Previous Gold Medal Recipients
JOHN HUBERT CRAIGIE - 1937 - Pure or Applied Science. For rust research work considered "one of the most outstanding works by a servant of the public in current times".
HAROLD LOOMIS SEAMANS - 1938 - Pure or Applied Science. For particular services rendered in discovering a means of controlling the pale western cutworm, one of the most important contributions to entomology in years.
HERBERT MARSHALL - 1939 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his studies on the balance of international payments which contributed to establishing soundness of the Canadian economy and maintaining the exchange value of the Canadian dollar under war conditions.
FREDERICK S. BURKE - 1941 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his study of mortality among war pensioners which had far-reaching effect upon the medical side of Canadian policy in the conduct of WW II.
JOHN PATTERSON - 1942 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For administration work of the highest order in expanding weather forecasting, which was of the utmost importance in planning air and naval operations during WW II.
MONSON FRASER GOUDGE - 1942 - Pure or Applied Science. For discovering brucite deposits and for developing a process of extracting granular magnesium, both considered of great scientific importance in Canada's war effort.
LLOYD MONTGOMERY PIDGEON - 1943 -Pure or Applied Science. For a discovery of a process for extracting magnesium from Dolomite deposits, constituting one of the outstanding contributions to Canada's war effort.
A. HARDISTY SELLARS - 1943 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For extensive and beneficial research in health administration for the Ontario Government.
WALTER A. BELL - 1944 - Pure or Applied Science. For outstanding achievements in Canadian geology, making possible a reevaluation of the economic possibilities of one of the largest natural resources of Nova Scotia.
WILLIAM MASSON - 1944 - Pure or Applied Science. For his work which made possible the completion of telephone and telegraph communications from Alaska to the International Boundary - part of the North American defence scheme.
ERNEST C. DESORMEAUX - 1945 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his careful study of the causes of unemployment and preventive measures to be taken, including a special study of the Canadian Unemployment Insurance Act.
CECIL HERMAN NEY - 1945 - Pure or Applied Science. For scientific investigation into the problem of transpolar air navigation in connection with Canadian and Allied war requirements.
PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL WORKERS, RADIO BRANCH, NRC - 1946 - Pure or Applied Science. For the design and development of radar equipment for the Canadian Armed Services and for associated electronic development.
WALTER A. RUSH - 1946 - Pure or Applied Science. For organizing and planning the means of carrying into practical effect the work of the scientists of the Radio Branch, NRC, in radio and related fields.
OTTO MAASS - 1947 - Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution to the mobilizing of Canada's scientific resources for war, and for his profound influence on the development of chemistry in Canada.
JAMES HAMILTON LOWTHER - 1947 -Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For anoutstanding contribution to the field of economics by devising a method for uniform government and municipal accounting practices.
E. W. GRIFFITH - 1948 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his leadership in building up an advanced and efficient social welfare service.
EDGAR W. R. STEACIE - 1949 - Pure or Applied Science. For research in photosensitized reactions of hydrocarbons and the reaction of hydrogen atoms with hydrocarbons and their derivatives.
FREDERICK W. JACKSON - 1950 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution in the field of public health and welfare.
HAROLD E. SEELY - 1951 - Pure or Applied Science. For his organizational scientific work and his application of this work to the field of forestry.
ANDREW THOMSON - 1952 - Pure or Applied Science. For his efforts towards expanding Canadian meteorological services, particularly in polar areas.
C. H. GOULDEN - 1953 - Pure or Applied Science. For fundamental discoveries in plant genetics and their highly successful application to the practical problems of cereal production.
W. P. WARNER - 1954 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution in re-organizing the Treatment Services of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
KARL A. CLARK - 1955 - Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding work in connection with the development of the oil and sand deposits in Alberta.
O. M. SOLANDT - 1956 - Pure or Applied Science. For contribution to pure and applied science in connection with his work at the Defence Research Board.
H. R. BALLS - 1956 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For contribution to the field of financial administration and accounting.
