Saturday, September 8, 2012

Senator Sparrow dead at 82


Herb Sparrow, a senator for 37 years and a tireless advocate for soil conservation, has died of complications from a stroke. He was 82.

The late prime minister Lester Pearson appointed him to the Senate in 1967 and he served until he was 75 in 2005.

He farmed and ranched in the North Battleford area of Saskatchewan, was the first president of Soil Conservation Canada in 1987 and spoke up for agriculture, farming and soil conservation in the Senate.

He was also involved in many projects to help people facing hunger because of poverty and helping those with disabilities.

He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2000 and chosen a member of the Order of Canada in 2008.