2026 Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching

Early bird pricing and preferred hotel booking rates expire this Sunday, March 8.

The College’s 2026 Conference will be held on April 9-10, 2026 at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, BC on the traditional lands of the of the Songhees Nation and the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nation. 

The conference agenda and confirmed speakers are available on the College website. Early bird pricing for in-person and online passes is in effect until March 8.

Read more and register!

In addition, if you are planning to travel and stay in Victoria for the event, the College's group booking rate at the Hotel Grand Pacific is available until March 8. Book now for best pricing and availability. To make reservations guests can book by email: reserve@hotelgrandpacific.com or by phone: 1-800-663-7550 or 250-386-0450.

Conference Sessions and Speakers

We're thrilled to unveil the lineup for the upcoming Conference. Get ready for an inspiring and insightful experience relevant to Applied Biologists. You can attend in-person or online.

SESSIONS

Day 1

• Session 1 - Professional Reliance 2.0
• Session 2 - Wildfires, drought and flood preparedness, mitigation and conservation (and costs)
• Session 3 - Environmental Professionals Panel

Day 2

• Special Session - Employers preparing young professionals for registration
• Session 4 - Indigenous-led conservation
• Session 5 - How professionals get into trouble (trends and guidance)
• Session 6 - Ethical use of new technology

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

• Jesse Romano, Acting Director, Legislation, Ethics & Compliance, Engineers and Geoscientists of BC
• Samuel Pittman, Director of Practice, College of Applied Biologists
• Julia Hengstler, Professor and Chair, Centre for Education & CyberHumanity, Vancouver Island University
• Peter Robb, Executive Vice President, Resource Management & Stewardship, BC Energy Regulator
• Cathy Mackay, CEO, EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc.
• Corinna Hoodicoff, General Manager, Environmental, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc.
• Jane Park, Prescribed Fire Manager, Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program, University of British Columbia Okanagan
• Jason Kuzminski, JD, Interim Executive Director, Surrey Police Board
• Elaine Vale, Registrar, College of Applied Biologists
• Ian Murphy, B.Sc., EP, Managing Director, Trinity Consultants Canada
• Morris Prosser, Councillor, Tsal’alh First Nation

READ MORE AND REGISTER

College AGM coming up on May 13

The College's 2026 Annual General Meeting is a separate event from the conference, similar to the 2025 AGM. Registration for the 2026 AGM opens soon.

The meeting will be delivered via Zoom and is to be held on May 13 at 12pm PDT.

The meeting will review the 2025 audited financial statements and annual operational, business and committee reports. Attendance is eligible for CPD hours.

Regulatory Updates and Other Resource Information

Opening survey on land-use planning project in northeastern B.C.
From the Government of BC - Doig River First Nation and the provincial government are inviting people in B.C. to provide input into a land-use planning project being co-developed in a portion of Treaty 8 territory in northeastern B.C. The survey will be open from Feb. 4 to March 4, 2026.

Freshwater fishing licences move to WILD system for 2026-27 season
From the Government of BC - Starting Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, anglers can register for a free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) in the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data system (WILD) to prepare for the 2026-27 fishing season. WILD is government’s online service that provides a secure way to buy freshwater fishing and hunting licences.

Annual burbot fish recovery resumes in Lower Kootenay
From the Government of BC - Teams from the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (USA), Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Province will conduct their annual burbot egg collection program on Moyie Lake during the last two weeks of February 2026.

Funded projects under the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund
From the Government of Canada - In 2023, Fisheries and Oceans Canada launched the $8.75 million Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund (AISPF) to help facilitate on-the-ground preventative action against aquatic invasive species. The following eight projects totaling $1 million in contribution funding will help increase awareness amongst the public, prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, and mitigate the impacts of established populations.

Government of Canada and the A-Tlegay Member Nations Sign Milestone Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources
From the Government of Canada - On February 19, the Government of Canada, represented by the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, and the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minster of Crown-Indigenous Relations, joined A-Tlegay Member Nations to sign a historic 20-year Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources (RAFR).

Two harvesters fined a combined $10,500 for illegal shellfish harvesting and obstruction in Nanoose Bay
From the Government of Canada - On January 22, 2026, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, Chao Jan Yu and Li Hua Chen were convicted of multiple offences under Canada’s Fisheries Act.

