The Ontario Chapter (OC) is the local organization for the American Fisheries Society (AFS) in Ontario. Its members encourage and foster the exchange of information among members of the Chapter, the Society and others in the Province of Ontario.  To support that ideal, the AFS-OC honours the most outstanding graduate student research poster with an award. The President’s Award was bestowed for the best student poster presentation at our Annual Meeting & Conference between 2019 and 2023.

The AFS-OC President’s Award consisted of a copy of The ROM Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Ontario (Holm, Mandrak and Burridge), and a another publication relevant to Ontario’s aquatic fauna (e.g. fishes, mussels, crayfishes, etc.).

AWARD WINNERS

The 2023 President’s Award was won by Amy Pitura from the University of Guelph. Her poster was titled “Demographic history of cyprinid minnow species in anthropogenically disturbed environments” and the abstract is available in the 2023 Annual Meeting Program.

The 2022 President’s Award was won by Jessica Reid from Carleton University. Her poster was titled “Habitat use and movement patterns of Muskellunge in the Jock River, Ontario” and the abstract is available in the 2022 Annual Meeting Program. Jessica (left) received her award virtually from Ontario Chapter President-Elect Zach Wells (right).

The 2021 President’s Award was won by Christian Therrien from the University of Waterloo. His poster was titled “Investigating the effects of Rainbow Smelt invasion on Lake Trout restoration in the Sudbury Basin” and the abstract is available in the 2021 Annual Meeting Program. Christian (bottom) received his award virtually from Ontario Chapter President-Elect Sarah Steele (top left) and Ontario Chapter President Craig Paterson (top right).

The 2020 President’s Award was won by Jacob Burbank from the University of Waterloo. Jacob’s poster was titled “Consumption of terrestrial food resources by a small-bodied stream fish: Silver Shiner in an urban drainage” and the abstract is available in the 2020 Annual Meeting Program. Jacob (right) received his award from Ontario Chapter President-Elect Craig Paterson (left).

The inaugural 2019 President’s Award was shared by co-winners Britney Firth and Jacob Burbank, both from the University of Waterloo. Britney’s poster was titled “Seasonal variation in the critical thermal maxima and the critical oxygen tolerance of the threatened Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida)” and the abstract is available in the 2019 Annual Meeting Program. Britney (centre), is pictured with coauthors Michael Power (left) and Andrew Drake (right).

The inaugural 2019 President’s Award was shared by co-winners Britney Firth and Jacob Burbank, both from the University of Waterloo. Jacob’s poster was titled “Investigating the spawn timing of Silver Shiner (Notropis photogenis) within Canada” and the abstract is available in the 2019 Annual Meeting Program. Jacob (left) received congratulations for his his award from Ontario Chapter President Jan Moryk (right).