Inspiring leaders will receive honorary degrees from University of Waterloo

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Convocation is a time for celebration, reflection, and inspiration. It’s a time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of students and to celebrate accomplishments. And we also want to recognize those thought leaders and influencers who are advancing society across a spectrum of disciplines. They are leaders our graduates can look to for inspiration as they prepare themselves for the future.

“Every year, we confer honorary degrees on incredible individuals who have accomplished great things,” says Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “We know our graduates will take inspiration from these individuals as they set out on their own paths of discovery.”

Black and white portrait of Ann and John Heath
Doctors Ann and John Heath received their medical degrees at McGill University and completed postgraduate medical training in Halifax, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. They established a practice in Campbell River B.C. and conducted many clinical research studies there.

In 1985, they founded Yellow Island Aquaculture on Quadra Island B.C., which is a centre for aquaculture research that has made incredible contributions to science.

A 20-year university collaboration with university researchers resulted in improved rearing techniques and genetic brood (breeding) stock, enabling Yellow Island Aquaculture to become the first commercial salmon farm in Canada to convert to 100 per cent organic production of a native species, the Chinook salmon.

Their research has been recognized with a 2013 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation for a Small & Medium-sized Company and publications include contributions to Nature and Science magazines.

Researchers are involved from hatchery to plate, tracking fish through their entire life cycle. Unlike traditional methods which only sample fish at one point, they can see the results of practices introduced at different stages.

Waterloo Biology Professor Brian Dixon has worked with Yellow Island Aquaculture for many years and was also a recipient of the NSERC Synergy Award. He is investigating the immunology of these fish on a molecular level to understand why certain breeding strategies produce a superior salmon. Dixon holds the Canada Research Chair in Fish and Environmental Immunology.

“Our high quality research has resulted in high quality salmon for some of the best restaurants in Vancouver,” said Dixon.

To learn more about Waterloo's 2022 honorary recipients please see the article on Waterloo News.