Upcoming Meetings

The next Western Forest Genetics Association (WFGA) meeting will be held in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho from June 8 to 10, 2027. The conference will be co-organized by the WFGA, IUFRO 2.02.15 (Breeding and genetic resources of five-needle pines) and IUFRO 2.02.05 (Breeding and genetic resources of Pacific Northwest conifers). We look forward to seeing you all next summer in Idaho.

William B. Critchfield Award

W.B. Critchfield was a dear and trusted colleague and friend of  many of us in forest genetics. In addition to his substantial scientific contributions in taxonomy and studies in basic genetic variation, he was an avid supporter of WFGA and understood the importance of students’ participation in the association. All students participating in a WFGA meeting and giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster will be eligible for this $700/$300 award. The award is a tribute to a student’s quality of work and presentation, and the winner will be selected by a panel of WGFA members.      

Past winners of the award were:
  • 2025, Presentation: Michelle Zavala, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2025, Poster: Edward Carlsson, Skogforsk, Sweden
  • 2023, Presentation: Samuel Grubinger, University of British Columbia
  • 2023, Poster: Raiany Dias de Andrade Silva, University of Alberta
  • 2021, Poster: Kaylee Rosenberger, Northern Illinois University/Morton Arboretum
  • 2021, Poster Runner-up: Aaron Onufrak, University of Tennessee
  • 2021, Presentation: Francois Du Toit, University of British Columbia
  • 2021, Presentation Runner-up: Eddie Lauer, North Carolina State University
  • 2017, Best Presentation: Miriam Isaac-Renton, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • 2017, Presentation Runner-up: Blaise Ratcliffe, University of British Columbia
  • 2017, Best Poster: Barbara Wong, University of British Columbia
  • 2015, Presentation: Jon Degner, University of British Columbia
  • 2013, Presentation: Chen Ding, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • 2013, Poster: David Montwé, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2011, Presentation: Mark Lesser, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
  • 2009, Presentation (shared): Sierra Curtis-McLane, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
  • 2009, Presentation (shared): David Roberts, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • 2009, Poster: Hongfang Wang, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
  • 2007, Daniel Chmura, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
  • 2006, Tanya Latty, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
  • 2005, Ann WIllyard, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
  • 2004, Mark Lesser, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON
  • 2003, Yanik Bérubé, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
  • 2002, Lisa O'Connell, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC