Dan Burns
Board Member
When Dan was nine, his family moved to northern New Brunswick, where he was introduced to fishing for trout and salmon, frequently exploring both lakes and streams. He still recalls the rush from his first trip to a remote stretch of Grog Brook, where trout seemed as endless as they were energetic—an experience that shaped his lifelong connection to salmonids.
Dan’s approach to conservation and cooperatives is pragmatic, grounded in the belief that good ideas stand on their own and are not the property of any particular philosophy.
He is drawn to solutions-based organizations that prioritize real outcomes over movements. This is why he listened when Pete Soverel called to discuss The Conservation Angler, which struck him as a pragmatic private solution to a public problem, and why he believes strongly in the “enterprising nonprofit” model and TCA’s work.
Dan’s career has blended legal practice, board service, and software development. His nonprofit background includes serving as President of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia (1998–2001), President and Founder of the Habitat Restoration Corporation (1994–2001), and Director with both the Nature Conservancy of Canada (2006–2011) and the Canadian Constitution Foundation (2005–2007), an NGO dedicated to defending and protecting the values and legal principles of the Canadian Constitution. Professionally, he is a lawyer, CPA, and entrepreneur.
Dan is also a single father of two teenage children, whom he is immensely proud of. They are intrepid travelers—joining him across more than 30 countries from China to Rwanda—excellent athletes, and the inspiration behind his desire to contribute to the well-being of the natural world.
Dan’s approach to conservation and cooperatives is pragmatic, grounded in the belief that good ideas stand on their own and are not the property of any particular philosophy.
He is drawn to solutions-based organizations that prioritize real outcomes over movements. This is why he listened when Pete Soverel called to discuss The Conservation Angler, which struck him as a pragmatic private solution to a public problem, and why he believes strongly in the “enterprising nonprofit” model and TCA’s work.
Dan’s career has blended legal practice, board service, and software development. His nonprofit background includes serving as President of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia (1998–2001), President and Founder of the Habitat Restoration Corporation (1994–2001), and Director with both the Nature Conservancy of Canada (2006–2011) and the Canadian Constitution Foundation (2005–2007), an NGO dedicated to defending and protecting the values and legal principles of the Canadian Constitution. Professionally, he is a lawyer, CPA, and entrepreneur.
Dan is also a single father of two teenage children, whom he is immensely proud of. They are intrepid travelers—joining him across more than 30 countries from China to Rwanda—excellent athletes, and the inspiration behind his desire to contribute to the well-being of the natural world.