The Miramichi Salmon Association (MSA) is pleased to announce the newly established MSA Wild Salmon Grant in partnership with St. Thomas University, and generously funded by Mr. J.W. Bud Bird.

Mr. Bird has donated $105,000 to support an annual $5,000 grant to an Indigenous undergraduate student in their second, third, or fourth year of study at St. Thomas University. The grant recipients will engage in research, supervised by faculty members, with the primary objective of fostering public involvement in the conservation of Atlantic salmon within the Miramichi River watershed. This research endeavor will incorporate traditional Indigenous knowledge for the preservation of rivers and natural habitats. The project results will be made accessible through the Miramichi Salmon Association, serving as a platform for conservation efforts and public advocacy.

Mr. Bud Bird, a prominent businessman hailing from Fredericton, has been an active member of the MSA Board of Directors, having served as President, Board Chair, and Chairman Emeritus. Recognized as an Honorary Director of the Miramichi Salmon Association, Mr. Bird has also served on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Salmon Federation and served as Canada's Commissioner to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. His political career includes holding the mayoral position in Fredericton in 1969 and serving as the Minister of Natural Resources during his tenure in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1978. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Bird has consistently demonstrated leadership in Atlantic salmon conservation and advocacy.