THE local veterinary community is celebrating Professor Carlton Gyles’ appointment to the Order of Canada, one of that country’s most prestigious national awards.

Gyles, professor emeritus at Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph, has been recognised for making profound contributions to veterinary microbiology.

He is an internationally recognised E coli expert who has published seminal studies that have led to new vaccines, improved infection control, and a safer food supply.

News of his appointment to the order, at the level of officer, was released on December 18 and his compatriots in Jamaica, where he went to high school, are ecstatic.

“Those from our fraternity who went to the University of Guelph and were taught by him are all so excited that he has received this award,” Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association President Dr Kathy-Ann Leon told the Jamaica Observer.

“I am not one of his students, but I can definitely state that in our vet community a couple of our vets have already commented on the award, stating that he taught them and he is such a great vet and mentor,” she added.

Dr Leon said while she never met Professor Gyles she is excited by the award because it shows that Jamaicans are being recognised abroad for their work.

“I’m so pleased to see what Jamaicans have been doing overseas in the past couple of years. I feel like our country is getting ‘bigged up’ in a lot of different ways,” she said, pointing to actress Sheryl Lee Ralph being named Person of the Year by the Jamaican Diaspora in Florida after being vested with the Order of Jamaica in 2022, and Kamala Harris’s bid for the United States presidency this year.

“So it’s even nicer now to see that not only in America are we being recognised but even in Canada — someone coming from roots like Clarendon College, at 86 years old, getting one of the highest awards in Canada for his tireless research in pathology. It’s a proud moment for the veterinary community, it’s a proud moment for Jamaica, it’s just awesome,” Dr Leon said.

Her colleague, Dr Paul Cadogan, who operates a veterinary clinic in May Pen, Clarendon, agreed.

“This is a proud moment for the vet profession. Professor Gyles taught a number of Jamaican and Caribbean vets, including myself, always with unparalleled expertise and a warm personality. I’m elated to see him get this recognition for his stellar contribution to the broad medical world,” Dr Cadogan told the Observer.

The news release announcing the appointments state that Professor Gyles helped OVC achieve its status as a top training centre worldwide.

He has made a lifetime of outstanding contributions to understanding how E coli causes disease in both animals and people.

The University of Guelph website describes Gyles as one of the world’s authorities on E coli.

“His advocacy for science and the wise counsel for which he is known is shown in his ongoing leadership role in the Canadian Research Network on Bacterial Diseases of Swine and in the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety,” the website states.

Gyles was awarded the prestigious Canadian Veterinary Medical Association President’s Award for his tireless contributions in 2021.

He graduated from OVC in 1964 and earned a PhD in the United Kingdom and Denmark in 1968. The following year he joined the OVC faculty where he taught students and conducted research for 36 years. He’s also served as chair, dean of graduate students, and interim dean of OVC.

Gyles represented veterinary medicine as a founding fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2005 and served on the board for years. He was the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Veterinary Journal from 2008 to 2020.

Established in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian honours system and recognises outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.