Officer of the Order of Canada
- Awarded on: November 19, 2018
- Invested on: February 01, 2019
Vernon Douglas Burrows, O.C.
Ottawa, Ontario
Vernon Burrows has elevated oats to a world-class cereal grain. Over a career spanning 60 years at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, he developed numerous varieties of oats including AC-Gehl, the first fully hulless variety that is also safe for those with gluten sensitivities. His innovations have had a profound effect on the enhancement of the grain’s nutritional value, production and accessibility. An ambassador for Canadian science, he has shared his expertise and specimen samples abroad, particularly in China, where he has helped make oats a viable crop alternative.
This is a promotion within the Order.