Justina Ray
President & Senior Scientist
Management and operationsDr. Justina Ray has been President and Senior Scientist of WCS Canada since its incorporation in 2004. In addition to overseeing the operations of WCS Canada, Justina is involved in research and policy activities associated with conservation-based planning, impact assessment and biodiversity conservation, with a particular focus on wildlife in northern boreal landscapes. Having worked for years in African and Asian tropical forests, North America has been her predominant geographic focus over the past two decades.
Justina has been appointed to numerous government advisory panels related to policy development for species at risk and land use planning in Ontario and Canada. She served as the co-chair of the Terrestrial Mammals Subcommittee of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) from 2009-2017 and a member of the IUCN Taskforce on Biodiversity and Protected Areas in its work to develop the global Key Biodiversity Area Standard (2012-2016). She has been editor or author of 3 books and numerous peer-reviewed articles. She also serves on the scientific advisory boards of the Liber Ero Post-doctoral Fellowship program and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (Germany). She is Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto (Department of Ecology and Evolution; Graduate Department of Forestry) and Trent University (Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program).
Stories and op-eds
Demystifying the Mitigation Hierarchy
A practical guide to one of the most important, yet misunderstood, frameworks in conservation and development decision making.Justina Ray, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne
Turning the frame: What we miss when we rush decisions about nature
It seems like 2025 has been characterized by daily news stories about “fast tracking” development or “cutting red tape.”Justina Ray
Twenty years of success and a vision for the future
As WCS Canada marks its 20th anniversary, we find ourselves navigating increasingly challenging times. Yet we also see that progress is possible.Justina Ray
Media coverage
Carney’s Push to Fund Industry Imperils Canada’s Nature Promises
Millions of dollars in funding but still no plan: can Quebec save its caribou from extinction?
Locals push for changes to impending conservation authority amalgamations
Press releases
Steps backwards for conservation in Ontario
On World Environment Day, we are disheartened to see Bill 5 pass into law in Ontario.
New proposal from Ontario prioritizing business over biodiversity snuck out before public holiday
Just before the Easter public holiday, the Ontario government introduced new omnibus legislation: the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025.
WCS Canada President gives evidence on caribou emergency order
WCS Canada President Justina Ray today gave evidence before the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development regarding the federal government’s Emergency Order for Boreal Caribou Protection under the Species at Risk Act.
- canadamedia@wcs.org