H. L. A. TARR - 1957 - Pure or Applied Science. For contribution to basic research on the causes and inhibition of deterioration of fishery products, and on developing and testing methods for determining the progress and degree of deterioration in fish.
C. AUSTIN BELL - 1957 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For contributions in connection with the manufacture and supply of all prosthetic and orthopaedic appliances to Canadian veterans, and for his contribution to research and development in this field.
C. S. BEALS - 1958 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution in raising the Dominion Observatory to the standing of one of the world's leading institutions in the field of astronomy.
NATHAN KEYFITZ - 1958 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For contributions to international well-being through his work on the Colombo Plan.
LEO MARION - 1959 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution to research in the chemistry of alkaloids and for turning the Division of Pure Chemistry at NRC into one of the leading chemical laboratories in the world.
HOWARD HILLEN KERR - 1959 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his important part in the organization of the Ryerson Institute and in the organization of the technical institute program for Ontario as a whole.
HAR GOBIND KHORANA - 1960 - Pure or Applied Science. For pilot research in the field of the chemical structure of nuclei acids and enzymes, among the most complex ever investigated by chemists. Dr. Khorana was one of the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1968.
E. A. DRIEDGER - 1960 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. Among the important Canadian legislation prepared by or collaborated on by Mr. Driedger are the Terms of Union of Newfoundland and Canada (1948), the National Housing Act (1953-54), and the Unemployment Insurance Act (1955).
D. C. ROSE - 1961 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution to the study of atmospheric physics, which was important to military aviation during WW II.
A. H. RICHARDSON - 1961 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For conservation work in the province of Ontario, which resulted in far-reaching effects elsewhere in Canada and the world.
THORVALDUR JOHNSON - 1962 - Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution to research on the physiology and epidemiology of cereal rusts, the control of which has been of the utmost significance to Canada and other nations.
CLARENCE A. MORRELL - 1962 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his world- class contribution to biological assay of drugs and to the development of food and drug legislation for the protection of consumers.
D. K. C. MacDONALD - 1963 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution to physics and to scientific literature on thermodynamics and electron transport in metals.
W. E. van STEENBURGH - 1963 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contributions to the advancement of Canada's economic and scientific stature. He was responsible for the successful planning and mounting of the Polar Continental Shelf Project, and the establishment of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
DEFENCE RESEARCH BOARD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ALOUETTE SATELLITE PROJECT - 1964 -Pure or Applied Science. For an outstanding contribution to the knowledge of the ionosphere and radio communication, and for supplying a wealth of new scientific information to the world scientific community.
JOSEPH W. WILLARD - 1964 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution to the study which led to Canada's Old Age Security and Old Age Assistance legislation, and for his leadership in pioneering research in the social, economic and technical aspects of health and welfare services in Canada.
A. D. PICKETT - 1965 - Pure or Applied Science. For his detailed scientific study of the ecological relationship of orchard insects and its successful application in controlling the build-up of insect populations in Canada and in other parts of the world.
L. D. WILGRESS - 1965 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his achievements in articulating Canadian foreign policy in its formative years, and for his involvement in bilateral and multilateral relations abroad.
J. M. HARRISON - 1966 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For qualities in leadership and coordination in the encouragement of production and high quality in scientific work. His nomination stated that he was, above all, a "diplomat-scientist".
W. E. RICKER - 1966 - Pure or Applied Science. For raising the stature of fisheries science and research in Canada and for his work in the general field of fish population dynamics.
A. G. L. McNAUGHTON - 1966 - Special Gold Medal. To mark his "lifetime of public service" as a soldier, scientist and diplomat. He developed scientific artillery techniques used in WW I, was co-inventor of the cathode ray direction-finder (the direct forerunner of radar) and established a radio system and improved aerial survey methods in the North. He also served as Chairman of the International Joint Commission, playing a crucial part in the negotiations which secured the St.Lawrence Seaway.
