Alberta Mycological Society

Southern AB Summer Mushroom Foray rescheduled to August 27
2023-08-27 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Edmonton)
This foray is re-scheduled. Foray will now be held on the Sunday, August 27,2023.

Leader(s): Christine Costello / Barb Shworak
Date: Sunday, August 27, 2023
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Calgary Region / Southern AB
Other Details: Paid members only event. No pre-registration required. An email will be sent regarding exact meeting time and location once the foray details are decided (usually 1 week prior to event).
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.

Edmonton Region Foray, Lac Ste Anne County
2023-08-27 12:30 - 15:00
Leaders: Rob Arthur and Elizabeth Lakeman
Date: Sunday, August 27, 2023
Time: 12:30 PM – 3PM
Location: TBD
Other details: No pre-registration required. Members only event. Details regarding location will be emailed out to members approximately 4-6 days prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.

Porcupine Hills Foray - South West Alberta
2023-09-01 14:00 - 17:00
Leader: Martin Osis
Date: Friday, September 1, 2023
Time: Meet at 2 PM sharp – approximately 4-5 PM
Location: Porcupine Hills – Southern AB
Other Details: Paid members only event. No pre-registration required.
Early Bird Foray, Porcupine Hills, Friday September 1. 2:00 sharp.

We are pleased to announce that the Great Alberta Mushroom Foray – Early Bird foray is open to the general AMS membership as well as to Great Alberta Mushroom Foray attendees.

This foray will be held at the Porcupine Hills south of Longview on Hwy 22. We will be meeting at Chain Lakes Provincial Park (https://goo.gl/maps/khnPkK6DJLDx1LyH8) and leaving for the Porcupine hills foray at 2:00 pm sharp, Friday September 1.

This foray is open to AMS general membership as we will have several top notch mycologists leading the foray including Andy MacKinnon, Paul Kroeger, Mike Schulzand Martin Osis. This is a rare opportunity for AMS members to be out in the field and engage with this level of expertise. We will be collecting specimens on this foray for scientific purposes. All collections will belong to the AMS.

Best regards,

Martin Osis

Mushroom Educator

Martin On Mushrooms
Check out mushroom videos on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/MartinOnMushrooms

GAMF (Great Alberta Mushroom Foray) in Waterton National Park!
2023-09-01 18:00 - 2023-09-04 13:00 | Waterton Community Center, 201 Cameron Falls Drive PO Box 144, Waterton,, Alberta, T0K2Mo
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Keith Seifert
Paul Kroeger
Andy MacKinnon
Martin Osis
The 2023 Great Alberta Mushroom Foray (GAMF) is on full throttle!
The Alberta Mycological Society has planned an amazing weekend of forays, lectures, presentations, and mushrooming activities with passionate fungi enthusiasts, distinguished mycologists, local experts, biologists, and wise outdoor specialists on September 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2023, at the Waterton Parks Community Center in Waterton, Alberta.
This wonderful event brings newcomers to mushrooms and veteran foragers together to share wild (and sometimes hilarious) adventures seeking the elusive mushrooms and learn valuable tips and tricks for satisfying our unsatiable quest for fungi.
Listen and discuss all things fungi with mycologists, such as:

Keith Seifert – Author of The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi: Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes, and Bodies.
Larry Evans – Mycologist and founder of the Western Montana Mycological Association.
Paul Kroeger – Founding member of the Vancouver Mycological Society and leading expert in field identification of mushrooms of western Canada.
Andy MacKinnon – Co-author of Mushrooms of British Columbia and many more mushroom and plant publications.
Martin Osis – Former president of the AMS and presenter of the Mushroom Identification course.

We use a citizen science approach to collect, sort, identify and record exciting fungal finds. At GAMF, you can join our morning and afternoon forays to start your own adventures!
Check out our GAMF Website for more detailed information.

