Alumni Newsletter Celebrating 100 Years with Huge Reunion

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Alumni Newsletter
S P R I N G 2 0 06
How to Register
Registration is as
easy as 1…2…3!
1. Register online at www.
umanitoba.ca/afs/agcentennial (pay by credit card)
OR
www.umanitoba.ca/afs
Celebrating 100 Years
with Huge Reunion
2. Fax your completed registration form to (204) 474-7525
(pay by credit card) OR
3. Mail your completed registration form, along with a
cheque made payable to the
University of Manitoba, or
Visa/MasterCard information
to:
AgCentennial 2006
256 Agriculture Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2
AgCentennial
Program
Friday, July 21
• Class get-togethers - call
(204) 474-9946 to find out
what is planned for your class
Saturday, July 22
• Welcome ceremony at the
Fort Garry Campus with keynote speakers Don and Elaine
Triggs
• Lunch followed by tours on
and off campus in the afternoon
• Manitoba Memories Social at
the Victoria Inn Winnipeg
Sunday, July 23
• Centennial Family BBQ at
Kelburn Farm, featuring live
music and a children’s program
Mark July 21-23, 2006 on your calendar and plan to be in Winnipeg!
That’s when the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences will be celebrating
AgCentennial 2006. We have invited all Aggies and all Home Ec grads who
graduated before 1970 (the year Home Economics became its own faculty),
but everyone is welcome to attend! We have an exciting program planned
so bring your family and reconnect with old friends at the festivities.
To learn more, check the Faculty’s website at www.umanitoba.ca/afs/
agcentennial or contact Crystal Jorgenson at 474-9435.
Greetings!
I invite you to take a few moments
to review this year’s Alumni Newsletter and learn about the ambitious
projects the Faculty is undertaking.
As well, you will read about the
staff and students of the Faculty
who have been recognized for their
academic, research and community
accomplishments. We are proud of
them and want to share their successes with you.
Of course, we are most excited
about the fact that 2006 marks the
100th anniversary of the Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences.
In 1906, the doors opened on the
Manitoba Agricultural College, its
primary purpose to educate young
men in practical farming methods
and young women in the area of
household science.
AgCentennial
Scholarship
Planned
In order to leave a legacy
from this 100th year celebration for our future agrologists
and industry members, we
have decided to create the
AgCentennial 2006 Scholarship Fund. Any surplus funds
from the registration monies
will go to this fund, along with
sponsorship dollars that are
being raised from the agrifood
industry. In addition, Manitoba
Agriculture, Food and Rural
Initiatives has pledged that
they will match all sponsorship dollars, to a maximum of
$150,000. If you or your company is interested in participating, please contact Al Raine,
Fundraising Chair at (204) 9345991 or email [email protected].
Reunions
To mark the great accomplishments
of the Faculty and its many alumni,
we are holding a celebration called
AgCentennial on July 22 and 23 in
Winnipeg which will include speakers, tours, social events and an
opportunity to reconnect with your
former classmates and teachers.
I truly hope you and your family
are planning to attend this festive
occasion (for more information, see
details of the event in this newsletter). To commemorate further this
milestone in the Faculty’s history,
we are also planning a formal banquet on November 6, one hundred
years to the day the former College
officially opened. And finally, the
Diploma Class of 2007 will mark
the 100th graduating class in the
School of Agriculture and so we will
be marking that special occasion in
spring 2007.
In other developments this past
year, we are happy to report the
near-completion of the facilities of
the National Centre for Livestock
and the Environment located at the
Glenlea Research Station south of
Winnipeg. Fundraising is ongoing
for the second phase which includes
the Glenlea Farm Education Centre.
Construction has been completed of
the Richardson Centre for Functional
Foods and Nutraceuticals, located in
Smartpark on the Fort Garry Campus.
Scientists are now busy at work in the
laboratories and we anticipate the official opening of this innovative research
centre later this spring.
