The Neale Medal, named after the legendary E.R. Ward Neale, is awarded to an individual for sustained outstanding efforts in sharing Earth science with Canadians.
The medal shall recognize outstanding efforts to communicate and explain geoscience to the public through one or more of the following vehicles: public lectures, print and electronic-media articles, school visits, elementary and secondary-school educational materials, field trips, science fairs, and other public communication devices. It also shall recognize exemplary records of promoting public-awareness of geoscience activities through the sustained encouragement of, and participation in, the creating, planning, organizing and implementing of such activities.
2026 E.R. Ward Neale Medal
Dr. William (Bill) Pearson
Dr. William (Bill) Pearson is the Chair of the APGO Education Foundation and has led sustained geoscience education and outreach collaborations to provide engaging, reliable geoscience information. He is an economic geologist with over 50years of experience, invested in sharing his enthusiasm for Earth science with Canadiansand promoting interest in the rocks beneath our feet. Dr. Pearson is the mastermind behind geoscienceinfo.com. He assembled and supported a team of geoscientists for over adecade, to make local geology accessible to the community though virtual field trips (e.g.,GeoHikes), a blog and podcast, informational videos, and social media. There are currently 29 GeoHikes, 11 GeoWalks, 15 GeoRoutes, and 3 GeoPaddles available for the public to enjoy virtually or in person, that allow exploration of the geology in the backyards of many urban areas. Dr. Pearson has partnered with local conservation groups including the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, and the Niagara GeoPark to foster community led outreach and use of the geoscience resources. This collaborative team continues to grow under Dr. Pearson’s leadership and their activities have recently expanded to include a Kid’s Zone for elementary school children and their teachers to help support the Rocks and Mineral Science curriculum. He championed the creation of an illustrated children’s book (Rocky the Racoon Explores the Niagara Escarpment) that aims to encourage children to learn about rocks, minerals, fossils, and what it means to be a geoscientist. Dr. Pearson did not need to wait for the overwhelmingly positive response to this first book before envisioning Rocky’s adventures as a series of books filling an ongoing need for elementary science resources available in both French and English. His passion for the geoscience profession and support for the next generation of geoscientists is evident from his former leadership roles as the inaugural President of the Association of Geoscientists of Ontario (AGO) (now Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO), and in the formation of the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG now Geoscientists Canada). He also created and chairs the collaborative and highly productive APGO Education Foundation. Dr. Pearson not only inspires young geoscientists, but he creates an environment that empowers and challenges them to become better communicators as they learn to translate complex topics to inform divergent audiences. In summary, Dr. Pearson has an exemplary record advocating for the geoscience profession and tirelessly encourages creative endeavours to connect Canadians to their geologic heritage.
The deadline for National Medal nomination forms is January 5th, 2027
Previous Award Winners
2025 Lesley Hymers
2024 Nick Zentner
2023 Jeff Young
2022 Mika McKinnon
2021 Kylie Williams
2020 not awarded
2019 Beth McLarty-Halfkenny
2018 Mark Fenton
2017 Guy Narbonne
2016 Rob Fensome
2015 Nick Eyles
2014 Ben Gadd
2013 Murray Roed
2012 John Calder
2011 Randall F. Miller
2010 Jane Wynne
2009 Eileen Van der Flier-Keller
2008 Christy Vodden
2007 Dixon Edwards
2006 John Clague
2005 Fran Haidl
2004 Peter Russell
2003 David Baird
2002 Bob Turner
2001 Howard Donohoe
2000 D.A.B. Pearson
1999 P. Tremblay
1998 Allan V. Morgan
1997 A.F. King
1996 G.L. Williams
1995 E.R.W. Neale