Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame welcomes 2022 inductees

Nov 09, 2022

The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame officially welcomed four inductees Saturday at a ceremony in Toronto as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

CAHF President Ted Menzies says this year marks their 60th Anniversary.

The 2022 inductees are Maurice Delage, Mabel Hamilton, Dr. Digvir Jayas and Ashok Sarkar.

Portraits are on display in the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Gallery located at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Maurice Delage – Agribusiness leader, hybrid canola visionary

Maurice Delage an early believer in biotechnology, his determination fostered the development of what is today InVigor herbicide-tolerant hybrid canola that’s grown on 50% of Canada’s canola acres. He now farms with his family at Indian Head, SK, and was nominated by Ag-West Bio Inc. and the Global Institute for Food Security.

Mabel Hamilton – Ag education champion, respected beef industry leader

A teacher by training, Mabel Hamilton has made lasting contributions to the Canadian beef industry. Her lifelong career involved the Alberta Cattle Commission, Canadian Angus Association, the Beef Information Centre, and was an early champion for traceability in the beef industry. Mabel Hamilton lives in Innisfail, AB and was nominated by the Canadian Angus Association.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.