ASTech’s 1999 Winners

Calgary based Oncolytics Biotech Inc., awarded the Industrial Research – Southern Alberta prize, developed a cancer treatment using reovirus, which selectively destroyed malignant cells without harming healthy ones. Their published research showed that a single reovirus injection caused complete tumor regression in mice. Today, Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is developing pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent that enhances the immune system’s response to cancer.  In 2023, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network selected Oncolytics to receive the $5 Million Therapeutic Accelerator Award to develop leading-edge treatments.

BioTools, Industrial Research – Northern Alberta winner, rapidly evolved from a University of Alberta start-up into a key player in the bioinformatics market, offering software like PepTool and GeneTool for protein and DNA analysis. The company excelled in data mining, ensuring immediate access to new database information, and pioneered Magnetic Resonance Diagnostics (MRD) for disease diagnosis and drug testing in partnership with Varian, Inc. The company started as a collaboration between Dr. Brian Sykes (Department of BioChemistry), Dr. David Wishart (Faculty of Science – Biological Sciences), Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer (Department of Computing Science, Co-Founder Onlea) and Duane Szafron (Department of Computing Science).

EyeWire, recipient of the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology award, provided global visual and audio content for graphic designers. Founded by serial entrepreneur Brad Zumalt in 1998, EyeWire.com was acquired by Getty Images. Afterwards, Brad went on to be an avid investor and supporter of many Calgary innovation initiatives and was co-founder of Rainforest Alberta.

Dr. Gary Stringam, Professor at the University of Alberta, was awarded the Innovation in Agricultural Sciences prize for helping to turn canola into Western Canada’s second-largest cash crop. It is estimated to be worth $5 billion per year (1999) to the Canadian economy and has had a profound impact on global agriculture. Stringam developed the Double Haploid System, which shortens the breeding time of the canola plant by 25 to 50%. He also developed several disease-resistant and high-yield canola strains. Today, canola contributes more than $29.9-billion to Canada’s economy, supporting more than 207,000 jobs.

Established in Calgary, QC Data International Inc. won the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology award for providing business data solutions across multiple industries, including Oil and Gas and Telecommunications. The company focused on enhancing customer service, research, and strategic acquisitions, positioning itself to become a global leader in technical data management. In 2019, ENTRUST Solutions Group announced its acquisition of QC Data.

Fred Stewart, recipient of the ASTech Special Award, has dedicated his career to fostering Alberta’s science and technology landscape. As Minister of Technology, Research, and Telecommunications, he championed the privatization of AGT to Telus and supported organizations such as Operation Minerva, the Premier’s Council on Science and Technology, and the ASTech Awards. His leadership was instrumental in Nortel Networks’ decision to develop its global wireless operations in Calgary, alongside fostering partnerships like WestAim, which has significantly advanced Alberta’s tech sector and the creation of hundreds of hi-tech jobs.

Dr. Eric P. Newell, was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To The Alberta Science And Technology Community award, for his leadership as CEO at Syncrude Canada. The Syncrude Research Centre in the Edmonton Research Park  was established under his guidance, leading to deep collaborations with the University of Alberta. For his role in founding the Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development, and the trades educational attraction program CAREERS, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence, and named the 17th chancellor of the University of Alberta.

Additional 1999 Winners Include: Waldemar Maciejewski, recognized with the Innovation in Oil Sands Research Award, for contributions that included the “cycloseparator” for bitumen separation, and innovations in hydraulic transport and oil sands crushing technology – establishing him as a leading authority in the field. The Dinosaur Country Science Camp, awarded for Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness, provided a dynamic learning environment where students engaged in hands-on scientific activities and research each summer. Operated by the Drumheller Regional Science Council, the camp offered immersive programs in various scientific disciplines such as paleontology, geology, and archaeology, allowing campers to contribute real data to scientific studies. With a staff largely composed of former campers who later pursued science degrees, the camp fostered a strong community of budding scientists. Connie Bryson, honoured with the Journalism Award for Specialized Publications, became Alberta’s premier scientific writer through her engaging and accurate portrayal of science, technology, and business topics. Her skill in simplifying complex scientific concepts for general audiences was reflected in work for major organizations such as the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, NSERC, and Syncrude, as well as publications like The Globe and Mail. Dr. Wayne Grover, recipient of the ASTech Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology award, is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in self-healing telecommunications networks, which mitigate disruptions caused by cable failures, ensuring uninterrupted transmission of vital data worldwide. Dr Grover served as Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, at the University of Alberta. His pioneering research, including innovative network design techniques and the concept of ‘p-cycles’. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and a recipient of the IEEE Baker Prize Paper Award and IEEE Fellow, among other numerous awards. Dr. David Schindler received the award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science for his research into the human impact on freshwater ecosystems. His studies were critical to the success of the U.S./Canada agreement to clean up the Great Lakes and to control the long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants between the two countries. Based on his work, every country in the western world now manages the level of phosphorous in freshwater. Dr. Schindler published more than 200 papers in international scientific journals. Schindler was Canada’s first winner of the international Volvo Environmental Prize for his work in this field. Dr. Schindler was a professor of Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, and in 2008 was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence.