University of Saskatchewan | A l u m n i M a g a z i n e | Wi n te r 2 0 1 1
Water
Music
Howard Wheater
and Water Security
Canada’s Early Environmentalist
House of the Rising Sun
Fresh Off the Farm
Green and White
Winter 2011
Editor's Note ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
President’s Message............................................................................................................................................................ 4
On Campus ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Water Music ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Canada's Early Environmentalist .................................................................................................................................. 14
House of the Rising Sun ................................................................................................................................................. 17
Fresh Off the Farm .......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Alumni Association President's Message .................................................................................................................... 23
In Print.............................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Q&A with Malcolm Wilson ........................................................................................................................................... 30
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Green and White
Winter 2011
Editor's Note
My grandpa was the original recycler. He
grew up during the Great Depression
when things were scarce and nothing
went to waste. That attitude naturally
stayed with him his entire life. He did
not have to rescue every bicycle or
lawnmower from the town dump (or
nuisance ground as he called it), but he did. Parts
were swapped regularly to ensure there was at least
one—but usually more—working mower around to
tame the grass.
Read about Ronn LePage (BComm’78), a net zero
home builder, and how new homes can costeffectively reduce their impact on the environment.
We profile Melanie (BComm’92) and Kevin
(Dip/Ag’89, Cert/BusAdm’96) Boldt who own and
operate Pine View Farms, an all-natural farm in
central Saskatchewan.
Jim MacNeill (BA'49, BE'58, LLD'88) shares decades
of experience with us and discusses how public
policy has changed over the years.
The twenty-first century version of this
resourcefulness is called sustainability. The
realization that the world in which we live is not
disposable, like the large majority of the goods we
consume today, has gained traction.
The Green and White has adopted a few modest yet
important sustainable measures over the years. We
are using more sustainable printing practices, using
EnviroInk to print the magazine on Forestry
Stewardship Council (FSC) mixed source recycled
paper.
I truly believe everything we have on earth is a gift
(where the gift comes from simply does not matter).
Like any gift, we should use it. But we should not
cross the line into abusing our gift; we need to be
responsible stewards of what we have been given.
There is no planetary nuisance ground where we
can rummage for spare parts.
We also offer the option to forego your print copy
of the magazine and read all the content online. We
will email you when content is ready for online
viewing. In an attempt to cater to different viewing
preferences, you can read content in your browser,
you can download a pdf or you can view an e-zine
version and virtually flip through the pages. Email
alumni.office@usask.ca if you want to start
receiving the magazine electronically (other than
this winter online only issue).
In this issue, we will explore some key areas of
stewardship and sustainability: water, food, housing
and public policy.
Allan Casey (BA’86), author of Lakeland: Ballad of
Freshwater Country, which won the Governor
General’s Award for non-fiction in 2010, writes
about Howard Wheater and the important water
research being done at the U of S.
How are you being a good steward and promoting
sustainable living? Share your stories on the
University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association’s
Facebook group.
Derrick Kunz (BComm’96)
Editor
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Winter 2011
President’s Message
It has been almost ten
years since the
University of
Saskatchewan
completed its first
Sustainability
Assessment Project and
subsequent report. It was not the
first endeavor to explore
sustainable practices on campus,
but it provided a strong
foundation and much needed
direction.
Stretching across campus
operations, development and
planning, the project made it clear
the university must adopt an
ideology of sustainability if we are
to maintain or improve our
collective quality of life without
compromising the ability of future
generations to do the same.
Universities have a duty to inform
and critically assess the way society
is developing. With this in mind,
sustainability becomes much more
than something we do or a
destination; it becomes a process
on which we constantly evaluate
and improve. The environment,
the economy and social systems
must be considered
interdependent to develop and
adopt truly sustainable practices.
I am proud to say the U of S has
made significant advances in the
last ten years. As our campus
grows, reigning in energy
consumption can be a major
challenge. Retro-fitting light
fixtures across campus, heat
reclamation, upgrading to larger
and more energy efficient boilers
in the heating plant, and
sustainable construction practices
for new facilities are a few
examples of how the university is
being prudent stewards of both
our natural and financial
resources.
It is said Saskatoon has a “car
culture” with a recent
Saskatchewan Government
Insurance report revealing there
are more vehicles than people in
Saskatoon. We are trying to
encourage more sustainable
transportation options. U-Pass
gives every student transit access
through their student fees and we
have worked closely with the City
of Saskatoon to make the
university a major transit hub with
better access to all parts of the city.
The current construction of more
student residences will allow more
students to walk to class, reducing
the number of student commuters
on the road each day.
Efforts to reduce the amount of
waste produced on campus go
beyond the usual practices of
recycling and composting. We are
using biodegradable take-out
4
containers at campus eateries, and
technology is being integrated to
reduce the amount of paper used.
My back thanks me every day
because an iPad is so much lighter
than the stacks of notes and
reports needed for a day’s worth of
meetings.
The Globe and Mail’s annual
campus report card gave the U of S
a C grade for environmental
practices. That is a little humbling,
but our efforts ensure me we are
on the right track, particularly
with the creation of the School of
Environment and Sustainability in
2007. The school’s
interdisciplinary approach allows
experts from a variety of
disciplines to work together and
critically assess the development of
sustainable policies and practices
on campus and around the world.
I am confident we are building on
a strong foundation, and we have a
plan in place to ensure the
University of Saskatchewan
becomes a leader in sustainable
practices, not only on Canadian
university campuses, but around
the world.
Peter MacKinnon,
President and Vice-Chancello
Green and White
Winter 2011
On Campus
Sustainability On Campus
Residence Construction Approved by Board
Check out some of the sustainability initiatives at
the U of S.
Mission to India
South side of the student residence currently under
construction
President MacKinnon addresses a group in India
The university's Board of Governors has decided to
proceed with the construction of a second 400-bed
residence for undergraduate students. The
residence will be a mirror image of the residence
currently under construction in College Quarter,
the area south of College Drive between
Cumberland and Preston Avenues.
University of Saskatchewan President Peter
MacKinnon went to India in November 2010 as
part of the largest delegation of Canadian university
presidents to ever travel abroad. The presidents
participated in a series of targeted meetings with
Indian educators, government officials and business
leaders to build mutually beneficial relationships
with India. The mission was organized by the
Association of Universities and Colleges Canada
(AUCC).
LEED Gold Status for Law Building
The Law Building's expansion has officially
obtained gold status in Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) after a long process
that ended in a precedent-setting decision in favour
of the University of Saskatchewan.
