Four outstanding Canadians have joined the prestigious Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Lowell Lindsay, John Oliver, the late Honourable John Wise and Donald Ziraldo were formally inducted at a ceremony on Nov. 3, at the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame awards banquet in Toronto.
“This year’s inductees demonstrate the dynamic nature of our industry, and the breadth of dedication, expertise and contributions that have shaped, and continue to shape, the Canadian agricultural landscape,” said Judy Shaw, president of the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association.
“It is very exciting for our organization to witness the growing interest within our industry to recognize deserving individuals such as this year’s four inductees.”
Lowell Lindsay
Nominated by Semex and EastGen, Lindsay dedicated his 53-year professional career to elevating Canadian dairy cattle to be the elite, coveted source for genetics around the world.
A perfectionist with a keen eye, the Guelph-Eramosa resident set the standard on numerous fronts as a sire analyst, judge, mentor and ambassador for Canadian agriculture.
In the mid 1970s, Lindsay was instrumental in organizing the first group of Canadian cattle to participate in the World Dairy Expo, a major first step in elevating Canadian Holsteins as world leaders. As a skilled sire analyst, Lindsay put Canadian genetics in high demand, selling millions of doses of semen around the world, building economic impact and a stellar reputation for the Canadian dairy industry.
He judged more than 200 dairy shows, travelling the world on judging assignments throughout the United States, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland and Spain. And today’s modern style of clipping and fitting dairy cattle for the show ring traces back to Lindsay and his fine techniques to help cattle show their best in the ring.
Recognizing the importance of mentoring the next generation, Lindsay is a founding member of the Canadian Classic 4-H Junior Dairy Show, the Ontario Dairy Youth Trust Fund and the Ontario Dairy Discovery Fund.
Lindsay has left a lasting legacy of global excellence for the Canadian dairy industry.
John Oliver
Nominated by Dow AgroSciences Canada, Oliver’s contributions to agriculture in Canada can be found in the farm field, in the boardroom, in government policy and in numerous agricultural organizations across the country. His own roots in agriculture run deep.
He grew up on a farm in Napanee, Ontario, one of the first farms in the area, and one where he lives today.
Oliver joined Elanco after graduating from the University of Guelph in 1961, quickly earning numerous corporate roles including Vice President of Eli Lilly Canada and President of DowElanco Canada.
Under Oliver’s leadership, two significant agricultural businesses came into being in Canada – Elanco Animal Health and Dow AgroSciences Canada.
As a visionary leader, Oliver made several significant contributions to the agricultural industry during his career. Canola is the world-renowned, made-in-Canada crop it is today, thanks in large part to Oliver’s efforts.
He helped put Canadian flax on the map – a crop with benefits for growers and human health. And Oliver has been a lifelong advocate for biotechnology, helping attract significant investment in the Canadian biotech sector.
He is a founding member of the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association, past chair of CropLife Canada and the Canadian Animal Health Institute, and is on the advisory board of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.
Honourable John Wise
Nominated by the Elgin County Office of the Warden and the Elgin County Holstein Association, the late Honourable Wise began his life’s work in agriculture at the local level.
Active in farm organizations and municipal politics for more than 15 years, Wise was elected as the Member of Parliament for Elgin in 1972. He held his riding through five consecutive elections until 1988. In 1979, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture in Joe Clark’s government. In 1984, he served his second term as federal Minister of Agriculture as part of Brian Mulroney’s government.
During his tenure in national politics, John was instrumental in development of the agricultural component of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. He established the Farm Debt Review Act and oversaw the expansion of the network of national research stations and laboratories across Canada.
From transition assistance to grape growers, to a long-term dairy policy, supply management in the egg sector and business risk management for beef farmers, Wise championed many sectors in the Canadian agriculture industry.
He was a leader who knew how to define the issues, plot effective strategies and get the best out of people. He has been recognized for outstanding service to Canadian agriculture by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Canada and Farm Credit Canada, and is an honorary member of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Donald Ziraldo
Nominated by the Grape Growers of Ontario, Wine Council of Ontario, and Canadian Vintners Association, Ziraldo put Canadian table wines and ice wines on the international stage, earning him the name of the pioneer of the Canadian wine industry.
Ziraldo first made headlines in 1975 when he and business partner Karl Kaiser were granted the first winery license in Ontario since the days of prohibition.
The Inniskillin Wines brand was born and Canada’s grape and wine industry was headed for a huge transformation. The use of vinifera grapes gave Canadian growers a new opportunity to produce and sell new varieties of grapes, and the stage was set for Canadian vintners to begin making world class, award-winning wines that were historically dominated by European wineries.
Through his 40-year career, Ziraldo’s leadership, initiative and drive has built an outstanding international reputation for Canada’s wine industry.
Ziraldo founded Vintners Quality Alliance, a framework to uphold the quality and authenticity of Ontario wines. He was the driving force behind Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. He was instrumental in getting the Niagara College Culinary Tourism Institute off the ground – to provide education in culinary arts and complement Canadian wines. And he chaired the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre from 2007-2011.
Ziraldo has been honoured with the Order of Ontario, the Order of Canada, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Wine Institute, as well as Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Awards by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Association honours and celebrates Canadians for outstanding contributions to the agriculture and food industry. Portraits are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The CAHFA was organized in 1960 and is administered by 12 volunteer Board of Directors located across Canada.
