The First100

FALL 2014 ISSUE NO. 5 Special Centennial Issue The Alumni Magazine of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences The builders, the discoverers, The first the alumni and much more THE DYDE HOUSE100 Arthur Erickson designed house gifted to the DBG PAGE 6 THE MEMORY KEEPER Jack Francis’ labour of love Years PAGE 16 Our accomplished past ... our limitless future ALES 100 Opening Celebration “Leadership in providing solutions to global challenges” A panel discussion hosted by the Right Honourable Kim Campbell The history of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences' first century Featuring Ed Stelmach, Jim Hole, Janet Fast and William Shotyk October 22, 2014 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Myer Horowitz Theatre, University of Alberta A light dessert reception will follow ales100.ualberta.ca For more information, visit A CENTURY OF SOLUTIONS: The history of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences' first century WRITTEN BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR CURTIS GILLESPIE Curtis Gillespie weaves a very readable and interesting tale about the Faculty of ALES’ first 100 years by focussing on the people that shaped it. ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY $20.00 plus shipping and handling www.ales.ualberta.ca FROM THE DEAN WE’RE HAVING A PARTY GREENHOUSE is published twice a year by the Faculty of Agricultural, AND YOU’RE INVITED! Life & Environmental Sciences. It is distributed to alumni and friends of the faculty. We’re turning 100! Beginning this October, we’ll be celebrating our centennial with Dean a list of events, worthy of such a special occasion. It will all start with our opening Stan Blade celebrations on Oct. 22 and run until November 2015. In between will be a series of special events including public lectures, an Old Country Fair and perhaps a few Assistant Dean, Administration Judy Carss surprises along the way. The faculty’s history is an extraordinarily rich one, which we’ve tried to capture Assistant Dean, Development Ken Crocker in a book. Penned by award-winning writer Curtis Gillespie, A Century of Solutions chronicles the faculty’s first 100 years. It gives a fascinating account of the Development Team Katherine Irwin challenges encountered in establishing and growing the faculty and highlights some of the key people and events that shaped the faculty through its first 100 years. Editor Michel Proulx The book will be available in October but you can order your copy now online at www.ales.ualberta.ca or at www.ales100.ales.ualberta.ca for $20. Shipping and Graphic Design handling is extra. Plumbheavy Design Co. I’m sure you’ll find the book as fascinating and entertaining as I did. Reading Contributing Writers through it only heightened my deep sense of honour and humility in becoming Bev Betkowski, Kate Black, Alexandria Eldridge, Curtis Gillespie, th the faculty’s 12 dean. I did my PhD in plant science and spent the majority of Elizabeth Ng, Michel Proulx, Andrea my career in government, most recently as CEO of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions. Ross I started my five-year term as dean, succeeding Contributing Photographers John Kennelly, last August and in the short time Kathryn Chandler, Alexandria I’ve been in this privileged position, I’ve already Eldridge, Epic Photography, Amanda had the pleasure of meeting many of you Gallant, Jody Paulson, Michel Proulx, and I look forward to meeting many, Richard Siemens, John Ulan many more of you, especially throughout Cover Photo the coming year as we celebrate our Alberta Order of Excellence centennial together. Send your comments to: The Editor GREENHOUSE "The faculty’s history is an 2-14 Agriculture/Forestry Centre extraordinarily rich one, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5 which we’ve tried to capture Tel.: 780-492-8127 in a book… A Century of Fax: 780-492-8524 Email: [email protected] Solutions chronicles the Website: www.ales.ualberta.ca faculty’s first 100 years." Publications Mail Agreement No. STAN BLADE Dean, Faculty of ALES 42038516 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 2-14 Agriculture/Forestry Centre University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5 4 GREENHOUSE HAPPENINGS PEER REVIEW 6 WISH FULFILLMENT 44 THE AMAZING CLASS DBG benefactor gets final OF 54 wish as family donates Out of only 19 graduates, Arthur Erickson-designed as astonishing five won a summer home and land U of A Alumni Award 8 CAREER DEVELOPMENT 45 IN MEMORIAM ALES students tour Mexican Remembering ALES alumni food processing plants 16 who passed away since 2013 9 FAREWELL TO 46 MILESTONE A FINE FELLOW The Museum that Jack Francis Built Human Ecology’s Practicum John Kennelly says Housed in the old Horse Barn on South Campus, program