Presentation of the award winner, by Dr. Christine Friedenreich, on behalf of the Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics:

It gives me great pleasure to present the winner of the CSEB Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Colin Soskolne, President of the CSEB since June, 2007. Dr. Soskolne is also a Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health at the University of Alberta where he has been since 1985. Dr Soskolne has many meritorious academic and scientific achievements in the fields of occupational and environmental epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, ethics in epidemiology and other areas of public health. However, it is his service to the fields of epidemiology and biostatistics in Canada that are being particularly recognized through this award.

Dr. Soskolne has a long history with the CSEB as he was one of the founding members of the Society when it was first established in 1990. He was amongst leading epidemiologists in Canada including Dr. Geoffrey Howe, Dr. Robert Spasoff, Prof. Richard Gallagher, Dr. Jack Siemiatycki, and Dr. Loraine Marrett who assembled a group of interested and motivated epidemiologists and biostatisticians from across Canada in Ottawa to establish the CSEB. There was a recognized need at that time, which still exists today, to support, nurture, promote and develop more capacity for epidemiology and biostatistics in Canada. This Society would bring together students and established scientists in these fields in biennial conferences, workshops and other activities and, in so doing, would provide a voice for these fields that was distinct from other professional organizations for epidemiology.

Dr. Soskolne wholeheartedly endorsed the premise for the CSEB and volunteered to organize and host the first ever CSEB Conference that was held in Edmonton in 1991. To the CSEB Conference, he brought the enthusiasm, energy and experience he had gained from his years of service to other epidemiology societies. This first conference was a great success and helped solidify the basis for the CSEB.

Dr. Soskolne participated in the CSEB in numerous capacities over the ensuing 16 years and in 2007 when he was approached by Dr. Yang Mao, outgoing President for the CSEB, to serve as the new President for the Society, he selflessly agreed to assume this role. Colin quickly assessed the state of the CSEB at that time and recognized the need to change the operations and governance of the Society in order to allow it to grow and have more impact and relevance for epidemiologists and biostatisticians in Canada. What followed was a true “renaissance” or “rebirth” of the Society. Within weeks of assuming the role of President, he was surveying current and past members to determine how the CSEB could better suit their needs. He also strongly recommended that an external secretariat be hired to manage the operations and business of the CSEB which resulted in the engagement of the Willow Group of Ottawa to run the affairs of the Society. Colin understood that the governance model of the CSEB needed to be completely renewed and expanded which led to a new Board structure with more effective committees and much greater activities, impact and output from the Board. Under Colin’s presidency there were several new initiatives such as improved communications with the membership, including an electronic bulletin, listserv, newsletter; more educational opportunities through the initiation of workshops; increased advocacy on issues such as the long form Census; more international collaboration with other epidemiology societies and more concerted membership drives. He ably, competently and thoughtfully led the CSEB to its current status and now leaves the position of President to become Past President. The Society is now in the strongest and most viable position that it has been since inception. Several new members have joined the Board and they will all benefit from the very able leadership, vision, dedication, integrity and personal commitment that Colin has put into this Society. All Canadian epidemiologists and biostatisticians can be grateful for the effort and energy that he has devoted to this Society. With this award, we thank him for his many contributions to the CSEB, and recognize and honour him for his many years of service. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Colin Soskolne.