Canada Medal

Established 1939

The Canada Medal is awarded to a business leader for outstanding service in a Canadian industry, who has had a clearly positive impact on their business, a business that is based on chemistry for its processes and/or services. This definition includes not only traditional chemical companies focusing on chemical manufacture and distribution, but also industries such as bio-technology, coatings, crop protection, environmental services, fertilizer, food, mining/metal extraction, oil/gas, pharmaceuticals, plastics, pulp & paper and synthetic fibres.

Membership of SCI is not a prerequisite for receiving this award.

All nominations will remain in force for three years. Nominators are responsible for keeping the record of the nominee up to date and complete.

Award Information

Medal History

Since its formation 1902, SCI Canada has recognised achievements in the Canadian chemical industry and has presented awards to chemistry and chemical engineering students, in order to bolster the drive for innovation.

The Canada Medal was first awarded in 1940.

Presentation Details

The award shall normally be presented at the annual SCI Canada Awards Dinner, typically held in early April, where the winner will be expected to attend and deliver a short acceptance speech. The winner may be invited to present a lecture at this event.

2023 Recipient - Dr Paul Smith

Paul joined Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in 2021 as the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Before that he was a member of the Xerox Senior Leadership Team and Vice President and Centre Director of Xerox Global Materials Research Centre from 2011 – 2021, responsible for the development of devices for IoT, CleanTech and 3D materials. Paul received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Bath, UK and an MBA from the University of Toronto. He is particularly noted for his ability to bring diverse groups across industry and academia together for Canada’s benefit. He is a named inventor on 78 US Patents.

2022 Recipient - Robert B. Magee

The 2022 SCI Canada Awards Dinner recognised the achievements of Robert B. Magee, Chairman, Woodbridge.

Bob has been a catalyst to the establishment of very strong R&D (hiring from and promoting Canadian talents) capability to serve the business with innovated and differentiated products. He led local and national efforts to promote higher education and the preparation of the future generation to serve the Canadian industries.

2020 Recipient - Naushad Jamani

The 2020 SCI Canada Awards Dinner will recognise the achievements of Naushad Jamani, Senior Vice President, olefin and feedstock at NOVA Chemicals.

2020 marks the 80th year since the SCI Canada Medal was inaugurated. It is presented to a business leader in the chemical sector who has positively impacted their company. It is particularly fitting that Naushad’s achievements are being honoured now, as he retired in October 2019. Read more here.

2017 Recipient - Mark Lievonen

The 2017 winner of the SCI Canada Medal is Mark Lievonen. Mark is President of Sanofi Pasteur Limited, the Canadian vaccine division of Sanofi, which he joined in 1983.

Under his leadership, Sanofi Pasteur has become a billion-dollar enterprise in Canada, manufacturing over 50 million doses of vaccines for both domestic and international markets. Read more here.

Eligibility Criteria

    Background
    • Business leaders in Canadian industry, who have had a positive impact on their business and on the Canadian industry as a whole
    Career Stage
    • Economic and/or market leadership, positive impacts on sustainability via social and/or environmental leadership
    Areas
    • Chemical manufacture and distribution
    • Biotechnology
    • Agrifood
    • Materials
    • Sustainability and Environment
    • Pharmaceuticals

Timetable

Nominations open 30 November 2022
Nominations close 15 January 2023
The Canada Awards 2023

Additional Information

Code of Ethics for Members
Canada Medal Nomination form 2023

Other SCI Awards

Perkin Medal

The Perkin Medal was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of mauveine. Today it is widely acknowledged as the highest honour in American industrial chemistry awarded to those residing in the USA for their outstanding work.

Canada International Award

The Canada International Award is presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding service and contributions in the international sphere to an industry that is based on chemistry for its processes and/or services.

Awards News