Congratulations to Carley Winter, Master's Student in Schulte and Wood labs, for receiving the Governor General's Gold Medal - Master's - during the 2026 Spring Graduate Ceremonies.
"Thesis title: The effects of road salt contamination on the development and physiology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
One gold medal is awarded to the graduate student who has achieved the most outstanding academic record as a Master’s student completing a thesis. This year’s recipient is Carley Winter, from the Department of Zoology. Under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Schulte, Carley’s research sought to document the extent of which road salt contaminates waterways around the Lower Mainland, and assess the impacts of this under-appreciated form of pollution on Pacific salmon species. Carley’s work highlighted the threat that road salting presents to the survival and development of Pacific salmon in British Columbia’s rivers and streams during the winter months, and emphasizes the need for improved standards and refined water quality guidelines. Already widely shared throughout the media, Carley’s research and knowledge translation work empowers communities to engage with important efforts in conservation of our province’s natural environment."