Dates: Friday, September 1 (6:00 p.m.) – Monday, September 4 (1:00 p.m.)
Location: Waterton Park Community Center, 201 Cameron Falls Drive PO Box 144, Waterton, AB T0K2M0
Cost: $260*/member
The cost includes meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners), keynote speaker presentations, Mushroom Identification workshop, guided forays, and identification assistance by mycologists.
Children 5 and under are free. Students 6 and older are charged $130/person. A current student ID must be provided at the registration desk upon arrival.
Accommodations are not included; see below for suggestions.
*Registration costs are subsidized by the Alberta Conservation Association through the Conservation, Community, and Education Grant (2022-2023).
Event Schedule (tentative):
Friday, September 1, 2023

Potential early bird forays (stay tuned).
Registration opens at 6:00 p.m.
A Welcome to Waterton Lakes National Parks from Robert Sissons, Alberta Parks Ecologist
Evening social and Orientation information – Please bring snacks to share.

Saturday, September 2, 2023

(Morning) Mushroom Identification Course by Martin Osis
Forays to special permitted nearby sites and identification assisted by mycologists
Identification of collected specimens
(Afternoon) Keynote presentation from Larry Evans – Mushrooms, Truffles, and Conks
Mushroom tasting event (pending sufficient edible mushrooms gathered)
(Evening) Keynote presentation from Dr. Keith Seifert – More than dots on maps: Citizen scientists and biological collections in a world of DNA technology

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Forays to special permitted nearby sites and identification assisted by mycologists
Identification of collected specimens
(Evening) Keynote presentations from Paul Kroeger – There’s Fungus Among Us: Common urban “weed” mushrooms and immigrant fungi

Monday, September 4, 2023

(Morning) Keynote presentation from Andy MacKinnon – Mycoheterotrophs
Open House of identified fungi
Breakfast

Reserve your spot by registering below.
Registration Information:
Registrations are accepted until end of August 29, 2023. The checkout process when purchasing tickets may take a bit of time. We’re sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!
More details will be emailed to you closer to the event date.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the What to Bring to Forays and AMS Foray guidelines.
Health Notice: The health and well-being of all our members are important to the AMS. We encourage all our members to follow Alberta AHS guidelines with respect to COVID. We want everyone attending GAMF to feel safe and comfortable, so we kindly ask all participants to attend only if they are not sick. We will provide refunds for cancellations made prior to August 31, 2023, to any members who test positive for COVID. During the event, hand sanitizer, masks, and free test kits will be made available.
Accommodations
Although accommodations are not included in your registration, please consider the options below. We highly recommend you book your accommodations as soon as possible as spaces are filling up.

Crooked Creek Campground

Various campsites have been set aside for our members.
Located just outside Waterton Lakes National Park
Visit the Website for campsite rules and amenities: Crooked Creek Campground
Call Murray at +1 403-635-8163 to register and reserve your site.

Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort

Standard rooms have been set aside for our members.
Address: 101 Clematis Avenue, PO Box 4, Waterton Park, Alberta T0K 2Mo
When you register, please use this code to receive your 15% discount: MYCOSOC

Tel: +1 888-985-6343 or +1 403-859-2150
Email: reservations@watertonlakeslodge.com

Visit the Website for hotel rules and amenities: Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort

Other Campgrounds

Waterton Lakes National Park Campgrounds (Parks Canada)

Happy Foraging!

Southern AB Late Summer Mushroom Foray (early morning foray)
2023-09-09 09:30 - 11:30
Foray has been confirmed however, changes / cancellation may occur based on weather and/or foraging conditions.

Leader(s): Christine Costello / Barb Shworak
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location (TBD): Calgary Region / Southern AB
Other Details: Paid members only event. No pre-registration required. An email will be sent regarding exact meeting time and location once the foray details are decided (usually within 1 week prior to event).
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.

Introductory Series Workshop: Growing edible mushrooms in your home by Fungi Akuafo
2023-09-09 12:00 - 16:00
Join us this Saturday!
(Saturday September 9 2023)

MORE INFO & TO REGISTER

Learn to grow delicious oyster mushrooms
to add to your dinner plates
and share with friends!

