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On Oct. 3, the Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) proudly collaborated with the Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) to host a special event, recognizing a deserving UNB graduate student and introducing a prestigious new award.

This event coincided with the first-ever Atlantic Salmon Day. This special day, declared by Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers, was dedicated to recognizing and promoting the conservation of the Atlantic salmon, a species vital to New Brunswick’s ecological and cultural heritage.

“Atlantic Salmon Day serves to highlight the ecological, social and cultural importance of wild Atlantic salmon while acknowledging the ongoing research and conservation efforts that are critical to reversing the trend of declining salmon stocks,” said Dr. Jennifer Lento, director of the CRI.

“The CRI researchers and students who are conducting wild Atlantic salmon research at UNB have a clear passion for this work, and the progress that they have made, in collaboration with conservation organizations such as the MSA, should be recognized,” added Dr. Lento.

During the event, two members of the Fredericton community were honoured for their hard work and commitment to salmon conservation and research within the province.

The first award presented was the newly established Bud Bird Award in Salmon Conservation. This award honors J.W. Bud Bird, long-time advocate for conservation and Chairman Emeritus of the MSA. This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated a lasting commitment to conserving wild Atlantic salmon and protecting the Miramichi River watershed.

Vince Swazey, a long-serving director and former chairman of the MSA, was honoured with this award for his significant contributions to salmon conservation, which have greatly aided in preserving these vital fish species.

"As we launch the Bud Bird Award in Salmon Conservation, it is a privilege to honour Vince Swazey as the inaugural recipient,” said Butch Dalton, president of the MSA. “Vince’s tireless efforts in preserving the Miramichi River and its salmon populations exemplify the values that Bud Bird has championed throughout his life. We are thrilled to recognize Vince’s outstanding work and we hope this award continues to inspire others to join in our mission to protect and conserve Atlantic salmon."

“I am truly honored to receive the Bud Bird Award in Atlantic Salmon Conservation. Bud Bird’s legacy in protecting Atlantic salmon is one that I have always admired and it’s incredibly humbling to be recognized in his name,” said Swazey.

“Conservation has been a team effort, with so many people dedicated to preserving the Miramichi River and its salmon. I’m grateful to be part of that work, and I hope this award serves as a reminder of how much more we all need to do to protect this species for future generations," added Swazey.

The second award of the day was the annual Bud and Peggy Bird Scholarship award, given to Ph.D. candidate, Ryan Hill, for his work in Dr. Philip Harrison’s and Dr. Tommi Linnansaari’s research laboratories.

This scholarship is given to a graduate student directly engaged in research in support of wild Atlantic salmon conservation at UNB.

"It is a great honour to receive the Bud and Peggy Bird Scholarship award and contribute to the conservation of wild Atlantic Salmon through an esteemed community of researchers at UNB," said Hill.

Since 2017, Bud and his late wife Peggy’s donation to CRI has annually helped ensure that the mystery of declining wild Atlantic salmon stocks continues to be addressed by research in order to restore their numbers and secure their habitat for the future.

“The CRI remains grateful for the generous donation of Bud Bird and his late wife Peggy that has made this scholarship possible,” said Dr. Lento “The strength of the applications for this scholarship were a testament to the high calibre of research on wild Atlantic salmon conservation that is currently ongoing at UNB.”

Photo caption: Dr. Paul Mazerolle, Dr. Jennifer Lento, Vince Swazey, Ryan Hill, Bud Bird and Mayor Kate Rogers.