On the education front - in September
2005 our enrolment rose by nine percent in the undergraduate degree program and four percent in the graduate
program. Diploma is holding steady at
just over 100 students in the program.
We continue to market enthusiastically
the Faculty to young people around
Manitoba and I thank you for your own
efforts in spreading the good word
about the education and career opportunities we offer.
In an effort to attract into the Faculty
more students taking the University’s
first year program, University 1, the
Faculty has added two introductory
level courses, “World Food Issues and
Policies” and “Food Safety Today and
Tomorrow”. Both were offered for the
first time in this academic year and
have proven very popular. I’m thrilled,
first because it demonstrates that
there is a broad interest amongst students to study issues of food and food
production, and secondly because I
am co-teaching the latter course!
I have now been with the Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences for
nearly two years, and I continue to
be impressed by the immense pride
which is expressed by our alumni, a
pride that is well-deserved and wellplaced. I thank you for your continued
support of your alma mater, and look
forward to meeting you all at AgCentennial 2006 this summer!
Michael Trevan
Dean, Faculty of Agricultural
and Food Sciences
Biofuels
Research Gets a
Boost
Livestock Research Centre Takes
Shape at Glenlea
In March 2005, Husky Energy Inc.
announced a $1-million research
endowment to the University of
Manitoba for studies in alternative
energy. Along with additional funds
from Husky over the next five years,
the endowment lays the foundation
for the creation of three research
chairs in biofuels with a focus on
ethanol.
With the new research funding,
researchers in the Department of
Plant Science will seek to develop
high-yielding Fusarium-resistant
winter wheat cultivars that will meet
the current and future needs of the
ethanol industry. An additional focus
on the bioengineering of biofuels
will bring together researchers from
Biosystems Engineering and other
departments to improve the efficiency of biofuel production.
Construction of the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment is
nearing completion at the Glenlea Research Station just south of Winnipeg.
The $8.8 million Centre is a University of Manitoba initiative that will address
the issues facing intensive livestock agriculture at a whole farm or farm
ecosystem level. The Centre has a strong research mandate with the involvement of 30 scientists from a range of disciplines who will study issues such
as environmental health, food safety, animal well-being, production efficiency
and economy. Core funding is from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
and the Manitoba Research and Innovation Fund with strong support from
Manitoba’s pork industry.
The site will also include the Glenlea Farm Education Centre, an interactive showplace where visitors will learn about every aspect of livestock and
crop production from farming practices to retail sales. With 30,000 visitors
anticipated annually, the Education Centre will be a valuable food production
experience for students of all ages.
Certificates of Merit Awarded
From left to right, President Szathmáry,
Heather Lau, and Husky Energy Inc.
president and CEO John Lau chat with
plant science technician Eppie Austria
Grads Association, presented Certificates of Merit to Bob Durston and
Guy Johnson at the Faculty’s degree
and diploma graduation ceremonies
last spring. Bob and Guy are alumni of
the Faculty who received the certificates in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s
agricultural community.
Bob Durston graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1967
and is a retired provincial ag representative. Guy Johnson graduated with a
Diploma in Agriculture in 1972 and a
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in
1978, and is a recognized livestock
breeder and producer.
From left to right, President Szathmáry,
certificate of merit recipient Guy Johnson
and MAFSGA president Lyle DePauw
Conference
Focuses on
Positive Change
The Agricultural Renewal Alliance
(ARA) hosted its sixth conference
in October 2005 at the Victoria Inn
in Winnipeg, which drew approximately 100 participants. Themed
“AgriCulture - Finding Ways Forward”, the conference featured
keynote speaker Preston Manning,
founder of the Reform Party and
retired Canadian Alliance MP, who
spoke on channeling frustration into
a positive force for change. The
one-day conference also included a
panel presentation on ways forward
for Canadian farmers, an interactive
workshop for conference participants to discuss positive change
for rural communities, and several
guest speakers, including Michael
Trevan, dean of the Faculty, and
the late Ian Morrison, professor
and former dean of the University
of Alberta’s Faculty of Agriculture,
Forestry and Home Economics.