Join us for an in informative afternoon at Akesi Farms, the home of Fungi Akuafo. Located 1.5 hours from Calgary/Red Deer, near Sundre, Alberta.
In this four hour in-person workshop:
we will walk through the low-tech steps to growing oyster mushrooms in buckets using grain spawn and straw.
The workshop will be delivered using a combination of presentations, live demonstrations and hands-on practice.
You will go home with:

One bag of blue oyster grain spawn
One bag of chopped straw
5 one gallon plastic buckets

Pack your lunch and bring warm clothes as the workshop takes place in our barn!
Registration: $120 Closes Thursday September 7

Sign Up Now

Hope to see you
on Saturday!

Weald Weekend Foray
2023-09-15 16:00 - 2023-09-17 14:00
Contact: Elizabeth Lakeman (ealshroom@gmail.com)
Date: September 15 – September 17
Time: 4 pm (Friday) – 2 pm (Sunday)
Location: Embarras River, West of Edson, Weald Provincial Recreation Area.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and there will be a plethora of tasty edibles; i.e. hedgehogs, yellow foots, gypsies, red tops, russulas, lobsters, if not at least great company. If you can, bring a little bite to share and the usual foray (wet weather) essentials.
Exact location details will be sent out the week before the foray to paid registered members. To pay on site please bring exact cash.
Details:
– Please restrict generator use to no earlier than 8 a.m., and no later than 10 p.m.
– Cooking up mushrooms for tasting is encouraged.
– NO cost to come for the day.
– Arrive no sooner than 4 PM Friday Sept 15 – Depart by 2 pm
Sunday Sept. 17.
– Cost is $40 per unit (tent, trailer, etc) for the weekend. Registration is required to help manage the space available.
– First scheduled foray is Saturday morning at 10 AM, back for lunch then out again at 1 or 2 PM. Sunday is open.
– Great evenings of socializing, getting to know other like minded fungaphiles, carrying on deep mycological conversations, taste testing, singing and what not depending on libations.
– There is a closed in shelter on site, a few picnic tables, outdoor toilets, but no power or water hookups.
– Pump water on site but water is not certified potable.
– Sketchy cell service in the valley.
– Some firewood will be provided.

Meet the Mushrooms - Crowdcast Event (Online Presentation) Toronto Pubic Library Event
2023-10-03 16:30 - 18:00
Meet The Mushrooms
https://www.crowdcast.io/c/tpl-meet-the-mushrooms
By Toronto Public Library Programs
Have you ever wondered what kinds of mushrooms are growing in your local ravine or along your favourite hiking trail? While fungi are often portrayed as decomposers of dead plant tissue, many are essential partners to living plants and keystone species in complex food webs.
Learn more regarding the biodiversity and ecological significance of mushrooms, particularly those native to Southern Ontario, how climate change is affecting fungi, and how this is affecting humanity.

Presented by Robert M. Macrae, a retired instructor formerly of the Integrated Environmental Planning Technology Program in the School of Environment and Geomatics, Selkirk College, B.C. With a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, a Master of Science from the University of Toronto, and experience on commercial mushroom farms, Robert will share some of his expertise on mushrooms, fungi in popular culture, and introducing more people to the fascinating and frequently overlooked world of fungi.
This 1.5-hour Live & Online program is part of Toronto Public Library’s Our Fragile Planet program series, supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF).
Tune in live as this program will not be available for replay.
Questions about online programs? Please email us at programproposals@tpl.ca or contact North York Central Library – Business & Science Department at clbst@tpl.ca or phone 416-395-5613.

