What's in a Name?

A number of my friends, family and colleagues have asked me where the name Roberschan comes from. Well, quite simply, it's a mash-up of my name . . . Robert Scott Hanna . . . However, there is a little more to the story.

Back in the late 1970s, when I was a biologist working on nuisance aquatic vegetation research and control in the Okanagan lakes sytem of south central British Columbia, which is BC's major wine producing region, I seriously considered buying an old orchard and converting it into a vineyard. I had previously helped a friend set up a vineyard, so it seemed natural that with a degree in biology and a love of wine, that I should do the same. I went so far as to come up with a name for my vineyard . . . a name that sounded chic and sophisticated . . . a name that rolled off the tongue . . . a name that was unique . . . a name that sounded like it belonged to a vineyard . . . Roberschan!

Although I eventually went on to pursue a hobby as an amature wine maker, I never did buy that orchard. Instead, I left the Okanagan Valley to work on a contract in Ghana, West Africa, which was the start of a long career providing environmental support to international development projects. When it came time to set up my own consultancy, my wife asked what I was going to call my business. The choice of a business name was obvious. It had been sitting there for over 35 years waiting to be put to good use. Hence, the birth of Roberschan Environmental.