F. T. ROSSER - 1967 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For laboratory administration at NRC where he proved himself a "first class modern administrator".
GERHARD HERZBERG - 1969 - Pure or Applied Science. For his world-calibre achievements in spectroscopy and astrophysics. Dr. Herzberg was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1971.
C. W. MARTIN - 1969 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For development of effective educational programs for newcomers to the province of Ontario. Mr. Martin also won international renown in the teaching of English as a second language.
THE LASER TEAM OF THE DEFENCE RESEARCH BOARD, VALCARTIER - 1971 - Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of the outstanding results accomplished by a team of 20 scientists and engineers of various disciplines, whose major breakthrough in the technology of lasers has led to many opportunities which have been pursued to advance the technology.
R.A.D. FORD - 1971 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his unique and distinguished professional record in the Diplomatic Service of Canada, particularly in the area of Soviet affairs and Canada-U.S.S.R. relations.
ALFRED W. H. NEEDLER - 1973 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to national and world well-being through effective management of the fishery resources of Canada and rational approaches to fishery management and development.
J. W. GRAINGE - 1975 - Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his achievements in improving the standards of engineering in northern Canada, with particular regard to sanitary programs that have greatly advanced the standards of public health engineering in the Arctic and the sub-Arctic.
A. W. JOHNSON - 1975 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of the energy and effort he devoted at both the provincial and federal level in the area of broadcasting, economics, public administration, finance and welfare.
V. E. F. SOLMAN - 1977 - Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his contributions to professional disciplines such as limnology, wildlife classification, research on bird hazards to aircraft and environmental impact assessment. His work on the prevention of bird strikes with aircraft has received international acclaim.
CLARENCE POWELL - 1977 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his service to the people of Newfoundland. He organized municipal and community councils throughout Newfoundland, and was primarily responsible for the extension of telecommunication services to all permanent settlements in Newfoundland/Labrador.
D. J. McLAREN - 1979 - Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his outstanding work on Earth Sciences, both as geologist and administrator. His pioneer work in the Arctic provided a firm basis for the subsequent search for oil and gas in the northern frontier regions.
J. R. PODOLUK - 1979 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For her enormous contribution to the development of statistics on income and welfare distribution and the development of statistical research capability in Canada.
NORBERT L. KUSTERS - 1981 - Special Gold Medal. For his international contribution to the field of electrical engineering, and for his invention of a hospital operating room ground detector, a protective device against hazards of accidental grounding in hospital operating theatres.
W. G. SCHNEIDER - 1981 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contributions on the study of intermolecular forces and molecular properties, and for his work in high resolution proton magnetic resonance, which has received international acclaim.
HANS GRIEGER - 1981 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. In recognition of his work on ultrasonics as a tool in swine selection for superior genetic material. His method gained the acceptance of provincial governments and the Canadian swine industry.
WINNIPEG BREAD WHEAT RESEARCH TEAM -1983 - Pure or Applied Science. For outstanding achievement in plant and pathogen genetics, biochemistry of resistance to disease, biological control of plant disease and the improvement of commercial wheat cultures, among other areas.
POLLY HILL - 1983 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For her internationally acclaimed work in promoting the needs, development and welfare of children in Canada and abroad, including a prize-winning series of films sponsored by Health and Welfare Canada on the normal development of children.
KENNETH JAMES JENKINS and MICHAEL HIDIROGLOU - 1985 - Pure or Applied Science. For outstanding contribution in the field of animal nutrition and for devising practical ways of preventing nutritional disorders in livestock.
RAY THORSTEINSSON, ROBERT CHRISTIE, HANS TRETTIN - 1987 - Pure or Applied Science. For their work on geological maps covering almost all of the Arctic Archipelago leading to the discovery of significant oil and gas fields which have proved essential for land use decisions and military planning on the Arctic Islands.
VERA ROBERTS - 1987 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For her dedication and service to the people living in isolated northern outposts, and for her involvement in the promotion of public health and the development of standards of nursing practice in the North.
