THUNDER BAY – Bill Ross, a well known and respected Thunder Bay-based Archeologist, was recently recognized by The Canadian Archeology Association (CAA), who awarded him the prestigious 2018 Roscoe Wilmeth Award. The award was presented in Winnipeg on May 5 at the Annual Canadian Archeology Association Annual Meeting.
The Roscoe Wilmeth Award is presented to members who have a record of outstanding, long-term service to the Canadian Archeological Association and to Canadian Archaeology.
In making the award the CAA indicated that “Bill Ross has had a long and distinguished career in Ontario archaeology working with the Province of Ontario, and in retirement as an archeological consultant. During his years in public service, Bill and his colleagues undertook an ambitious program of research and public outreach throughout Northwestern Ontario. He contributed to the development of the region’s culture history and assisted in developing public archaeology and heritage education programs, including the founding of a regional manuscript series, the ‘Conservation Archaeology Reports’, that remain the core professional literature for the region.”
The Association went on to note that “Bill was a founding member of the Thunder Bay Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society and co-founder and co-chair of the Lake Superior Basin Archaeological workshops for the last 34 years. In addition, Bill worked with the Association of Professional Archaeologists from 2005 to 2011. Over the course of his career Bill has remained an active member of the Canadian Archaeological Association, serving as President and Past President from 2011 to 2014, and also annually chairing the nomination committee for the Pendergast Award (presented in recognition of exemplary contributions to Canadian archaeology by an avocational archaeologist.)”
In his retirement, Bill remains active as an adjunct member of the Department of Anthropology at Lakehead University, and freely offers his experience, advice and perspective to undergraduate and graduate students. Throughout his career, Bill has offered his services to the advancement of archaeology throughout Northwestern Ontario and to the work of the CAA.
Thunder Bay is grateful that Bill Ross chose Thunder Bay as his home and continues to contribute to the expanding knowledge of our shared history.