A $300,000 partnership between the U of S and the
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences
University (GADVASU) was struck during
MacKinnon's visit. The agreement, which will
bolster research and education in public health and
environment, will see each university contribute
$150,000 over the next three years to support
research projects, pay for student and faculty travel
between the two universities and cover stipends for
up to six students from each country.
To obtain LEED certification, buildings must meet
stringent standards in construction methods,
materials and operating systems that maximize
building efficiency while minimizing environmental
impact. A barrier to the Law Building's certification
was the heating and cooling system. LEED's
standards are for stand-alone structures, not for
centralized heating and cooling systems that use
Source: U of S News Release
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Winter 2011
conventional chilling media, like that used at the U
of S.
Four main points for instructors are to exemplify
learning, teach effectively, assess fairly and solicit
feedback. Learning goals, which the university
hopes all graduates will achieve, include discovery,
knowledge, integrity, skills and citizenship.
The university's challenge to that prerequisite was
successful, resulting in a ground-breaking decision.
View the Learning Charter
Using LEED standards as a guideline for all
construction on campus is a tangible way to express
commitment to sustainable measures at the
university, according to Colin Tennent (BSc'75),
associate vice-president of facilities management
and university architect.
Masonry Institute Established
The Saskatchewan Centre for Masonry Design
(SCMD) launched at the U of S in the College of
Engineering in October 2010. The centre will
provide valuable training and research in masonry
materials and structures, such as bricks, blocks or
stone held together with mortar.
Bioprocessing Pilot Plant Opens
Research at the centre will focus on developing and
testing innovative building materials and systems
that will improve the strength, durability, efficiency
and thermal performance of masonry structures,
including many of the stone-clad buildings at the U
of S. This research will lead to more cost-effective
and environmentally sustainable construction
practices and improved safety standards.
Professor Martin Reamy (right) explains some of the
equipment in the new bioprocessing pilot plant"
A bioprocessing pilot plant at the College of
Agriculture and Bioresources has recently been
equipped with over $1.2 million of new equipment
funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of
Agriculture. The equipment is designed for the
isolation of valuable components from
Saskatchewan crops that will be used to study plant
compounds used in biofuels, crop development and
health products.
The SCMD is funded by a $1.25-million donation
from the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute and the
Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers
Association.
MOU for Interdisciplinary Centre
Also in October, the U of S and the Saskatchewan
Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
(CPSP) signed a memorandum of understanding
that will provide $1.5 million over 10 years for an
interdisciplinary centre for forensic behavioural
science and justice studies.
Learning Charter for Teachers and Students
The U of S Learning Charter, a six-page document
defining expectations for students and instructors,
was approved by University Council.
The document, which acts as somewhat of a
checklist, is the first of its kind in Canada and lays
out learning expectations for students and teaching
expectations for all U of S teachers in an attempt to
provide the best possible learning experience.
Building upon existing training and expertise at the
U of S, the centre will fund research and promote
the development of advanced interdisciplinary
education and training opportunities focused on
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Winter 2011
architecture program. The U of S and the city are
discussing the details.
various aspects of criminal justice. It will involve a
number of colleges, including the Colleges of Arts
and Science, Medicine, Nursing, and Law, as well as
the Edwards School of Business.
Mining Centre Explored
The U of S and various provincial partners are
exploring the feasibility of a mining centre, in
response to strong growth and international
interest in Saskatchewan's mining industry.
New Programs Proposed
Full proposals for two new programs designed to
address the shortage of rehabilitation professionals
in Saskatchewan are in the hands of the provincial
government for approval.
A steering committee—comprised of members of
the university, the provincial government, Western
Economic Diversification, Natural Resources
Canada, Canadian Mining Innovation Council and
industry representatives—was established a couple
years ago to examine how a centre might support
the growth of the industry and capitalize on
opportunities.
The College of Medicine is hoping to establish the
School of Rehabilitation Science to house new
master’s of occupational therapy and speech
language pathology programs, along with the
existing School of Physical Therapy.
Saskatchewan is the only western province to not
currently offer occupational therapy training. The
proposal would allow about 40 students per year to
enroll in the occupational therapy program, and
about 25 students would be admitted into speech
pathology per year.
Studies conducted to determine the needs of
Saskatchewan's mining industry revealed significant
gaps between technological challenges and the
research being done to address those challenges in
western Canada.
City Offers Home for Architecture
The centre, which would be located at the U of S,
would assess what academic programming is
needed and identify the resources or expertise for
the appropriate post-secondary institution—
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and
Technology (SIAST), Saskatchewan Indian Institute
of Technology (SIIT), the University of Regina or
the U of S—to deliver the programming.
Development of a business case for the centre is
currently underway.
John Deer Building. Photograph LH810 courtesy of
the Saskatoon Public Library - Local History Room
The City of Saskatoon has indicated it will give the
100-year old John Deere building, a four-story
structure on the northern edge of downtown
Saskatoon, to the U of S for the proposed
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Matterhorn Enables Online Learning
Mosasaur Resurrected
Mosasaur skeleton in the background with the T-Rex
skull in the foreground
Matterhorn software developers include, l-r: Adam
McKenzie (BSc’08), Kristofor Amundson, Greg Logan
(BSc’10), Christopher Brooks (BSc’01, MSc’05)
An extinct marine lizard that was a dominant
predator about 75 million years ago has a new home
in the Museum of Natural Sciences in the Geology
Building.
A U of S team is part of an international
collaboration among 13 universities that has
developed Matterhorn, an open source technology
that enables classroom lectures to be recorded and
made available online.
The original Mosasaur fossil was found near the
Gardiner Dam by Lake Diefenbaker in the 1960s
and is housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum;
a replica was donated to the U of S.
Focusing on the student experience, Matterhorn—
named after a Swiss mountain near the project’s
first face-to-face meeting—addresses the increasing
demand for education to be more accessible for
students that are unable to attend a class on a
certain day, for remote learners and for life-long
learners.
Evan Nordquist (BSc’10), a graduate student in the
paleobiology program in the College of Arts and
Science, took an estimated 250 hours to assemble
the replica, building missing parts from styrofoam
and aluminum rods.
Cleaner Oilsands Technology
Being open source, the technology is available to
any academic institution at no cost. The software
lends itself to low-cost, low-energy, high-quality
hardware for classroom installation.
The federal and provincial governments are each
contributing $1 million to research a promising
new technology being developed at the U of S
Toxicology Centre.
