Awards

2003, Don Dixon
Manitoba, Canada

Don Dixon Awarded Outstanding Service to Beekeeping Award from the Western Apicultural Society

Don Dixon will receive the 2003 Outstanding Service to Beekeeping Award from the Western Apicultural Society at their annual August meeting, held this year at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The award recognizes his 25 years of service to the beekeeping industry while Provincial Apiarist with Manitoba Agriculture following completion of his M.Sc. research under the supervision of Dr. Cam Jay at the University of Manitoba in 1978.

Don's dedication and commitment to the development and promotion of the beekeeping industry locally, nationally and internationally have left an admirable legacy. Throughout his career he has maintained a strong level of participation in several beekeeping industry and professional associations. He was the Secretary of the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association (MBA) from 1978 - 2003 and was active on many MBA committees, including the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Annual Convention. He also participated on numerous Canadian Honey Council Committees and was the Acting Secretary/Treasurer of CHC in 1981/82.

Don has been a strong participant in the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) and was a member of the CAPA Executive for several years, including 2 terms as President from 1985-1990. He also represented the CAPA on several international committees including the Tri-Country Committee on Africanized Bees and Parasitic Mites which, during the 1980's organized several symposia for beekeepers in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada as well as worked on developing coordinated prevention and control strategies for both Africanized bees and parasitic mites.

As the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Apimondia '99 Congress, Don was instrumental in bringing this international beekeeping Congress to Vancouver and for making it one of the best beekeeping meetings ever held. It was attended by approximately 3000 participants and a significant profit from the Congress was provided to the Canadian beekeeping industry to support future research and development activities. Don's reputation as a conference organizer has gained him international recognition and his skills in this area have been sought by many professional beekeeper and entomology associations.

Over his career, Don has been a tireless supporter of beekeeping extension and education. He has lectured on numerous aspects of beekeeping throughout Canada and the U.S. and has worked on several beekeeping development programs in India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Don has co-instructed the University of Manitoba, Introduction to Beekeeping Course for 27 years and has lectured at numerous commercial beekeeping courses in Manitoba and at the University of Guelph and Simon Fraser University. He has contributed to numerous beekeeping publications, including being the primary editor of the first edition of the CAPA publication on Honey Bee Diseases and Pests. This publication has since gone through numerous updated revisions and printings, has been translated from English into two other languages and has sold tens of thousands of copies throughout North America and the world.

The timing of the WAS award is most fitting, since Dixon was appointed to the position of Director, Soils and Crops Branch, Manitoba Agriculture and Food in June 2003.

Don previously received numerous awards and recognitions for outstanding contribution and service to the beekeeping industry, including the MBA - Bee Hive Award and the CHC - Fred Rathje Memorial Award. It is with pleasure that WAS recognizes the accomplishments of this extraordinary contributor to our industry, whose accomplishments, honesty, integrity, sense of humor, and respect for the dignity of others have earned him this most deserved honor.