The CPS Awards represent an important means of acknowledging the contributions of our members to our society, to the science of plant pathology and to the community in which we live. Please take time to consider and discuss with your CPS colleagues worthy candidates for the awards listed below.

There are several types of awards sponsored by CPS. For a detailed description of each award, and the nomination process, please visit the By-Laws of CPS. A list of previous recipients of these awards is displayed in the hardcopy of your Annual Membership Directory, and at CPS Previous Awardees.

The deadline for applications for all awards has been extended to March 1, 2024 and should be sent to Jonathan Griffiths.

1. Honorary Member

The nominee can be any person who has rendered eminent service to plant pathology and shall normally not be a member of the Society.

2. Fellow

Nominees shall be regular members of the Society who have rendered outstanding service to the Society and to the profession of plant pathology. Examples of service to CPS include having served on the CPS Board, Subject Matter Committees, editorial board, organizational committees, newsletter editor, website editor, etc. A description of these services should be included with the nomination.

3. Award for Outstanding Research

This award is intended to recognize outstanding research in plant pathology in Canada. As the Society’s most prestigious award, consideration is given to research involving new concepts, the discovery of new phenomena, or principles in plant pathology or novel application of existing principles.

4. Outstanding Young Scientist Award

The award is intended to recognize the contribution of a junior scientist, judged to have had a major impact on plant pathology in Canada. Nominees for this award must have successfully defended their doctoral thesis in the 12 years ending on December 31 in which the award is received, but time spent on parental, compassionate or medical leave (clearly identified in the nomination letter) is not counted as part of the 12-year period. Nominees need not be members of the Society, nor need they be domiciled in Canada. Recipients shall be judged to have made an outstanding contribution to plant pathology in Canada on the basis, not only of demonstrated competence, but also of one or more of the following special criteria: 1) superior research accomplishment, either as a single contribution or as a series of associated endeavours, in plant pathology or in a related field, 2) meritorious contribution to plant pathology scholarship or literature, whether or not this is based upon the recipient’s own original research, and whether or not it be based upon predominantly Canadian material, 3) unusually valuable practical application of scientific or technological expertise, and 4) significant leadership in plant pathology.

5. Graduate Student Travel Awards

The purpose of these awards is to provide reimbursement to selected graduate students to attend the Annual Meeting of the CPS.
Guidelines :

1. There shall be two travel awards given annually by the CPS, each for a value of $1000 per student. A third travel award, which is sponsored by Taylor & Francis and worth $1000, is also available.
2. Applications for awards should be ranked by the Awards Committee of CPS, and a recommendation made to the President of CPS no later than eight weeks prior to the meeting. Application for the CPS and Taylor & Francis sponsored awards shall be adjudicated jointly (students need submit only one application to be considered for both).
3. The financial reimbursement shall be used to offset travel, accommodation, registration, or other related meeting costs.
4. The travel award applications can be made from any postsecondary institution (in Canada or elsewhere) and the student need not be a member of CPS.

Application procedure for Graduate Student Travel Award

The student shall email the application to the Chair of the CPS Awards Committee by a specified time before the CPS annual meeting.
The student must be registered in a Master’s level or PhD degree program at the time of application and undertake a research project in the area of plant pathology. The awardee(s) have to be a CPS member at the time that the award is given.
The application must include:

• A copy of the abstract of the presentation to be published in the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology.
• A one-page statement from the student outlining the significance of the research to be presented and its scientific, economic and/or societal implications.
• A letter of support from the senior supervisor outlining the student’s research and academic abilities and other evidence of scholarship.
• A brief (2-page) resume of the student’s background and relevant experience.
• Academic transcripts inclusive of undergraduate and graduate training (one original copy should be attached, if available).

Criteria for selection

Applications will be ranked based on scholastic performance, significance of the research conducted, and other evidence of contributions to the field of plant pathology. Applicants will be notified of the out-come of the committee’s deliberations 6 weeks prior to the annual meeting. The successful students will be presented with a cheque at the CPS Banquet. All travel and other arrangements are the responsibility of the student.

6. Achievements in Plant Disease Management

The award is intended to recognize the contributions by industry, or not-for-profit agencies, for innovative research, development of products and technologies, and/or transfer of information for the benefit of disease management in Canada. This award will be given to an individual, or a team, based on a combination of the following criteria:

1. scientific research on products and technologies used in plant pathology
2. innovative solutions to problems in plant pathology
3. participation in plant pathology extension
4. volunteer support to the Society

The nomination must be accompanied by supporting evidence to substantiate contributions as outlined in the criteria above such as a list of scientific publications, patents, product development activities, demonstration of extension, training or volunteer activities within plant pathology and up to three letters of references.

The award will be granted depending on the availability of a suitable nominee, but not more than one award shall be granted in each year. The nominees need not be members of the Society, nor need they be domiciled in Canada, but the work must clearly demonstrate benefit to plant health in Canada. The award is open to individuals employed or contracted by industry or not-for-profit agencies to conduct research and/or extension directly resulting in improved disease management.

