AFS-OC Student Subunit
Who are we?
The American Fisheries Society is the oldest and largest society for fisheries scientists in the world with over 9000 members. We are the Student Subunit of the Ontario Chapter of AFS, formed in March 2007, to represent fisheries students and young professionals from across Ontario and abroad. We provide student members with opportunities and information on AWARDS and EVENTS through this site, our Instagram, and Twitter account. We also contribute to the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Chapter, organize student retreats and journal club meetings. Check out NEWS and EVENTS, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more information!
AFS-OC Student Subunit Officers
Connor Reid (he/him)
President
I am a Ph.D. candidate at Carleton University studying the welfare implications of using electrical immobilisation and chemical anaesthesia on fish, co-supervised by Dr. Steven Cooke and Dr. Jonathan Midwood. I have been conducting field research and interacting with the Ontario fisheries science community since 2015. My research varies broadly, employing behavioural and physiological tools to help inform best practices in fisheries research involving extensive handling and invasive procedures. Outside of academia, I am keenly interested in curatorial work and bridging the gaps between scientific knowledge and public discourse through engaging and evidence-based exhibition creation.
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I served as Vice-President of the Student Subunit last year, and am glad to continue to work with the Subunit as we bounce back from some very challenging years to meaningful outreach, educational, and social opportunities for students across Ontario.
Hello! My name is Tim and I am a fourth year PhD candidate at the University of Toronto in Dr. Bailey McMeans’ lab. My doctoral work focuses on bridging the gaps between fish ecology and physiology across biological and temporal scales, with a particular focus on fish reproduction. I have been involved with fisheries research for over 7 years and have worked with NGO's, consulting firms, government, and academia to that end. Outside of research, I enjoy casting a line, swimming in cold lakes, and sleeping in small tents!
Timothy Fernandes
Vice-President
Jordanna Bergman
Secretary-Treasurer
Alyssa Goodenough
Science Communication and Education Coordinator
Markelle Morphet
GTA Regional Representative
Peter Baker
Souther Ontario
Regional Representative
Laura Haniford
Easter Ontario
Regional Representative
Hi! My name is Jordanna and I’m a dual Canadian-American conservation scientist and aquatic ecologist based out of eastern Ontario, Canada. I’m currently in the fourth year of my PhD at Carleton University, supervised by Dr. Steven Cooke and Dr. Joseph Bennett. Although my previous research experiences focused mainly on marine ecosystems, for my PhD I’ve turned my attention to freshwater systems (which need our help now more than ever!). My thesis research investigates the ecological connectivity of Canada’s historic Rideau Canal Waterway as experienced by both native and invasive fish species. Our goal is to work collaboratively with social scientists, Parks Canada (the primary stewards of the waterway), and hydraulic engineers to develop multidisciplinary and integrative approaches to developing management strategies and conserving Ontario’s economically-important, and beautiful, freshwater ecosystems.
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This is my second year with AFS-OC, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the organization as its secretary-treasurer.
I am a first-year Master’s student in Dr. Steven Cooke’s Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Lab at Carleton University. I am studying the effects of catch-and-release fishing on trophy Northern Pike in hopes of one day developing a protocol for effective and efficient catch-and-release practices. In addition, I am also studying gender discrimination within the Ontario recreational fishing community. Outside of academia, I am a professional fly-in trophy pike and lake trout fishing guide in Northern Manitoba, registered veterinary technician, and the owner of Northern Predator with which I seek to bridge the gap between the scientific and fishing communities to ensure the longevity of our waters and the fish that connect us all.
I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Nick Mandrak’s lab at UTSC. My current research is focused in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay where I work with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to compare eDNA sampling with conventional nearshore fish community survey methods and assess ecosystem health. I am expanding my research to target offshore communities and hope to examine fish population structures using eDNA, broadening its use as a conservation tool. Otherwise, I enjoy spending my time volunteering for science literacy programs such as the UofT Trash Team, Let’s Talk Science and United for Literacy tutoring.
I’m an MSc candidate at Western University in Dr. Bryan Neff’s lab, and I study the cardiorespiratory impairments associated with thiamine deficiency in salmonids from the Great Lakes. In general, my research interests lie within the realm of aquatic ecology and fisheries conservation. Growing up as an avid angler I have always been interested in Ontario’s fisheries, and I began pursuing this interest academically in 2018. In academia, I have been involved in a variety of fisheries research projects throughout Ontario, spanning from work with Atlantic salmon to bluegill sunfish. Outside academia I have a broad interest in biodiversity and conservation science and am involved in several conservation initiatives including the Western Biodiversity Inventory. I also sit on the Ecological Community Advisory Committee for the City of London.
I am an MSc candidate with Dr. Steven Cooke at Carleton University. My research focuses on assessing the impact of non-lethal sampling on behaviour and survival in freshwater fishes, and pairing non-lethal sampling to telemetry to try and link fish condition with movement. I have been doing field work in the Ottawa area for over 5 years with the federal government and local conservation authorities. Outside of academia, I am passionate about ecosystem restoration and conservation of our wetlands.