The ARA is a coalition of representatives from agricultural organizations, business and government,
whose mandate is to serve as a
facilitation group for individuals and
groups concerned about the future
of agriculture and rural prairie communities and to provide a forum to
discuss these issues.
From left to right, award recipient Golam Rasul, David Wiebe (brother of the late Willy
Wiebe), President Szathmáry and Dean Trevan gather around plaque commemorating the
new research fellowship
Manitoba Farmer’s Gift Supports
Wheat Research
Thanks to a generous gift from the
estate of the late Willy Wiebe, a
farmer from the R.M. of Rhineland,
an endowment fund has been set
up at the University of Manitoba
to support a graduate fellowship in
wheat breeding and research. The
recipient of the first Willy Wiebe
Graduate Fellowship, announced in
November 2005, is Golam Rasul, a
Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
Born in 1929, Willy Wiebe grew up
on the family grain farm near Rosenfeld, MB. He carried on the operation from his parents, expanding
and diversifying the operation with
livestock, but his main interest was
in grain production. Wiebe passed
away in 2001 and although he never
attended the University of Manitoba,
Preston Manning meets conference
participants following his keynote address
his estate provided a $450,000 gift
to be used for breeding and research
in Canadian Western Red Spring
Wheat.
Through the Willy Wiebe Graduate
Fellowship program, Golam Rasul
will be receiving a $17,000 award
for his Ph.D. studies in the 2005-06
academic year. Originally from Bangladesh, Golam came to the University of Manitoba in 2003 to begin his
doctorate program. He is studying
pre-harvest sprouting resistance in
red spring wheat under the supervision of Dr. Gavin Humphreys of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canda and Dr.
Anita Brûlé-Babel of the Department
of Plant Science at the University of
Manitoba.
Warm Welcomes
The Faculty, in
association with
the Manitoba
Agricultural and
Food Science Dr.
Ryan Cardwell
was appointed
Assistant Professor in the Depart- Dr. Ryan Cardwell
ment of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics as of August 1, 2005.
Ryan received his Ph.D. from the
University of Saskatchewan and his
research encompasses international
trade, economic development, and
applied demand and market analysis.
He is teaching courses in agricultural
policy and applications in agroecology.
Dr. Jason
Morrison joined
the Department
of Biosystems
Engineering as an
Assistant Professor on January 2,
2006. Jason holds
Dr. Jason Morrison
a Bachelor’s
Degree in Mechanical Engineering
from McMaster University and PhD
in Computer Science from Carleton
University. His research interests
are in applications of computational
geometry to biological imaging and
biological/medical computing in general.
Dr. Peter Jones
has been appointed Canada
Research Chair
in Nutrition and
Functional Foods
at the University
of Manitoba. Peter
Dr. Peter Jones
was previously
professor of nutrition and director
of the Mary Emily Clinical Nutrition
Research Center in the School of
Dietetics and Human Nutrition at
McGill University. He joined the faculty at the University of Manitoba as
Director of the Richardson Centre of
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals
on November 1, 2005. Peter is also
cross-posted to the Departments of
Food Science and Human Nutritional
Sciences.
Dr. Brian Oleson,
was appointed
department head
of Agribusiness
and Agricultural
Economics in July
2005. Brian had
previously served
as the Agribusiness Dr. Brian Oleson
Chair in Cooperatives and Group
Marketing. Other department heads
re-appointed for five-year terms last
summer were Dr. Karin Wittenberg,
Animal Science, Dr. Qiang Zhang,
Biosystems Engineering, and Dr.
Neil Holliday, Entomology.
In Memoriam
Dr. Ian Morrison
It was with deep sadness that
we learned about the accidental passing of Dr. Ian Morrison
on January 8, 2006. Ian was
a professor and former dean
with the Faculty of Agriculture,
Forestry, and Home Economics at the University of Alberta.
