2024-2025

President

Dr. Benjamin Kissinger is the Water and Fish Program Lead at fRI Research (https://friresearch.ca/program/water-and-fish-program) where he conducts applied research aimed to aid in protecting and recovering native aquatic species. Though his work has covered much of North America, most of his current research focuses on native fishes within Alberta. He has been an active member of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) since 2007 which started at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Student Sub-Chapter. His time with AFS while in Wisconsin, was very influential in his career development and he plans to work over the next year to foster more student involvement in the Mid-Canada Chapter.

President-Elect

Dr. Mark Poesch is an associate professor in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on issues related to aquatic biodiversity, including: conservation of freshwater fishes (e.g. species at risk, invasive species), sustainable resource development and developing robust restoration and reclamation activities. His goals are to: build effective collaborations across Alberta and North America; to train the next generation of research leaders; to provide an atmosphere of respect and learning; to engage the public and stakeholders; and, to develop leading edge novel research to solve applied problems. He has been active in a number of fisheries and aquatic science societies across Canada.

Treasurer 

Jamie Card is a Freshwater Fish Biologist with the Integrated Planning team in the Ontario and Prairies Region at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, working out of Edmonton, AB. In this role, she is currently working on identifying fish and fish habitat restoration priorities in the East Slopes of the Rockies. Jamie has been an active member of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) since 2018, and was elected as the student representative for the Canadian Aquatic Resources (CARS) section of AFS from September 2019-December 2020 during her time in graduate studies. Following this tenure, she was awarded the Peter A. Larkin Award for Excellence in Fisheries at a Canadian Institution at the MSc level in 2021. Jamie has also volunteered and presented at the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research (CCFFR) put on by CARS, and is excited to be a part of the resurgence of the Mid-Canada Chapter and is looking forward to getting others involved.

Secretary

Milly Corrigan is a fisheries biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Edmonton, Alberta. She completed her Masters at the University of Alberta, with the Southern Rockies Watershed Project, where her thesis examined the impact of forestry roads on sediment flux. She is passionate about the conservation and recovery of Species at Risk in the Eastern slopes of Alberta. She spends her free time gardening, angling or hiking/running outdoors, or weaving on her loom (when then weather turns sub-30).

Alberta Rep

Kenton Neufeld is a Fisheries Biologist with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. He has worked in fisheries management throughout Alberta and completed his Masters degree at the University of Alberta, studying the impacts of hydrologic alterations on the Western Silvery Minnow in the Milk River. In his spare time, Kenton enjoys writing, snorkeling and home brewing. He looks forward to supporting the Mid-Canada chapter and fostering relationships in the fisheries community. 

Northwest Territories Rep

Sarah Stephenson is a fish biologist who recently returned to Yellowknife, NWT where she grew up. Prior to the move back to Yellowknife, Sarah was a fish biologist for the BC Government for 14 years, based out of Nelson BC. In her work in BC, she specialized in White Sturgeon, but also worked on other interesting species like Burbot. Her time with White Sturgeon kept her busy on technical, transboundary co-management and national teams. In her return to the north, she has been doing some contract work, a bit of guiding and has been busy playing outdoors with her family camping, fishing and hunting.

Communications Manager

Matt Teillet is a fisheries biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Edmonton, Alberta. Matt is originally from Winnipeg and has participated in fisheries research throughout central Canada and the arctic. He received a MSc at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario where he studied the impacts of ferry crossings on large arctic rivers. While Matt was completing his MSc, he chaired an early career researchers’ chapter of Global Water Futures. Matt is excited to join the Mid-Canada Chapter executive and to help grow the fish science community in central Canada. 

Student Rep

Imogen Bellinger is a master’s student in the Fish Biology and Conservation Laboratory at the University of Winnipeg. Currently, her thesis is examining the interactive effects of increasing temperature and carbon dioxide on the physiology and behaviour of salmonids. Previously, she completed an undergraduate thesis at Trent University where she examined the effects of oxygen saturation on the thermal tolerance of trout. Imogen is particularly interested in understanding how a changing environment will affect fish and what conservation measures can be used to mitigate these problems. She is excited to be a part of the AFS Mid-Canada Chapter and is looking forward to meeting other like-minded people.

Saskatchewan Rep

Marlene Evans.

Manitoba Rep

Empty.

Nunavut Rep

Paul Harper.

Past Executive Committee

2023-2024

President: Benjamin Kissinger

Treasurer: Jamie Card

Secretary: Milly Corrigan

2018-2018

President: Paul Harper

Vice-President: Shona Derlukewich

President: Tom Boag

Secretary & Treasurer: Margaret Docker

2011-2012

Vice-President: Ben Kissinger

Newsletter Editor: Patrick Nelson

Webmaster: Jessica Reilly