This song is the result of the convergence of various aspects of my life: a forty-plus-year career in forest fire research, dabbling in writing song lyrics, a love of music and collaborating with others.

The lyrics for Tree of Life came about in response to a challenge from a friend to write about a topic I know well: BC’s old growth forests. A local songwriter, Sian Elen, agreed to set the lyrics to music and sing on the recording. Once the song was written, Stewart McLellan recorded Sian Elen singing and me playing percussion in my living room with his portable studio. At home in his studio in Sooke, he added his magical musical touches and created the video. Retired work colleagues and forest ecologists contributed photographs of BC old growth forests for the video. We hope you enjoy this tribute to BC’s old growth forests.