Prior to that, he spent 20 years
in the Faculty of Agricultural
and Food Sciences here at the
University of Manitoba in the
Department of Plant Science,
serving as department head
from 1989-95. Ian is remembered as an outstanding weed
scientist and respected teacher. The Ian Morrison Undergraduate Leadership Award has
been established at the University of Alberta in his memory.
Special Thanks to Our Alumni and Friends
We would like to acknowledge the people who alone or as part of a corporation have pledged to put their money to
work for the Faculty. They’ve told us to use it for scholarship and bursary funds or to put it in the Faculty Endowment
Fund and use it when we need to. All of their gifts are generous and most appreciated.
This money has made a big difference to the Faculty – it has, for instance, helped students struggling to pay their
education bills, paid for new research equipment, refurbished classrooms, purchased projectors and sent students on
field trips.
Think about joining this very special club. Check Private Funding’s website at www.umanitoba.ca/admin/private_
gifts/, call 204-474-9195 or 1-800-330-8066 or email [email protected].
Garth F. Butcher
Bernd P. Grumpelt
J. C. G. McDonald
Dr. James I. Rude
THANK YOU to:
Helen E. Butcher
Anne Guenther
Mark A. McDonald
Dr. Donald F. Salmon
Agrivest Club
Agrotain International, L.L.C
Aspenheim Colony Farms
Better Air Systems
Bon Homme Colony
Canada Iceland Foundation Inc.
Canadian Association of
Agri-Retailers
Canadian Wheat Board
Credit Union Central of MB
Dairy Farmers of Manitoba
Decker Colony Farms Ltd.
East-Man Feeds
Elite Swine Inc.
Faculty of Agriculture and
Food Sciences Students Org
Farm Credit Canada
Green Acres Colony Farms Ltd.
Hi-Qual Manufacturing Ltd.
Homewood Colony Farms Ltd
Husky Energy Inc.
Hytek
James Farms Limited
Lakefield Farm Inc.
Landmark Feeds Inc.
Manitoba Canola Growers
Association
Manitoba Egg Producers
Manitoba Hog and Poultry Days
Manitoba Horticultural Association
Manitoba Pork Council
New Rosedale Colony Farms Ltd.
Niverville Credit Union Limited
Nutri-Health Group
Nvent Inc.
Oak Bluff Colony Farms Ltd.
Oakdale Farms Ltd.
Sommerfeld Colony Farms Ltd
Souris River Colony
Spring Valley Colony
Steinbach Credit Union Limited
Toronto Community Foundation
Westroc Colony Farm Ltd
Michael J. Agar
Artur S. Alex
Gary P. C. Ammeter
Stewart C. Anderson
Henry A. and Marlene Andrew
Samuel G. and
Catherine M. Andrew
Mark J. and Anita Anseeuw
Dr. James D. and
Sharon M. Astwood
Herbert E. Bagnall and
Mrs. H.E. Bagnall (estate)
Edward M. and Phyllis M. Bailey
J. David Baker
Dr. Vernon S. Baron
Randy N. Baron
Norman Bartel
Grant A. Bartlett
Florent G. Beaudette
Charles R. Bednar
Dr. Claude C. Bernier
Jeffrey D. Blixhavn
Patrick A. Bobinski
Lesley A. Bond
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth G. Booth
Grant E. Boryskavich
Dr. Luc and Anita L. Bourgeois
Gerald R. Bourrier
Bernard and Audrey Brandt
Carsten D. Bredin
Derek Brewin
Dr. William A. N. Brown
J. Cameron and Maxine Brown
William J. Brown
Ronald S. Browning
Howard E. and Barbara Brownlee
Robert P. Brunel
Harold A. Brust
Ronald B. Burnett
Dr. Walter Bushuk C.M.
