In memorium

taught at Mount Saint Vincent in Halifax, at Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon, and at the University of Guelph before returning to Winnipeg in 1965 to take up a teaching position in the Department of Foods and Nutrition. A CIFST member since the early 1960's Marion has acted in various executive positions at the local as well as the national level, and in 1980-81 had the distinction of being CIFST's first woman president.

Or. R.R. Riel Director Appointed For St. Hyacinthe Centre Dr. Rene Riel has been appointed director of the new $30 million food research centre to be built in St. Hyacinthe, Que. A native of Sherrington, Que., Dr. Riel graduated with his bachelor and master's degrees from the Oka Agricultural Institute of the University of Montreal. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. After working with Agriculture Canada as a research scientist, Dr. Riel was recruited by Lava! University in 1963 to create Canada's first department of food science. His extensive research there included such pioneering work as the extraction of white protein from alfalfa leaves for use in human foods. In 1974, he returned to Agriculture Canada as co-ordinator of the department's food research programs. "The appointment of Dr. Riel at this time, allows him to become involved at the planning stage for our food research centre," Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan said. "Under his guidance, this centre will play a major role in food research in the years ahead." The food research centre will provide the food industry with much-needed facilities to develop new or improved methods for food processing. It will offer up-to-date pilot plants and equipvi / Affaires de l'Institut

ment to researchers from universities, farm organizations, other governments and the food industry. Although research will concentrate on milk, meat, fruits and vegetables studies will also be undertaken in areas such as applied biotechnology, essential oils, aromas, beverages, baking, pasta products and irradiation. "Biotechnology is a particularly exciting' area where Centre researchers will study the use of microbial agents to the conversion of waste materials or commodities into valuable ingredients or food products. These products can be enzymes, proteins, sugars, alcohol as well as cheese-type products or winetype beverages," Mr. Whelan said. "Pilot irradiation facilities will be available to the industry for research and for testing the applicability of irradiation technology to specific commodities and products." There will also be research into preservation and storage of foods, the salvaging of food waste products and new equipment development.

In Memorium Dr. John Blake passed away on October 8, 1983. Born in Timmons, Ontario, Dr. Blake received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees at Queen's University in Kingston and his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Toronto in 1967. He held the rank of Assistant Professor of Food Chemistry at the University of Toronto from 1967-1977. He moved to Saskatoon in 1977 where he joined the POS Pilot Plant as a Lipid and Analytical Chemist. Dr. Blake will be remembered for his dedication and professionalism and will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends.

National Committee Reports Finance Committee This committee has been charged with four basic tasks; to keep disbursements of the Institute under control; maintain a projected 5 year budget; to advise the President and Council on unbudgetted expenses and to invest surplus funds in suitable investments. It is the function of this committee also to prepare a detailed budget for presentation to the members at the Annual General Meeting, during the Annual Conference. All the workings of the National Office, as well as the committees, are examined by the Financial Committee with regard to cost. An important item continues to be th.e opera-

tion of our Journal. We will continue to strive for the highest level of quality, while keeping costs within manageable limits. The committee generally meets in the Fall to prepare a preliminary budget for presentation to the Mid-Year Executive Meeting. During this meeting, the executive will discuss and refine the budget in order that a final version can be presented to the general membership. The members of this year's Finance Committee are: Chairman Jim D'Hondt Thomas, Large & Singer Inc. 40 Emblem Court, Agincourt,. Ontario MlS IBl Members Dr. Dan Cumming Agriculture Canada Research Station Summerland, British Columbia VOH 120 Dr. D.F. Wood Food Research Institute Agriculture Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A OC6 Mr. D.C. Beckett Food Research Institute Agriculture Canada Ottawa, Ontario KIA OC6

University Food Departments Work Together: CCUFSA/CAUCSA In an attempt to strengthen their teaching and research programs, the Heads of ten University Food Science Departments have grouped together. The association, called the Council of Canadian University Food Science Administrators, will function with a view to reinforcing and upgrading teaching programs, this being especially important as the food industry seeks employees knowledgeable in the latest processing and testing techniques '. as well as possessing various computer skills. The group will also focus on their research activities and will encourage a priorization of different research efforts at the ten university departments. Such a priorization is very much needed recognizing the increasing complexity of food research challenges and the relatively small critical mass existing at each university department. Indeed, the combined professorial strength of the ten food departments in the Canadian group just equals the total staff at some individual U. S. food departments. J. Inst. Can. Sci. Technol. Aliment. Vol. 17, No. 1, 1984