Thursday, June 15, 2017

Three women named to Canadian Hall of Fame

Jean Szoknicki, long-serving head of the Canadian Animal Health Institute based in Guelph, and Patty Jones of Puslinch, world-famous livestock photographer, have been chosen to enter the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame this fall.

Robynne Anderson of Winnipeg, editor of CAAR Communicator, has also been chosen in the first-ever group of all women.

They will be inducted at a ceremony in Calgary on November 30.

Out of more than 210 individuals inducted since the Hall was formed in 1960, only five are women, notes Herb McClane, president of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association.

“I am personally thrilled that more Canadian women are being recognized this year for their extraordinary accomplishments in the Canadian agriculture industry,” he said.

Szoknicki served for 25 years as executive director of the Canadian Animal Health Institute where she was a strong advocate for responsible use of antimicrobials.

Anderson worked for the deputy prime minister on plant breeders rights issues, then for the Canadian Seed Trade Association and then founded a number of magazines - Germination, Spud Smart and CAAR Communicator (for the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers).

Jones established a world-wide reputation for excellence in photographing livestock, especially dairy cattle.