The Canadian Institute of Forestry's Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award 2009 recipient
Dr. Sally Aitken
Director, Forest Sciences Program
Director, Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics
Department of Forest Sciences

The Canadian Institute of Forestry's Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award was created in 1980. It recognizes unique and outstanding accomplishment in forestry research in Canada. Its objective is to encourage excellence in forest research. This year’s recipient is Dr. Sally Aitken of the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia. Sally leads a forest genetics research program at the University of British Columbia, where she also teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Her work is important to the sustainable practice of forestry in British Columbia, throughout Canada, and internationally. Sally established the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics at the invitation of the BC Forest Genetics Council. There she leads studies into adaptation of forest-tree populations to local climate conditions and how tree species diversity is best managed for resilient future forests. Sally is also leading ground-breaking work in molecular and ecological genetics in Sitka spruce. Her team has identified candidate genes associated with local adaptation to climate. This work is a building block for researchers in plant biology around the world.  Her research initiatives are aimed at improving sustainable forest management, focusing on the areas of forest resilience and forest conservation. The profession of forestry in Canada is well-served as a result of her contributions to forest science, research and education.  As a result of Sally’s work, our management decisions have the best available knowledge of predicted climate change and its effect on native tree species and their populations in BC.

The Canadian Institute of Forestry’s Canadian Forestry Achievement Award 2009 recipient
Gordon Prest
Co-chair of First Nations Council of Advisors (FNCOA)


The Canadian Institute of Forestry’s Canadian Forestry Achievement Award was established in 1967. The intent of the award is to recognize unique and outstanding forestry achievement by individuals in Canada. It is the Canadian Institute of Forestry's objective that it encourages excellence in the forestry profession. This year’s recipient is Mr. Gordon Prest of Merritt British Columbia. Gordon has contributed significantly to forest management, forest education, environmental awareness, and best practices in forestry. He has been at the forefront of forest education programs for the better part of his career. Gordon has positively influenced the evolution of sound forest management in BC through direct involvement in his role as a BC Ministry of Forests District Ranger and Operations Superintendent, where his passion for forestry and desire to do the right thing always guided his decision making processes. Following his time with the government, Gordon started a second career as an educator at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. We were fortunate to be able to borrow Gordon for a while to start the “First Nations Forestry Initatives” office in the Faculty of Forestry, UBC in 1994. . His teachings of inclusive gatherings, respectful acknowledgement, interest-based negotiations versus positional stances, and patience and persistence in the face of uncertainty have had a direct impact on the lives of many people.  His personal dedication to recruiting a supportive community and family along with the best individuals into challenging land-based careers has helped make NVIT and UBC centers of success for Aboriginal forestry students.