Citoyen canadien depuis 1974, Monsieur Bernard Beugnot est professeur titulaire au Département d'études françaises de l'Université de Montréal. Spécialisé en litt‚rature française du XVIIe siècle, il a publié une bibliographie de Guez de Balzac (complétée par deux suppléments -1967, 1969, 1979), un essai intitulé « L'Entretien au XVIIe siècle » (1971), une édition critique des « Entretiens » de Guez de Balzac (2 vol., 1972), qui lui a valu le prix Balphen de l'Académie française et « Boileau, visages anciens, visages nouveaux » (1973). Il s'est aussi intéressé à la littérature française contemporaine et a publié « Jean Anouilh » (1977). En plus de ces ouvrages, il a fait paraître plus de soixante-dix articles dans une trentaine de revues différentes. Sa réputation de spécialiste en littérature française du XVIle siècle et en édition critique est solidement établie dans les milieux universitaires d'Europe et d'Amérique.

Terrance Beveridge is a bacteriologist with a primary interest in the structure of bacterial cells using an interdisciplinary approach and applying his understanding to other biological problems. His fundamental observations on the macromolecular structure and assembly of protein-array layers on bacterial cell walls contributes to understanding how cell structures are made and maintained. His studies of the uptake of metals by cell-wall components contribute materially to understanding the role of durable biopolymers in geochemical processes and ore body formation. His work stimulates new approaches to old problems. The Steacie Prize was awarded to him in 1984. His expertise has been recognized by rapid promotion, invitations to international symposia, and appointment to editorial boards of major journals. He is an authority of world class on bacterial ultrastructure.

John Bienenstock has made two major conceptual contributions to understanding the immune response at the mucosa. Bienenstock demonstrated a common mucosal immune system in which cells primed at one mucosal site circulate to another to provide protection, and introduced the universally accepted concept of mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). He also described the integral association of nerves and mast cells in mucosal tissue and postulated neuroendocrine regulation of inflammation and immunity. These conceptual advances have been accepted and refined by many others throughout the world and demonstrate the major leadership role played by Bienenstock in the field of immunology.

Professor Richard Bird is an eminent scholar who has made significant contributions in the field of public finance as they apply both to advanced countries, especially Canada, and to the developing world, especially in Latin America. His scholarly work has had great impact on policy because of its quality, but also because of his concern for practical issues and his conviction that scholars should contribute to the solution of problems of policy. Professor Bird is not only a creative scholar in his own work, he is also able to co-ordinate and manage research projects of major dimensions involving other scholars. Professor Bird's scholarly standing and personal qualities of judgement and imagination are reflected in his membership on the governing bodies of important scientific organizations and on the boards of editors of several major learned journals.

C. J. Bishop, B.Sc., Ph.D., is superintendent of the Dominion Experimental Farm at Kentville, Nova Scotia, and also Research Professor of Genetics at Acadia University. Dr. Bishop's major contributions to botany are in the field of cytogenetics. He has made fundamental studies on the effects of x-radiation on cytoplasmic streaming and on the chromosomes of 'Tradescantia'. He has analysed these effects in the mitotic cycle in pollen grains and shown the greatest sensitivity to be in the metaphase-anaphase period. He has compared the effect of polyploidy on such sensitivity. Dr. Bishop has extended these studies to mutations induced by neutron and x-radlations in the apple. He has established this technique as a new source of genetic mutants in practical horticulture. Following a year exchange with his administrative counterpart at the Experimental Farm at Summerland in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, and an internal reorganization of the federal Department of Agriculture, Dr. Bishop was transferred to the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. His duties shifted from research to research coordination, with responsibility for coordination of the national federal program in horticultural research. With relatively minor changes,, Dr. Bishop continued this work until his retirement in 1985. During this period he served as the Canadian representative on the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (1979-86, Vavilov Medal).

Professor Bishop has made outstanding contributions to the field of theoretical chemistry. In particular, his very precise calculations on the properties of the hydrogen molecule and hydrogen-molecular ion have aided and stimulated experimental spectroscopic work. His recent studies on polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities are playing a key role in the development of nonlinear optics. (1936, Professor of Chemistry University of Ottawa).

As an outstanding Canadian physicist for his publications, ideas and personal contributions to the science of photogrammetry by pioneer development of new methods and instruments, by the application of photogrammetry to new areas of non-cartographic projects, in geophysics and urban studies, for the important economic implications of his work to Canada, for his stimulation of new university studies in photogrammetry, and for his outstanding leadership and direction in establishing this branch of research in Canada on an emminent international level.

Dr. Allister Clark Blackwood has been a lively contributor in the fields of bacterial metabolism and industrial fermentations. His work is of a high order. At the Prairie Regional Laboratory of the N.R.C., he worked with G.A. Ledingham on the production of butanediol by fermentation and has since studied metabolic processes, enzymes, pigments, and other bacterial products. Head of the Department of Microbiology at Macdonald Colllege since 1957, he has developed an effective teaching program and extended his research interests in the agricultural field. Past-President of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists and the Société de Microbiologie de Québec, member of national Committees and Editorial Boards. His knowledge and good sense make his advice valuable.

Marie-Claire Blais est l'un des écrivains les plus prestigieux du Québec. Elle a acquis une renommée internationale, tant pour ses oeuvres, dont plusieurs sont traduites dans les grandes langues de culture du monde, que par sa présence dans les colloques et les jurys littéraires nationaux et internationaux. Depuis le prix Medicis, en 1966, pour son roman « Une Saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel », elle n'a cessé d'accumuler des distinctions de toutes natures : Prix du Gouverneur général (1967 et 1979), Prix Belgique-Canada (1976) ou Ordre du Canada (1975). Elle est aussi docteure honoris causa de l'University York (Toronto), et professeure honoraire de la Faculty of Humanities de l'Université de Calgary. Mais son plus grand mérite est la qualité et l'originalité de son oeuvre, ainsi qu'un talent remarquable pour renouveler son inspiration et ses formes littéraires dans les genres qu'elle a pratiqués : le roman, le récit, le théâtre et la poésie. Marie-Claire Blais est l'exemple au Québec et au Canada d'un écrivain qui a réussi cet exploit de « vivre de sa plume ». Sa présence vient enrichir la Société royale du Canada et la stimuler dans sa fonction de promotion des arts et des lettres.