Baldur Stefansson
Encyclopedia
Baldur Rosmund Stefansson, OC
, OM
(April 26, 1917 - January 3, 2002) was a Canadian
agricultural scientist and as one of the originators of canola
, became
known as the "Father of Canola".
Born in Vestfold, Manitoba, a son of Iceland
ic immigrants Gudmundur and Jonina Stefansson, he served in the Canadian army during World War II
. After the war, he attended the University of Manitoba
where he received a Dip.Ag. in 1949, a B.S.A. in 1950, and a M.Sc. in 1952. He received his Ph.D. in 1966.
He worked in the Department of Plant Science for the University of Manitoba as a professor and researcher. He worked with Dr. Keith Downey
to develop a variety of rapeseed
that could be used as an edible oil. This is known as canola and is one of Canada’s top edible oil and one of the largest oilseed crops in the world. He retired in 1986.
In 1985 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1998 he was awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, one of Manitoba’s highest honours. In 2000, he was presented with the Order of Manitoba
and the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
.
He received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Manitoba in 1997 and the University of Iceland
in 2000. He was inducted to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was married to Sigridur and they had three children: Bjorgvin, Helga and Paul.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OM
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
(April 26, 1917 - January 3, 2002) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
agricultural scientist and as one of the originators of canola
Canola
Canola refers to a cultivar of either Rapeseed or Field Mustard . Its seeds are used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as biodiesel.Originally, Canola was bred naturally from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R...
, became
known as the "Father of Canola".
Born in Vestfold, Manitoba, a son of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic immigrants Gudmundur and Jonina Stefansson, he served in the Canadian army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he attended the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
where he received a Dip.Ag. in 1949, a B.S.A. in 1950, and a M.Sc. in 1952. He received his Ph.D. in 1966.
He worked in the Department of Plant Science for the University of Manitoba as a professor and researcher. He worked with Dr. Keith Downey
Keith Downey
Richard Keith Downey, OC, FRSC is a Canadian agricultural scientist and, as one of the originators of canola, became known as the "Father of Canola"....
to develop a variety of rapeseed
Rapeseed
Rapeseed , also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae...
that could be used as an edible oil. This is known as canola and is one of Canada’s top edible oil and one of the largest oilseed crops in the world. He retired in 1986.
In 1985 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1998 he was awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, one of Manitoba’s highest honours. In 2000, he was presented with the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
and the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
.
He received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Manitoba in 1997 and the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
in 2000. He was inducted to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was married to Sigridur and they had three children: Bjorgvin, Helga and Paul.
External links
- Baldur Rosmund Stefansson at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...