History
Early Years – Pre-Student Subunit

As the AFS parent society grew, smaller AFS affiliated “chapters” began to form across the United States and Canada. In Ontario, two of these chapters formed to represent the Northwestern (formed 1979, incorporated 1995) and Southern (formed 1988) regions of the province. In 2004, members of the two chapters agreed to merge and form one chapter to represent all of the Ontario AFS members. It was at this time that a small number of students stepped forward to represent the student members of the newly amalgamated Ontario Chapter. Between 2004 and 2007, Lynn Bouvier, Nick Lapointe, Andrew Drake, Mark Poos, Andrea Bernard, Bill MacLeod, Shari Sokay, Jarrod Stackhouse, Steve Marson, Karen Murchie, Greg Elliot, Melissa Robillard, Katie Stammler and Caleb Hasler acted as AFS-OC student representatives to provide a voice for students and young professionals in the chapter. A number of these representatives continued to work with the chapter and were ultimately responsible for shaping the AFS-OC Student Subunit (the Subunit).
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The creation of the Subunit
The first major step to create the Subunit was taken in 2006 with the development of a student focused section of the AFS-OC website. This section was devoted to providing information for students regarding research and job opportunities, scholarship and awards, and institutions that were well known for fisheries research. With growing interest from the student membership, student reps soon focused their attention from simply providing information to providing additional opportunities within the chapter. These included but were not limited to education, professional development, training, and collaboration. In the spring of 2007, AFS-OC Executive Commitee (ExComm) and the student reps changed the chapter bylaws to include students in the executive committee, thus recognizing a Student Subunit of the Ontario Chapter of AFS. In the same year, the parent society accepted the bylaw changes, officers were incorporated into the ExComm, and the Subunit was made official.
2007-2008 Term
After receiving a letter from the parent society that accepted the creation of the Subunit, the ExComm and its members nominated students for three executive positions. These three students would act as Pro tem officers until officially elected in the Fall of 2007.
President (Pro tem): Mary Finch
Vice President (Pro tem): Mike Donaldson
Secretary-Treasurer (Pro tem): Andrew Drake
Faculty Advisor: Steve Cooke
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The AFS-OC AGM of 2007 was the location for the earliest events by the Student Subunit. The most notable activity that the Subunit developed at the 2007 meeting was the silent auction, which in combination with a raffle draw has become a tradition of the Subunit in subsequent years of the AGM. Students raised over $700 in the auction/raffle, which was used to help develop a fund to support future student-oriented events. In the fall of 2007, Mary Finch, Michael Donaldson, and Andrew Drake officially stepped in as the Subunit ExComm for the 2007-2008 term. The Subunit planned and executed the first official student subunit event in the fall, which was a Class-2 backpack electofishing certification course with the Trent University Institute of Watershed Science. In late February 2008, the Subunit organized and hosted the 2008 AFS-OC Student Colloquium and Winter Retreat at Queen’s University Biological Station in Kingston. The event included a number of excellent student presentations, social dinners, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, and one incredible snow storm!
2008-2011 (Three Terms)
Student Subunit Executive
President: Caleb Hasler
Vice President: Monica Granados
Secretary-Treasurer: Connie O’Conner
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The 2008-2011 Subunit helped to organize a Student-Mentor Lunch, Student Colloquium on employment opportunities, Career Fair, Student Social, and assisted the Ontario Chapter ExComm with general conference organization and administration at the 2008 AFS Annual Meeting in Ottawa. The Subunit also received AFS-OC funding to support the undergraduate Ontario Ecology and Ethology Colloquium 2009. In March 2010, the Subunit and the Toronto Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology and Sea Choice hosted a screening of “The End of the Line” at University of Toronto. The screening was followed by an excellent talk by Stacy O’Malley of Sea Choice. Members of Canadian Aquatic Resources Sections (CARS) and the Subunit also hosted a student colloquium at the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research (CCFFR) in 2011. Here the panel shared their experience and fielded questions about careers and education.
2011-2012 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Lee Gutowsky
Vice President: Andrew Ecclestone
Secretary-Treasurer: Sarah Steele
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The 2011-2012 Subunit officially began serving the student membership in September 2011. The 2011-2012 Subunit planned and hosted a welcome social/BBQ and organized the traditional silent auction and raffle at the AGM in 2012. The social/BBQ allowed students and professionals to mingle and develop relationships over food and drinks, while the silent auction provided a chance to win prizes and raise money (~$700!) for the Subunit. Interactions between students and professionals throughout the meeting encouraged many students to later attend the Ecology and Evolutionary Ethology Conference 2012 (EEEC) held in Windsor. The Subunit subsequently took the initiative to host an EEEC social event that included drinks, food, and a door prize.
While Andrew Ecclestone has graduated and started his career in fisheries, both Lee Gutowsky and Sarah Steele continue to volunteer with the Subunit. The most recent achievement of the 2011-2012 Subunit is the development and sponsorship of a brand new “Outstanding Mentor Award”.
2012-2014 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Lee Gutowsky
Vice President: Jake Brownscombe
Secretary-Treasurer: Sarah Steele
2014-2015 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Jake Brownscombe
Vice President: Vivian Nguyen
Secretary-Treasurer: Robert Lennox
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2015-2016 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Vivian Nguyen
Vice President: Jacqueline Chapman
Secretary-Treasurer: Jill Brooks
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2016-2018 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Jacqueline Chapman
Vice President: Michael Lawrence
Secretary-Treasurer: Alice Abrams
East Region Representative: Peter Holder
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2019-2021 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Alice Abrams
Vice President: Jacob Burbank
Secretary-Treasurer: Britney Firth
East Region Representative: Peter Holder
Kawartha Region Representative: Ashley Smith
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2021-2022 Term
Student Subunit Executive
President: Jacob Burbank
Vice-President: Connor Reid
Secretary-Treasurer: Jordanna Bergman
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