Sylvia Fedoruk General Physics, Subatomic Particles, Optics, Biophysics, Theoretical Physics

Medical physicist; Member of the team that developed the first Cobalt 60 units for cancer treatment

The Story

Fedoruk grew up in rural Saskatchewan, and was taught by her father in a one-room schoolhouse. Later, while living in Windsor, Ontario, during World War II, she was encouraged to go into science by her English teacher and she entered the University of Saskatchewan’s medical program. Fedoruk graduated in physics in 1951, and for 35 years she was chief medical physicist for the Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation. During this time, Fedoruk was involved in the development of both the Cobalt 60 unit and one of the first nuclear scanning machines. She was also involved in athletics all through school and in 1986, she was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame. In 1986 she was named Woman of the Year by the YWCA. In 1988 Fedoruk became Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan, serving until 1994.

Sources: Claiming The Future, 1991; The Canadian Encyclopedia 2000 ed.

Portrait Source: Government of Saskatchewan website.

The Person

Birthdate
May 5, 1927
Birthplace
Canora, Saskatchewan
Title
Full Professor from 1973, Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan from 1986-1989 and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 1988-1994
Office
U of Saskatchewan; Prov. of Saskatchewan
Status
Semi-retired
Degrees
  • B.A.(Great Distinction), B.A.(High Honours in Physics) and M.A. (all U. of Sask.), D.Sc., LL.D., D.Hum.L.
Awards
  • Distinguished Canadian Award from the Seniors University Group Inc. at the University of Regina (1999); Commemorative Medal, 125th Anniversary of Canada’s Confederation (1992); Order of Canada (1986); Saskatchewan Order of Merit; Queens Silver Jubilee Med
Last Updated
July 17, 2006
Popularity
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