Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
June 10, 2003
U of G honours alumni for volunteerism, career achievement
The University of Guelph will present awards to three distinguished graduates during its annual Alumni Weekend celebration June 20-22.
Scientist and businessman Clifford Chappel, a 1950 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, will receive double honours as recipient of both the U of G Alumni Association (UGAA) Alumnus of Honour Award and the OVC Distinguished Alumnus Award. He will be honoured at the June 21 President’s Luncheon, along with 1958 Ontario Agricultural College diploma graduate Bruce Christie, who will receive the Alumni Volunteer Award for his contributions to the agri-food industry and to OAC.
UGAA is also recognizing 1996 engineering graduate Janey (Piroli) Dobson for professional achievement and community involvement. She will receive the Medal of Achievement at the June 10 convocation ceremony for the College of Physical and Engineering Science.
Chappel is a Guelph native who studied veterinary medicine at OVC, then earned a PhD in investigative medicine at McGill University. He joined Ayerst Laboratories in Montreal as director of biological research and began a distinguished research career. While at Ayerst, he supervised the development of a new appetite suppressant and drugs for the treatment of intractable cough. He also discovered acepromazine, the most widely used tranquilizer for animals. Research he conducted on drugs used in the treatment of asthma led to the withdrawal of an unsafe drug and stimulated pharmaceutical companies to develop better drug therapies for asthmatics.
The author of more than 60 scientific papers formed his own company, Bio-Research Laboratories Ltd., in 1965 to provide biological research services to industry and government. He also founded a Montreal company now known as Technitrol Eco, which conducts environmental research, and a toxicology consulting company in Mississauga called Cantox Inc. He is a past president of the Pharmacological Society of Canada and a founding member and first president of the Society of Toxicology of Canada. In 1987, he established the Chappel Memorial Lecture at OVC in memory of his father. The series allows Guelph faculty and students to learn from world-renowned biomedical scientists.
Christie is being honoured for being a dedicated professional, manager and youth mentor. He worked for 43 years year with Shur-Gain (formerly Canada Packers), and is past national chair of the Canadian Feed Industry Association and a recipient of its Golden Award for leadership. He has held leadership roles with numerous agri-food and agricultural associations and is the current chair of the national Expert Committee on Farm Animal Welfare and Behaviour. He is also a mentor for the Internship of Young Leaders program at U of G.
Christie has been active in the OAC Alumni Association since graduation, serving in several executive positions and taking an active role in fundraising. His dedication to U of G was highlighted in 2000 with the establishment of the Bruce Christie Recognition Fund, an OAC endowment designated for student enhancement purposes.
Dobson will receive the UGAA Medal of Achievement, which is presented to a graduate of the last 15 years for professional and community contributions. She was director and program co-ordinator for the national organization Youth Engineering and Science Camps of Canada. Dobson has worked for Frito Lay Canada since 1997, where she led a highly successful United Way campaign. She is also active in the Big Sister Association of Guelph, coaches with the Guelph Wrestling Club and is a director of the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association. She also serves as a resource and role model for U of G engineering students.
Contact:
Jennifer Brett
Manager, Events and Communications
Alumni Affairs & Development
(519) 824-4120, Ext. 53540/ jbrett@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
