Dr. Bruce A. Archibald

Dr. Bruce A. Archibald Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

OMAFRA’s 16th Deputy Minister Bruce Archibald grew up in the Niagara Peninsula, where his father was the Director of the former Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario (HRIO) at Vineland Station. This second-generation member of the Ontario Public Service is also a third-generation graduate of the University of Guelph (BSc Agriculture, 1979) and also holds a MSc and PhD from that institution.

First employed in the private sector, then as part of a farming operation, Deputy Minister Archibald first joined the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as a soil and crop specialist, later becoming the provincial pesticide coordinator with the Agri-food Laboratory Services Branch. After a number of years in the ministry’s extension services, he followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming the Acting Director of HRIO, Vineland Station.

In 1996, he was named the first Director of Laboratory Services Division with the University of Guelph, under the enhanced partnership between OMAFRA and the university. During his tenure, the laboratory achieved ISO accreditation – the first government lab ever to do so. Archibald also played a key role in the then largest ever government divestment of services, when more than 800 ministry employees were transferred to the University of Guelph.

In 1998, he returned to the OPS as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Technology, of the newly-formed Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology. Two years later, he returned to OMAFRA as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Farm Finance Division. In this role, he became intimately involved with the development of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and was the national champion of the Science and Innovation Chapter of the APF.

In April 2003, Deputy Archibald joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Research, where he led the development of a new science strategy for the department. He also served on a committee led by Dr. Art Cardy, advisor to the Prime Minister, studying infrastructure and science priorities for all national science departments. When not fulfilling his duties as Deputy Minister, OMAFRA, the father of two enjoys canoeing, kayaking, squash, running and music.

Back

SPEAKERS