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WA Johnston

The W. A. Johnston Medal is the highest award of the Canadian Quaternary Association, and is given for professional excellence in Quaternary research. Nominations can be made on behalf of anyone with a demonstrated publication record who has contributed to Quaternary research in Canada or abroad. The nominator must be a member of the Canadian Quaternary Association and a nominee may be a researcher residing anywhere in the world.

The Johnston Medal was named after William Alfred Johnston, born in 1874 in the village of Aberarder, near Sarnia, Ontario. He obtained his degrees at Queen's University (B.A., 1903; B.Sc., 1905) and joined the Geological Survey of Canada after graduation. The period 1913-1915 was spent in post-graduate studies at Yale, and he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1922.

Johnston's research investigations were concentrated on the Quaternary , and his investigations helped elucidate the former limits of the eastern glacial Great Lakes, as well as the historical drainage routes through the North Bay, Trent and Sarnia outlets. His examinations of the surficial geology of the Ottawa-Georgian Bay region revealed the extent of isostatic uplift in the area and more accurately defined the western limits of the Champlain Sea transgression in the Ottawa Valley.

In central Canada, Johnston spent many years investigating the areal limits of glacial Lake Agassiz; he helped to establish suitable water supplies for Regina and Moose Jaw, and he was one of the foremost authorities on placer gold deposits in Canada. He was responsible for extensive studies of the Fraser River and its delta, and was instrumental in helping to improve navigation in the area.

Johnston was a prolific writer with over sixty reports, memoirs and papers covering an extraordinary variety of topics. These range from the history of Niagara Falls and the development of the Great Lakes, to sea level changes and the migration of man into North America. In 1939 he retired from the Geological Survey and lived at the Bay of Quinte until his death in 1949.

Abstracted from an obituary by H. C. Cooke in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada

Career highlights

• Joined Geological Survey of Canada in 1905 after working as field assistant
• Worked on Paleozoic - Frontenac arch in 1910
• Worked with Goldthwaite on Lake Algonquin shorelines
• Became Survey's specialist in Pleistocene geology after 10 years mapping in Simcoe - Peterborough district
• 1913: Started mapping glaciolacustrine seds of Lake Agassiz in the Rainy Lake area.
• 1915-17: 3 seasons of classifying land in Manitoba for the benefit of intending settlers
• 1917: Reconnaissance along Hudson's Bay railroad
• 1920s: Fraser river delta, 2 detailed memoirs
• 1921: Placer gold studies in Cariboo district
• 1921: Studied modern glacial processes in Lake Louise area
• 1925: Placer studies in Dease Lake area
• 1930: Compiler of gold occurrences of Canada with Cooke
• 1930: Headed Division of Pleistocene geology, Water supply and Borings
• 1935: Became ill, replaced by Mackay
• Retired in 1939

Selected Geological Survey of Canada publications

• 1909 Simcoe Sheet, Ontario; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1908; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1909; pages 97-102
• 1908 Peterborough and Simcoe Sheets; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1907; Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1908; pages 56-58
• 1907 Peterborough, Prince Edward, and Simcoe Sheets, Ontario; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1906; Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1907; pages 124-126
• 1906 The Peterborough Sheet, