The Excellence Award was presented by Dr. David Andrews, CFBS President, to Dr. Bruce Sells, CFBS Executive Director in recognition of his tireless effort, thoughtful innovation and commitment to the CFBS and to biological sciences in Canada. Bruce, we congratulate you, wish you well, and we sincerely hope to have your distinguished leadership at the helm of CFBS for some time yet.

After the award presentation, Dr. Sells as dedicated to the role of science advocacy, gave a speach about the importance of the role of CFBS, and its presentation of large number of researchers in approaching the Federal Government. More demands will be on CFBS with a minority Federal Government, who will be very carefull with its decisions and budget allocations.

A Glimpse about Dr. Bruce Sells:
After his Ph.D. at McGill, in Biochemistry, Bruce Sells received a 3-year Damon Runyan Postdoctoral Fellowship to study at the Free University of Bruxelles and the Statensserum institute, Copenhagen. His first research appointment was at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 1962 when this new institution opened. During the 10 years he spent at St. Jude he pioneered an investigation into the biogenesis of ribosome particles and during his subsequent career published 110 papers related to this subject. In 1969 Damon Runyan provided support for his sabbatical at the University of Edinburgh.

In 1972 he, Bernice, their four children, and his research team (4 postdocs, a graduate student, a technician and their families) moved to Memorial University of Newfoundland where Bruce, as Professor & Director, Molecular Biology, established Molecular Biology in the newly created medical school. During his 11 years at Memorial he was awarded a Senior Killam Fellowship to study at the Université de Paris. In 1982 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and that same year was President of the Canadian Bio-chemistry Society. During the years 1979-83 he was Associate Dean of Basic Medical Sciences. While at Memorial Bruce also served on numerous National Committees including the M.R.C., where he was also a member of Council, the National Cancer Institute, the Royal Society of Canada, the Arthritis Society, NRC Subcommittee on Biological Phenomena and the Selection Panel for the Steacie Award.

In 1983 Bruce again moved his research group in order to take up the position of Dean of Biological Science at the University of Guelph, a position he held until his mandatory retirement in 1995. Also in 1989 he was a co-founder of the Association of Canadian Deans of Science. In 1989 he received an MRC Visiting Scientist Award to study at the Institut Pasteur. During his academic career, Bruce trained ~50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. In 2000 he graduated his final Ph.D. student.

Bruce’s dedication and service to science did not stop at retirement. In April 1999 he accepted the position of Executive Director of the CFBS, a position that he has immersed himself in as an active “volunteer”, accepting expenses in lieu of salary (much to the financial advantage of CFBS!). With his tremendous scientific, academic and administrative experience, Bruce has led the ongoing and highly effective advocacy activities of CFBS, and has guided the organization through a period of major changes, in the operation of the office, in the format and thematic approach to the Annual Scientific Meeting, and in the development of the international-level “Northern Lights Conferences”, of which we are presently enjoying the first.