A day for celebrating Canadian women conservationists

Dr. Anne Innis Dagg: Expanding who belongs in science

Dr. Anne Innis Dagg is internationally recognized as the first Western scientist to study any African mammal in the wild. Her fascination with animals began in childhood and, in 1956, after earning her master’s degree from the University of Toronto, she travelled alone to South Africa to conduct field research. At the time, this was nearly unheard of for an unmarried woman.

Despite facing significant gender-based discrimination both abroad and upon her return to Canada, Dagg went on to publish The Giraffe: Its Biology, Behavior, and Ecology in 1976, a book that remains a foundational scientific text in zoology. Dr. Dagg’s work helped open doors for future generations of women in science, reminding us that progress often begins when someone chooses to step forward. Her contributions have been recognized by Historica Canada, which commemorated her work in a Heritage Minute, cementing her place in Canada’s scientific legacy.

Dr. Suzanne Simard: Science that reveals interconnection

Dr. Suzanne Simard is one of Canada’s most influential forest ecologists, whose research fundamentally transformed how scientists understand forest ecosystems around the world. Through decades of study in British Columbia’s forests, Simard uncovered that trees are connected by vast underground networks of fungi — now popularly known as the “Wood Wide Web” — and that they communicate and share nutrients through these mycorrhizal links. This discovery reshaped ecological science by demonstrating that forests operate as highly cooperative, interconnected communities rather than as collections of isolated trees.

Simard’s work has had far-reaching implications for conservation, forestry policy, and sustainable land management. Widely cited in scientific literature and popular media, her research helped shift global thinking about biodiversity and forest protection and has inspired countless scientists and environmental advocates. She has been featured in documentaries, books, and educational curricula — underscoring her status not just as a leading researcher, but as a Canadian scientific figure whose work resonates internationally.

Anahareo: Advocacy guided by respect for life

Anahareo — born Gertrude Bernard — was a trailblazing Canadian conservationist, author, and advocate for wildlife protection whose life and work helped shape modern attitudes toward animal welfare and environmental stewardship in Canada. Of Algonquin and German-French heritage, she rose to national prominence in the 1920s and 1930s, but her influence extended far beyond her public profile.

Disenchanted with Western ideas of “conservation” that meant higher animal populations solely to hunt and trap for profit, Anahareo became a passionate defender of beavers and other wildlife, helping shift perspectives toward the intrinsic value of wild animals and intact ecosystems. Through her writing and public advocacy, she elevated Indigenous ecological wisdom, compassionate conservation, and ethical relationships with nature.

Her work reminds us that conservation leadership has long existed outside formal institutions, and that meaningful environmental action begins by honouring knowledge systems that have cared for land and animals for generations.

Dr. Amanda Vincent: From research to measurable change

Dr. Amanda Vincent is a world-leading Canadian marine biologist and conservationist whose work has transformed how scientists and policymakers approach ocean conservation and the global trade threatening marine ecosystems. Based at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Vincent was the first biologist to study seahorses underwater, to document the global trade in these fishes, and to launch dedicated conservation efforts focused on them. This work laid the foundation for broader marine protection efforts and innovative conservation policy.

In 1996, she co-founded Project Seahorse, an international interdisciplinary organization committed to conserving coastal marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable use of marine life, and she continues to serve as its director. Her research and advocacy have driven measurable conservation outcomes including the regulation of international marine trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the expansion of community-based marine protected areas. Vincent’s work has been recognized with numerous major awards — she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, won the prestigious Indianapolis Prize for Animal Conservation, and has been named a global leader in marine science and policy.

Dr. Biruté Galdikas: Commitment across a lifetime

Dr. Biruté Galdikas is a Canadian primatologist and conservation scientist whose pioneering work has had a profound impact on our understanding of primates and forest ecosystems. Born in Canada to Lithuanian parents, Galdikas was invited by renowned paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey to conduct field research alongside Dr. Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. In 1971, she began her long-term study of wild orangutans in Borneo, which became one of the most extensive and influential primate research programs in history. Throughout her decades of fieldwork, Dr. Galdikas documented orangutan behavior, ecology, and the threats they face from habitat destruction. This research has been critical in shaping global conservation strategies for these endangered species.

In addition to her scientific contributions, Dr. Galdikas has been a tireless advocate for orangutan protection and rainforest conservation, working with local communities, governments, and international organizations to support sustainable land use and wildlife protection. Her work — rooted in rigorous science and deep ecological respect — continues to inspire global conservation efforts and underscores the importance of protecting biodiversity in the face of intense environmental pressures.

Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger: Bridging science, culture, and climate action

Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger is an internationally recognized Irish-Canadian botanist, medical biochemist, author, and conservation scientist whose life’s work has focused on forest ecology, the science of trees, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Based in Canada and often described as a visionary voice for forests, Beresford-Kroeger has spent decades explaining the complex science behind forest functions to both scientific and public audiences. Her work emphasizes that forests are much more than collections of trees — they are intricate biological systems essential to life on Earth.

She is the author of numerous influential books on trees and ecology, and her scientific insights are featured in the award-winning documentary Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees, which explores our deep biological and spiritual connections to ancient forest ecosystems around the world. Through her research, public speaking, scientific advisement, and writing, Beresford-Kroeger has helped Canadians and global audiences understand forests as foundational to climate stability and ecological resilience, inspiring conservation action from local tree-planting efforts to large-scale ecological initiatives.

Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton: Stars, storytelling, and developing young minds

Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton is a leading astrophysicist and the first Indigenous woman in Canada to receive a PhD in astrophysics. As a child, she went hunting with her father — and it was on those trips that she grew her love of science. In the daytime, she would closely observe her environment to become a better hunter. In the nighttime, she would examine shooting stars and the aurora borealis.

Now, as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Astronomy and Astrophysics department, she is dedicated to training the next generation of researchers. Rousseau-Nepton also serves as the Principal Investigator for SIGNALS (Star formation, Ionized Gas, and Nebular Abundances Legacy Survey), which conducts a survey of over 50,000 star-forming regions in nearby galaxies. She has expertise in designing astronomical instrumentation and helped to develop two imaging Fourier-transform spectrographs (IFTSes) during her thesis at Université Laval. When communicating, she uses the power of storytelling — and incorporates her Innu heritage and their oral traditions — to share knowledge with others.