Senator Lillian Dyck

Member of the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Dr. Lillian Eva Dyck is well-known as an advocate for women and Aboriginals and is a leading figure and role model in Canada’s scientific community.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master of Science Degrees in Biochemistry in 1968 and 1970 respectively and obtained a Ph.D. in Biological Psychiatry in 1981, all from the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Dyck began her outstanding career in 1967 as an assistant in the University of Saskatchewan’s Biochemistry department. She has since then served as adjunct/associate and full professor in the Psychiatry Department as well as being named graduate co-chair and chair on a number of occasions. She has published numerous articles in the fields of neurochemistry and psychiatry and her research has contributed to developing and patenting new drugs which will be useful in helping to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

She has been recognized in a number of ways, some of which include: A House of Commons Citation as a Role Model for girls in science in March 1997; A National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Science and Technology in March 1999; A Saskatchewan First Nations Women of the Dawn Award in Science and Technology in October 2000; A YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Science, Technology and the Environment in 2003; and a Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan in 2005.

Dr. Dyck has retired from University of Saskatchewan, where she was a Full Professor in the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Associate Dean at the College of Graduate Studies & Research.