A Tribute to David Schindler in the Manitoba Legislature

David Schindler

Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute to an extraordinary individual who has been one of the foremost ecosystem scientists the globe has seen. He spent quite a bit of time in Manitoba. His name is David Schindler.

When he was about 28, he was asked to head up what became the Experimental Lakes Area and is now the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Experimental Lakes Area together.

He was extraordinarily important in the understanding of the origins of algal blooms and in showing that phosphorus was the critical element which was important for algal blooms.

And, of course, we benefit from that knowledge as we proceed in our efforts to clean up Lake Winnipeg and reduce algal blooms there.

He also played an extraordinary role in understanding acid rain and in bringing an end to the major problem of acid rain in Canada and in the United States.

He was extraordinarily important in many other facets of understanding ecosystem health and worked in part after he retired from the Experimental Lakes Area in the mountains in Alberta and in northern Alberta in the Peace River Area.

He passed away recently and he was remembered by many of his colleagues in a recent ceremony that spoke out not only for his scientific knowledge but for his humanity, his encouragement of others - particularly women - and for really laying the foundation for a wonderful ecosystem science in Canada.

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