CANADA Canada - Thomas Grant Hadwin, 47, Prince Rupert, BC, 14 February 1997

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Thomas Grant Hadwin, 47, of West Vancouver, BC
NamUs profile #MP67286: Thomas Grant Hadwin

• Caucasian
• Male
• 5'10"
• 168 lbs
• Brown hair
• Brown eyes

Last seen: February 14, 1997 (aged 47)
Near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Status: Missing presumed dead

Hadwin was a forest engineer and expert in wilderness survival

Circumstances of his disappearance (summarized by me):

Thomas Hadwin came from a logging family and he himself became a logger and forest engineer. However, he eventually became disillusioned with the industry and began to exhibit signs of mental illness.

Intending to protest the logging industry, Hadwin travelled to the Haida Gwaii archipelago and felled Kiidk'yaas, ancient tree in the Haida language, also known as the Golden Spruce for its golden needles caused by a rare genetic mutation.



After the deed was done, Hadwin left Haida Gwaii for Prince Rupert, British Columbia and subsequently contacted the media and Haida Nation, claiming responsibility for cutting down the sacred tree. His act received wide coverage across Canada at the time, and the public were outraged, especially members of Haida Nation who considered Kiidk'yaas to be sacred.

He was arrested, and ordered to return to Haida Gwaii but released on bail to return for his court hearing scheduled for February 18, 1997, in Masset, BC.

Hadwin received death threats for his actions against the Golden Spruce, and said that he feared for his life. He was frightened about travelling in public via ferry or plane, so he made the decision to travel by kayak across the treacherous Hecate Strait.

He made an attempt to cross the Strait on the 11th of February, but a storm forced him back. He set off again on the 13th, and was observed a day later 40 km North of Prince Rupert.

He did not show up for his court appearance and he was never seen again.

His kayak and equipment were found wrecked on uninhabited Mary Island 110 km Northwest of Prince Rupert.

Was he claimed by the sea? Did he use his survival expertise to fake his own death and retreat from society into the wilderness? We will likely never know.

The New Yorker: "The Golden Bough | Grant Hadwin got a chainsaw and did something terrible." - John Vaillant - Letter from British Columbia November 4, 2002 Issue

National Film Board of Canada | Hadwin's Judgement directed by Sasha Snow (Rent/Buy) (YouTube)

Land and Lore (YouTube video essay): "The Golden Spruce and the man who killed him" - posted 7 June 2023