NAMA Culinary Arts Event
2023-10-11 18:00 - 19:30
Join NAMA Culinary Arts Committee resident chefs Spike Mikulski, Robert Courteau, Jess Starwood and Gordon Walker as they share their favorite recipes, tips on foraging for edible mushrooms and answer your questions! Chef Spike Milulski will share a new video presentation on foraging and cooking and you will also be welcome to contribute your own experience and thoughts to this casual open-forum meet-and-greet.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 @ 18:00 – 19:30 Mountain Daylight Time (GMT-6)
Note: the event photo states the event time in CST or Central Standard Time – Alberta time is 1 hour earlier.
Organizer
North American Mycological Association
For more information and to register, click here

Permaculture Open House - Welcome Invitation - AMS Corporate Member Event
2023-10-14 10:00 - 16:00
Summer, with its beautiful long sunny days and green growth, is coming to a close, and the vacations and harvests are wrapping up.
Before hunkering down for the long winter, The Institute for Contemplative Ecology (I4C), in collaboration with the Edmonton Permaculture Guild, is hosting a gathering of permaculturalists and like-minded organizations at the CHANGE Centre, one hour west of Edmonton on the Pembina river, on Saturday, October 14th, 2023.

Come introduce yourself, or your organization, and connect, or reconnect, with other permaculturists and like-minded groups in the region
Tour the land situated along the Pembina river, to which the Institute has access; a property with much potential for a permaculture design
Bring something to share and enjoy a potluck lunch
We’ll end the day by diving deeper into each participant’s respective work, while we learn what’s happening locally, and explore potential synergies.

I4C is a new, not-for-profit organization, whose vision is “The existence of a thriving network of holistic, ecological communities, integrating human culture within the living world, across central Alberta.”
If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to i4cecology@gmail.com or info@edmontonpermacultureguild.ca by October 6, 2023
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Schedule
10:00-10:30am: Guests arrive. (Coffee & cookies available.)
10:30am: Round Table Introductions: What is your organization, what are you working on?
11:00am-1:00pm: Tour of the I4C land (Bring good walking shoes & weather-appropriate clothing.)
1:00pm: Potluck Lunch
2:00pm: Conversation: Dive deeper into each participant’s respective work. Learn what’s happening locally. Explore synergies.
4:00pm: Guests begin to leave

NAMA Book Club Virtual Meeting
2023-10-26 18:00 - 19:00
Organizer North American Mycological Association
Eva Gordon will be moderates our NAMA book selection for October: Lawrence Millman’s Fungipedia: A Brief Compendium of Mushroom Lore

About the Author
An illustrated mini-encyclopedia of fungal lore, from John Cage and Terence McKenna to mushroom sex and fairy rings Fungipedia presents a delightful A–Z treasury of mushroom lore. With more than 180 entries―on topics as varied as Alice in Wonderland, chestnut blight, medicinal mushrooms, poisonings, Santa Claus, and waxy caps―this collection will transport both general readers and specialists into the remarkable universe of fungi.

Combining ecological, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary knowledge, author and mycologist Lawrence Millman discusses how mushrooms are much more closely related to humans than to plants, how they engage in sex, how insects farm them, and how certain species happily dine on leftover radiation, cockroach antennae, and dung. He explores the lives of individuals like African American scientist George Washington Carver, who specialized in crop diseases caused by fungi; Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, who was prevented from becoming a professional mycologist because she was a woman; and Gordon Wasson, a J. P. Morgan vice-president who almost single-handedly introduced the world to magic mushrooms. Millman considers why fungi are among the most significant organisms on our planet and how they are currently being affected by destructive human behavior, including climate change.
With charming drawings by artist and illustrator Amy Jean Porter, Fungipedia offers a treasure trove of scientific and cultural information. The world of mushrooms lies right at your door―be amazed!

