Winner involved in racing and research

Page 26

Albert Charles Rock has lived his life in the fast lane, literally, as

an auto racer. He has also taken time, however, to become one of the

foremost Aboriginal product developers and entrepreneurs of our time.

The Metis man received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award this year

in the field of science and technology.

"It (the award) is very emotional" he said while surrounded by

well-wishers after the presentation ceremony. "There are almost no

words to describe it, and that's kind of strange. My son and I have won

a lot of awards, but this one is a very emotional experience. Many

people there had difficulty with the presentation; the tears were really

flowing.

"I don't know if it's the award, the atmosphere of the presentation,

the crowd, the TV thing, " he continued. "It may be that it's an award

by and for Native people. It's very emotional, though, and very

important, as that emotion indicates."

Now 51, Rock's future began with a car accident that nearly killed

him. Unsatisfied with medical technology used in his rehabilitation,

Rock devised a means of measuring blood flow and muscle temperature in

the affected areas of his body. He led the rehabilitation team in his

own rehabilitation, and recovered completely because of a combination of

his ingenuity and hard work.

That device he invented from a hospital bed in 1982 has become an

extensive line of data loggers now in use on NASA space shuttles and

Indy car racing teams, as well as other equally useful places.

Rock has developed a multi-million dollar business called ACR Systems

Inc., of which he is founder, president and chairman of the board.

He spends a lot of volunteer time "putting back" into the Native

communities on the West Coast. He has helped First Nations there

conceive and build a design and development facility, has taught

technical applications and maintenance, and has established schools on

reserves specializing in boiler set up and maintenance. In his "spare

time," he is president of the B.C. Track Racing Association.

All this from a man, who, as a student, was diagnosed as dyslexic and

who attended 19 schools before achieving a Grade 10 education. His hard

work and desire, as well as a creative intelligence, has carved "a

permanent niche for himself in the highest reaches of the global

scientific community."

The other nominee in the category was N.H. (Hersh) Hvatum of Edmonton.