Taylor Scarr Ph.D
Provincial Forest Entomologist
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Taylor Scarr is the Provincial Forest Entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Taylor has an undergraduate degree in forestry and a Ph.D. in forest entomology. Based in Sault Ste. Marie, he provides provincial level policy leadership and scientific direction to forest entomology and insect pest management, forest health monitoring, insect control programs, and research. Much of Taylor’s current focus is on forest invasive species, but native insects, climate change, national strategies, and research are also key areas of responsibility.
Taylor is Ontario’s representative on the Technical Committee of the Forest Pest Working Group under the aegis of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers. He also represents Ontario on several other committees including SERG-International, Invasive Species Centre, and the Asian long-horned beetle and emerald ash borer science advisory committees. As a member of the TRIA-Net Board of Directors, Taylor brings his forest entomology and forest policy expertise with an interest in research that informs policies and strategies that address the risk of eastward expansion of mountain pine beetle.
Jacinthe Leclerc
Director General
Canadian Forest Service – Laurentian Forestry Centre
Jacinthe Leclerc is the Director general of the Laurentian Forestry Centre (LFC) of the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada. Ms. Leclerc has a diploma in biology from Laval University as well as a Master’s degree in public administration from the School of Public Administration of Québec. Based in Quebec City, the Research Centre encompasses more than 100 research scientists and professionals dedicated to pest management, genomics, climate change, forest productivity and forest ecosystems management. Indeed, the Laurentian Forestry Centre has a mission to promote the sustainability of forest resources in Canada as well as to achieve a better understanding of the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the health of Canadian forests. As DG, Jacinthe has to provide leadership to LFC workforce in particular in fields such as research, knowledge transfer and policy advice. As a member of the TRIA-Net Board of Directors, Jacinthe brings her capacity and expertise in forest policy and management of research.
Since 1992, Jacinthe has held various management positions in the public sector in different provincial and federal departments.
Keith McClain Ph.D
Program Lead – Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program
Foothills Research Institute
Keith is a Registered Professional Forester and has worked in the realm of forest science for nearly 40 years, initially in the area of regeneration physiology and later in science management and policy. He has worked in Ontario (with the Ontario Ministry of Natural resources, Thunder Bay), British Columbia (with the Canadian Forestry Service, in Prince George) and in Alberta with the Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Since 1992, Keith has been intimately involved with the Canadian Model Forest Program being a Chair of the Technical Steering Committee with the McGregor Model Forest and a board member of the Foothills Model Forest / Foothills Research Institute (fRI). Immediately following retirement from the Alberta Government, Keith assumed the role of Program Lead of the Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program at fRI. His principle goal is to ensure information needs for the management of the MPB are met and that science is used creatively and effectively to support Management decisions and policy development related to MPB. Keith is a member of the Alberta College of Professional Forester and of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association. He is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Forestry and is the recipient of the Tree of Life Award and the President’s Award and was elected as an Honorary Member of the Institute in 2011. Keith has Bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University.
Tom Daniels
Forestry Superintendent
West Fraser
Tom is on the board representing West Fraser Timber. West Fraser is one the world’s largest lumber producers with operations in Alberta, B.C. and the southern U.S. and has it’s head offices in Quesnel, B.C. Tom has worked for West Fraser’s Sundre Forest Products division since 2007 in the role of the Forestry Superintendent. Prior to that he gained experienced in harvest operations and road construction and public affairs. Due to the location of the company’s operations and based on the B.C. experience with Mountain Pine Beetle there is a heightened level of urgency to explore ways to combat this beetle. The research being completed through the TRIA-Net project will hopefully provide the guidance on what steps can be taken to manage and minimize the spread of the beetle and the heavy toll to the forest sector that results.
Erica Samis
Senior Manager, Forest Health and Adaptation Section – Forestry Division
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Erica is the Senior Manager of the Forest Health and Adaptation Section, Forestry Division, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Forest Health and Adaptation is responsible for the development and management of the Alberta provincial mountain pine beetle program. Results from research conducted through TRIA-Net is incorporated into all aspects of the mountain pine beetle program including strategies, policies and operations.
Rory McIntosh Ph.D.
Provincial Forest Entomologist and Pathologist
Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Forest Service Branch
Rory McIntosh is the Provincial Forest Entomologist and Pathologist for the Province of Saskatchewan. Rory has worked in the field of forestry and forest entomology since 1975. He has an undergraduate degree in forestry (with a major in Forest Entomology) from the University of New Brunswick, a MSc. and Ph.D. (Forest Entomology) from the University of British Columbia. Based in Prince Albert, he leads the provincial insect and disease program. Rory’s main focus is on risk assessment and developing provincial policies, strategies, and scientific and technical guidance to insect and disease management programs.
Rory represents Saskatchewan on the National Forest Pest Strategy and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers Forest Pest Working Group and Technical Committee. Rory also represents Saskatchewan on other committees including fRI mountain pine beetle ecology program the SERG-International executive and Steering committees and the National Pest Forum steering committee. As a member of the TRIA-Net Board of Directors Rory brings research, operational and policy expertise to help guide and prioritise research needs to fill knowledge gaps and uncertainties to address the eastern spread of mountain pine beetle so that science-based policy and response action can be integrated, in real-time, into provincial programming.