For more information and to register, click here

Winter Craft Classes
2023-11-26 13:30 - 16:00 | Deville North Cooking Lake Hall, 21033 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park, AB, T8G 1C7, Canada
Now that the mushrooms aren’t fruiting outside, we get to unleash our creativity and make textile versions that will last throughout the winter! Create a mushroom out of fabric to decorate your tree or give as a gift. Either way, come and craft with us!
Individual tickets are $10. Attend both classes and save $5!
November 26th at Deville North Cooking Lake Hall
Fabric Ornament Class
1:30pm-2:30pm
Details: Stitch and glue a unique mushroom out of fabric and buttons/beads. The perfect hanging ornament for your home. (Also a great rear-view mirror dangler!)
Difficulty: Easy
Involves hand sewing and use of a hot glue gun.
Embroidery Hoop Class
3:00pm-4:00pm
Details: Using an embroidery hoop and cunning creative skills, stitch together a mushroom motif out of fabric and thread. A great addition to any room!
Difficulty: Easy
Involves hand sewing.

Zoom Presentation: Beyond mountain pine beetle: soil carbon storage a decade after tree mortality and the possible influence of soil fungi
2023-12-01 09:30 - 10:30 | University of Alberta, 116 St, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
My name is Nicole Lau, and I am the 2022 AMS Graduate Award winner. I am a MSc student in Conservation Biology, working under the supervision of Dr. Justine Karst at the University of Alberta. In my research, I explored the role of mycorrhizal fungal communities in influencing soil carbon storage following mountain pine beetle disturbance. This Friday, December 1, 2023, I will be defending my research and I would like to invite you to attend the seminar at 9:30 am. This is the Zoom link to access the seminar virtually: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/98536128480. Thank you so much to all of the members of the AMS for the continued support! Nicole
Name: Nicole Lau
Degree: MSc
Supervisor: Dr. Justine Karst
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: 442 Earth Sciences Building (ESB)
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/98536128480
*To encourage the growth of more knowledgeable fungal experts, the AMS has created the AMS Graduate Award in collaboration with the U of A. Each March, a deserving graduate student studying mycology or fungal biology is awarded $2,000. If donations to this award reach $50,000 in 5 years, an endowment will be created, and this financial aid will be awarded in perpetuity.
Please help us help other dedicated students like Nicole by donating to the U of A AMS Graduate Award. November is the month of giving with the 28th declared as Giving Tuesday. For the remainder of November, the AMS Board is doubling your donations to a maximum of $5,000.
Donate Now

Year-End Social
2023-12-06 17:30 - 21:00 | Abbotsfield Penny McKee Library Program Room, 3210 118 Ave NW Unit 160, Edmonton, AB, T5W 4W1, Canada
Review our fruitful season and meet other mycophiles! Learn something new from our speaker and participate in the discussion. Support us with a contribution to our student grant project or by perusing our wares, and don’t forget to bring any interesting finds (or photos) for us to identify!
Date: Wednesday, December 6th, 2023
Location: Penny McKee Library, Program Room
3210 118 Ave NW Unit 160, Edmonton, AB T5W 4W1
Event Details:
5:30pm: Doors Open / Social Hour
6:30pm: Welcome
7:15pm: Speaker
8:15pm: Open Discussion
9:00pm: Tidy-up & Close

FYI Movies Calgary location: FUNGI: THE WEB OF LIFE and SHACKLETON: THE GREATEST STORY OF SURVIVAL
2024-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Calgary Eau Claire Cinema, Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade SW #200, Calgary, AB, T2P 4R5, Canada
https://ca.demand.film/fungi-plus-shackleton/

See a special double bill of two films –
Fungi: The Web of Life: Fungi – Much of life on Earth is connected by a vast, hidden network that we are only just beginning to understand. Out of sight, between the world of plants and animals, another world exists—-the kingdom of fungi. Featuring the author of the bestseller Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake and narrated by Bjork.
Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival: The true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance, told by the only man ever to have repeated their incredible feat – explorer and adventurer Tim Jarvis.

