Herb Sparrow, one of Canada’s leading champions of soil conservation, died Sept. 6 following complications from a stroke. He was 82.
The former senator co-authored the study Soil at Risk in the early 1980s, which highlighted the long-term effects of soil erosion. He was founder and first president of Soil Conservation Canada.
Sparrow was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1968 and retired when he turned 75 in 2005.
The Saskatchewan-born politician farmed and ranched in the North Battleford area.
He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2000 for his efforts in soil conservation and in 2008 received the Order of Canada.
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Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae said in a release Sparrow made significant contributions to Canadian agriculture, especially through his work in the Senate.
“Herb’s life was marked by his many years of service to Saskatchewan and Canada’s West,” Rae said.
“In addition to his love of the land, Herb was heavily involved in numerous projects aimed at combating poverty and hunger, and supporting people with disabilities.
Herb’s dedication has been widely recognized, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered.”
