Belleville linked to the discovery of insulin

By Sharon Kallaste

Life saving insulin has significant ties to Belleville.

Biochemist Dr. James Bertram Collip, who was born in Thurlow Township and received his early education in Belleville was brought in by University of Toronto professor John Macleod in late 1921 to work with Dr. Frederick Banting and Charles Best and they formed the four-member team that discovered insulin.

Collip was given the task of purifying the insulin, so that it could be taken into the instrumental human testing stage.

In 1923, only two of the four-member medical team, Banting and MacLeod were nominated and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the ‘discovery of insulin’.

Dr. George Pearce of Belleville has made promoting the instrumental work of Dr. Collip his personal life mission.

“I was feeling badly when I realized that there was no commemorative in Belleville for Dr. Bertram Collip,” said Pearce.

To this day, there has been both debate and controversy, as to why Collip and Best were not recognized for their role in one of medicine’s greatest discoveries.

“There has been enough controversy about this and you don’t gain anything by polarizing the issue,” says Pearce.

An advocate of the Hastings Historical Society, Pearce has volunteered his personal time and expense to create an archival exhibit with the hope and plans to memorialize Collip and donate his findings to the Belleville archives. Further, it is his hope that the City of Belleville might one day consider a historical monument.

“What I can probably do in my lifetime is organize what I have – several biographical sketches on Collip by librarians and nine bankers boxes filled with books and material that documents Collip’s life and work,” said Pearce.

Pearce has spent countless hours and personal expense in his efforts to extrapolate material. Currently The Hastings County Historical Society does not hold a specific archival exhibit about Collip.

“I just work quietly away – the biggest thing I want to do is to contribute to the existing archives and have them brought to Collip’s birthplace,” said Pearce

“What I need to do is to find the appropriate channel, and the right place to present a motion, that will get the process [recognition] into action – it can take up to a hundred years to have a plaque or monument approved,” Pearce said with a smile.

“Dr. Pearce is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of the insulin discovery,” says Rosalie Spargo, team leader of the Hastings and Prince Edward Diabetes Branch.

“He is so passionate about his work and the findings are really intriguing.

“Our branch is dedicated to assist him with his efforts in anyway we can to increase awareness of diabetes, and bring community recognition to Dr. Collip’s role in the discovery of insulin,” said Spargo.

Pearce started creating his extensive archive on our hometown ‘hero’ Collip, in 2009.

“It would be appropriate to recall and retell his story in the community where he was born. It is a matter of pride to this community.

“It will serve to educate and inspiration the students of today as to the importance of how Collip’s work played in saving millions of lives around the world,” said Pearce.