R.K. DOWNEY, S.H. PAWLOWSKI, A.J. KLASSEN, G.A. PETRIE, D.I. McGREGOR, B.M. CRAIG, C.G. YOUNGS - 1989 - Pure or Applied Science. For the development of canola, one of Canada’s most valuable crops. This development created an entire industry for processing oil and meal from canola.
E. FRED ROOTS - 1989 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his work in geoscience and leadership in international studies which expanded knowledge of the polar regions.
ALAN R. LONGHURST - 1991 - Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution to the development of Canadian oceanography. From 1977 - 1979, he was the Director of the Marine Ecology Laboratory of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Under his leadership, the laboratory flourished and now enjoys an international reputation as the best of its kind in the world. As Director-General of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography from 1979-1987, he played a major role in developing and consolidating the Bedford Institute as a centre of world-class oceanographic research.
WALTER SLIPCHENKO - 1991 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. His efforts towards improving arctic relations through the establishment of exchange programs between Canada and the former USSR, have become a model for Canadian organizations and other countries to follow.
LEROY STONE - 1992 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution to social and demographic research. A pioneer of major new statistical programs and concepts in demographics. His innovative work is widely used in universities, the health care sector and social policy.
LING SUEN - 1994 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science - For her outstanding contribution to transportation research and development which has made Canada's transportation system accessible to elderly and disabled travellers.
LEO MARGOLIS - 1995 - Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contribution to science in the areas of parasitology and fish health. In the 1950's he developed a method of distinguishing between North American and Asian salmon stocks using parasites. At the time the need for a method to prove that Japanese high seas salmon fishermen were catching Canadian salmon was of acute international importance. Some of his most important contributions to the public service and to Canada emanate from his work in international trade and fisheries negotiations.
PETER V. COONEY - 1998 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his significant contribution to the operations of the Medical Services Branch, Health Canada, with the development of a new method of managing the dental benefits portion of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
JAMES F. WHITFIELD - 1998 - Pure or Applied Science. For his leading-edge research in understanding the role of calcium in the control of cell proliferation in normal and cancer cells and the discovery and preclinical development of small fragments of the parathyroid hormone capable of inducing bone formation for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis.
HAROLD J. JENNINGS - 1999 - Pure or Applied Science. For his outstanding contributions to the chemistry and immunochemistry of carbohydrates leading to the design and development of synthetic vaccines for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. His work has led to inventions that have been commercially developed as the world’s first conjugate vaccine against group B meningococcal bacteria.
DAVID ALLAN VARDY - 2000 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his contribution in Newfoundland to labour relations, economic development, resource management and education. He spearheaded a new model for collective bargaining between fish harvesters and fish buyers. Under his leadership as President, the Marine Institute became an international centre of excellence.
EWEN C.D. TODD - 2001 - Pure or Applied Science -In the field of food protection, for his excellent work on the surveillance of foodborne disease, the detection of pathogens in foods, microbial risk assessments, and the impact of disease caused by seafood toxins. Dr. Todd developed a research and hazard evaluation program on how to implement Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
ALY M. SHADY - 2002 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science. For his contributions to strategic and policy developments in the national and international use of water resources. Through the Canadian International Development Agency, he introduced Canadian technology and know-how in irrigation, drainage and flood control to many countries, thereby leading the development of appropriate technology and strengthening of the local capacity for sustainable development.
J.R. JOCELYN PARÉ - 2003 - Field of Pure or Applied Science - For his work in developing and promoting Microwave-Assisted Processes (MAP TM), a family of technologies he developed for the extraction of natural products or contaminants from soil, water, plant and animal tissues. A breakthrough in scientific, economic and environmental terms, MAP TM-related techniques have expanded into a suite of patents for a host of environmentally friendly applications in the research, industrial and commercial sectors, used worldwide.
KUTTY KARTHA - 2004 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science - For his leadership and vision in implementing a strategy for the future of plant biotechnology. Dr. Kartha was a catalyst in implementing a strong industrial development process to assist with transferring research to product development and commercialization. One of his achievements was the construction of the Industry Partnership Facility at the National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon.
