The Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society is pleased to offer several awards annually to our members. Full descriptions and criteria for each award are provided below
Please note that the appplication period for this award is currently CLOSED. We look forward to recieving your applications during our next awards call in Spring 2025.
The Canadian Section of TWS’s Early-Career Professional Development Award provides financial support to members of the Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society (CSTWS) to participate in professional development opportunities that are relevant to their profession or field of study.
Professional Development opportunities toward which award funding may be applied include participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars, or other special training opportunities such as a professional or work exchange, which may take place virtually or as an in-person event. Funds allocated from the CSTWS Early-Career Professional Development award may be used to cover costs needed to participate in these opportunities, including accommodations, travel, registration, associated written materials or equipment, etc. Note that fees associated with applying for or maintaining professional membership or standing (e.g., Provincial or TWS certification) are not eligible to be covered by this award.
An early-career professional is defined as an individual who normally is within 12 years of obtaining their natural resources related BSc or Diploma (less than 13 years from graduation) and who is not enrolled in or otherwise pursuing a new Program of Study. Therefore, all applicants for the CSTWS Early-Career Professional Development Award must meet all the following criteria:
Each year, two professional development awards will normally be available for early-career professionals. There will normally be two application deadlines, one in Spring and one in Fall each with normally one award recipient, to allow for the different timing of professional development opportunities. Because opportunities are time-specific, applications will not be carried over from one application period to the next.
Each award amount may be up to $500* but is not to exceed the actual expenses of the professional development opportunity. This award is also contingent upon the submission of scanned receipts for eligible expenses (accommodations, transportation, registration, etc.). Any costs that exceed the maximum amount requested must be covered by the applicant.
Applications will be evaluated on the quality of the application, the intended benefit to the applicant, the application’s completeness, eligibility of the applicant, and the demonstrated need of the applicant — need will be assessed based on the applicant’s discussion of other funding avenues that have been explored and how the applicant has demonstrated how receiving the award will positively affect their career. Demonstrated participation in TWS International, Section or Chapter activities or the wildlife community will be viewed favourably by the Award Committee. Greater consideration will be given to applicants who are in the earlier stages of their career development.
Note that if selected for the Early-Career Professional Development Award, recipients will be expected to provide a short contribution and photo to the Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society to be featured in the CSTWS newsletter, website, and/or social media platforms.
To be considered for this award, an applicant must submit the following items to the ACSTWS wards Committe chair at [email protected]. All required components of the application should be combined into a single PDF file
Only complete applications submitted by the bi-annual deadline will be reviewed by the CSTWS Awards Committee. Names and a summary of the successful applicant(s) will be provided to the CSTWS Board of Directors for approval. Successful applicants will be notified of approval promptly and will be reminded of any obligations associated with the acceptance of this award (e.g., proof of participation, etc.). Once all requirements for the reward have been fulfilled, reimbursement will be arranged by the Chair of the Awards Committee through the CSTWS Treasurer.
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*The value of each award and the number of awards per year will be determined on an annual basis by the CSTWS Board depending on the availability of funds. It is the Board’s goal to be able to grow the amount of this award over time.
Please note that the appplication period for this award is currently CLOSED. We look forward to recieving your applications in January 2026!
The Ian McTaggart-Cowan Lifetime Achievement Award (CLAA) is awarded by the CSTWS to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding, conservation, and/or management of wildlife in Canada over their careers. The Award is named for Dr. Ian McTaggart-Cowan, a founding pioneer of the wildlife profession, an honorary life member and former President of The Wildlife Society (TWS), and recipient of the TWS Aldo Leopold Award.
The Award will be presented at the CSTWS Annual General Meeting, and the recipient will receive free registration. Up to $1,000 (CAD) may be reimbursed to attend the in-person meeting. Nominees are eligible for the award for up to 3 years after nomination.
The nominee for the CLAA will have made an outstanding contribution to wildlife biology, conservation, education and/or management in Canada throughout her or his career. These accomplishments may have been made in management, education, research, or administration (or any combination therein) and have noticeably advanced the field of wildlife biology and management and/or enhanced wildlife conservation and education.
The CLAA is open to any wildlife professional, practicing or retired, regardless of whether they are a member of the CSTWS and/or TWS.
The evaluation process is guided by the nominee’s lifetime contribution. The evaluation of the nominees considers: the relative magnitude of the contribution; whether or not the contribution has been received (or is worthy of national recognition); and that contributions to wildlife biology, conservation, education and/or management are of equal value, but that contributions to multiple facets of the wildlife profession are of greater value.
Annual nominations for the Cowan Award are to be submitted in digital form by email to the CSTWS Awards Committee ([email protected]) by January 1st of each year.
Nomination materials consist of
• Completed nomination form
• A letter highlighting the significance and breadth of the contribution of the nominee
• A CV of the nominee
• High-quality digital photograph of the nominee
Please note that the appplication period for this award is currently CLOSED. We look forward to recieving your applications during our next awards call in Spring/Summer 2025.
Each year, the CSTWS helps provide funding opportunities for students to help offset the travel costs associated with attendance at our Annual Joint Conference and AGM. This year, the Annual General Meeting will be virtual.
Applicants should email the application to [email protected]. Please indicate "CSTWS Student Travel Award Application 2025 - CSTWS Conference" in the subject field. The materials to be submitted include (in one PDF document):
Please note that the appplication period for this award is currently CLOSED. We look forward to recieving your applications during our next awards call in Spring/Summer 2025.
The application period for the CSTWS student travel awards to the TWS annual conference is currently CLOSED. Please check again in the coming months for travel awards to attend the 2025 TWS Annual Conference in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) (October 5-9, 2025)
We encourage Canadian Section Student Members to apply for the following travel award. Each Travel Award will be up to $500 (CAD), and we anticipate four awards will be available. Successful applicants will be required to provide a write-up for the CSTWS Newsletter describing their trip to the conference.
Although a student’s paper/poster must be accepted for presentation by the Canadian Section’s Program Committee to receive the Award, students should apply for the award before being notified by the Program Committee of abstract acceptance.
Applicants must email the application materials to [email protected], using “CSTWS Student Travel Award Application 2025 - TWS Conference” in the subject field. All materials should be submitted as a single PDF file and include:
Photo: Erin McCance
The Wildlife Society’s Awards Program provides annual recognition for professional excellence, outstanding achievements and significant contributions to wildlife science and management. A full list of those awards and their nomination requirements and deadlines can be found at https://wildlife.org/awards/
The Canadian Section’s Awards Committee strives to identify potential nominees for each award annually. Nominees for the TWS Distinguished Service Award are adjudicated by the Awards Committee on behalf of the Section. The Section’s Awards Committee ([email protected]) is pleased to help with any other nominations, but nominations for all other awards can be made directly to TWS, as outlined on the above webpage.
The Wildlife Society offers several grants (mostly to students, but some are available to professionals) to assist with travel costs to the Annual TWS Conference. https://wildlife.org/travel-grants/
Photo: Jess Lang