The E.J. Crossman Award Symposium was held on October 17, 2008 at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington. The symposium drew students from six different universities. Students delivered both oral and poster presentations vying for the E.J. Crossman Award and the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation Award. The symposium included a guest lecture from Dr. Nick Mandrak, a former graduate student of Dr. E.J. Crossman, for whom the symposium honours. The lecture detailed an ichthyological sampling trip to Russia he and Dr. Crossman embarked on. Lunch was graciously provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and provided an opportunity for students to interact. Following a recess the awards were presented.
The E.J. Crossman Award was established in honour of Dr. E.J. Crossman a world-renowned leader in ichthyology, former professor in the Department of Zoology, University of Toronto and the Curator of Ichthyology at the Royal Ontario Museum Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation. The award is presented to the best oral presentation by graduate or graduate student enrolled in an Ontario university or college.
The Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation (OBN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and conserving angling opportunities in the Province of Ontario. The award is presented to the best poster presentation by graduate or graduate student enrolled in an Ontario university or college.
The 2008 winner of the E.J. Crossman Award was Paul Venturelli from the University of Toronto for his presentation titled “Maternal quality and the sustainability of exploited fish stocks”. The winner of the 2008 Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation Award was Sarah McConnachie of Carleton University who presented a poster titled “A comparison of nearshore fish sampling gears in Oneida Lake, New York”.
The Symposium was an excellent opportunity to for students to disseminate and discuss their research with other students in their discipline.