DEREK C.G. MUIR - 2005 - Field of Pure or Applied Science - For his work on the environmental impact of organic pollutants and their long-range impact. His identification of the potential of long-range atmospheric transport of pesticides to remote locations has been of particular benefit to Canada, but is applicable around the world and serves as a basis for his greatest international contribution.
JAMES E. CLARK - 2006 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science - In recognition of his commitment to the protection of the Canadian public from the threat of avian influenza, combined with his drive to develop sound public policy and practice in the area of foreign animal disease control. His work has furthered Canada's reputation on the world stage.
DWIGHT WILLIAMSON - 2007 - Field of Pure or Applied Science - In recognition of his contributions to the fields of water quality, watershed management and water protection. He spearheaded the development of public policies on water management in Manitoba; namely, the creation of the Water Protection Act and the establishment of Manitoba’s Department of Water Stewardship.
DAN BEAVON - 2008 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science - In recognition of his contributions in the fields of policy research and development regarding aboriginal peoples in Canada and internationally, and for the development of the Human Development Index, an analytical tool to address the well-being of aboriginal peoples.
KEITH U. INGOLD - 2009 - Field of Pure or Applied Science - For research in the chemistry of organic free radicals, and especially radical-trapping antioxidants, such as vitamin E, and their effect on aging and on preventing such age-related diseases as cancer. His research strengthened the global ability to successfully prevent and treat major diseases and profoundly increased international understanding of the chemistry of biological and non-biological systems.
RICHARD C. BENNETT - 2010 - Field Other than Pure or Applied Science - For his influence on public policy and his global vision on the importance of air quality to human health. Dr. Richard Bennett built one of Canada’s leading air quality programs and spearheaded the development of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), a tool used to communicate the risk posed by air pollution to human health.
RONALD DePAUW - 2011 - Field of Pure or Applied Science - In recognition of his leadership in developing some of the world’s best wheat varieties, which have boosted Canada’s agricultural industry and created new markets for farmers.
BERNARD C.K. CHOI - 2012 - Field other than Pure or Applied Science - In recognition of his vision and leadership in enhancing the link between science and policy and in building networks of public health professionals in Canada and worldwide. Dr. Choi has improved chronic disease prevention and control through integrated policy and program development, surveillance, and knowledge development and dissemination. His work has provided a vision of modern day health surveillance and how it can be achieved globally.
JOHN A. PERCIVAL - 2017 - Field of Pure or Applied Science – For his advancement of geoscience in Canada and internationally. In 1984, his discovery of a block of deep-crustal rocks up-thrust 20 kilometres to the surface in the Kapuskasing structure of Northern Ontario led to the launch of Lithoprobe, Canada’s national geoscience program, recognized as one of the world’s most successful deep investigations of Earth’s structure. Dr. Percival has pioneered innovative methods for geological mapping, leading to new discoveries of gold, base metals and diamonds in Canada. His expertise has proven essential for land use decisions and the promotion of social and economic development in Canada and in countries around the world.
XIAOLAN L. WANG - 2019 - Field of Pure or Applied Science – In recognition of her contributions to the understanding of climate change in Canada and internationally. Used by scientists in more than 50 countries, her statistical methods and user-friendly software have changed the way scientists assess climate trends. Dr. Wang played an important role in Canada’s Climate Change Report. Canada’s climate is warming more rapidly than the global average and will continue to do so. The report helps illustrate that climate change is real and driven by human activity.
XUGUANG "SEAN" LI - 2021 - Field of Pure or Applied Science – For his pioneering work in the field of vaccine research that has been instrumental in the international fight against viruses and pandemics, including COVID-19. Dr. Li developed the world’s first universal antibody-based test for the detection of antigens of influenza viruses. He also evaluates the factors that explain the development of immunization effects in vaccines and the risks of unwanted reactions. His expertise is sought by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical industries around the world.