Page 26 - TriSociety Virtual Event

Award Winners

genomics and molecular tools in the study gious international events. These achie ve­
of plant pathogens for early detection and ments clearly indicate that Dr. Lévesque has
biosystematics, and during his distinguished contributed to plant pathology research in Ca­
career he had considerable outreach and nada. Dr. Lévesque’s contribution to the plant
involvement with the broader community, pathology community include providing many
including leadership roles and education. Dr. guest lectures at Canadian universities, super­
Lévesque’s nomination was supported by vision of numerous highly qualified personnel
numerous signatories of highly­regarded plant (graduate students, post­doctoral fellows and
pathologists from across Canada and are a technicians) that are now active contributors
testament to his wide­ranging impact on the to plant pathology themselves, and active
scientific community. Dr. Lévesque’s impact involvement in many scientific societies and
on plant pathology research and the commu­ advisor y committees. He has influenced policy
nity in Canada are too many to summarize in a in the Canadian government in relation to
short brief, but highlights of his career include serious plant pest invasions, and develop­
seminal work on the phylogeny and genomics ment and implementation of the Canadian
of Pythium species; recommendation of the Agriculture partnership program and the
CPS Career Recognition Award nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) as Federal Science and Technology Infrastructure
for 2021 – Dr. André Lévesque a universal DNA barcoding marker for fungi; Initiative. He has disseminated information in
building capacity for Canada to address risks numerous media articles, government ne ws
The awards committee recommends that of accidental or deliberate introduction of bulletins, and television and radio interviews.
Dr. André Lévesque is awarded the inaugural plant pathogens; leadership in the Internatio­ In the words of the group of 30+ plant patho­
CPS Career Recognition Award. Dr. André nal DNA Barcode Initiative; and development logists that nominated Dr. André Lévesque for
Lévesque is highly deser ving of this award of DNA multi­arrays for diagnostics that are this award: “André is an exemplary role model
based on the impact his career of more than still widely in use. He published 125 peer­re­ for many of us ­ his career and all his achie ve­
25 years has had on research and ser vice to viewed scientific papers, 10 book chapters ments have influenced and will continue to
the plant pathology community. André retired and 200 conference proceeding over his re­ influence our research for decades to come.
from his position with CFIA in November search career. He received over 100 invitations As a researcher, Dr. Lévesque is admired; as a
2020. There is no doubt that Dr. Lévesque has to important scientific e vents as presenter or mentor he is loved by his mentees; and as a
made significant contributions on the use of keynote speaker, including to many presti­ person, he is appreciated by us all.”

of Plant Science (CJPS), was selected for the gree in 1985. Having worked on the provincial
Canadian Science Publishing and CSA 2020 weed sur vey in 1982 and 1983, he decided
Best Paper Award. The article provided a to pursue a career in weed science. Thus,
unique opportunity to assess the range of he began his master’s and doctoral studies,
herbicide resistance in horticulture produc­ under the direction of Dr. Gilles Leroux at the
tion and it’s broader potential implication for Department of Plant Science at Laval Univer­
pigweed management in a multitude of cro­ sity focusing his research on the control and
pping systems. The work is relevant not only physiology of quackgrass.
to the readership of CJPS, but also farmers
and other stakeholders. Notably, it is the first Dr. Tardif received his PhD in Januar y 1991
report of double mutation in psbA in any weed and later worked in Australia at the University
species and the first report of Ala251Val and of Adelaide under the super vision of Professor
Phe273Val in pigweed species. Stephen Powles, aiming to understand the
physiology of herbicide cross­resistance in
François Tardif is a weed scientist and pro­ annual r yegrass. He joined the University of
fessor at the University of Guelph. He teaches Guelph in 1996 and is conducting most of his
The CSA 2020 Best Paper Award – at the bachelor ’s and diploma level, trains research on understanding and managing
Dr. François Tardif graduate students and conducts research on herbicide resistance as well as the manage­
herbicide activity, weed biolog y and integra­ ment of invasive plants such as giant hogweed
Dr Tardif’s paper, ‘Widespread herbicide ted weed management. and wild parsnip. Dr. Tardif has taught multiple
resistance in pigweed species in Ontario carrot classes on various aspects of agronomy and
production is due to multiple photosystem II François studied agronomy at Laval University, weed science and super vised or co­super vi­
mutations’, published in the Canadian Journal Quebec City, and obtained his bachelor ’s de­ sed 30 graduate students.

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