Lorne Hepworth served as minister of ag between 1983 and 1985
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Top photo: Brighten Creative Group
A Sask. farmer and former minister of agriculture received an appointment to the Order of Canada.
Lorne Hepworth, who served as ag minister from 1983 to 1985 under Premier Grant Devine, as well as holding other cabinet positions, received the honour from Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Dec. 28.
In total, 78 Canadians were honoured.
The Order of Canada is the second-highest honour for merit in Canada. It recognizes people whose contributions are felt in Canada and around the world.
Hepworth is being honoured “for his exceptional contributions to Canadian agriculture and research, which have propelled the sector to new heights”, the list of appointees says.
Hepworth graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1971 and worked as a veterinarian until 1982 when he entered politics.
And he operated a grain farm near Assiniboia, which is still in his family.
After his political career ended, Hepworth moved into the crop protection sector, including serving as president and CEO of CropLife Canada for almost 17 years where he advocated for innovation and new technologies.
In addition, he helped form GrowCanada, a group of partners dedicated to promoting and advancing innovation in Canada.
He is currently chair of the Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario.
Receiving the Order of Canada represents the people he’s worked with, Hepworth says.
"It's humbling and it's gratifying to be honoured in this fashion. It's a reflection of the really interesting opportunities I've had during my life, and especially the people I've had a chance to work with," Hepworth told CBC from London, Ont.
Hepworth’s other awards include an appointment to the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2000 and an induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2014.
Multiple members of the ag industry took to social media to congratulate Hepworth for his appointment to the Order of Canada.
Cathy Lennon, the general manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture offered a “huge and heartfelt congrats” on X, adding he’s “an incredibly deserving recipient.”
And Lisa Thompson, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, said on X that “Lorne deserves this honour for his amazing contributions to ag research & innovation in Ontario and across Canada.”