January Member Social
2024-01-31 17:30 - 20:45 | Edmonton Public Library – Idylwylde (Bonnie Doon), 8310 88 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6C 1L1, Canada
Our first event of the year! Learn about how mushrooms relate to our society from our speaker, Enoki Li, and participate in the discussion. Support us with a contribution to our student grant project, or peruse our wares… And don’t forget to bring any interesting finds (or photos) for us to identify!
Date: Wednesday, January 31st, 2024
Location: Bonnie Doon Library Program Room
8310 88 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 1L1
Event Details:
5:30pm: Doors Open / Social Hour
6:30pm: Welcome
7:15pm: Enoki Li “Mycology & Social Change”
8:15pm: Open Discussion
8:45pm: Tidy-up & Close
No need to RSVP… See you there!
These events are intended for active AMS members only. Not a member yet? Sign up here!
Not able to attend in person? Click the link below to join the Zoom stream! (at time of event)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85792893433?pwd=[REDACTED]
Please note: We are new to streaming and there may be technical difficulties. If you are interested in volunteering to help us minimize these issues, please email contactus@albertamushrooms.ca and let us know!

February General Meeting
2024-02-28 18:00 - 20:45 | Abbotsfield Penny McKee Library Program Room, 3210 118 Ave NW Unit 160, Edmonton, AB, T5W 4W1, Canada
New to foraging and curious about the world of mushrooms? Learn what mushrooms are, where & how to find them, and how to identify some tasty edibles! Meet other foraging neophytes and grab a field guide to study before the season starts.
Date: Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
Location: Penny McKee Library Program Room
3210 118 Ave NW Unit 160, Edmonton, AB T5W 4W1
Event Details:
6pm: Doors Open
6:30pm: Welcome/AMS Updates
7:15pm: Mushroom Basics with Mel Hohn
8:15pm: Open Discussion
8:45pm: Tidy-up & Close
No need to RSVP… See you there!
These events are intended for active AMS members only. Not a member yet? Sign up here!
Not able to attend in person? Click the link below to join the Zoom stream! (at time of event)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87691119029?pwd=[REDACTED]
Please note: We are new to streaming and there may be technical difficulties. If you are interested in volunteering to help us minimize these issues, please email contactus@albertamushrooms.ca and let us know!

2024 AGM
2024-03-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Ital-Canadian Seniors Association Drop-In Centre, 9111-110 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 4J9, Canada
This year the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in person and with ZOOM on March 23, 2024 at the Ital-Canadian Seniors Association Drop-In Centre in central Edmonton.
AMS AGM Agenda 2024
New this year is a combined in-person and Zoom meeting to be held at no charge. The Centre opens to the membership at 1:00 p.m. and the AGM starts at 1:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. The AGM will be held in accordance with the Society Bylaws and will include

Reports on the work of the Society in 2023
The 2023 Audited Financial Statements
Elections of board members – there are vacancies on the board. If you are interested in joining the board, an email will be sent out in February with a nomination form or you can complete a nomination form here.
Guests include:

Toby Spribille, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Ethan Zapach, Winner of the NAMA/AMS Scholarship
Dilini Adihetty, Winner of the Alberta Mycological Society Graduate Award with the University of Alberta

AMS Merchandise will be available for sale

RSVP below for AGM

AGM Agenda 2023 AGM Minutes – to follow

2024 President's Dinner
2024-03-23 18:00 - 22:00 | Ital-Canadian Seniors Association Drop-In Centre, 9111-110 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 4J9, Canada
Join Karen Slevinsky, President, in fine dining and excellent speeches on March 24, 2024. Dine on a mushroom-themed buffet, Italian-style. Listen to Melanie Jones, Ph.D. speak on Ectomycorrhizal fungi and their many roles in forests – insights from 40 years of research.
Activities at the President’s Dinner include:

Mushroom-Themed Royal Buffet at the Ital-Canadian Seniors Association Drop-In Centre
A video presentation by Jeff Nash, Communications Specialist, GoA
A speaking presentation by Melanie Jones, Ph.D. Ectomycorrhizal fungi and their many roles in forests – insights from 40 years of research
More AMS Merchandise available for sale
Presentation of the President’s Award
Maybe some surprises as well
Tickets are now on sale (see below).

