The Evolution of Biological Societies in Alberta

At present, four organizations serve biologists in Alberta: The Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society (ACTWS), The Alberta Native Plants Council (ANPC), The Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB), and The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists (CSEB). Only the ASPB is a professional regulatory organization, two of the others (CSEB and ACTWS) have their origins in the Canadian Society of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologists (CSWFB) while ANPC is a non-regulatory society with independent origin. A fifth organization, the Canadian Chapter of Society for Conservation Biology, is being organized through initiatives resulting from the 24th International Congress for Conservation Biology, held in Edmonton in July 2010. Its role in Canada is not yet defined. The first biological society to function in Alberta was a chapter of The Canadian Society of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologists (CSWFB). After 10 years this organization morphed into the CSEB when the hopes of creating a professional status faded. This change forced the CSPB towards forming a professional voice on resource use, and towards a communication medium for biological resource management. Biological consulting firms proliferated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, coinciding with provincial and federal governments forming departments of the environment. Pressures from these events created a perceived need by some biologists for a self-regulating, professional organization, which comes under provincial jurisdiction. To this end, the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB) formed in 1975, and in 1991 received its Professional Biologist title status (P.Biol.) for members under the Societies Act of Alberta. The Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society (ACTWS) was formed in 1989; its focus was on research, science and wildlife management.