Canadian Society of Forensic Science explained

Canadian Society of Forensic Science/La Société Canadienne des Sciences Judiciaires
Size:	75px
Abbreviation:	CSFS
Purpose:	Professional non-profit organization for forensic science
Headquarters:	Ottawa, Ont.
Region Served:	Canada, international
Membership:	425
Language:	English, French
Leader Title:	President
Leader Name:	Pamela Dixon (2023-24)
Main Organ:	Executive Committee
Website:	http://www.csfs.ca/

The Canadian Society of Forensic Science (CSFS) is a professional association aimed at maintaining professional standards and promoting and enhancing the study and stature of forensic science. Membership in the society is open internationally to professionals with an active interest in the forensic sciences.

History

The CSFS was founded on October 16, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.^[1] The founding members were William Wallace Sutherland, Charles George Farmilo, James Alexander Churchman, Blake B. Coldwell, and Leo Levi.^[2] The society officially became a non-profit corporation on April 10, 1963 with the signing of the Letters Patent under the authority of the Companies Act.^[3]

Present structure

The CSFS has an Executive Committee consisting of elected Officials and a Board of Directors. In addition there are several standing and special committees, including Awards, Finance, Membership, Nominating, Publication, Accreditation, Alcohol Test, Constitution, Drugs and Driving, and Informatics/Education.

The CSFS is further organized into sections representing diverse areas of forensic science, as follows:

• Anthropology, Medical and Odontology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Documents
• Engineering
• Firearms
• Toxicology

There are six types of membership in the society: Regular, Fellow, Emeritus, Provisional, Associate and Student. As of May 2022, the society had 425 members of all types.^[4]

Journal

The society publishes the peer-reviewed, quarterly Journal of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science. It is devoted to the publication of original papers, comments, and reviews in all branches of forensic science, as well as other matters of forensic interest (e.g., social sciences, law enforcement and/or jurisprudence). Abstracts from 1995 to the present are available online at the CSFS website.

Conference

The society holds a professional conference and Annual General Meeting. The location and specific dates vary each year.

In 2023, the conference is being held at the Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Each conference has its own theme and this year it is “Forensic Science in Canada: An Evolving Community”.^[5]

Awards

The society gives out the following awards:

• Rita Charlebois Award, to provide financial assistance to a deserving candidate(s) to attend scientific meetings
• CSFS Memorial Award, to posthumously commemorate the contributions to forensic science in Canada of society members who have died
• CSFS Education Award, an annual award for promoting the field of forensic science
• The Derome Award, to honour those individuals who had been active in the establishment of the profession in Canada
• H. Ward Smith Award, to commemorate the contribution to forensic science in Canada of the late H. Ward Smith.

See also

• Canadian Identification Society
• Forensics

References

1. The History of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, CSFS Journal, June 1978, Vol. 11, No. 2.
2. Web site: Biographical Sketches of Founding Members . The History of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science . December 23, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706174453/http://www.csfs.ca/csfs_page.aspx?ID=29# . 2011-07-06 . dead.
3. Journal of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Vol 37, No 1, March 2004, p. iii.
4. Rosland . Mike . Crossman . Christine . Cappelli . Anna . Sainte-Marie. Stacey . Report of the Membership Committee. Canadian Society of Forensic Science AGM. 16 Jun 2022. Virtual .
5. Web site: Conference 2023 . Canadian Society of Forensic Science . CSFS . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602132755/https://www.csfs.ca/whats-happening/conference-2023/ . 2 June 2023.