Melanie Jones is a Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. She has been studying ectomycorrhizal plants and fungi for more than 40 years. She is especially interested in the makeup and physiology of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities following natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and in carbon and nutrients transfer between fungal and plant symbionts. She and her students have studied the effects of various silviculture practices on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities over short and medium terms; how severe wildfire affects soil fungi, especially mycorrhizal fungi; transfer of nutrients and metals between ectomycorrhizal fungi and their plant symbionts; the contribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi to organic matter breakdown in soil; and whether the potential to associate with the same fungal individual affects seedling survival or carbon transfer between trees. Melanie was the first elected President of the International Mycorrhiza Society, and served as Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences when UBC Okanagan was first formed. She retired last year, but continues to be active in writing scientific papers with her students, while also finding more time for cross-country skiing, gardening and hiking.

Edmonton Region Spring Foray / Post AGM
2024-03-24 10:00 - 12:00
Leaders: Martin Osis
Date: March 24, 2024
Time: 10AM-NOON
Location: Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail parking lot, east of Sherwood Park.
The foray should wind up by 12:00 noon with specimens and I-naturalist observation contributing to the Beaver hills Fungal Biodiversity Survey. Bring your I-phone camera, a sturdy knife or chisel and a small hammer or mallet. Leave your insect repellent at home.
Other details: Members only event. Details regarding location will be emailed out to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.

Zoom Presentation: iNaturalist
2024-04-24 19:00 - 21:00
ZOOM presentation by Hanna Davidson – iNaturalist How to

Join AMS for a night of learning on April 24, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Become an expert at using iNaturalist, a citizen science platform, and learn how sharing photos of fungi can contribute to scientific research and discovery. We will walk you through logging an observation, and work through trusting (or not trusting!) the ID algorithm. Then, we’ll discuss research grade observations, and share a social hour of identifying fungi on iNat together. Come with your own photos ready to upload, or if you’re already up to date on your uploads, help peer review other observations in an area of interest. Our presenter is Hanna Davidson, a graduate student at the University of Calgary and a local expert on iNat. She collaborated on a lichen assessment paper in Edmonton that utilized citizen science data and wants to help more observations make the papers!

It would be helpful but not necessary if you would have iNaturalist downloaded on your favourite device. It can be downloaded at:
A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist
The presentation starts at 7:00 p.m. on April 24, 2024, and will last for approximately one hour.
The Zoom link for this presentation is:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucalgary.zoom.us/j/98750476430
Meeting ID: 987 5047 6430
Looking forward to joining Hanna as she share with us the details of using iNaturalist.
Karen Slevinsky
President, AMS
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Time: 7PM-9PM

The Spore Social Event at The Artist Lounge in Calgary
2024-04-30 18:00 - 23:00 | The Artist Lounge, 1840 20 Ave NW, Cagary, Alberta, T2M 1H3, Canada
Don’t miss out on this exciting event!
Come meet your fellow fungiphiles!
This mushroom-themed foodie event is hosted by the AMS and is open to anyone (members and the general public) who are interested in discovering fungi and the taste of some featured choice mushrooms.
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
The event will feature:

A presentation by Sean Campbell on fungus, cuisine and culture.
Mushroom-based tapas and a cocktail of choice.
A merchandise table with sales of books, posters, t-shirts, hats, toques, ‘blind boxes’, stickers, and more.
A viewing of 3 historical art pieces (not for sale) by Helene M.E. Schalkwijk-Barendsen, author of ‘Mushrooms of Western Canada’ and original founder of the Alberta Mycological Society. See links below for more information on the artist.

Edmonton Journal Article
Sporeprint Article – 2010
Event cost is $50.
Click here for tickets

Beaver Hills Mycoflora - Project Introduction via ZOOM
2024-05-07 19:00 - 21:00
Join the Friends of Elk Island Society for an informal introduction to the Beaver Hills Mycoflora project. A three-year project to collect and catalogue fungal specimens found within Elk Island National Park and the Beaver Hills Biosphere.