If you are aware of a regulatory update or resource, please let us know. All contributors will be acknowledged.
Resources for registrants: The Canadian Peatland Data Portal
Resources for registrants: COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus caurinus subspecies – Limnodromus griseus caurinus hendersoni/griseus – Limnodromus griseus hendersoni/griseus in Canada
Resources for registrants: COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Lewis’s Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis in Canada
Resources for registrants: Engagement and consultation regarding the potential listings of three Southern BC Chinook salmon designatable units under the Species at Risk Act - Individuals can provide feedback until February 13, 2026.
Resources for registrants: State of Salmon 2025 Report
Resources for registrants: State of Canada's Birds 2024 Report
Resources for registrants: Natural Solutions Initiative Regulatory Mechanisms Toolkit
Resources for registrants: Field Guide for Estimating Carbon Stocks in Wetlands
Resources for registrants: Natural Solutions Initiative Multi-Benefit Indicators Tool, V.1
Resources for registrants: Arctic Grayling: Synthesis Report and Monitoring Framework
Resources for registrants: For Our Future: Indigenous Resilience Report
Resources for registrants: B.C. Flood Strategy
Resources for registrants: Consideration of Climate Change in Mine Reclamation Planning (Ministry of Mining and Critical Methods)
Resources for registrants: Fish-Stream Identification Handbook: Guidance to Support Forestry Stream Classification
Resources for registrants: Invasive Species Strategy for British Columbia (Invasive Species Council of BC)
Resources for registrants:  Professional Practice Notice: Professional Practice Guidelines Related to Riparian Area Assessment
Resources for registrants: Management Plan for the Mountain Crab-eye (Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides) in Canada (CWS)
Resources for registrants: Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Aquatic Species January 2025
Resources for registrants: Species at Risk Act (SARA) Section 11 Conservation Agreements for the Conservation of the Southern Mountain Caribou
Resources for Registrants: Minister Response: COSEWIC species at risk assessments - January 2025
Resources for Registrants: Management Plan for the Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) in Canada
Resources for Registrants: 2025 BC Environment Industry Guide
Resources for Registrants: Recovery Strategy for the Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus bohemicus) in Canada (Final)
Resources for Registrants: Amended Recovery Strategy for the Spotted Owl caurina subspecies (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Canada (Final)
Resources for Registrants: Progress Report on Steps Taken for Protecton of Critical Habitat for Species at Risk in Canada (October 2024 - March 2025)
Resources for Registrants: COSEWIC List of wildlife species assessed (including October 2024)
Resources for Registrants: Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Western Brook Lamprey – Morrison Creek Population (Lampetra richardsoni) in Canada (Aug. 5, 2025)
Resources for Registrants: Wetland Plants of British Columbia, v.3 (free download)

Events and Notices

This feature highlights notices from the Events Calendar on the College website. Event, course and professional development listings on the College website are now a paid service. Submit an event listing here.

Courses listed below do not imply endorsement by the College. Refer to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standard for information. It is a registrant's responsibility to ensure CPD activities align with the CPD Standard when claiming points.

BC OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND HYPOXIA (OAH) ACTION FORUM
March 3, Nanaimo

COLLEGE OF APPLIED BIOLOGISTS 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
April 9-10, Victoria and online

ABWRET-A(F25) BLENDED COURSE
April 24, onlin

INDIGENOUS RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE
June 3 - 6, Nanaimo

BAT ACOUSTICS TRAINING
June 15-19, Kamloops

FIRE EFFECTS MONITORING WORKSHOP
June 22-24, Kelowna

Job Postings

Postings from the College website with imminent closing dates are featured below. Additional postings are regularly added to the College's employment postings page. If you or your company are interested in posting a job, you can do so here.

INVASIVE PLANT PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $26.00–$28.00
Hiring Organization: Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society
Location: Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen

COVENANT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $45.50–$68.25
Hiring Organization: AJM Environmental Inc.
Location: Calgary, Alberta

WILDLIFE DISCIPLINE LEAD
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $44.50–$67.00
Hiring Organization: AJM Environmental Inc.
Location: Calgary, Alberta

PROGRAM ASSISTANT WILDLIFE - WATERSHED PLANNING & MONITORING
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $31.39–$33.57
Hiring Organization: Capital Regional District
Location: Langford, BC

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $58,240.00–$66,560.00
Hiring Organization: Roe Environmental Inc.
Location: Squamish, BC

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $89,606.00–$133,395.00
Hiring Organization: Ecofor Consulting Ltd.
Location: Prince George, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, BC, Whitehorse, YT, or Remote

SENIOR BIOLOGIST
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $98,570.00–$121,268.00
Hiring Organization: Ecofor Consulting Ltd.
Location: Prince George, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, BC, Whitehorse, YT, or Remote

INTERMEDIATE BIOLOGIST
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $39.16–$48.18
Hiring Organization: Ecofor Consulting Ltd.
Location: Prince George, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, BC, Whitehorse, YT, or Remote

PROJECT MANAGER AND RESEARCHER (ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES)
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $90,000.00–$115,000.00
Hiring Organization: TallSky Consulting
Location: Vancouver or Victoria

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
Closing date for resume submission: Open until filled
Salary: $42.00–$65.00
Hiring Organization: DWB Consulting Services Ltd.
Location: Williams Lake, BC

The College website contains 10 postings at this time, view all here.