Forest Genetics 2025 Program 

Full program now available

Monday, August 11, 2025

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Growing Resilience: The Power of Seeds and Seedlings, Tree Seed Working Group &   Canadian Tree Nursery Association joint workshop

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Reception (Spin, Ottawa Marriott Hotel)

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

7:00 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Welcome & Opening: 

Gilbert W. Whiteduck, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg

Kerry McLaven, Forest Gene Conservation Association &

    Jennifer Dacosta, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Forest Research Institute

9:00 - 9:40 a.m. Keynote speaker

   Patrick Lenz (Natural Resources Canada) 

   Genomic selection: From proof of concept to optimized modelling to the inclusion of complex traits

9:40 - 10:20 a.m. Session 1: Genomic selection and tree breeding / Moderator Dan McKenney

Funda Ogut (Natural Resources Canada)

• Integrating genomic selection with cutting-edge phenotyping technologies to enhance seedling resilience to future climates

Rafael Candido Ribeiro (University of British Columbia)

• Incorporating climate-adaptive traits into Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) breeding programs with low-cost genomic resources

10:20 - 10:40 a.m. Break

10:40 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Session 2: Genomic and molecular adaptation / Moderator John Pedlar 

Myles Cummins (Lakehead University)

• Patterns of genotype-environment association in the eastern North American Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.)

Suncheon Hong (Seoul National University)

• Transcriptomic insights into drought stress response and recovery in Pinus densiflora

Meg E. Smith (University of British Columbia)

• Chromosome-scale genome assemblies and analysis of genomic structural variation in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Vincent Quevillon (Université Laval)

• Ecogenomics of transcontinental black spruce: identifying key genes related to climate adaptation

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 - 1:40 p.m. Keynote speaker

   Barb Thomas (University of Alberta)

   Digital transformation of Alberta’s tree improvement programs - driven through collaboration and a need for change

1:40 - 2:40 p.m. Session 3: Genetics of adaptation traits / Moderator Betty VanKerkhof

Mina Sadeghiniaraki (Carleton University)

• Integrated analysis of conifer responses to biotic and abiotic stressors: meta-analysis and gene expression insights

Edouard Desaulniers (Université Laval)

• Intra-annual wood density variations in boreal conifers: Identifying novel candidate traits to select for enhanced adaptation to climate instability

Brian T. Barber (Select Seed Co. Ltd.)

• The Story of Select Seed Company Ltd.: Producing tree seed for reforestation in B.C. since 1999

2:40 - 3:00 p.m. Poster Session

3:00 - 3:10 p.m. Break

3:10 - 3:40 p.m.     Invited speaker

   Claire Depardieu (Université Laval)

   Drought resilience of forests: A multi-scale perspective from genes to tree rings

3:40 - 5:00 p.m. Session 4: Climate change adaptation / Moderator Ashley Thomson

Abi Brown (University of British Columbia)

• Patterns and drivers of local adaptation across species and space: a provenance trial meta analysis.

Edouard Reed-Métayer (Université Laval)

• Black and red spruce F1 hybrids : superior long term vigor but intermediate dendroecological response to climate stress

Grace Gardner (Carleton University)

• Identifying Local Environmental Adaptation in Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) to inform Predictions of Maladaptation under Future Climate Conditions.

Rakefet David-Schwartz (Volcani Institute)

• Unlocking Climate Adaptation Potential: The Role of Interspecific Hybridization in Natural Regeneration of Planted Forests

Zhengyang Ye (University of British Columbia)

• Using landscape genomics to define species distributions, delineate seed zones, and predict maladaptation to future climate for the interior spruce hybrid complex (Picea glauca, Picea engelmannii, and their hybrids)  

6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Social Dinner (Summit, Ottawa Marriott Hotel)

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

7:00 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 - 9:10 a.m. Keynote speaker

   Richard Sniezko (USDA Forest Service)

   Successes in Forest Tree Resistance Breeding and Lessons Learned

9:10 - 10:10 a.m. Session 5: Breeding for disease resistance / Moderator Lu Pengxin 

Mel Lucas (Western University)

• Does resilience to the mountain pine beetle comes at a cost of reduced growth in lodgepole pine?

Lahcen Benomar (Ontario Forest Research Institute)

• Physiological characterization of white pine blister rust resistant P. strobus × P. wallichiana hybrids.

Obed Asamoah (Carleton University)

• Stakeholders' Perceptions: Genetically Improved Tree Species for Enhancing Forest Resilience to the Impact of Mountain Pine Beetle.

10:10 - 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.       Invited speaker

   Jill Hamilton (Pennsylvania State University)

   Genomics-driven monitoring for genetic conservation and breeding in forest trees

11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Session 6: Genetic conservation / Moderator Catherine Cullingham 

Nicholas Boyce (University of Alberta)

• Conservation planning for forests, tree species, and their genetic populations under climate change in Canada

Chaebin Lee (University of British Columbia)

• Genome Architecture shapes Inbreeding depression: Implications for Forest Tree Populations

Aron Fazekas (University of Guelph) 

• 25 years and Counting: The Elm Recovery Project at The Arboretum, University of Guelph. 

Martin Williams (Natural Resources Canada)

• Building the knowledge and research capacity to preserve butternut for future generations

12:20 - 1:20 p.m. Lunch; Guest speaker

Darren Sleep (Forest Products Association of Canada)

Change before you have to: adaptive capacity in Canadian forestry

1:20 - 2:00 p.m.       Keynote speaker

  Igor Yakovlev (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research)

  Epigenetic regulation during annual development in Norway spruce epitypes

2:00 - 2:40 p.m.       Poster Session

2:40 - 3:00 p.m. Break

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Invited speaker

   Tongli Wang (University of British Columbia)

   Winners and losers of 43 tree species under climate change in Western Canada

3:30 - 4:50 p.m. Session 7: Assisted population migration / Moderator Aron Fazekas

Genevieve Dorrell (University of Alberta)

• A Seed Selection Tool to Support Climate-Informed Reforestation in Canada

Yuhui Weng (Austin State University)

• Assessing black spruce breeding zones and seed deployment in northwest Ontario

John Pedlar (Natural Resources Canada)

• Variation in performance of oak species and provenances at assisted migration trials in southern Ontario

Betty VanKerkhof & Ngaire Roubal (Sault College)

• Seed Transfer in Ontario

4:50 - 6:00 p.m. Closing Remarks, Awards and Prizes

Thursday, August 14, 2025

6:30 - 7:45 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tour of Petawawa Research Forest (Lunch provided)

3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Travel to Ottawa Marriott

Friday, August 15, 2025

8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Optional Visit to Ferguson Tree Nursery (Lunch provided)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Travel to Ottawa Marriott

Keynote Speakers

Invited Speakers

Guest Speaker