Dr. Keith Downey (left) and Dr. Baldur R. Stefansson, co-recipients of the 1975 Royal Bank Award.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Richard Keith Downey was born in 1927 in Saskatoon. He received a BSA in 1951 and an MSc in 1952, both from the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Downey received his PhD from Cornell University in 1961. In 1951 Dr. Downey began working for Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon, becoming Senior Research Scientist Emeritus in 1993. He started his own firm and is President of Canoglobe Consulting Inc. He worked with Dr. Baldur Stefansson to develop a variety of rapeseed that could be used as an edible oil. This is known as canola and is one of Canada’s top edible oils and one of the largest oilseed crops in the world. Dr. Downey became known as the "Father of Canola". He is the breeder and co-breeder of 13 rapeseed/canola varieties and five condiment mustard varieties. Dr. Downey was named an officer of the Order of Canada (1976) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1979). He is also a Fellow of the Agriculture Institute of Canada and an honourary life member of the Canadian Seed Growers Association and of the Saskatchewan Rapeseed Association. He received an honourary Doctor of Science degree from the U of S in 1994 and the Eminent Scientist Award at the Ninth International Rapeseed Congress in 1995. In 1996 he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, and in 2002 into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. In 1998, "Downey Street" at a research and development park in Saskatoon was named in his honour.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Baldur Rosmund Stefansson was born in 1917 in Vestfold, Manitoba. He served in the Royal Canadian Army during World War II. After the war Dr. Stefansson attended the University of Manitoba where he received a Dip.Ag. in 1949, a BSA in 1950, and a MSc in 1952. He received his PhD in 1966. Dr. Stefansson worked in the Department of Plant Science for the University of Manitoba as a professor and researcher. He worked with Dr. Keith Downey of the University of Saskatchewan to develop a variety of rapeseed that could be used as an edible oil. This is known as canola and is one of Canada's top edible oil and one of the largest oilseed crops in the world. Dr. Steffansson became known as the "Father of Canola". He retired in 1986. Dr. Steffansson died in [Winnipeg] in 2002.