The U of S started piloting the technology this past
fall and hopes to grow the use of the technology to
about 100 courses in three years.
A team, led by environmental toxicologist John
Giesy, is working with the International Petroleum
and Environmental Recovery Company (IPERC) to
further develop IPERC’s San-Tek 2000 technology
that minimizes water and energy use in the process
of extracting bitumen from the oilsands.
San-Tek 2000 has already proved effective in a lab
setting, and the U of S team plans to bring the
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Winter 2011
technology to a pilot plant stage to determine if it
can used for full industrial production.
scholarships for young people interested in
exploring scholarly, creative and artistic subjects.”
Source: U of S News Release
To learn more about the trust fund or to make a
donation, visit
www.usask.ca/structurist/trustfund.html.
The Structurist Turns 50
The Structurist—an
international,
interdisciplinary journal
dealing with art,
architecture, ecology,
culture and
communication—
published its 50th and
final issue in December
Eli Bornstein
Usask.ca Gets a Facelift
The University of Saskatchewan’s homepage
(www.usask.ca) and about 15 centrally managed
pages have been redesigned with a renewed focus
on the 200,000 visitors the site sees every month.
Not only has the design and layout changed, site
features like an enhanced search, a new events
calendar, maps and an A-Z directory all make it
easier to find what you are looking for.
2010.
With over one million pages managed by over a
hundred people across campus, it is expected other
sections of the site, including the alumni section,
will be updated in the coming months.
Founding editor,
Professor Emeritus Eli Bornstein (DLitt’90) says, “It
was a juggling act for half a century, but I
thoroughly enjoyed the perspective the magazine
brought to my life, my teaching and my art.”
The magazine will live on through a trust fund
established to support international students
conducting graduate-level research projects.
Bornstein says the magazine struggled to survive
financially, but became self-sufficient in the 1980s.
“Whatever money was left over, including
donations from subscribers was set aside for a trust
fund that could provide fellowships and
Correction: In the fall 2010 issue we inadvertently
mislabeled Prime Minister Stephen Harper as
“Peter Harper” in a photograph. The prime
minister was correctly named within the article, and
we apologize for the error.
Unless otherwise noted, news items are drawn from recent editions of On Campus News, the official newspaper
of the University of Saskatchewan. For more past and current U of S news, see On Campus News at
www.usask.ca/ocn/
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Winter 2011
Water Music
By Allan Casey
The prairie temperature has yet to top -30 C today, the coldest
day of winter so far. As I crunch toward the National
Hydrology Research Centre (NHRC), I wonder if Howard
Wheater is having second thoughts about his first
Saskatchewan winter. Trading London, UK, for Saskatoon, SK,
might have seemed like a lark in June, but this is real boostercable weather.
"This is the coldest day of my life," the eminent hydrologist
jovially affirms when I find him in his new office at Innovation
Place. An Everest-grade parka hangs on the coat stand, he
wears a grey collared sweater inside, and his assistant bolsters
him with Alberta-sized mugs of Earl Grey tea. After 32 years at
Imperial College, London, one of the world's foremost
authorities on the use and management of water has traded his
comfortable place in a fabled city for a ground-floor window
over-looking a frozen parking lot in western Canada.
"We have absolutely come to a landmark time in history with
respect to water," says Wheater, newly installed as Canada
Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Water Security. "We've
lived through an era of ever-expanding demand and increasing development of resources to meet that demand.
And we see all around us now where we have come to the limits of sustainability."
As one of those who care passionately about the future of earth's fresh water, Wheater's arrival into the
University of Saskatchewan research community gives me a reason for hope. Over the next two decades, the
number of people who face shortages of good-quality water is expected to surpass two billion. In evercomplacent Canada, we cling to the myth that we will always be water-rich. We have no national plan to manage
our water now, nor in a potentially hotter, dryer future.
Indeed, the global water crunch has already arrived in our own backyard. The South Saskatchewan River, which
so generously carries sweet Rocky Mountain water across an otherwise dry prairie, is nearly tapped-out. The
Athabasca River, which runs the gauntlet of the Alberta oilsands, has been found to be heavily polluted and
poorly monitored.
Wheater has come west to tackle these problems, and many more, in an ambitious CERC project to change the
way we care for water in Canada and beyond. Over six feet tall, thin and agile, Wheater looks younger than his
61 years. Good thing, because frosty January weather is the least of the challenges he faces here.
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As his British colleagues may have wondered, why the University of Saskatchewan? Years before Wheater's
arrival, the university designated water research as one of its key research priorities, gathering some of the top
talents in ecology, toxicology, and hydrology, and building some of the best research facilities anywhere.
Simultaneously, a network of social scientists------from economics to native studies to public policy-has been
deployed to study the wider dimensions of water. Agricultural scientists also play a key role, and much of the
academic work will be done on a partnership basis with government agencies like the NHRC.
The task now is to get this cadre of researchers working as a team in order to solve the riddle of sustainable
water, and that is where Howard Wheater comes in. "One of my jobs is to pull the research community
together," says Wheater, who has likened his role to that of a symphony conductor. Interdisciplinary science has
a renewed focus, and Wheater will have an unprecedentedly large "orchestra" to manage, one with $30 million
in funding. "This is probably the biggest single university endowment in water research worldwide."
To begin with, Wheater's research ensemble will focus on three main tasks. It will study the Saskatchewan River
basin as a whole to answer questions about water security as it relates to climate change. The South
Saskatchewan downstream as far as Saskatoon will be used to study the impacts of land use on water quality
with a particular focus on agricultural and municipal inputs to the river. Meanwhile, the Athabasca River will be
the test bed to study sustainable resource development, especially oilsands and other mining.
Big-scale, interdisciplinary research is only a start. Wheater aims for his water science to be put to practical use
by those who actually manage water, by policy makers and by governments.
That part is music to my ears. Water is devilishly difficult to manage. Thousands of agencies and individuals
have some say in water. It leaks through the administrative cracks and refuses to honour political boundaries.
Municipal, provincial and federal government offices stake their jurisdictional claims in the name of health,
irrigation, recreation, utility power, manufacturing and many more. The result is that water is managed by
everyone------and no one.
Wheater knows it will not be easy to contend with our fragmented government structures here. In the UK, he
was used to a strong central government guided by stringent European Union rules that place ecological quality
atop the water agenda. Though he calls himself "the new boy," he sounds cautiously optimistic about tackling
the organizational confusion. "If we get together with the social scientists, we can actually study what is not just
an environmental problem, but a very complex social problem."