A suitably engraved plaque will be presented to the awardee(s) and the company or agency at either a national or regional meeting. In appreciation of this important contribution by industry, the company, or agency and the individual or team involved will be recognized on the CPS Website and/or the CPS Newsletter during the year the award was received.

7. CPS Education Award

An award to recognize the contributions of individuals or groups in the development of teaching resources that can be used by instructors in public schools, universities or industry to illustrate principles of plant pathology and to encourage interest in this field. These educational resources include, but are not limited to, videos, websites, software, educational games, mobile apps, podcasts, and posters explaining topics in plant pathology or describing scientific projects, or feature articles that foster interest in the field of plant pathology. Where possible, entries should be designed so that they can be made available to educators and the public through the CPS website or through social media. All members of the public may submit nominations, including students and members of the Canadian Phytopathological Society.
The 2018 CPS Education Award nomination form is available here.

8. Best Student Presentation Awards

The Dr. and Mrs. D.L. Bailey Award ceased to exist in 1999, and the money in the Bailey award fund was assigned to the Best Student Presentation Awards for oral and poster presentations during the CPS annual meeting.
The criteria governing the selection of the recipients are: a) The primary subject matter of the presentation shall be phytopathological, b) Candidates must be either enrolled at a university or have completed a program for a degree at a university not more than six months before the Annual meeting of members. Candidates have to be members of the Canadian Phytopathological Society, and c) The presentations for which the students received the awards must not have been made previously in competition before another professional society. Student presentations can be submitted in either oral or poster competitions. Criteria for judging oral talks or posters are provided.

9. Graduate Student Scholarships (updated 2012/07/02)

Up to three student scholarships of $1,500 each, plus a student membership in the Canadian Phytopathological Society, will be made available annually for students studying plant pathology in Canada. Applications should be submitted to the Chair of the CPS Awards Committee (for the current Chair see the committee membership on the CPS web-site). The scholarships are available to undergraduate, MSc and PhD students studying at a post-secondary institution in Canada.

A scholarship made to an undergraduate student will require the student to provide evidence that he/she will be enrolled in a graduate program within 12 months of being awarded the scholarship, at which time the funds will be released to the student. Evidence includes a letter from the senior supervisor, or the appropriate department within the post-secondary institution, confirming enrolment.

The distribution of the scholarships will be made to undergraduate or graduate students (MSc and PhD) as determined by the Awards Committee. Consideration will be given to at least one scholarship at the MSc level if a suitable candidate can be identified.

Applicants are eligible to receive up to two scholarships during their graduate student career, one during their MSc and a second during their PhD studies. Successful undergraduates would not receive the scholarship until registered in an MSc; they would be eligible for one further scholarship during their PhD.

The CPS Awards Committee shall use specific guidelines for awarding the scholarships that will include consideration of grade point average, as well as two letters of reference, a personal statement and the an essay or research proposal. The details are as follows:

1. Two letters of support/reference from an academic or work supervisor who has known the candidate for at least 12 months.
   A personal statement consisting of one page that outline the applicant’s motivation for pursuing graduate studies in plant pathology, as well as future goals, their personal activities that demonstrate research abilities and leadership, e.g., publications, teaching, volunteerism, community involvement, etc.
   An essay on a topic in plant pathology or an original research proposal that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to communicate and organize ideas. Maximum of 3 pages in length, typed double-spaced, 12-point font.
2. Copies of academic transcripts for undergraduate studies and graduate studies if applicable.
3. Evidence of registration in a graduate program, (letter from supervisor or documentation from university, such as a tuition receipt).

Following the award of the CPS Graduate Student Scholarship, candidates are expected to present their research at a national or regional CPS meeting at some future date and their supervisors are requested to provide a short biography of the student for the quarterly newsletter of the Canadian Phytopathological Society.

10. Career Recognition Award

The intent of the Career Recognition Award is to recognize and validate the contributions of retired individuals who have made significant and long-term contributions to plant pathology in Canada, and the broader community. It also provides an opportunity to publish an account of these contributions in the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology as a form of recognition.

1. Awardees are expected to have contributed to both of the following areas:
   • Plant pathology research. Inclusive of published research contributions, training of students and research personnel, invited talks and presentations, books and book chapters, etc. A curriculum vitae should be attached to the nomination submitted.
   • Plant pathology community. This may include teaching of courses in plant pathology, extension work, public education, dissemination of information, overseas contributions, preparation of bulletins and fact sheets, etc.
2. Nominees for the Career Recognition Award are retired former or current CPS members who have had a significant impact on plant pathology in Canada. Nominations should include a description of the contributions in each of the two areas above.
3. All nominations will be reviewed by the CPS Awards Committee and a recommendation forwarded to the CPS Board for final approval. Awardees will receive a Certificate and travel expenses to the meeting (subject to BOD approval to support this expense). Awardees will present a retrospective on their plant pathology research career at a CPS meeting, and be invited to publish an account of these contributions in the Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology (page charges waived, subject to BOD approval). One awardee may be approved by the CPS Board each year.
4. Nominations must be received by the CPS Awards Committee by the due date of March 1 in the year for which the nomination is made.