Bio/Historical Note: In May 1948 Dr. Harold E. Johns, Dr. Newton Haslam, and Dr. Leon Katz, professors of Physics at the University of Saskatchewan, travelled to Milwaukee to inspect the betatron that had been built for the U of S. In August of that same year, the U of S installed in the Physics Annex the first betatron in Canada—the world’s first betatron used for a cancer treatment program. Dr. Johns then began the design and construction of one of the first cobalt-60 teletherapy units. Dr. Johns and his graduate students became the first researchers in the world to successfully treat a cancer patient using cobalt-60 radiation therapy. It was also used for research programs in nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, cancer therapy and radiation biology. In 1951 the world’s first calibrated Cobalt-60 cancer therapy unit was installed at University Hospital (G Wing). The calibration work was done by Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk through rigorous depth dose measurements. In early 1952, Maclean's magazine had dubbed the cobalt-source radiotherapy machine the cobalt bomb - a tongue-in-cheek tribute to this peaceful use of nuclear technology. Dr. Johns’ pioneering work in cobalt-60 teletherapy became the gold standard for radiation therapy for many years and thousands of units were installed worldwide, helping countless patients. The original treatment device was used in Saskatchewan until 1972. The work Dr. Johns and his team did on the physics of high energy photon beams was fundamental, and still forms the basis of most treatment planning systems in use today.
Bio/Historical Note: In May 1948 Dr. Harold E. Johns, Dr. Newton Haslam, and Dr. Leon Katz, professors of Physics at the University of Saskatchewan, travelled to Milwaukee to inspect the betatron that had been built for the U of S. In August of that same year, the U of S installed in the Physics Annex the first betatron in Canada—the world’s first betatron used for a cancer treatment program. Dr. Johns then began the design and construction of one of the first cobalt-60 teletherapy units. Dr. Johns and his graduate students became the first researchers in the world to successfully treat a cancer patient using cobalt-60 radiation therapy. It was also used for research programs in nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, cancer therapy and radiation biology. In 1951 the world’s first calibrated Cobalt-60 cancer therapy unit was installed at University Hospital (G Wing). The calibration work was done by Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk through rigorous depth dose measurements. In early 1952, Maclean's magazine had dubbed the cobalt-source radiotherapy machine the cobalt bomb - a tongue-in-cheek tribute to this peaceful use of nuclear technology. Dr. Johns’ pioneering work in cobalt-60 teletherapy became the gold standard for radiation therapy for many years and thousands of units were installed worldwide, helping countless patients. The original treatment device was used in Saskatchewan until 1972. The work Dr. Johns and his team did on the physics of high energy photon beams was fundamental, and still forms the basis of most treatment planning systems in use today.
Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg was born in 1914 at Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received his B.Sc. from Kings College in 1936; M.Sc. and Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in 1938 and 1942; a Ph.D. from Oxford University in 1950. He served with a parachute regiment during the war. Dr. Begg came to the University of Saskatchewan as head of the Saskatchewan and Research Unit of the Cancer Institute of Canada in 1957. In 1962 was appointed Dean of the College of Medicine; in 1967 was appointed Principal of the Saskatoon Campus; and was appointed President of the University, a position which he held from 1974-1980.
University of Saskatchewan President R.W. Begg seated in his office smoking his pipe. Picture on the wall in the background.
Bio/historical note: Robert William Begg was born in 1914 at Florenceville, New Brunswick. He received his B.Sc. from Kings College in 1936; M.Sc. and Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in 1938 and 1942; a Ph.D. from Oxford University in 1950. He served with a parachute regiment during the war. Dr. Begg came to the University of Saskatchewan as head of the Saskatchewan and Research Unit of the Cancer Institute of Canada in 1957. In 1962 was appointed Dean of the College of Medicine; in 1967 was appointed Principal of the Saskatoon Campus; and was appointed President of the University, a position which he held from 1974-1980. He was married to Elsie Baker and they had four children, Beverley, Robert, Cathy, and Ronald.
Bio/Historical Note: The Saskatchewan Cancer and Medical Research Institute was officially opened on 10 May 1958 by Premier T.C. Douglas. Clad in locally quarried greystone with limestone panels, it was the.last of the buildings that constituted the University’s Medical Complex’s initial phase. Designed by Izumi, Arnott and Sugiyama and completed at a cost of $783,000, the building’s purpose was to provide shared accommodation for both general medical research and cancer specific investigations. Funding came from the federal and provincial governments and the provincial and national branches of the Canadian Cancer Society. A planned third floor was added in 1966. The building was "deconstructed" in 2009, with much of the building's material recycled including the greystone cladding for use with the E Wing that opened in 2013.
Looking northeast at Livestock Pavilion before demolition in December 1986. Engineering Building at right.
Bio/Historical Note: The Livestock Pavilion, one of the five original campus buildings, was designed by Brown and Vallance and constructed between 1910-1912. Built of red brick, slate and translucent glass panels (some of which could be opened for ventilation), it included a large show arena with seating. The Pavilion had a slaughter room and cold storage for the butchery courses. It was demolished in 1986.
