Fleming College

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Peterborough, ON (May 19, 2014) – Fleming College is pleased to announce that Murray Hall, a Fish and Wildlife Technician graduate from the Class of 1980, is the recipient of the 2014 Alumnus of Distinction Award. This prestigious award is given to an alumnus who attains outstanding career success and professional achievement.

 
Murray Hall’s career journey is remarkable. He is recognized as an innovator in his field and is admired for the strong partnerships he builds with organizations that support the fish and wildlife industry. This includes his synergy with the Fleming College Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, where he has been a member since 2001 and is the current Chair.

Soon after completing his studies at Fleming College’s Frost Campus in Lindsay, Murray became the youngest person to achieve the designation of Ministry of Natural Resources Park Warden. He then moved on to become a Wildlife Technician during which time he built relationships with industry partners in Dalian Province, China.

In 1991, Murray founded Halltech Environmental Inc., a research and precisions systems business. His company has developed one of the most diverse product lines in the archeology, forestry, geology, limnology and pedology industries. In the agricultural sector, Murray pioneered the first high-precision autopilot system on a tractor using GPS. This technology is now widely spread within the industry to give farmers the ability to greatly reduce the amount of fertilizers and herbicides they use to help improve surface and groundwater quality.

In 2006, Murray established Halltech Aquatic Research to service and build fisheries-related equipment. He created the first Canadian-made Backpack Electrofishing System, a product that is becoming a standard in many Provincial and State Conservation Authorities and Federal Departments. Halltech products are vital to aquatic scientists and field experts around the world.

Murray takes pride in his Fleming College education and the many friendships he made with people on campus.

“Fleming College set the framework for my success,” says Murray. “The technical training I received was perfectly suited to my work as a field technician. The strong sense of community and family amongst fellow students and faculty set a solid foundation for me as a mentor and a proud husband, father and grandfather.”

Murray is the recipient of several awards including the Ontario Global Trader Award for Innovation and the Ontario Global Trader Award for Market Expansion. Last year, he was honoured by Fleming College with a Premier’s Award – Technology nomination for outstanding contribution that a college graduate makes to Ontario and throughout the world.

Fleming College President Dr. Tony Tilly will present the 2014 Alumnus of Distinction Award to Murray Hall at the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences convocation ceremony at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6 in Lindsay, Ontario.

The community is invited to watch the award presentation live online at www.flemingcollege.ca/alumni-relations.

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For more information:

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca

Paula Walton, Alumni Officer, 705-749-5530 x1390 or paula.walton@flemingcollege.ca