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Winter 2011
Saskatoon-Humbolt MP Brad Trost, left, U of S President Peter MacKinnon and
Howard Wheater tour the Aquatic Toxicology Research Centre.
As if all that was not challenge enough, Wheater and company intend to use the laboratory of western Canada to
develop concepts and techniques with worldwide application. Integral to his CERC program, Wheater will
launch and lead the Global Institute for Water Security. The new agency, currently making its way through the
university governance system, should be ready for public unveiling in time for Water Week at the U of S
beginning March 21. A central goal of the new institute will be to translate water science into real-world water
management.
As a young scientist in 1981, Wheater went to Oman to study flooding in the aftermath of a deadly deluge there.
Since that first foray to the beautiful Arabian peninsula, most of his career has been dedicated to sustainable
water. He has consulted with governments, non-governmental organizations and research colleagues in virtually
every part of the world.
His Saskatoon posting will be as ambitious as anything he has done to date, and it comes at a career stage when
he might be tempted to coast. His children encouraged him to make the trip west, and it helps that he is married
to a colleague. Patricia Gober researches water policy and recently joined the faculty of the Johnson Shoyama
Graduate School of Public Policy.
Wheater's take on his own future is a no-nonsense British one; "I have a grant that lasts for seven years. That will
take me to the ripe old age of 68. We'll see how it goes."
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As a citizen of the west who has followed the rise of water science at the University of Saskatchewan with keen
interest, I hope it goes well indeed.
Allan Casey (BA'86) is the author of Lakeland: Ballad of a Freshwater Country, which won the Governor
General's Award for non-fiction in 2010. He is a regular contributor to Canadian Geographic magazine
on the subject of water. He lives in Saskatoon, not far from the river.
Facts and Figures: Water Research at the U of S
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More than 70 faculty in at least 19 U of S departments are currently involved in water research
More than 20 faculty involved in water research are U of S alumni
1 Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in water research: Howard Wheater
$30 million over 7 years to be invested in the CERC
CERC funding will add:
o 6 new faculty
o support for about 45 undergraduate summer students
o support for about 24 master’s students
o support for about 24 PhD students
o support for about 20 post-doctoral fellows
5 Canada Research Chairs (CRC) at the U of S focus on water, of which 2 are U of S alumni: Monique
Dubé (MSc’95) and John Pomeroy (BSc’83, PhD’88)
Direct funding for the five water-related CRCs totals $15 million, and related research funding is
approximately $75 million
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Canada's Early Environmentalist
By Stephen Johnson
and Political Science from the University of
Stockholm."
Although Jim MacNeill
(BA'49, BE'58, LLD'88) no
longer has the public profile
of today's environmental
leaders, his work has
shaped and guided
Canadian and international
environmental policy for
four decades.
Returning to Saskatchewan, MacNeill started a
public service career with the Saskatchewan
government. After earning his engineering degree
at the U of S, he became executive director of the
South Saskatchewan River Development
Commission. The position immersed MacNeill in
planning and developing energy, irrigation,
recreation and other benefits of the Gardiner Dam
and Lake Diefenbaker.
MacNeill comes from
humble beginnings. "I was
born in southern
Saskatchewan during the
Great Depression," recounts MacNeill. "We lived in
the heart of the dust bowl and were forced to move
to Sturgis, a village in the province's central park
belt. I like to say I was an ecological refugee at the
age of two."
Jim MacNeill O.C. was
listed on the U of S
100 Alumni of
Influence in 2007
A watershed moment occurred for MacNeill in
1962. "It was the era of the mega-project. I read
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and was profoundly
affected. The book documented the harmful effects
of DDT on the environment, particularly birds.
Before long, I was one of the few environmentalists
in the Canadian public service."
The Great Depression and years of drought left an
indelible mark on MacNeill. "I remember watching
freight trains pull into Sturgis carrying dozens of
jobless men. They would hop off and camp near the
riverbank and then go around looking for food or
work. On one occasion, my father was looking for
his only pair of work pants to do Saturday chores.
Mom finally had to confess she had given them to a
desperate young man who came to the door asking
for assistance!"
MacNeill would take this new found passion for the
environment to posts in the federal government
where, between 1965 and 1976, he held a number of
senior positions. A particular highlight was being
appointed special advisor on the constitution and
environment in the Privy Council Office. "With the
election of Pierre Trudeau as prime minister in
1968, there was a new emphasis placed on the
environment," said MacNeill. "Trudeau started his
first constitutional review and signalled that he
wanted the environment to somehow be reflected in
the constitution. I joined the Privy Council Office
and wrote a background paper on the constitution
and the environment. That paper became a book
called Environmental Management."
MacNeill would go on to attend the University of
Saskatchewan in 1946. "It was just after World War
II, and the campus boomed with returning war
veterans," remembers MacNeill. "They added spice
to a wonderful three years. I then decided to see the
world and earned a Graduate Degree in Economics
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Winter 2011
Unfortunately for MacNeill and the environment,
the prime minister's interest in the review was
interrupted by the FLQ crisis in Quebec. Trudeau
invoked the War Measures Act and the nation was
on edge. "When Trudeau was once more able to
focus on the constitutional review, very little time
remained before the June 1971 Victoria
Conference," said MacNeill. "Trudeau decided to
concentrate on his two overriding priorities:
repatriation and the Charter. If the FLQ crisis had
not happened, there is, in my view, a strong
possibility the environment would be enshrined in
the constitution today."
King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden presents WASA
Environmental Award to MacNeill in 1991
MacNeill continued his advocacy for the
environment with the federal government,
including serving briefly as director of policy in the
newly created Department of the Environment and
then deputy minister of urban affairs.
Perhaps MacNeill's most significant contribution
occurred in the mid-1980s when he was the
secretary general of the World Commission on
Environment and Development. He was the
principal author of the commission's worldacclaimed report, Our Common Future. The report
was presented to the UN General Assembly in 1987
and established the concept of sustainable
development.
In 1977, MacNeill left the Canadian public service
and accepted a position in Paris, France as director
of environment for the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). He is
candid about some of the limitations of the work on
the environment in the 1970s. "We were left with
largely end-of-pipe measures to clean up pollution
and technical fixes to retrofit, rehabilitate and
restore. These measures were above all politically
safe. They didn't require changes in the policies
supporting unrestricted growth."
