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Want to become more involved with the Canadian Section? Consider joining or engaging with one of our many committees!
The CSTWS has several standing and ad-hoc committees that work to support and advance the Section’s operations. Brief committee descriptions can be found below, with additional details linked to each description. For general information about joining a committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
The Awards Committee solicits nominations for the Canadian Section and TWS awards for deserving members of the Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society.
The committee receives and adjudicates nominations for the Ian McTaggart Cowan Life-time Achievement and TWS’s Distinguished Service Award. The committee also solicits and adjudicates applications for the Student Travel award given by the Section for travel to TWS and Section conferences and for the Early Career Professional Award. The scope of this committee’s work includes nominations for annual awards of both the Section and TWS.
For any inquiries, questions or to become involved with the Awards Committee, please email [email protected].
The Wildlife Pioneer Recognition Award committee aims to identify individuals who were important in the origins and evolution of wildlife conservation and management in Canada and to recognize them for their outstanding achievements. There are many possible candidates going back over the 20th century. Of course, many are deceased, although a number of them are still living well into retirement. Further, new contributions to the evolution of wildlife conservation and management continue to occur. The Pioneer Recognition Committee aims to acknowledge and recognize outstanding contributions by individuals who chart new territory through the development of ground-breaking original contributions to the wildlife profession. The Pioneer Committee approach is to gather background information on as many candidates as likely can be found and judge their suitability to be recognized and appear on the Canadian Section of the Wildlife Society (CSTWS) Website as pioneers in wildlife conservation and management in Canada. Many of these pioneers have worked in a diversity of areas within the wildlife profession, such as government, conservation organizations and universities
Please visit our Canadian Wildlife Pioneer page to see a list of our current pioneers.
The Certification Committee was formed in 2017 to revitalize TWS’s Wildlife Biologist Certification Program in Canada. The committee aims to inform Canadian wildlife biologists about the certification program and establish national standards for practicing wildlife professionals across Canada.
The structure of the committee reflects a membership intent on achieving two goals:
Learn more about TWS Certification
For any inquiries or to become involved with the Certification Committee, please email us at [email protected].
The Conservation Affairs Committee (CAC) coordinates the development and dissemination of science-supported information required to inform the public, policymakers, wildlife professionals, other resource managers, and the public concerning these issues.
The CAC will coordinate the development and dissemination of science-supported information required to inform the public, policymakers, wildlife professionals, other resource managers, and the public concerning these issues.
The role of CAC is to:
The roles, responsibilities and operations of the CAC are guided by a Terms of Reference that is reviewed and approved by the CSTWS Board of Directors. For any inquiries or questions, or to become involved with the Conservation Affairs Committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
The role of the Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion (EDI) committee is to help ensure a consistent, unbiased, and meaningful approach is taken when addressing the needs of marginalized groups in the wildlife profession in Canada. Marginalized groups may include those based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, and socioeconomic background.
The CSTWS recognizes the value of including the richness of human diversity in our efforts to discover, educate, inform policy, and involve the public in wildlife science and management. The CSTWS welcomes all people with an interest in participating in wildlife and habitat research and conservation. However, the intersection of visible and less apparent differences, such as culture, spiritual views, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, unapparent disabilities, and other "invisible" factors nevertheless shape an individual's life experience and thus, the unique perspectives they bring to their vocation (The Wildlife Society, 2020). Participation in our profession must be broadened if we are to include the rich palette of perspectives and approaches needed to meet current and emerging challenges.
CSTWS is committed to the identification and removal of barriers to recruitment, effective mentoring, retention of a diverse workforce, and communication with a diverse array of stakeholders. For any inquiries or questions, or to become involved with the Equity, Diversion & Inclusion Committee, please email us at [email protected].
The Education Committee seeks to provide educational resources and opportunities to CSTWS members. Activities of this committee include the organization and hosting of web-based seminars, workshops, and online training courses. For any inquires or questions, or to become involved with the Education Committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
To view our upcoming 2025 webinar series, please visit our Opportunities and Events page.
In 2019, the Education Committee conducted a survey of Canadian Section members. These results can be viewed by clicking the following link:
Education Committee 2019 Survey Results
The objectives of the fundraising committee are to provide suggestions and advice to the Executive Director on fundraising activities, link fundraising efforts to specific CSTWS financial needs and charitable purposes, identify and support fundraising opportunities, and draw on the expertise of CSTWS members to support successful fundraising efforts.
Significant and sustained fundraising is key to the long-term success of CSTWS. Fundraising efforts need to be tied to specific needs of CSTWS and so a close relationship between fundraising efforts and CSTWS finance is desirable. Although fundraising is one of the primary duties of the Executive Director of CSTWS, the financial procedures of the Finance Committee preclude the membership of the Executive Director on the Finance Committee. A close tie between the fundraising efforts of the Executive Director and the financial needs of CSTWS is one of the roles that the Fundraising Committee will serve. The Board of Directors of CSTWS also wants to draw on the expertise of its members to assist and provide direction relative to CSTWS’ fundraising efforts, and the Fundraising Committee provides a mechanism for providing such advice, both to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
The Fundraising Committee of the CSTWS has the following objectives:
The Fundraising Committee of the CSTWS provides:
For any inquiries or questions, or to become involved with the Fundraising Committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
The Indigenous Engagement Committee is dedicated to cultivating collaboration, understanding, and inclusivity within wildlife professions, and recognizing the importance of authentic Indigenous representation.
We are thrilled to begin forming this committee, dedicated to cultivating collaboration, understanding, and inclusivity within wildlife professions. Before we begin this important journey, however, we recognize the importance of authentic Indigenous representation. We are currently looking for individuals from Indigenous communities or organizations to join us in shaping this committee. Your unique perspectives, cultural insights, and lived experiences are essential to our mission of advancing responsible and sustainable approaches to wildlife management and conservation.
Stay tuned for updates as we work to assemble a committee that reflects the Indigenous cultures in Canada.
For any inquiries or questions, or to become involved with this committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
The Membership and Recruitment Committee oversees the recruitment and retention of members, keeps track of memberships, and provides up-to-date membership lists to the Board and other committees as needed.
The committee works on recruitment and retention initiatives for our members. Additionally, this committee manages and maintains the CSTWS membership database, including letters of welcome to new members and letters of encouragement to renew. A full list of member benefits can be found in the Get Involved page of this website, but a brief description can also be found in the following letter welcoming new members to the Section.
This committee works with the Board, Chapters and committee chairs to gather information and updates for a newsletter, which is assembled and distributed every second month, as well as maintaining and updating the Section’s website.
This committee also works with the Board and membership to provide updates and important information, including award information, meeting information, job postings, and other items. This committee consists of a chair or co-chairs and one to two committee members.
For more information about this committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].
This committee consists of up to three members, chaired by the Past President and individuals appointed by the President, who prepare the slate of candidates to stand for election for the open Board of Director seats.
The Finance Committee provides advice to the Treasurer (and Board) on all issues related to the finances of the Canadian Section.
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Photo Credit: Jess Lang
In addition to standing committees, the President can strike ad-hoc committees, which report to the Board to address specific needs.
This committee works in close collaboration with the Board to draft a long-range plan for the Section to include short and long-term planning goals, strategic stepping stones and milestones to goal achievement, as well as short and long-term financial planning.
The Shared Moose Management Committee reports to the Board, and acts on behalf of the Board to oversee the Section’s shared agreement with the Government of Manitoba.