The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award was created to honour the memory of Ms. Ward. The intent of the award is to encourage and support a graduate student in Canada whose thesis is likely to increase our knowledge of the geological history of Canada through mapping.
The award, comprising $5,000 and a certificate, is given annually and honours the memory of Mary-Claire Ward who died in 2004. At the time of her death Mrs. Ward was the chair of the PDAC’s geoscience committee, chairman of Watts Griffis McOuat Ltd., and a past president of the Geological Association of Canada. She was a passionate advocate for the geosciences in Canada.
The award is administered by the Geological Association of Canada (GAC), the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the National Geological Surveys Committee, the Canadian Geological Foundation, and Watts, Griffis and McOuat Ltd.
In addition to the $5,000 award, the recipient has the choice of accepting the award at either the annual PDAC Convention (March 1-4) or the annual meeting of the GAC-MAC (May 25-28). The host association (PDAC or GAC) will cover the expenses for travel, accommodation, and registration of the event.
The Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award is awarded annually to a graduate student at a Canadian university whose thesis incorporates geoscience mapping as a significant component.
Applications for the 2026 competition are due December 15th, 2025
For more information contact Krishana Michaud kmichaud@pdac.ca
2026 Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award Winner
Nicolas Gomez, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Nicolas’ doctoral research investigates the sedimentary, geochronological, and geochemical record of the Gaskiers Glaciation (589–580 Ma) preserved in the Bonavista Peninsula, Avalon Zone, Newfoundland. The study aims to disentangle the climatic and tectonic controls that shaped the Ediacaran glaciogenic successions of West Avalonia and to refine their temporal and stratigraphic framework through field mapping integrated with multi-proxy geochronology.
Previous Award Winners
2025: Margaret Laverge, Laurentian University
2024: Ludovico Scorsolini, University of Waterloo
2023: Darius Kamal, University of British Columbia
2022: Benjamin Neil, University of Alberta
2021: Rebecca Canam, Simon Fraser University
2020: Kendra Zammit, Laurentian University
2019: Andrew Steiner, University of British Columbia
2018: Eric Thiessen, Simon Fraser University
2017: Holly Steenkamp, Laval University
2016: Jordan McDivitt, Laurentian University
2015: Jesse Reimink, University of Alberta
2014: Diane Skipton, University of Ottawa
2013: Danielle Thomson, Carleton University
2012: Deanne van Rooyen, Carleton University
2011: Brett Hamilton, University of Calgary
2010: Joel Cubley, University of Calgary
2009: Elizabeth Westberg, Simon Fraser University
2008: Jean-François Ravenelle, Laval University
2007: Andrew Parmenter, University of New Brunswick
2006: Tony Barresi, Dalhousie University
2005: Michelle DeWolfe, Laurentian University