Darren L. Caddoo
Murray C. Calder
Dr. A. Barrie Campbell, O.C. and
Mavis E. Campbell
Colin J. Campbell
Darcy P. Caners
Lawrence G. Cardy
Daniel L. Caron
Ferg E. Challborn
John M. Chang
Darren M. Chapman
Dr. Stan T. K. Cheung
Edward Chivers
Kevin R. Chorney
Arden B. Christianson
Susan M. Church
George A. Comrie
Louise A. Cooke-Townsend
Kevin S. Coubrough
Muriel Cowan
Trevor L. Cowieson and
Sandra B. A. Williams-Cowieson
Patricia A. Cowper and
Kelly D. Zering
J. L. Currie
Kyle D. Currie
Allen A. Cuthbert
Mary A. De Pauw and
Raymond R. LeBlanc
Murray N. Depape
Dr. Ronald M. DePauw C.M.
Robert J. J. Deroche
Dr. James E. and Dianne Dexter
A. Everett Dixon
Daryl R. Domitruk
Hon. James E. and
Linda R. Downey
Jennifer W. Dronzek
David J. Drozd
Brian G. Drummond
Prof. Mary E. Dryburgh
Milton C. J. Dueck
Jack E. and Betty Ediger
Kenneth R. Einarson
Adeline A. Elias
Brian G. Elliot
James T. Elliott
Caroline and Armin T. Ens
William B. Everitt
Dr. Adam I. Fengler
Craig Finnie
Petra G. Fiore
John L. Fitzmaurice
Dr. Donald N. Flaten and
Tanis Minish
Shawn M. Foster
H. J. Fox
Lyall R. Franck
Donald A. Fraser
Grant Fraser
T. G. Fraser
Brian H. and Heather J.
Fridfinnson
Edward A. and Cherie Friesen
Gerald E. Friesen
Charles J. Froebe
Craig V. Fulton
Douglas M. and Beverly A. Fyfe
Erin M. Galbraith
Archimedes G. Gamvrelis and
Erica Schultz
Dr. Francis G. and
Dr. Margaret L. Giesbrecht
Jean Gilson
Fabian E. J. Gingras
Jacqueline M. Gordon
Yves G. Gordon
Robert P. Graham
Robin A. M. Graham
Chad D. F. and Shelley L. Gray
William A. Gray
Lorraine L. Griffiths
Ralph G. and Rhonda G. Groening
Perry Gustafson and
Chris S. McKinstry
Donald A. and
Rhonda J. Hamblin
Christine M. and
Lorne T. Hamblin
Morley G. and
Carole-Yvonne Handford
Carl J. Havixbeck
Mr. and Mrs. Stew Hedin
Mr. and Ms John Hedin
Glenda Hedin
Ernest Hiebert
Kevin B. Hildebrand
Albertus Hinrichs
Larry R. and Shelagh K. Hirch
Neale R. Hockley
Franklin Hodgert
Prof. Neil J. Holliday
Frederick A. and
Merianne L. Holm
Felix J. and Eveline Holtmann
Meredith S. Huston
Marc G. Hutlet
Pamela M. Isaak
William G. H. Ives
Dr. Alexander F. Janzen and
Frieda Janzen (estate)
Bruce P. and Sylvia Jensen
Dr. Kenneth C. and
Elaine F. Johnson
Donald J. and
Daphne J. Johnson
Guy L. and Susan David
Johnson
Ralph J. A. Johnson
Colin Joyal and Rhian Christie
Marilyn J. M. and
Gerald J. Kapitany
Jodee A. Karlowsky
Mark D. Keating
Harry Kehler
David J. Kelner
Raymond M. Kemp
Ferdinand A. Kiehn
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Kirbyson
Richard H. and Rhonda Klassen
James W. Kohut
Dr. Juanita C. Kopp
Robert D. Kowall
Janice J. Koziuk
Helen Kraft
Anastasia M. Kubinec
Hubert J. Kuypers
Guy J. Lafreniere and Marion E.
Lafreniere (estate)
Gregory R. Larson
James S. Lawrence
David J. Lear
Dr. Thomas C. LeBoldus
Douglas H. and Trudy R. Lee
Larry T. Lenton
Mark E. Lepp and Brenda A.
