The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) has announced the induction of five exceptional leaders whose careers have left an indelible mark on Ontario’s agricultural landscape and beyond.
The 2026 Inductees are:
• - The Honourable Robert Black
• - Dr. Helen Fisher (Posthumous)
• - Scott Graham
• - Percy Hodgetts (Posthumous)
• - Brian O’Connor
Dr. Helen Fisher (1948 – 2025)
Nominated by Arthur and Marlene Moyer, Ronald Moyer and Dr. Wendy McFadden Smith, Dr. Helen Fisher, affectionately known as "the Grape Doctor," was a pioneering viticulturist whose visionary leadership and research transformed Ontario's wine industry. During her distinguished career as a researcher first at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, then as an associate professor at the University of Guelph, she played an instrumental role in the 1980s transition from labrusca to vinifera grapes. This foundational change elevated the global reputation of Ontario wines. Her achievements in applied research provided growers with practical, science-based solutions for critical challenges, including the use of wind machines to mitigate cold injury, the development of trellising systems to enhance yields, and expertise in rootstock selection.
Beyond her technical contributions, Dr. Fisher was a dedicated educator who mentored generations of viticulturists at the University of Guelph, Niagara College, and Brock University, many of whom now hold leading roles in the industry. She was also a trailblazer in agricultural leadership, breaking gender barriers as the first woman appointed to Ontario’s provincial agricultural field advisory service. Her enduring legacy is defined by her profound influence on the modern viticultural landscape and is reflected in numerous accolades, including multiple lifetime achievement awards from organizations such as the Vintners’ Quality Alliance (VQA) and the American Society of Enology and Viticulture.
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