MacNeill was surprised by the enduring legacy of
Our Common Future. "I never expected that within
a year our recommendations would be endorsed by
the UN system. I certainly never expected that
during the nineties the two words ‘sustainable
development' would become part of the common
everyday lexicon of humankind."
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Winter 2011
In the years following Our Common Future,
MacNeill served as special advisor to the secretary
general of the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and was
crucial in the development of an Earth Charter, a
code of ethical principles for the planet, with former
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Considering his long and significant career in
national and world environmental policy, MacNeill
is well-placed to comment on the world
environmental situation. "We have made important
progress on local and regional problems but have
failed on global issues. I am beginning to fear that
we will have to suffer a series of existential
environmental disasters before governments are
persuaded to seriously address [environmental
issues]."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presents
Candlelight Award to MacNeill in 2002
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House of the Rising Sun
Photos and Story by Mark A. Ferguson
His research lead him to believe that it was the "Jay
Leno-types who could actually afford these types of
properties, not the general public," estimating that
building a new, net zero property that would
generate as much energy as it would consume was
in the $4-500 per sq. ft. range, and this, he thought,
was far too much money.
When Ronn LePage (BComm'78) snow-shoed
across an area overlooking the North Saskatchewan
River Valley a few years ago, he said to his wife,
"This is where our house will end up one day."
Even on the coldest of days, the sun shines brightly
off the snow, and scattered pockets of birch trees
provide shelter for deer, lynx, owls and eagles. Not
far from Saskatoon, homes and vacation properties
in developments like Sarilia Country Estates are
starting to pop up in the area because of its natural
beauty. But keeping the valley pristine during a time
of development will not be easy.
So, along with some partners, LePage started a new
company, VerEco Homes, to build net zero houses
for people in Saskatchewan—and do it with
drastically reduced costs, around $125-150 per sq.
ft. Although that amount does not include an
estimated $38,000 for the active solar panels that
provide the house with hot water and electricity, the
savings on utility bills and available grants from the
province quickly re-coop that extra cost, LePage
points out.
LePage started doing research about how he could
build a net zero house—the kind of place that could
exist harmoniously with the surrounding beauty of
the area by being essentially energy self-sufficient.
The options, he found out, were available. But they
were not cheap.
Part of reducing the cost of the home was reducing
the total size, and with some seemingly minor
adjustments (like reducing the size of walk-in
closets and pantries) LePage was able to take a 1,600
sq. ft. home down to about 1,200 sq. ft. without
sacrificing any of the livable area.
"When I started looking at building a net zero
home, it became clear you could do it... with enough
money," he says.
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unit. The overhang of the passive solar design keeps
the summer sun out, and the thick insulation helps
maintain cooler temperatures. And for heating, the
sun does all the heavy lifting through the home's
passive and active solar design.
The passive solar works in a number of ways, but
the most obvious are the large, south-facing
windows that throw sunlight onto thick floors and
counter-tops (better known as "thermal mass")
when the sun is lower in the horizon. The floors and
counters absorb the solar heat throughout the day
and release it slowly during the darker parts of the
day.
In the end, a 1,120 sq. ft. home was built in
Saskatoon. Eventually, it will be moved out to his
property at Sarilia, but until then, the house is part
of an educational display at the Western
Development Museum (WDM) in Saskatoon.
There are two types of active solar panels at work in
the house as well, with photovoltaic panels on the
roof used to provide electricity and another set
attached to the front of the balcony to heat water.
The photovoltaic panels will produce more
electricity in the summer than is needed by the
home, so SaskPower acts like a battery by
purchasing unused electricity in the summer and
selling it back to the consumer during the winter
when it is needed—a process known as "grid net
metering".
One might think the highly-insulated 16-inch thick
walls would cut into the already modest size, but
once inside, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom
home feels much bigger than the specifications
would indicate. It boasts a remarkable reduction in
water and energy waste compared to a normal
house, and there is no furnace in lieu of passive and
active solar heating—which LePage points out
would save the average homeowner tens of
thousands of dollars, over the life of the home, on
the cost of heating alone.
As for reducing water use, the house is installed
with a grey water system that collects water from
the sinks and showers and recycles it in the toilets.
Another cleaver feature is a residual hot water
system that puts warm wastewater to use to provide
additional heat for the hot water system.
LePage said there were three major aspects to
consider when trying to reduce the footprint of the
net zero house: heating and cooling costs, energy to
heat water, and electricity used for lighting,
appliances and mechanical. According to LePage,
energy consumption from a net zero house is
drastically lower than a traditional home in these
three areas.
"Normally, you're losing a lot of heat energy down
the drain," says LePage, "but this water recovery
system makes a lot of sense... if you think about it,
you're actually using the hot water from your
shower to provide more heat for the shower."
As LePage explains during tours of the house,
cutting the heating and cooling is actually quite
simple. For starters, there is no air conditioning
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Winter 2011
Energy efficient lighting, appliances and mechanical
features are used to reduce energy consumption.
And the electricity comes directly from the
photovoltaic solar panels.
A key tip he got from a mentor was to ensure that
anything you add to the house can be used in
multiple ways. For example, the roof is angled at
about 52 degrees to both capture the ideal amount
of sunlight on the solar panels and to keep snow
that would hinder collection of solar energy from
sticking to the roof. The overhang was also built at
26 inches, so for every inch of rain, the roof
captures about 800 gallons of useable water.
Perhaps his favourite aspect of the entire home is
just letting people know what is possible, he says,
"The educational component is the final stage is this
whole process.our goal now is to teach as many
people as we can."
Some ideas for the home stem from projects LePage is
working on as part of his pursuit of his master's degree at
the U of S School of Environment and Sustainability.
Construction costs for the home were split between
VerEco and WSE Technologies, a Saskatoon-based
solar energy company. SaskPower and 24 other partners
are picking up the tab for operating costs while the home
is on display at the WDM.
Until his display home at the WDM makes its way
to his property overlooking the North
Saskatchewan River, LePage will be taking visitors
through the house as part of an educational
component in partnership with SaskPower. So far,
about 1,300 people have made their way through
the house, and LePage is hoping thousands more
take the tour.
Another feature LePage points out is that the house
is ready to move (RTM), so it can be built to suit the
needs of any property, either rural or urban.
LePage seems like he could go on for days about all
of the features of the house, and I was only able to
scratch the surface. In addition to the actual
infrastructure of the house, LePage and VerEco can
help curious house shoppers with applications for
green mortgages, rebate options and even custom
home design.