Tjaden Lepp
John F. and Suzanne D. Lines
Andrew G. Livingston
Keith J. Lloyd
Norm and Neta Loewen
Alex R. F. Mack
Curtis J. C. Mackinnon
William R. Macklem
James D. MacNair
Dr. Douglas J. Madder
Alan A. Malcolmson
Randall W. and Anne E. Manikel
Clayton S. Manness
Craig S. Manness
Stuart R. and Jane Manness
Steven D. T. Manning
George Martens
Theodore R. Mauthe
Holly L. Mayer
Kimberley K. McConnell
Gary R. McEachern
James A. McFadden
J. Gordon James McKenzie
Jason D. McLaren
Robert H. and Marina McLean
Marnie L. and Eric T. McLean
David G. H. Mclellan
Mr. and Mrs. John McLeod
Steven G. and
Coral A. Meggison
Dr. William O. S. Meredith
Dr. David R. Metcalfe (estate)
and Dorothy I. Metcalfe
Brent M. Metcalfe
John C. Miller
Prof. Gordon F. Mills
Garry R. Moore
Gerald W. and Carol Moore
David L. Morantz
Toby E. Morantz
Dr. Ian N. Morrison (estate)
Dr. William E. and Hilda K. Muir
Jared C. Munro
John R. Murray
Jack B. Murta
Dr. Donald L. and
Barbara F. Nelson
H. Rea Nesbitt
Gailyn A. Neurenberg
Dr. Xianzhou Nie
James G. and Viola M. Nielsen
James H. Nixon
Pamela D. Ominski
Glen G. Orsak
Theodore J. Ostermann
Thomas Page
Robert B. Parent and
Lynne E. Bremault Parent
Dr. William B. Parrish C.M. and
Donna M. Parrish
G. Keith Patterson
Ted T. Peluk
P. Otto Penner
Ronald A. Petch
David H. Peters
David R. Petkau
Douglas J. Petkau
James D. and Sharon J. Philp
Richard B. Pierson
Calvin C. Pitura and
Barbara J. Strath-Pitura
James M. Poole
Lawrence J. and
Carolyn J. Porhownik
James G. Potter
Donald R. Poustie
Edward A. and Alice M. Poyser
Richard J. M. Prejet
Sabine Presch
N. Perry Pressman
Dr. Mervyn K. Pritchard
Dr. Geza J. Racz
Murray D. Rankin
A. Brian and Beverley A.
Ransom
Dr. William E. and
Leola I. Rempel
Kenneth J. Rempel
Richard B. Rempel
Darrell I. Reschke
Stephen W. Reykdal
Tami-Lee Reynolds
Mr. and Mrs. J. Alden Robertson
Sheila J. Robertson
Robert G. and Judith G. Roehle
Claude J. A. Roeland
Robert Romain
Alex A. Romanyk
Leonard C. and
Alena L. Rossnagel
Dr. Robert E. Roughley
David R. S. Rourke
Dr. Gabriel L. Roy
Ernest S. Sambrook
Lloyd O. A. Sandmoen
Shane R. Saunders
Rene Schaible
Dennis T. Schindler
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley K. Schnell
Bradley G. Sedor
Robert D. Seward
Dr. Carl F. Shaykewich
Karen J. Shibley
Dr. Steven J. Shirtliffe
Brian P. and Shirley Shirtliffe
Dr. Leonard B. Siemens
R. W. Siemens
Steven G. Siemens
Barrie R. and Ardith Sigurdson
Maurice and Sylvia M. Sigurdson
Ernest J. Sirski
Dr. James N. Smart
Robert F. Smith
Dr. Norman E. and Patricia Stanger
Arthur F. Stewart
Colin J. and Heather J. Stewart
Gary D. Stinson
William W. Stoesz
Welland Stonehouse
Dr. Elwood W. Stringam and
Gabrielle M. Stringam (estate)
Ronald S. and Carolyn L. Strutt
Donald E. Tarrant
Arthur N. Tennenhouse
Dennis L. Thiessen
Edward L. Thompson and
Dr. Elaine A. Thompson
Robert and Barbara Tisdale
Garry A. and Ethyl L. Tolton
Dr. Robert J. Tosterud
Dr. James S. Townsend
James N. Townsend
Margaret R. Trimble
Jonathan P. Trimble
Laxman Tripathy
Vernon B. Turchyn
Allen J. Tyrchniewicz
Henry Van de Velde
Henry D. Verhoeven
Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel
John B. Wakelin
Bonnie E. Warkentine
M. J. Warwick
Ian W. and Barbara D. Watson
David A. Whetter
Jonathan P. Whetter and
Tracey M. Salamondra
Dr. Noel D. G. and Sandi White
