Leonard Wayne Dwernychuk

He is survived by his wife Leslie Joy, son Jade, daughter Marni, grandson Jovian, great granddaughter Elora Grace, step great grandson William, step sons Eric, Roland, and Malcolm Sault (Mun Yee), and step grandson Sam. Wayne was a dedicated environmental consultant his entire working career following a B.Sc. (Honours, 1967), M.Sc. in Zoology (1968) from the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Regina (1975).

He travelled the world extensively undertaking environmentally-oriented studies. His company supported offices in Indonesia, Thailand, Botswana, Chile and a number of offices in western Canada. He openly expressed that his most rewarding, fascinating, and gripping research was in Vietnam studying the human and ecological impacts of Agent Orange herbicide sprayed primarily from C-123 aircraft during the American War. Wayne unequivocally considered these studies the very pinnacle of his career. Hatfield Consultants was his company, initially with his dear friend and business partner Chris Hatfield who pre-deceased him in 2022.

His company’s Vietnam research, initially considered quite provocative in the international community, was one of the main catalysts that eventually encouraged the U.S. and Vietnam governments to meet at the bargaining table to initiate formal diplomatic relations and attack the problem of the highly toxic chemical dioxin in the Vietnamese environment and human populations. Exposure to dioxin often resulting in devastating, life-altering consequences for Vietnamese soldiers/citizens and American Veterans. Dioxin was present in the Agent Orange herbicide mixture. Wayne loved his work and felt extremely fortunate to have met so many remarkable and stimulating individuals during his 31-year career, many of these in Ha Noi.

There were so many wonderful people he met during his life’s journey who were outside his working environment. He felt privileged to have known so many extraordinary personalities. Many of these profoundly and deeply impacted his life. Wayne did not wish a memorial service. However, he did request that if you are capable, please donate to advancing the science of prostate cancer. No flowers, please.

To his former exceptionally talented company staff, dating back to the late 1980’s, he wanted to say: “STICK AROUND”!