For more information in VerEco, visit
www.vereco.ca.
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Winter 2011
Fresh Off the Farm
By Beverly Fast
U of S alumni Melanie and Kevin Boldt have been practicing natural food production on their Osler area farm for
15 years. Today, Pine View Farms is a thriving family farm working towards both environmental and economic
sustainability
caring for our animals humanely, not feeding
unnecessary drugs and never growth hormones,”
Kevin says.
Natural or Organic?
Pine View Farms is a “natural” food producer,
meaning their poultry and livestock are raised in a
humane, stress-free environment and fed a healthy,
vegetarian diet without the use of growth
promoting medications or hormones. This allnatural protocol is not synonymous with organic.
To gain organic certification, foods must meet
established criteria laid out by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency’s Canadian Organic Standards.
“The grain we feed our animals is blended specially
for us, but it is not certified organic,” Melanie says.
“We would have to import certified organic feed;
instead, we choose to buy from local producers we
know and trust.”
Moving to all-natural production was a calculated
risk. World commodity prices were at some of the
lowest levels in history, Saskatchewan’s farm
economy was struggling and Melanie was working
off-farm to support their “farming habit”.
When Melanie (BComm’92) and Kevin (Dip/Ag’89,
Cert/BusAdm’96) made the decision to shift their
cattle and grain operation to all-natural production
back in 1998, they staked their livelihood on a
personal philosophy.
“So many things were out of our control,” Melanie
says, “weather, pests, commodity prices. We
realized that we had to change the way we farmed
or we wouldn’t survive.”
“We believe in treating the land as a renewable
resource. We’re passionate about sustainable
agriculture and growing good food, and about
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They began exploring direct marketing—selling
their products directly to customers. “We wanted to
grow products that people wanted, but where we
could set the value. We wanted to move from being
price-takers to price-setters.”
As climate change, food security, environmental
sustainability and ethical food production have
grown from minor issues to major global concerns,
a new mindset has taken root in the consumer
imagination, and its ultimate expression is the
“locavore.” A locavore is a consumer who tries to
eat only locally grown foods, often by adhering to a
“100-mile diet”, which means eating only foods
grown within 100 mile radius of home.
“There’s definitely a risk in changing the way you
do things, but there’s
a risk in staying the same, too.”
By 2003, their all-natural livestock production had
eclipsed the commodity grain side of the operation.
Kevin and Melanie made another bold decision:
they got out of grain farming entirely, selling off
equipment and leasing their land to neighbouring
grain operations.
“That met with some skepticism,” Melanie says.
“Our neighbours kept asking what we were going to
do now that we weren’t farming anymore.”
With double digit year-over-year increases in
revenue, the Boldts were too busy building Pine
View Farms into a viable farmgate to worry about
what-ifs. They were producing and selling high
quality, all-natural poultry, beef, pork and lamb for
a growing number of retail food outlets and
restaurants. Meanwhile, things were happening on
the world stage that supported their sustainable
farming approach.
Pine View Farms gives people an “authentic
connection to their food. When you buy local, you
have the advantage of talking to the person who
grew your food. You can see how the animals are
treated, what they are fed, how they are butchered
and processed.”
The Rise of the Locavore
“What happens if we lose the knowledge base to
grow
and produce our own food?”
“Fresh off the farm” is an appeal to bygone days
when you bought meat at the butcher’s, bread at the
bakery, and fruits and vegetables at the local
grocer’s. But one of the casualties of our urban
lifestyle is the disconnect between food and farm.
We do not know where our food comes from, let
alone how it is produced.
Melanie thinks the buy local trend is here to stay.
“I’m convinced that climate change and rising
energy prices are going to drive changes in how and
where things are produced and in consumer
purchasing patterns. I think locally grown food
could be a parallel option to the larger global food
system.”
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Winter 2011
Pine View Farms continues to evolve. In 2008, they
became a partner in Souleio Foods, a restaurant and
retail outlet in downtown Saskatoon. They recently
moved into community supported agriculture, a
growing trend that allows customers to purchase a
stake in a seasonal garden. And they just laid down
their first batch of liqueur from Saskatchewangrown sour cherries.
For the Boldts, economic viability has been essential
to sustainability. “When we had the grain and cattle
operation, it employed ourselves and Kevin’s dad.
Now, we employ 25 people off two quarter sections
of Saskatchewan farmland. That’s jobs and
economic spin-offs for our local economy,” Melanie
says. “I don’t work off-farm anymore; we earn 100
per cent of our living off our family farm.”
U of S Fruit Program Breeds Success
The University of Saskatchewan’s Fruit Program has enjoyed a number of successes over the years, including the
development of the dwarf sour cherry. Boasting cold hardiness, dwarf stature and good fruit quality, the first
dwarf sour cherry to be released by the U of S was the Carmine Jewel in the late 1990s. A few years ago, the U of
S introduced Romance series: Romeo, Juliette, Valentine, Crimson Passion and Cupid.
A strong sweet and sour taste is the defining trait of U of S-bred sour cherries. On a Brix scale (measure of
grams of sugar per 100 grams of juice), U of S cherries have scored over 20 compared to scores of 10 to 16 for
other sour cherry varieties. This has a lot to do with the cool nights and long, sunny days of Saskatchewan’s
growing season.
Find out more about Saskatchewan-grown dwarf sour cherries, apples, grapes and haskap/honeysuckle berry at
www.fruit.usask.ca
.
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Alumni Association
President's Message
The annual celebration of six of our distinguished alumni—the Honouring Our Alumni
awards gala—was celebrated in November. U of S alumnus John Gormley (LLB’92)
engaged the audience as our guest speaker. He spoke of the many ways alumni give back
to the university to help future generations of students. A good time was had by all in
attendance.
The Alumni Association struck two ad hoc sub-committees this fall to help strengthen
the bonds between the University of Saskatchewan and its alumni. One committee is
investigating ways the association can support the fundraising efforts of the institution. We are not interested in
raising funds, but we are interested in pursuing innovative ways we can support the increasingly diverse
fundraising activities at the U of S.
The second committee is working on ways alumni can be more involved in undergraduate and graduate student
recruitment. Our shared experiences with the university as alumni can help define why people should attend the
U of S. From mentorship of young academics to encouraging your own children and grandchildren to attend
your alma mater, there are many ways alumni can help ensure enrolment at the U of S continues to rise.
The association’s governance review has begun. A consultant will guide the association’s board of directors in
evaluating our current structure and recommend how we can most effectively accomplish our mission and
vision of adding value to our members.
