On March 7, 2020, Dr. Ken Domier of Edmonton, Alberta passed away peacefully at the age of 86. Ken was born on August 30, 1933 near Norquay, Saskatchewan. He earned his BSc and MSc degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 1955 and 1957, respectively, and his PhD from Michigan State University in 1967. After some years of teaching at the University of Manitoba, Ken moved his family in 1969 to Edmonton, Alberta, to take a position as the Chair of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Alberta. His research interests included crop residue utilization (flax, wheat, etc.), agricultural tractors and machinery, seedbed preparation and tillage, and fertilizer placement. He served as a member of the Canadian Standards Association Committee on farm machinery. Ken retired at age 60, becoming a Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta. He was a Fellow of Engineers Canada, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and an Honorary Fellow of Geoscientists Canada.

Ken was a very active member of our Society. He served as our President during 1971-72. He was awarded the grade of Fellow in 1982. In 1989, Ken was awarded the Society Maple Leaf Award. This award is given to honour members of the Society who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the profession. It is the highest award made by the Society in recognition of leadership in the profession.

In Ken’s retirement, he had a strong and lengthy interest in all things Scandinavian. He was awarded the Sankt (Saint) Olav’s medal by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway in 2019 for his “important contributions in serving Norway’s interest and growing the relations between Canada and Norway in the Province of Alberta.” He held a variety of offices in the Solglyt Lodge of the Sons of Norway and was a supporter and active member of the Scandinavian Studies Association since its founding in 1990, having served on the Board as Vice-President and President.