Registration is required.
More information can be found at https://www.meetup.com/elkisland/

Calgary "Meet & Greet" Event
2024-05-11 10:30 - 13:30 | Memorial Park Library, 1221 2 St. SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2R 1N8, Canada
Curious about the AMS, foraging and the world of mushrooms?
Learn what mushrooms are, where & how to find them, and how to identify some tasty edibles!
Meet other foragers, both beginner and experienced / Buy a field guide to aid with fungal ID / Posters and other mushroom merchandise also for sale

We will provide water but treats from members are always welcome! (please note any allergens).
Schedule (approximate):
10:30 am – 11:00 am Doors open, socialize and sale of merchandise
11:00 am – 11:15 am Welcome and introduction to AMS
11:15 am – 1230 pm Presentations on Mushrooms, Foraging and other Important Information for the 2024 Season
12:30 pm – 01:15 pm Free time for questions, socialization and continued sales.
01:15 pm – 01:30 pm Tidy up meeting room
Due to limited capacity, this event is intended for registered AMS members only.
Also, if you change our mind, please email to cancel at: ccostello53@gmail.com
Please RSVP below

Beaver Hills Mycoflora - Elk Island National Park
2024-05-11 11:00 - 15:00
The Alberta Mycological Society, in partnership with the Friends of Elk Island Society, is planning to survey the Mycoflora of Elk Island National Park and the Beaver Hills.
Leader(s): Martin Osis, Ryan Armishaw
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Elk Island National Park
Other details: Members-only event.
Please register for the event through the Friends page on meetup.com
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.

East of Edmonton Foray - Early Morels
2024-05-16 18:00 - 20:00
Leader(s): Karen Slevinsky, Ryan Armishaw
Date: May 16, 2024
Time: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Location: East of Edmonton
Other details: Members-only event. Details regarding location will be emailed to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.

Private Land Foray - Tofield Region
2024-05-18 10:00 - 14:00
Leaders: Corey M, Ryan Armishaw
Date: May 18, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Private Land East of Edmonton
Other details: Members only event. Details regarding location will be emailed out to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.

Private Land Foray - Breton
2024-05-19 11:00 - 15:00
Leaders: Ryan Armishaw
Date: May 19, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Private Land near Breton, AB
Other details: Members only event. Details regarding location will be emailed out to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.

Early Spring Mushrooms - Elk Island National Park
2024-05-21 18:00 - 20:00
The Alberta Mycological Society, in partnership with the Friends of Elk Island Society, is planning to survey the Mycoflora of Elk Island National Park and the Beaver Hills.
Leaders: Martin Osis
Date: May 21, 2024 (TBD)
Time: TBD – tentatively 6PM-8PM
Location: Elk Island National Park
Other details: Members only event. Details regarding location will be emailed out to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.

East of Edmonton Foray - Early Morels
2024-05-23 18:00 - 20:00
Leader(s): Ryan Armishaw
Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Location: East of Edmonton
Other details: Members-only event. Details regarding location will be emailed to members up to 1 week prior.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the AMS Foray guidelines.
Please be advised that all events listed on our website are subject to change or cancellation due to various factors, including but not limited to:

Unfavourable Moisture/Fruiting Conditions
Mushroom growth is heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as moisture levels and temperature. If conditions are not conducive to mushroom fruiting, events may be cancelled.

Unforeseen Circumstances
Despite our best efforts to plan and organize events, unforeseen circumstances may arise that necessitate cancellation or postponement.

Lack of Volunteers
Our events rely on volunteers to lead forays, and if there is a shortage of volunteers, we may need to cancel or reschedule events. Become a Foray Host!

Final event details, including any changes or cancellations, will be communicated via email to all members approximately one week prior to the scheduled event. We highly recommend checking your email regularly for updates.
