Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
July 18, 2014
The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) has awarded honourary life membership to a long time seed industry supporter: Dr. William (Bill) Leask.
CSTA’s Honourary Life Membership award is presented to an individual in honour of his/her significant contribution to the Canadian seed industry and the CSTA. “Given his more than 27 years with the CSTA, and his longer career in the seed industry, I can think of no‐one else who is more deserving than Bill Leask,” said his nominator Stephen Denys.
Armed with Bachelors and Masters Degrees and a PhD from Guelph University, Bill Leask started his career as a Plant Breeder at the University. He moved on to be Director of Crop Research; and later General Manager of the Corn and Soybeans Division for Maple Leaf Mills. Bill was appointed to the position of Executive Vice‐President with the CSTA in 1983. He expertly guided the national association for more than 28 years, retiring at the end of May, 2011.
“With Bill at the helm, CSTA became a respected voice for Canada’s seed industry, both nationally and internationally,” said Mr. Denys. “His contribution, based on his tremendous knowledge of plant breeding, seed technology and trade; and of the seed industry itself, led to the development of policies, structures and strategies that have benefitted all stakeholders in the seed sector, in Canada and abroad.” Dr. Leask received his award during the CSTA’s 91st Annual Meeting in Banff Alberta.
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