Frederic Serre
The Advocate
A Quebec research scientist and a researcher who has collaborated with McGill University are among the four 2024 inductees into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame, which held its ceremony in Toronto earlier this month to honour individuals who have dedicated their lives to advance Canadian agriculture.
“We are so proud to shine a bright spotlight on the achievements these individuals have made throughout their careers – advancing forage crops, canola, cattle genetics and entomology – for the benefit of Canadian agriculture,” said Phil Boyd, chair of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The 2024 inductees honoured Nov. 2 are Dr. Charles Vincent, Dr. Bruce Coulman, Dr. Michael Eskin and Paul Larmer. The 2024 inductees will join the more than 250 individuals who are currently in the hall of fame.
Vincent, who lives in St. Lambert, Que., is an internationally respected leader in agricultural entomology. A research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and accomplished science communicator, Vincent has spent 40 years studying the economic impact of insects on Canadian food production, guided by a vision for developing sustainable agricultural systems that are commercially viable with the lowest environmental impact possible. His work, including the development of the first viral insecticide registered for use in Canada, provides practical tools that have considerably reduced the quantity of insecticides used in commercial production, including apples, grapes and blueberries.
Coulman is an award-winning forage crop researcher who developed 24 novel forage crop varieties throughout his more than four decades of work. As a researcher at McGill, Coulman’s forage breeding work shaped the future for the profitable production of forage seed and forage crops for cattle feed. Coulman worked as a professor and department head at the University of Saskatchewan, and then at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Saskatoon Research Centre. Many of his forage varieties were industry firsts, including bloat-reduced alfalfa, hybrid bromegrass and smooth-awned forage barley.
Eskin is a trailblazing canola researcher whose work made groundbreaking contributions to the early development and refinement of canola oil. A distinguished professor at the University of Manitoba, Eskin’s work helped transform the quality and stability of canola oil, expanding the market for this quintessential Canadian crop on an international scale.
Larmer has dedicated his professional life to improving cattle genetics and establishing Canada as a global leader. From his early days as a dairy cattle sire analyst, to overseeing the formation of the Semex Alliance and 17 years at the helm as CEO, Larmer’s lifetime leadership and vision have made a profound impact on the success of the Canadian farmer-owned companies in the global cattle breeding improvement industry.
Founded in 1960, the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame aims to celebrate individual Canadians
for their contributions to the agriculture and food industry. A framed portrait of each new inductee, along with biographical information, is added to the hall of fame’s gallery at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. The aim is to honour and celebrate the men and women who have influenced all facets of agriculture across the country.
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Dr. Bruce Coulman, who was at one time a researcher at McGill University, is one of the four new members inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame this year.