Construction of the renovated Place Riel student centre continues, and the planned alumni wall is in track to be
revealed in early spring 2011. The interactive display will give the Alumni Association, our benefits and services,
and some of our accomplished graduates excellent exposure to future alumni and the high volume of visitors
passing by on a daily basis.
All the best for a prosperous 2011.
Bryan Harvey, BSA’60, MSA’61
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Winter 2011
Your membership in the U of S Alumni Association
and your free alumni card get you access to a variety
of benefits and services. Visit
http://www.usask.ca/alumni/benefits_and_services/
index.php to learn more.
(high-achieving high school students) and members
of the Pre-Health Professionals High School Club.
A dinner with Regina and district high school
administrators and counselors ended the day.
A breakfast meeting with the Regina Chamber of
Commerce started the second day, followed by a
presentation at a local high school. Meetings were
held with members of the U of S Colleges of
Medicine and Nursing based in Regina and with
members of the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.
A wine and cheese reception at the Delta Regina
Hotel, with over 100 alumni and friends in
attendance, concluded President MacKinnon’s visit
to the Queen City.
New Engaged Alumni Award
The provincial tour continues with visits to Yorkton
on March 16 and Estevan on May 11.
Explore the world with exclusive tours through the
U of S alumni travel program. Email
alumni.office@usask.ca to sign-up to receive travel
updates and promotional offers.
A new award for recent U of S graduates has been
created through a partnership between the
University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association
and the University of Saskatchewan Students’
Union (USSU). The Engaged Alumni Excellence
Award—part of the USSU Excellence Awards—will
be given to an alumnus that is actively engaged in
their community and has maintained a strong
connection to the U of S. Alumni that have
graduated from the U of S in the past five years and
are 35 years of age or younger are eligible.
At the Branches
The Vancouver branch of the U of S Alumni
Association held their annual event in conjunction
with the Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. BC Lions
football game on October 31. Over 50 alumni and
friends met for lunch at the Holiday Inn Express
and were joined by more U of S alumni at Empire
Stadium for the game.
Visit the alumni website to nominate a potential
recipient and to view the terms of reference.
The Ottawa branch held a Grey Cup party at the
Heart & Crown on November 28. In spite of the
loud cheering from many Rider fans, the
Saskatchewan Roughriders lost to the Montreal
Alouettes 21-18.
Nominations close February 15, 2011.
President’s Tour
On December 7, U of S President Peter MacKinnon
visited the city of Regina on his second stop of the
2010-11 President’s Provincial Tour. The two-day
visit began with an afternoon social for parents of
prospective U of S students, Greystone Scholars
A number of All Canadian alumni events took place
this fall. In London, UK, the 10th Annual Alumni
Night was held on October 29 at Canada House, in
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Winter 2011
Alumni Association Honouring Our Alumni
Gala Dinner a Success
Trafalgar Square. The Joint Canadian Universities
in Hong Kong celebrated Halloween with a happy
hour on the same day.
On November 11, alumni of Canadian universities
attended the Louis Sullivan architectural
installation at the Chicago Cultural Center in
Chicago, IL, followed by a reception at The Gage.
The Consulate General of Canada and the CanadaMinnesota Business Council hosted a networking
reception in Minneapolis, MN on December 15.
This was the 2nd Annual Canadian University
Alumni Reception held in the Twin Cities.
back l-r: Garth Herbert, Dr. William Frischke, Dr.
Ernest Olfert; front l-r: Laurel Krause, Cecil King,
Kelly-Anne Riess
Upcoming Events
Six U of S alumni were celebrated at the Honouring
Our Alumni gala dinner held November 4, at the
Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon. John
Gormley (LLB’92) delivered an entertaining and
inspiring address, and Norman Rebin (BA’59)
served as the lively host for the evening. U of S
President Peter MacKinnon also brought greetings.
Alumni Events with President Peter
MacKinnon
February 14, Calgary, AB
March 10, Toronto, ON
March 16, Yorkton, SK
March 22, Vancouver, BC
March 23, Parksville, BC
April 6, London, UK
May 11, Estevan, SK
Each year, alumni and university and community
leaders come together to recognize the recipients of
the alumni awards. The 2010 recipients are:
Alumni Association Annual General Meeting
June 16
Saskatoon, SK
•
•
2011 U of S Alumni Honoured Years Reunion
•
June 23-25
Saskatoon, SK
For information visit
www.usask.ca/alumni/reunion
•
•
For more information on alumni events, visit
www.usask.ca/alumni.
•
25
Alumni Award of Achievement: Dr. Ernest
Olfert, BA'65, DVM'69, MSc'76
Alumni Excellence in Aboriginal Initiatives
Award: Cecil King, BEd'73, MEd'75
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: KellyAnne Riess, BA'02
Alumni Service Award: Laurel Krause,
BSHEC'75, BEd'77
Alumni Humanitarian Award: Garth
Herbert, Bcomm'91
Alumni Mentorship Award: Dr. William
Frischke, DVM'76
Green and White
Winter 2011
Visit www.usask.ca/alumni/awards for more
information on the alumni awards and award
recipients.
To express your interest in volunteering, fill out the
online form located at
https://survey.usask.ca/survey.php?sid=19219.
Get Involved. Volunteer
Your knowledge and experience are valuable assets.
Put them to work by volunteering for the University
of Saskatchewan or the U of S Alumni Association.
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Winter 2011
In Print
Country Roads: Memoirs from Rural Canada (Nimbus Publishing,
2010) by Pam Chamberlain (CTESL’03)
This collection of 34 stories reflecting upon growing up in rural Canada includes entries from U
of S alumni Pamela Wallin (BA’74, Regina Campus), Janice Acton (BA’69, Arts’70), Sharon
Butala (BEd’62, BA’63, PGD’73, DLitt’04) Shelley Leedahl (BA’07) and Kathleen Parley (BA’62,
BEd’69).
Historical Dictionary of Choral Music (Scarecrow Press, 2010) by Mel
Unger (BMus’74)
This historical dictionary focuses on choral music and practice in the Western world from the
medieval era to the 21st century with over 1,000 cross-referenced entries on important
composers, genres, conductors, institutions, styles, and technical terms of choral music.
Quintspinner: A Pirate’s Quest (iUniverse, 2010) by Dianne Greenlay
(BPT’80)
Tess, a 16-year old physician’s daughter in 18th century London, gets caught-up in maritime
adventure after she witnesses a murder and takes a prophetic spinner ring as her own. Will she
be able to find the answers she needs to save the ones she loves?
