lakehead University. Trevor continued his studies, completing his doctorate in Botany studying the ecology of wild rice. During his time at the University of Manitoba he was an active member of the Graduate Student Association and also worked for the Computer Center as an advisor. While in Winnipeg he was involved in the Take Five Motorcycle Trials club and rode competitively on a regular basis. In 1986 he married Julie Hall and after completing his Doctorate he moved to New Zealand with Julie in 1987. In New Zealand, Trevor moved away from forestry and wetland ecology to lead the Biological Modelling Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, first in Palmerston North, and then Levin. Key achievements during his time with MAF included the development of models for apples and kiwifruit growth, plus grower access to weather stations around the country. This culminated in the development of the Orchard 2000 software product which was well ahead of its time in providing decision support tools for orchardists. In 1992 Trevor started his own company HortVision which has focused on decision support modelling and software for the horticultural industry, particularly kiwifruit, pip fruit and grape growers. Trevor also continued his involvement in horticultural science with his chairmanship and then membership of the Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard management Working Group of the ISHS (International Society of Horticultural Science). Trevor's love outside his work became gliding from 1994. He was an active member of the Piako Gliding Club and over the years held the positions of Club Captain, Treasurer and President and had been an instructor since 1997. He also served on the Gliding New Zealand Executive and as a member of the Sailplane Racing Committee. He put his computer skills to good use for the gliding community by developing and maintaining several Gliding websites including the Gliding New Zealand site. Trevor was enthusiastic, cheerful and fun to be around he had a great sense of humour and was passionate about whatever he was doing. He was generous with his time and skills, always had a smile on his face and lived life to the full. He will be missed by all who knew him. Trevor's Winnipeg family, friends and colleagues are planning a celebration of his life on Thursday, March 27, 2008. For further details, please contact Liz Punter at 475-3136 or Sharon Gurney at 452-1401.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 22, 2008