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].

 

 

 

| Standing Committees

 

 

Awards

 

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].

 

Wildlife Pioneer Recognition Award

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.

 

Certification

 

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:

  1. To work with TWS to see how the present certification program can be made more appealing to Canadian wildlife biologists
  2. To work towards establishing national standards for practicing wildlife professionals across Canada.

 

Learn more about TWS Certification

 

For any inquiries or to become involved with the Certification Committee, please email us at [email protected].

 

Conservation Affairs 

 

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:

 

  1. Identify and describe priority issues surrounding wildlife management across Canada, and where appropriate, contribute information relevant to decision making at all levels of government and other relevant agencies that can have an impact on wildlife and habitats. This will occur through coordination with the Canadian Section Board of Directors and individual expertise within the Section.
  2. Provide scientific, technical, and ethical background information in a manner that is consistent with the goals and direction of the CSTWS and TWS.
  3. Provide feedback to The Wildlife Society on wildlife management and conservation issues of particular relevance to the Canadian context, such that TWS can undertake its mandate sensitive to the needs of its Canadian membership.


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].

 

 

equity, Diversity, and inclusion

 

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].

 

Education

 

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

 

Fundraising 

 

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.

 

Objectives of the FundRaising Committee

The Fundraising Committee of the CSTWS has the following objectives:

 

  • To provide advice and suggestions for fund-raising activities to the Executive Director of CSTWS
  • To link the fundraising efforts of the Executive Director and CSTWS to specific financial needs as appropriate
  • To draw on the expertise and experience of CSTWS members to support successful fundraising efforts of CSTWS
  • To identify potential fundraising opportunities for the CSTWS to pursue.
  • To provide advice and suggestions on how fundraised dollars can be implemented to support CSTWS charitable purposes, including a proportional amount for other overhead costs to maintain compliance with CRA guidelines.

Deliverables of the CSTWS FundRaising Committee

The Fundraising Committee of the CSTWS provides:

 

  • Advise the Executive Director and Board of CSTWS with respect to fundraising activities
  • A linkage between fundraising efforts and financial needs of CSTWS
  • Periodic written or verbal reports from the Fundraising Committee as part of the CSTWS Representatives Meeting
  • An annual report to the CSTWS Board of Directors on the activities of the Fundraising Committee


For any inquiries or questions, or to become involved with the Fundraising Committee, please email our Executive Director at [email protected].

 

Indigenous engagement

 

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].

 

membership and recruitment

 

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.

 

Welcome Letter

 

newsletter and website

 

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].

 

nominations and elections

 

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.

 

 

finance

 

The Finance Committee provides advice to the Treasurer (and Board) on all issues related to the finances of the Canadian Section.

Seal river

Photo Credit: Jess Lang

 

 

| ad-hoc Committees

 

 

 

In addition to standing committees, the President can strike ad-hoc committees, which report to the Board to address specific needs. 

 

Planning Committee

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. 

 

 

Shared Moose Management Committee

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.