KAWARTHA LAKES-2021 marks 100 years since the discovery of insulin and today is World Diabetes Day.
Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, recently participated in a ceremony to unveil a plaque recognizing the importance of the discovery of insulin as an event of national historic significance. The ceremony was held in collaboration with the University of Toronto at their Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“Today, we recognize and honour one of Canada’s most ground-breaking medical discoveries, and the role of Canadian researchers who helped save millions of lives around the world over the last 100 years. The plaque commemorating the discovery of insulin as a national historic event reflects the rich and varied history of Canada and provides an opportunity for Canadians to discover and connect with our diverse heritage,” said Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton-South
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, an extraordinary development in medical science, saving millions of lives worldwide. Up until the early 20th century, diabetes was a fatal disease. Thanks to a Canadian team of researchers – Frederick Banting, Charles Herbert Best, John J.R. Macleod, and James Bertram Collip – a treatment was discovered in 1921, when they succeeded in isolating and purifying insulin. Following this discovery, they successfully treated diabetic patients at the Toronto General Hospital, making headlines around the world.
In 1923, Banting and Macleod received a Nobel Prize in medicine for their work on the discovery of insulin, stimulating further medical research in Canada. Today, we recognize all four Canadian researchers – Banting, Macleod, Best and Collip – for contributing to one of Canada’s greatest accomplishments in medical research.
Under the National Program of Historical Commemoration, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Government of Canada on significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country. National historic designations are one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada’s past and present.
