Christopher Hedley Bigland was born in Calgary on 15 October 1919. He received his first degree, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, from the University of Toronto in 1941. This was followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Public Health from the U of T in 1946 and a MSc. in physiology from the University of Alberta in 1960. Dr. Bigland became a member of the faculty of the U of S in 1964 with his appointment as Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology. In 1974 Dr Bigland became the first Director of VIDO and remained in that post until his retirement in 1984.