Dr. Keith Downey (right), an earned Doctor of Science degree recipient, at spring Convocation standing with unidentified man in academic robes.

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 Ph.D. 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. In 1998, "Downey Street" at a research and development park in Saskatoon was named in his honour.