Manitoba Canola Growers Association recognizes Dr. Stephen Strelkov with Canola Award of Excellence

February 13, 2025 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) – Last night, at the CropConnect Conference banquet in Winnipeg, the Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA) honoured Dr. Stephen Strelkov, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Alberta with the 2025 Canola Award of Excellence. 

“Strelkov’s work towards the understanding of clubroot and genetic resistance has contributed to providing Manitoba canola farmers management options to proactively address clubroot,” says Warren Ellis, Chair of MCGA. “Clubroot is increasing in the province and without Strelkov’s work Manitoba canola acres would have suffered a much greater impact.”

Feeling very honoured, Strelkov was touched to be recognized with the award. “It is very meaningful, especially coming from a grower group. I feel like I have had a positive impact from our research, I am very grateful for this recognition.” 

MCGA selected Strelkov not only in recognition of his over two decades of research, which has had a significant impact on canola production, but also for his contributions to training the next generation of researchers. Over the past 21 years, he has supervised or co-supervised 44 Master’s and Doctoral thesis’ and is currently guiding 12 more, greatly enhancing Canada’s capacity for clubroot research.

“Being a professor is challenging, but it is also very rewarding,” says Strelkov. “Working with people–students and collaborators–makes it all worthwhile. At the end of the day, it’s gratifying to know that we may have contributed to managing a problem and increased the capacity by training new people to help tackle it.”

Manitoba Canola Growers are thrilled to recognize Stephen Strelkov with the 2025 Canola Award of Excellence and would like to thank him for his contributions in increasing our understanding of the clubroot pathogen across the prairies and training the next crop of researchers to be able to expand capacity for this type of research.

For more information about Dr. Stephen Strelkov or the Canola Award of Excellence, please visit canolagrowers.com/about-mcga/canola-award-of-excellence/. 

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About the Canola Award of Excellence: The Canola Award of Excellence is presented annually and recognizes the accomplishments of individuals and organizations for contributions to the sustained growth and prosperity of Manitoba’s canola industry. The award was first presented in 2008 to Dr. Baldur Stefansson for his work in creating a new edible oil seed which we know today as canola.

Media Contact:
Carrie Livingston
Manitoba Canola Growers Association
204-771-8650 | carrie@nullcanolagrowers.com