Entomological Society of Canada – Bert and John Carr Award

2011 Zoe Lindo
2013 Leonid Borysenko
2016 Anna Solecki
2017 Ana Dal Molin
2019 Sarah MacKell
2019 Jonathan Charron
2020 Briann Dorin
2020 Michel Larrivée
2021 Scott Gilmore
2022 Tori Miller
2022 Hadil Elsayed
2023 Aleksandra J. Dolezal

This award is named in honour of Bert and John Carr, who left a legacy of entomological knowledge resulting from the collection and taxonomy of several hundred thousand North American beetle specimens. This work began as a hobby but grew into a vocation after John retired from the oil patch. The Carrs were sought after by professional, amateur and student entomologists for their insights and knowledge in the field. When the Carrs were no longer able to do the field or office work required to further the collection, it was donated to the Canadian National Collections of Insects, Arachnids, and Nematodes in Ottawa. John and Bert were awarded the Norman Criddle Award in 1990 by the Entomological Society of Canada and the Frederick S. Carr Award in 2002 by the Entomological Society of Alberta for their contributions to the entomological community. This award has been made possible by the Carrs’ desire to see an interest in science and nature carried through to the next generation. (see ESC Bulletin, June 2010, p. 102, for details).

The Society seeks applicants for this cash award, which is in support of research activities by individuals who study insect faunistics, or the natural history and taxonomy of Canada’s insect fauna. Preference will be given to applications by amateurs, but applications by students and others will be considered. Applications should consist of:

Applications are to be sent by e-mail to the Chair of the Achievement Awards Committee. (See https://esc-sec.ca/awards/call-for-nominations/ )

• The Society may award, annually, a cash sum known as the Bert and John Carr Award to individuals who study the faunistics, natural history or taxonomy of Canada’s insect fauna.
• The award is given to applicants to support research activities; e.g., travel, materials and supplies, etc. on the faunistics, natural history or taxonomy of Canada’s insect fauna.
• Preference will be given to applications by amateurs, but applications will also be considered from students and those without access to other funding sources for studies of faunistics, natural history and taxonomy of Canada’s insect fauna. Up to two awards may be given out per year. In the event that no suitable applications are received in a given year, funds will remain in an account dedicated to the award and will be used to assist subsequent winners of the award in attending the Joint Annual Meeting or becoming or retaining membership in the society. Recipients may also use part of the award towards membership in the Society.
• Candidates for the award shall preferably be amateurs or students, residing in Canada. Membership in the Entomological Society of Canada is not required.
• A candidate or candidates to receive the Award shall be selected by the Entomological Society of Canada Achievement Awards Committee and the Award will be presented at the Annual Meeting. As a condition of the award, the recipient will be required to submit a synopsis of the use of the funds as a short publication in the Bulletin. Up to two awards, each of up to $1000, may be awarded annually.
• The award is funded by periodic payments from the Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation of the Mackenzie Charitable Giving Program in honour of the memory of Bert and John Carr. In the long term, expenditures on awards should be equal to the payments received for this award