Society of Canadian Ornithologists
Société des ornithologistes
du Canada
Doris Huestis Speirs Lifetime Achievement Award
The Doris Huestis Speirs Lifetime Acievement Award is the most prestigious award given by the SCO-SOC. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding lifetime contributions in Canadian ornithology. Past awardees include professionals who work at museums, government agencies, private companies and universities, as well as amateur ornithologists and people who have contributed to ornithological infrastructure of Canada.
Doris Huestis Speirs was born on 27 October 1894 in Toronto, Ontario and passed away in Ajax, Ontario on 24 October 1989. Doris was highly prominent in art, literary, and ornithological circles. She founded the Margaret Morse Nice Ornithological Club, which was the only such group specifically for women, and she was also a founding member of the Pickering Naturalists’ Club. In her lifetime, Doris made several prominent contributions to the ornithological literature on Evening Grosbeaks and Lincoln’s Sparrows (the latter with her husband, J. Murray Speirs).
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The award consists of a plaque bearing the logo of the Society, as well as the name of the award, the recipient, year and purpose of the award. The award is generally presented at the Society’s annual meeting.
Nominations
To be eligible, the candidate must have made significant contributions to ornithology in Canada. There are no requirements that the candidate work in a specific field; individuals in academia, public sector, industry, conservation agencies and government are eligible for consideration, providing they have made outstanding contributions to ornithology.
The candidate must be recognized as being an expert in their field, having made significant contributions to ornithology, and completed a substantial body of impactful work.
The award consists of a plaque bearing the logo of the Society, as well as the name of the award, the recipient, year and purpose of the award. The award is generally presented at the Society’s annual meeting.
Nomination Process
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Candidates are nominated by former/current students, colleagues and/or peers.
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There is no formal nomination form, but the nominator should provide a nomination letter addressed to the chair of the committee that includes a short statement (max 1000 words) indicating how the nominee has influenced and impacted ornithology in Canada. Nomination letters can be written individually or by a group of co-authors. For tips on writing a nomination letter, the resources here and here may be helpful.
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Nomination letters should be in either Word or .pdf format, and emailed to the Chair of the committee to allow for distribution to other committee members.
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In the nomination letter or the accompanying email, the full contact information for the candidate should be provided.
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The nomination must be accompanied by at least two additional letters of support from others (these can be in the form of separately submitted emails). Support letters should not exceed 500 words, and should indicate they have seen and support the nomination letter. They may then add their own comments on the nominee.
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If a candidate is not chosen to receive the award in the first year nominated, the nominee will be automatically considered for next successive years' competition. The nominator may update the file in the second year if they so chose, otherwise the existing file will be reconsidered.
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This year's nominations are due by 31 March 2026
Nominations Should Be Sent To:
Matt Reudink
Chair, SCO-SOC Speirs Award Committee Chair
Thompson Rivers University
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Review Process:
LNominees will be reviewed by an SCO subcommittee of 3 individuals. The current committee consists of:Matt Reudink (Chair), Colin Garroway, and TBA
Contributing To The Endowment
Donations to the endowment for this award can be made through Zeffy. As with other funds, donors who provide a return address will receive a tax receipt for charitable donation.
Past Recipients
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2024 - Ernie Jardine, Naturalist, Author, and Teacher
2023 - Jim Quinn, McMaster University
2022 - Rob Butler, Pacific Wildlife Foundation
2021 - Phil Taylor, Acadia University
2020 - David F. Sherry, Western University
2019 - Jean-Pierre L. Savard, Research Scientist, Canadian Wildlife Service
2018 - Robert W. Elner, Research Scientist and Manager, Canadian Wildlife Service
2017 - David Bird, Professor, McGill University
2016 - Vicki Friesen, Professor, Queen's University
2015 - Erica Nol, Professor, Trent University
2014 - Rodger Titman, Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University
2013 - Tony Diamond, Research Professor, Atlantic Laboratory for Avian Research, University of New Brunswick
2012 - Peter Arcese, Professor, Centre for Applied Conservation Research, University of British Columbia
2011 - Keith Hobson, Senior Research Scientist, Environment Canada
2010 - Susan Hannon, Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta
2009 - Clive Goodwin, Naturalist and educator
2008 - Kathy Martin, Research Scientist, Environment Canada, and Professor, Centre for Applied Conservation Research, University of British Columbia
2007 - Anthony Gaston, Senior Research Scientist, Environment Canada
2006 - Allan Baker, Senior Curator of Ornithology and Head of Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, and Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Toronto
2005 - John A. Crosby, Ornithological Illustrator
2004 - Spencer G. Sealy, Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba
2003 - Raleigh J. Robertson, Professor, Baillie Family Chair in Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Queen's University; and Director, Queen's University Biological Station at Lake Opinicon
2002 - Normand David, Director, Association québécoise des groupes d'ornithologues
2001 - Erica H. Dunn Research Scientist, Canadian Wildlife Service, and David J. T. Hussell, Research Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
2000 - James (Jamie) N. M. Smith, Professor, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia. (see also Jamie Smith Memorial Award for Mentoring)
1999 - Henri R. Ouellet, Curator, Canadian Museum of Nature (obituary)
1998 - Ian McTaggart Cowan, Dean Emeritus (Graduate Studies) and Professor of Zoology (retired), University of British Columbia.
1997 - Hugh J. Boyd, Research Scientist, Canadian Wildlife Service
1996 - James Murray, Naturalist and Teacher, University of Toronto
1995 - Robert W. Nero, Ecologist, Manitoba Natural Resources
1994 - Anthony J. Erskine, Research Scientist, Canadian Wildlife Service
1993 - Fred Cooke, Professor and CWS/NSERC Wildlife Ecology Senior Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
1992 - Thomas H. Manning, Arctic explorer and natural historian
1991 - Louise de K. Lawrence, Nurse and natural historian
1990 - J. Bruce Falls, Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto
1989 - C. Stuart Houston, Radiologist and natural historian
1988 - H. Albert Hochbaum, Director, Delta Waterfowl Research Station
1987 - F. Graham Cooch, Wildlife Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service
1986 - W. Earl Godfrey, Curator Emeritus, Canadian Museum of Nature