Passionate for the Wild
William Van Hemessen identified almost 18,000 Bioblitz Canada 150 images on inaturalist this year, making him the nation’s top identifier
What inspires someone to get outside and explore nature, make it a career and a favourite hobby? William Van Hemessen is the top species identifier on inaturalist and shares his talents with and for the world.
HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN BOTANY?
I think my interest in botany ultimately started with my dad. Like me, he’s a biologist and he used to take my siblings and I for hikes around southwestern Ontario. I remember pointing to plants on the side of the trail and asking him what they were. I don’t think I retained very much but it was enough that by the time I got to university I knew an oak from a maple from a basswood, and so on. When I got to university I didn’t have much of an interest in botany — I thought I wanted to be an architect. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the architecture program at the University of Waterloo was super competitive and I didn’t get in. Instead I decided to major in urban planning. One of my mandatory courses in first year was Dr. Roger Suffling’s introductory field ecology course and it was there that I rekindled my love for nature.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE PLANT?
I’m not sure if I can realistically choose a favourite plant. Soft-hairy False Gromwell (Lithospermum parviflorum) is a rare species of sandy flood plains that blooms on my birthday every year, without fail. So I guess I kind of like it for that