Hooked on Canadian Books (Cormorant Books, 2010) by T. F. Rigelhof
(BA’65)
A conversational survey of “the good, the better, and the best” novels published since 1984 covers
readings of well-known Canadian writers and brings well-deserved attention to some newer or
lesser-known authors.
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Winter 2011
The Brain and the Meaning of Life (Princeton University Press, 2010)
by Paul Thagard (BA’71)
Drawing upon decades of research in philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, The Brain and
the Meaning of Life shows how brain science helps answer questions about life’s nature and value.
Power to Grow (Elkoko Publishing, 2010) by Ed Kowalenko (BSA’52)
The story of fertilizer—its decades long introductory period on the prairies, the rapid growth of
the industry and its current popularity as a product and investment—is told by a man who spent
more than 40 years in the industry.
Setting the Captive Free (Taking Flight International, 2010) by Jane A.
Simington (BSN’87, MN’90)
More than a self-help book, this companion on the journey through pain and grief offers a
variety of activities, exercises, and other techniques to assist the reader on their journey to
personal wholeness.
Baba’s Babushka: A Magical Ukrainian Christmas (Your Nickel’s
Worth Publishing, 2010) by Marion Mutala (BEd’79, PGD’94, MEd’95)
In this illustrated historical fiction, Natalie discovers the traditions of her Ukrainian heritage
when the wind blows her a babushka just like the one her baba used to wear.
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Winter 2011
Face Off (Coteau Books, 2010) by Maureen Ulrich (BEd’80, BA’03)
In this sequel to Power Plays, Jessie is sure she has things under control, but one party and one
bad choice could change that. Handling the action on the ice may be a lot easier than handling
high school.
Amanda in Arabia (ireadiwrite Publishing, 2010) by Darlene Foster
(CTESL’99)
Amanda Ross, an average 12-year old Canadian girl, has an adventure of a lifetime in the United
Arab Emirates, where she encounters a beautiful princess, a dangerous desert and a loyal camel.
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Winter 2011
Q&A with Malcolm Wilson
Malcolm Wilson (MSc’77, PhD’81) is recognized as a world
leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) research. After
serving as the director of the Office of Energy and
Environment at the University of Regina for several years, he
was recently appointed executive director of the Petroleum
Technology Research Centre, a not-for-profit organization
founded by the federal and provincial governments to promote
environmentally responsible enhanced oil recovery techniques.
Among his many honours and awards, Wilson was a member
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
which was co-awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former
US Vice-President Al Gore.
G&W: What was your role on the IPCC
team that won the 2007 Nobel Peace
Prize?
sources (power plants, refineries, natural gas
boilers, etc.) and we capture the CO2 they produce.
It is then compressed into a liquid because that is
more dense. That is transported via a pipeline to a
storage site where it is injected deep into the subsurface for permanent storage.
MW: The panel does regular update reports on
climate change, with a complete set of reports on
climate change science and policy, every five years.
Within that process, they do a series of special
documents that cover issues of particular concern,
like carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage. I
was the lead author on chapter five of the special
report that focused on geological storage of CO2.
G&W: How did you get involved in this
area of research?
MW: It was really an evolution of events. In 1987, I
was working with the provincial government. There
were discussions about the use of CO2 for enhanced
oil recovery (EOR) and possible sources of CO2.
The provincial government co-funded a CO2
capture project at the Boundary Dam Power Station
just outside Estevan, SK. In 1988, they tested two
commercial technologies for the capture of CO2
while Shell was doing simulation work and
G&W: What is carbon capture and
storage?
MW: At its simplest, it is the prevention of CO2
from getting into the atmosphere. We break this out
into a series of processes. We have large point
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Winter 2011
developing a pilot project for EOR in the Midale
[oil] Field, just south of Weyburn.
G&W: Can you comment on recent news reports
(in mid-January 2011) that claim CO2 from a
storage area in southern Saskatchewan is leaking
on a nearby farm?
Also in 1987, the UN’s Brundtland Commission
wrote Our Common Future, which took the concept
of climate change and sustainability to a whole new
level of public awareness.
MW: To say the least, I was taken aback by the
report released by Ecojustice. When we evaluated it
in greater detail, we found the report has a lot of
weaknesses. The claims they were making are not
substantiated by the data that was there. In fact, a
lot of work out of the U of S over the years,
particularly from the College of Agriculture and
Bioresources, looking at the carbon isotopes and
ratios in the soil suggests background levels or
composition in Saskatchewan are pretty much what
the report states.
In 1988, a Toronto conference talked about
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two per cent
annually.
I started to put two and two together. We have the
technology that can potentially help deal with CO2
emissions, we have a potential place to put the CO2,
and we have the need as outlined in the Toronto
conference and the Brundtland Commission.
Some of the fundamental interpretations were not
adequately compared back to the existing peerreviewed literature. Had they done that, they would
have seen the conclusions they drew were not valid.
So, in effect what we are looking at is a report that
was put out before the science in it was adequately
reviewed. In our 10 years of work in the Weyburn
area, which includes soil gas analysis, there is
nothing anomalous about what is happening on the
property in question.
G&W: How has southern Saskatchewan
become a key location for carbon
capture and storage research?
MW: Two things have happened. The first is the
pilot plant for carbon capture installed in 1987.
Secondly, in the 1990s, Pan Canadian (now
Cenovus) wanted to do a commercial CO2 EOR
project in the Weyburn [oil] Field. At the same
time, I was involved in conversations with a friend
in the federal government, and we thought it would
be a great idea to tag a research project to look at
the integrity of geological storage of CO2 on to this
commercial project.
G&W: Anything else you would like to
share with your fellow alumni?
MW: On a personal note, I reflect back at my days
at the U of S, when I was doing my graduate work
in the Department of Geology, and I studied under
researchers whom I consider to be two of the
biggest names in geology, not just in Saskatchewan
but globally. In some respects I have tried to
emulate how those people worked and generated
their successes. I really do look at my days at the U
of S as character building in the sense I always had a
model from those people to look back at and really
form the foundation for what I did.
Southern Saskatchewan was the second major
project in the world, and it is the largest and most
comprehensive study of geological storage of CO2
anywhere in the world. Within the CCS
community, Weyburn is famous. When I was in
Norway one time, I was explaining where Regina is
in relation to Weyburn.
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