It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our former SEDRD colleague, Dr. Mark Waldron. Mark has had a long and varied career. He started his professional life after graduating from McGill University as an agricultural extension agent in Lanark County and later joined the CBC as a farm commentator covering agriculture across Canada. In 1963, Mark returned to his alma mater as Director of Extension and in 1967, he was named associate director of Continuing Education for McGill University. In 1971 he moved his family to Guelph, where he became director of Continuing Education and a professor in OAC’s Department of Extension Education.

Mark left his mark on Guelph, having developed the first degree-credit distance education program during his tenure as director of Continuing Education and was also instrumental in developing the Rural Studies PhD program, of which he was the first director. Not one to rest on his laurels, Mark then went on to start the very popular Third Age Learning program for Guelph and the surrounding area.  

Mark was recognized for his leadership and capacity for innovation, receiving the Norman High Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society of Training and Development. In addition to his professional commitments, Mark was also actively engaged in his community, and he and his wife Wilda received the Order of Niagara from the Anglican Diocese of Niagara for their community work.

Mark will be missed by many, but he has left a legacy that will endure.  

Al Lauzon
Acting Director of SEDRD 

The obituary announcement can be found on the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son website [1].