Toronto, ON – 3 July, 2019 – Pollution Probe is deeply saddened by the loss of a great friend, Peter Middleton, who passed away on June 30, 2019. Peter was one of the co-founders of Pollution Probe and our first Executive Director. He was a leader in energy and environmental management and a great inspiration to those that he worked with.
Peter passed away at home at the age of 75, seven weeks after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He faced this news with incredible strength and dignity. At Peter’s request, there will be no public service.
“I think of Peter with the greatest admiration and gratitude,” recalls Monte Hummel, WWF Canada, President Emeritus and fellow Pollution Probe founder. “Nobody but Peter could have done the job of leading Pollution Probe in its early days. On the surface one might think Peter was ill equipped. He was a very cultured person with an M.A. in French literature, but Peter inspired a lot of confidence. He was a natural leader who tackled what was necessary, not just what was possible.”
Peter is remembered at Pollution Probe as an inexhaustible big thinker with ambition.
“Right up until his passing Peter could pull together an eclectic, talented and influential group of people and facilitate discussions where he contributed perspective and yet found the compromises necessary to produce solutions. He will be greatly missed,” says Hummel.
“I only got to know Peter in the last few years, but I was inspired by the enthusiasm and conviction he demonstrated”, says Christopher Hilkene, CEO of Pollution Probe. “News of Peter’s passing came as a shock to us. The whole Pollution Probe team is deeply saddened by his loss and we extend our deepest sympathies to Peter’s family and friends. We take consolation in knowing that Peter’s legacy is one of improving Canada’s environment and by extension improving the health of Canadians.”
Read Peter Douglas Middleton’s Obituary here.
About Pollution Probe
Pollution Probe is a national, not-for-profit, organization that exists to improve the health and well-being of Canadians by advancing policy that achieves positive, tangible environmental change. Pollution Probe is recognized as a leader in building successful partnerships with industry and government to develop practical solutions for shared environmental challenges.