Raymond W. White
Delmont R. Whiteside
Willy Wiebe (estate)
Ernie A. Wiens
Lloyd R. Williams
Dr. Arthur G. and Helen J. Wilson
Dr. William R. Wilson
Dr. James W. Wilton
Christine Wolf
Wai C. Wong
R. Garry Workman
Kenneth D. Wright
King-Wan Wu
Norval C. and Ivy Young
Thomas M. Yuill
Dr. Bryan F. and Ann Zilkey
List includes donors of $100+ to Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
affiliated funds. Information provided
by the Department of Private Funding
for the period of January 1, 2005
through to December 31, 2005.
Accolades
Several noteworthy awards were bestowed upon Faculty
members in the past year…
Harold Bjarnason, Agribusiness
and Agricultural Economics and
former Dean of the Faculty, was
awarded an Honourary Life Membership by the Manitoba Institute
of Agrologists. The award is in
recognition of his membership and
contributions to the Institute, to
the practice of agrology and to the
community.
A team of Biosystems Engineering students competing in the
15th Annual Environmental Design
Contest in 2005 at New Mexico
State University won the Bechtel
Award for Best Overall Design,
tying with University of Ohio. This
award is given for innovation, ease
of application and cost effectiveness and consists of $2,500 and
traveling trophy. The team chose
to tackle the task “Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water”, using
phytofiltration in an attempt to be
environmentally sustainable and
chemical free. This year’s competition drew 33 teams from around
the world.
Rob Duncan, a former Masters
student in Plant Science and
presently working for his Doctoral Degree at the University of
California in Davis is the first ever
recipient of the Pioneer Hi-Bred
International Inc. Fellowship in
Plant Pathology Award in the USA.
Rob will receive a cash award of
$20,000 per year for 4 years.
Eve Froehlich, M.Sc. student
in Agribusiness and Agricultural
Economics, received the Douglas
McRorie Memorial Scholarship,
valued at $1,500. She was one
of six graduate students across
Canada who were awarded this
scholarship by the Agricultural
Institute of Canada Foundation.
Stefan Cenkowski, Biosystems
Engineering, was awarded the 2005
John Clark Award by the Canadian
Society for Bioengineering/La Société Canadienne de Génie Agroalimentaire et de Bioingénierie for his
outstanding contributions to Biological Systems Engineering through
his teaching and research in drying
theory and bio-processing activities.
Don Flaten, Soil Science, received
the University of Manitoba Outreach Award for his outstanding
outreach efforts. Don has served
on numerous committees and
associations relating to agriculture
and the environment, including the
Government of Manitoba Phosphorus Expert Committee and the Lake
Winnipeg Stewardship Board, and
has shared his scientific expertise
through many seminars, articles and
interviews.
Bill Guenter, Animal Science, was
chosen as one of the 50 leaders in
the Canadian poultry industry over
the past 50 years in the annual
publication “Who’s Who of the
Poultry Industry”, August 2004. Bill
was also honoured by the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research
Council of Canada (NSERC) and the
University of Manitoba as one of
the NSERC 25-year grant holders at
a reception on the 25th anniversary
of the Council.
