Promoter of wildlife professionalism

   

In 2021, the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Certification Committee was revised to expand representation to include the 6 professional organizations involved with safeguarding fish and wildlife populations, ecosystems, and environments (see below):

International Societies

  • The Wildlife Society (TWS)
  • The American Fisheries Society (AFS)
  • The Ecological Society of America (ESA)

National Program

  • Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada)

Provincial Certification Organizations:

  • British Columbia College of Applied Biologists (BC-CAB)
  • Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB)

The Certification Committee membership has representatives from TWS, ECO Canada, BC-CAB, and ASPB and is working on connecting with the AFS and ESA.  At present, we are actively involved with ECO Canada, BC-CAB, and ASPB.

ECO Canada
For the past few years, ECO Canada has been a willing partner and is poised to join in any efforts to interact and work with any of the other Certification organizations acting in Canada.
 
BC-CAB
At our November 2019 meeting, the Certification Committee formed a sub-committee to explore ways to better collaborate with BC-CAB.  This 3-person committee—Dr. Everett Hanna (BC-CAB Liaison), Dr. Rod Davis (BCTWS Representative), and Don Barnes (Chair)— continues to dialogue about possible options.

ASPB
At the 2019 ACTWS-CSTWS AGM, Dave Ealey, the Certification Committee’s Liaison person with ASPB, gave a talk and participated in this Certification Committee Workshop.  At that time, he was very encouraging that in-roads were possible.  

In May 2021, the Certification Committee began the process of dialoguing with ASPB towards providing opportunities for an ASPB member to become certified as a Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB®). 

AFS  
In 2019, to establish a rapport with the American Fisheries Association (AFS), we reached out to Dr. Mark Poesch, Fisheries Professor at the University of Alberta and former AFS President of the Canadian Aquatic Resource Section. He has been working closely with a fellow professor, Dr. Lu Carbyn, CWB®, to educate and inform students about the certification programs associated with AFS and TWS. Dialogue is still ongoing.  

ESA
Efforts are being made to connect with ESA through their Canadian Chapter based out of the University of Calgary. 

Future Plans
Our future plans involve connecting with AFS and ESA to establish their membership on the Certification Committee.  We believe that this professional collective will become a powerful vehicle to promote professionalism in Canada.