turns 40! goodbye as dean Jack Francis’ labour of love is a treasure trove of 48 PROFILE 10 STRENGTHENING agricultural artifacts. ’89 MSc (HE) Leslee THE TEAM Greenaway’s new mission Three new CAIP Chairs joins ALES 11 BOOSTING GRADUATES’ SKILLS Features ALES gets set to offer three new course-based masters 12 HONOURING A LEGEND Re-naming the Kinsella 49 IN MEMORIAM Research Station in honour 23 ALES Through the Century Remembering Doug Shearer of Roy Berg A flock of sheep in the Quad, the first Bar None, how the faculty’s ’51 BSc (Ag) first entomologist saved southern Alberta’s crops in 1922, the 13 CONNECTING first Varsity Guest Weekend (yep, it started with us!) and other 50 AFTERGRAD TO COMMUNITY significant events that marked the faculty’s first century. Tyler Fletcher ’10 BSc (Ag) New Prairie Urban Garden ends up exactly where he raises awareness about 30 The Bentley Years wanted food security Fred Bentley was one of the most respected and influential faculty 14 DISCOVERIES members to ever walk the halls of the Faculty of Agriculture. In an The surprising impact of excerpt from the book that chronicles the faculty’s first 100 years, GHG emissions from oilsands A Century of Solutions, his tenure as dean is examined. on surrounding soil and trees; the disconnect for 37 Forging a Faculty Indian women between A small sampling of some of the dedicated, remarkable and education and jobs; creating passionate people who helped make the Faculty of Agricultural, new food products for Fido Life & Environmental Sciences what it is: a place of learning and friends; making it easier and growth, of discovery, of insatiable curiosity, of incredible to care for elderly family. talent, and of commitment to community. 37 30 HAPPENINGS FACULTY NEWS ARTHUR ERICKSON-DESIGNED DYDE HOUSE GIFTED TO THE DEVONIAN BOTANIC GARDEN Gift fulfills original owner’s wish BY MICHEL PROULX Earlier this year, the Devonian Botanic house outside the city. They bought with. In discussing the issue with one Garden received a special gift. Out of 240 acres of land at an auction from of his friends, Lilias Torrance Newton, view from the garden’s visitors is a Imperial Oil in 1958 but Sandy Dyde an art professor at McGill University, 50-acre parcel of land, on which also had something else in mind she suggested he get in touch with sits the Dyde House, a magnificent when they bought the property. one of her students who had just structure with stunning views. He and his good friend Jim Whyte, graduated, someone she thought The house was built by Henry who was chair of the university’s showed great promise. His name was Alexander (Sandy) Dyde, an Department of Botany, knew that Arthur Erickson. accomplished man who was one of with the recent major oil discovery in The young graduate was about the first U of A Rhodes Scholars. He nearby Leduc that had transformed to embark on a distinguished served in various capacities during the province’s economy, green space architectural career and become both world wars, practiced law and, was threatened. They dreamed of Canada’s most famous architect, along with his wife, Bobby, was establishing a botanic garden and the achieving world-wide fame for his a leader in the cultural life of the land the Dydes bought, considered work, which would include the city after WW II. Indeed, he helped scrub land as it contained many Canadian embassy in Washington, the establish the Edmonton Symphony different types of soil, turned out to be Museum of Anthropology at UBC and Orchestra and was a board member ideal for that purpose. the City of Fresno’s City Hall, among of the famed Stratford Shakespeare The Dydes immediately donated many, many others. He was renowned Festival while Bobby was the first 80 acres to the university to create for his unique designs, many of which woman to be a member of the board the Devonian Botanic Garden and were futuristic, but he was perhaps of the National Gallery of Canada. set aside 50 acres on which to build even better known for creating As Dyde approached retirement, their house. Dyde had a difficult time buildings that were in harmony with he and his wife wanted to build a finding an architect he was happy their surrounding natural environment. 6 GREENHOUSE ALL PHOTOS: MICHEL PROULX ALL PHOTOS: And that’s the first thing you notice when you drive up the private road at the DBG that leads to the Dyde House. DBG BENEFACTORS: It seems to almost be a natural part Sandy Dyde, left, and of the land. Once you enter the house his wife Bobby Dyde. BELOW: A view of the from the side, a quick turn to the left house from the side. leads you to the sunken living room with its Manitoba limestone floor and its wall of windows that provide a breathtaking view of the grounds. It is beyond stunning.

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