WGM | Awards - Mary Claire Ward Geoscience Award, A.T. Griffis Memorial Scholarship

WGM's pursuit of excellence reaches far beyond the workplace and into the classrooms of aspiring geologists and engineers. Each year, we proudly support the academic efforts and professional pursuits of tomorrow's brightest minds and boldest explorers.

A.T. Griffis Memorial Scholarship
Mary Claire Ward Geoscience Award

The University of Toronto's A.T. Griffis Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of one of WGM's founding members, Arthur Thomas Griffis. The annual scholarship is awarded to a full-time graduate student in the Department of Geology on the basis of academic excellence, professional dedication, and imagination. Preference is given to students requiring geology field trips, especially for research involving a significant economic geology component.

2009 Winner: Shannon Carto

2007 Winner: Liviu Criotoru

2006 Winner: Gerald Bryant, Christopher White

2004 Winner: Steven Denyszyn

The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award honours the memory of Mrs. Ward who passed away in 2004. Mrs. Ward was a passionate champion of the geosciences and a fervent advocate for preserving Canada’s geoscience knowledge base. The intent of the award is to encourage and support a graduate student in Canada whose thesis is likely to increase our knowledge of the geological history of Canada through mapping.

2011 - Brett Hamilton

Brett Hamilton, a Ph.D. geology student at the University of Calgary, is the 2011 winner of the Mary-Claire Ward Award. His winning research project is entitled “Metamorphism and tectonics of Cumberland Peninsula, Nunavut.” Brett complete his undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, with a BSc. Honours in Earth Science, Geophysics Specialization, Physics Minor.

2010 - Joel Cubley

This year’s winner of the Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award is Joel Cubley, a doctoral student in metamorphic petrology at the University of Calgary. Joel wins a $3,000 cash prize for his Ph.D. thesis, Structure and metamorphism of the Grand Forks Complex, British Columbia.

2009 - Elizabeth Westberg

Congratulations to Elizabeth Westberg whose award-winning thesis entitled "Constraining the conditions and timing of deformation and metamorphism of the Yukon-Tanana terrane in parts of the Mendocina Creek (NTS105F5) and Livingstone Creek (NTS 105E8) areas of south-central Yukon" has won her this year’s Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award. Elizabeth is a graduate student at Simon Fraser University, BC. Elizabeth was presented with her award at a student-industry luncheon on March 3 during the 2008 annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

2008 - Jean-Francois Ravenelle

Congratulations to Jean-François Ravenelle whose research project, Geology of the world-class Roberto gold deposit, Eleonore property, James Bay, Quebec, has won him this year’s Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award. Jean-François is a doctoral student in structural and economic geology at the National Institute of Scientific Research, Laval University. Jean-François was presented with his award at a student-industry luncheon on March 4 during the 2008 annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

2007 - Andrew Parmenter

The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2007 award is Andrew Parmenter.

Mr. Parmenter is a doctoral student at the University of New Brunswick. Andrew's research project, The structure of the Cranberry Mountain region of the Thor-Odin dome, Monashee Complex, and its bearing on the tectonic evolution of the Canadian Cordillera in southern British Columbia, won him the award. Mr. Parmenter will be presented with a $3,000 cash award and certificate at the PDAC’s annual awards banquet on Tuesday, March 6.

2006 - Tony Barresi

The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the first award is Tony Barresi.

Mr. Barresi is a doctoral student at Dalhousie University and is specializing in earth sciences. The thesis that won him the award is entitled Tectonic and petrogenetic evolution of Early to Middle Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanic rocks, northwestern British Columbia: Physical and geochemical anatomy of an arc to rift transition. Mr. Barresi will be presented with a $3,000 cash award and certificate at the PDAC’s annual awards banquet on Monday, March 6.

2005 - Michelle DeWolfe

The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the winner of the first award is Michelle DeWolfe.

Ms. DeWolfe is a doctoral student at Laurentian University, specializing in geology. Her award-winning thesis is entitled Volcanic Reconstruction of the Paleoproterozoic Hidden and Louis Formations, Manitoba, Canada. Ms. DeWolfe will be presented with a $3,000 cash award and certificate at the PDAC’s annual awards banquet on Monday, March 7.