Fernand Seguin (June 9, 1922 – June 19, 1988) was a Canadian biochemist, professor and host of science programs on radio and television.
Seguin, who hosted a program on Radio-Canada's TV network in 1954, is believed to be the first broadcaster to present a science program on television in Canada..
He was the first Canadian to receive the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science, the only other being David Suzuki in 1986. His nomination was advanced as the inaugural act of (ACS).
Honours 1952 – co-winner of a Canadian Radio Award from the Canadian Association for Adult Education for his radio programme in the "light entertainment" category."André Roche gagne un 'Canadian Radio Award, Photo-journal (Montréal), Nov 13, 1952, p. 3. (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.) 1961 – (medal) from (French-Canadian Association for the Advancement of Science) for his writings and films that popularized science topics. The medal was "presented annually for works of outstanding practical merit by French-speaking scientists"."Médaille de l'ACFAS", La Presse (Montréal), Oct 30, 1961, p. 9. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.)"Montreal Man Elected Head of Scientists", The Gazette (Montréal), p. 4. 1968 – co-winner of the for his interview television programme ."Regardez bien, regardez 'Le Sel de la semaine': tel est le verdict des responsables des prix Mandarine et Eclair", Ici Radio-Canada (Montréal), Apr 6, 1968, p. 20 (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.)."Artistes, télévision et commerciaux jugés par les journalistes: Voici les récipiendaires des prix: ..., Télé-radiomonde (Montréal), Apr 6, 1968, p. 13. (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.) "Les Prix Orange et Citron seront attribués sous peu à la télévision", Télé-radiomonde (Montréal), Feb 27, 1965, p. 3. (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.) 1968 – (award) for best television interviewer, as determined by a vote of readers of the newspapers and magazines of .Bernard Dubé, "Radio and Television: ... French Artists Honored", The Gazette (Montréal), Jun 6, 1968, p. 28. "La course aux Méritas", Télé-radiomonde (Montréal), Jun 8, 1968, pp. 32-34; and "600 artistes arrivent à leur Gala!", pp. 10-14. (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.) "Le prochain Gala des Artistes", Télé-radiomonde (Montréal), Jan 7, 1967, p. 3. (Accessed Jan 9, 2026.) 1975 – Honorary doctorate from ."University called essential for forming Quebec culture", Sherbrooke Record, Jun 9, 1975, p. 3. (Accessed Dec 30, 1975.) 1977 – (journalism award) from "for his work in making scientific matters understandable to the public.""Le prix Olivar-Asselin est décerné à Fernand Séguin", Le Devoir (Montréal), Oct 25, 1977, p. 23."Librarian honored", Montreal Star, Nov 2, 1977, p. D19 (online p. 55). 1978 – UNESCO Kalinga Prize (1977) for the Popularization of Science."Fernand Seguin, Prix Kalinga 1977", Québec Science, Nov 1978, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 22–23; and Gilles Provost, "Un chantre devenu critique", pp. 24–27."Canadian researcher wins scientific award", Edmonton Journal, Oct 23, 1978, p. B6 (online p. 22)."Public critical of science news", The Citizen (Ottawa), Nov 23, 1978, p. 47. 1978 – Officer of the Order of Canada; promoted to Companion in 1988."Financier, teacher, among 60 named to Order of Canada", The Gazette (Montréal), Jul 8, 1978, p. 71.John Ibbitson, "Order of Canada recipient target of protestors", Ottawa Citizen, Nov 9, 1988, p. 25. 1979 – Honorary doctorate from Concordia University."Peterson, Proulx and Seguin honoured", Sherbrooke Record, May 25, 1979, p. 5. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.) 1979 – co-winner of the (journalism award) from (Circle of Women Journalists) for a television documentary on cancer."Concours Judith-Jasmin: 3 lauréats seulement", La Pressse (Montréal), Oct 12, 1979, p. B9. 1980 – Honorary doctorate from ."Collation des grades à l'Université de Montréal: Peyrefitte devise sur les notions du crime et du châtiment", La Presse (Montréal), May 31, 1980, p. A21. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025). 1983 – Honorary doctorate from .J.-Claude Rivard, "L’UQ offrira trois autres doctorats honorifiques", Le Soleil (Québec), Sep 3, 1983, p. F4. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.) 1985 – Officer of the National Order of Quebec."Les premiers titulaires de l'Ordre du Québec", La Presse (Montréal), Jun 26, 1985, p. B1. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.) 1988 – Sandford Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute "" (in recognition of his tireless work in the communication of scientific knowledge).Carole Thibaudeau, "La personnalité de la semaine: L'Institut Royal du Canada rend hommage au père de la vulgarisation scientifique au Québec", La Presse (Montréal), Mar 20, 1988, p. B3 (Includes a detailed profile of Seguin in French.); and "La médaille Sanford-Fleming à Fernand Seguin", p. B4. (Accessed Jan 1, 2026.) 1988 – Member Emeritus of .Jean-Marie Demers, Archiviste de l’Acfas, "Fernand Seguin, un grand communicateur", La Tribune (Sherbrooke), Jun 30, 1988, p. B2. (Accessed Jan 8, 2026.) 1988 – (literary award) by a vote of the readers of the newspaper for his book .Georges Lamon, "Au Salon du livre de Montréal: Fernand Seguin honoré du Prix du Grand public", La Presse (Montréal), Nov 21, 1988, p. A10. (Accessed Jan 5, 2026.)
Legacy 1979 – (medal) was established in his honour at for students excelling in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics."Fernand Séguin honoré hier à l'Université: 'Témoignage de solidarité, La Tribune (Sherbrooke), Jun 16, 1979, p. 2. (Accessed Jan 5, 2025.) 1988 – (primary school) in Montréal was named in his honour. "Une école de la CÉCM portera le nom de Fernand Seguin", La Presse (Montréal), Sep 14, 1988, p. A7. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.) 1989 – (scholarships) were named in his honour by ."Hommage à Fernand Seguin", La Presse (Montréal), Oct 17, 1988, p. A2. (Accessed Jan 5, 2026)."Bourses Fernand-Seguin: Concours de journalisme scientifique", Interface (la revue de l'ACFAS), Jan-Feb 1989, Vol. 10, No. 1, p. 10 (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.) The scholarships were previously known as (Science Journalism Contests)"Jeune lauréate en stage au Devoir", Le Devoir (Montréal), Jun 1, 1987, p. 2. (Includes a photograph of Seguin presenting to one of the recipients.) (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.)"Concours de journalisme scientifique", Interface (la revue de l'ACFAS), Jan-Feb 1988, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 4. (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.) since their establishment in December 1981. 1989 – in Gaspésie National Park was named in his honour."Mont Fernand-Seguin", Québec, Commission de toponymie. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.)"Une montagne et une rue à la mémoire de Fernand Seguin", La Presse (Montréal), Jun 27, 1989, p. A5. (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.) 1989 – in was named in his honour.Maryse Gervais, "L'ATRM lance sa revue Bonjour Montérégie", Le Canada français (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Jul 5, 1989, p. A29. (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.)Gazette officielle du Québec, Partie I, Nov 18, 1989, 120e année (Vol. 120), No. 45A, pp. 4667, 4671 & 4725 (new official names Apr 1, 1988, to Mar 31, 1989); Oct 20, 1990, 122e année (Vol. 122), No. 41A, pp. 4385, 4389 & 4462 (new official names Apr 1, 1989, to Mar 31, 1990). (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.)"Centre écologique Fernand-Seguin" (formerly Parc Fernand-Seguin), Québec, Commission de toponymie. (Accessed Jan 6, 2026.) 1989 – (primary school) in was named in his honour. "Une école de Ste-Foy perpétuera le nom de Fernand Séguin", Le Soleil (Québec), Oct 12, 1989, p. B7. (Accessed Jan 5, 2026.) 1991 – (secondary school) in was named in his honour."À l’école Fernand-Séguin de Candiac: Une rentrée scolaire fort remarquée", Le Reflet régional, Sep 8, 1991, p. 5. (Accessed Dec 30, 2025.)
References
External links Fernand Seguin at The Canadian Encyclopedia