Soil conservation pioneer nominated to hall of fame
The Soil Conservation Council of Canada has honoured retired senator Herb Sparrow for his lifetime of leadership in soil and water conservation.
The sustainability pioneer from Saskatchewan was inducted into the Canadian Conservation Hall of Fame in Ottawa March 21.
Sparrow, who has been a businessperson, farmer and rancher, lives in North Battleford, Sask.
Born in Saskatoon in 1930, he acquired a farm and a fast food business in North Battleford. He was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1968 at age 38 and served for 37 years. At his retirement, he was the longest serving member of the Canadian Senate.
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As senator, Sparrow served on a number of Senate standing committees and chaired the standing committee on agriculture and later the standing committee on agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
He chaired the committee that produced a report on the state of Canada’s soils entitled Soil at Risk, Canada’s Eroding Future.
The report led to the formation of SCCC, the Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre and the Canadian Conservation Hall of Fame.
He has received many awards, including the United Nations Environment Program Leadership Medal and Certificate of Distinction for Soil Conservation.
He is an honorary life member of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and an honorary member of the Soil Science Society of Canada.
He has been inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 and received the L.B. Thompson Conservation Award from Agriculture Canada in 2011.
Saskatchewan pulse industry recognized
The Saskatchewan pulse industry has received the Canada Business Award in the category of Best Canadian Exporter to Bangladesh from Canada.
Co-sponsored by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, the prize was presented by the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It is an international joint chamber between Canada and Bangladesh, which provides assistance to Canadian and Bangladesh companies and promotes trade, commerce and investment between the countries.
The Canada Business Awards honours organizations based in Bangladesh and Canada for their contribution to economic growth.
Carl Potts, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, said many groups in the supply chain need to be recognized: the 18,000 Saskatchewan producers, Canadian pulse exporters and processors, pulse researchers, the provincial and federal governments and trade organizations such as STEP.