Rick Holley, Food Science, was
announced as the winner of the
Canadian Institute of Food Science
and Technology 2005 William J. Eva
Award for outstanding contributions
to food science through research
and science. Rick also received a
Canadian Institute of Food Science
and Technology Outstanding Service
Award from the Manitoba Section of
the Institute.
Digvir Jayas, Biosystems Engineering, was named Fellow by both the
Canadian Society for Bioengineering
and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Martin Nyachoti, Animal Science,
has been awarded the Pfizer Young
Scientist Award by the Canadian
Society of Animal Science for his
research accomplishments, particularly his multidisciplinary collaborations. Nominees must have obtained
their Ph.D. in the last 7 years. This
is the third time an animal scientist
from the U of M has won the award
since 2000.
Jim Philp, Biosystems Engineering,
was presented with the 2005 Teaching Award of Merit from the National
Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.
Kees Plaizier, Animal Science,
received one of six Rh Awards from
the University in 2005, given to researchers in the early stages of their
research careers and who display
exceptional innovation, leadership
and promise in their fields.
Ernie Steeves, Lorrie Koroscil,
Scott Corbett and Gabi SponagelRidder, the farm instructors in the
School of Agriculture, were named
the recipients of the prestigious
Wilson Loree Award for 2005. The
award is given annually by the
Canadian Farm Business Management Council for extraordinary
contribution to developing and
promoting new and positive change
in agricultural business management
practices and expertise in Canada.
Our students:
MAFSGA News
The Manitoba Agricultural and
Food Science Graduates Association (MAFSGA) is a non-profit
organization representing both
alumni and students of the faculty. MAFSGA evolved in 1997
from the Diploma Ag Grads
Association (DAGA) formed in
1959. Currently, MAFSGA has
about 300 members, and more
are always welcome. If you’re
a grad of the U of M’s Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences,
you should think about joining.
Some of the objectives of MAFSGA include providing bursaries
for both Diploma and Degree
students and acknowledging
alumni who have made significant contributions to the industry with a Certificate of Merit.
MAFSGA is able to produce
bursaries through its annual
and lifetime memberships. The
money from annual memberships is used for general operating expenses, while the lifetime
memberships are invested in
GICs. The interest raised from
the GICs is awarded to selected
students in the form of scholarships.
Endowment Fund Provides
Teaching Resources
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Endowment Fund receives
contributions from alumni, students, staff and friends of the Faculty, and
stands at over $1.3 million to date. Each year, the interest generated by
the Fund is used to provide teaching and other resources for the Faculty.
In 2005, the Endowment Fund committee approved 25 projects with a
total value of $93,000 in the form of computer equipment and software,
classroom enhancements, teaching materials, and assistance for field trips
and visiting lecturers. As well, funds were allocated for bursaries to assist
diploma, undergraduate and graduate students.
The Endowment Fund committee welcomes proposals from students,
staff and alumni for projects consistent with the Faculty’s academic goals.
For more information on the Fund, please contact the committee chair,
Dr. Bernie Dronzek at (204) 474-8229, or visit umanitoba.ca/afs/staff/
endowment.html.
The Association’s website
umanitoba.ca/afs/mafsga/
has a unique feature – a guestbook that allows grads to leave
a message about themselves to
update classmates about where
they are and what they’re doing.
To join MAFSGA, visit the
website and click on “Join”
to access an application form,
or, make out a cheque payable
to “MAFSGA” ($20.00 for an
annual membership, $100.00
for a lifetime membership) and
mail it along with your name and
contact information to: Mary
Phillips, 1329 Rosser Ave. East,
Brandon, MB R7A 7J2.
Grain Storage Facility Opens
The Canadian Wheat Board Centre for Grain Storage Research officially
opened last March on the Fort Garry Campus. The $4.8 million project
houses six research labs and a pilot-scale grain cleaning and handling
structure. Above, Michael Trevan welcomes guests to the new facility at
the opening ceremony.
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences 256 Agriculture Building, The University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Email: [email protected]
(204) 474-9295
Website: www.umanitoba.ca/afs/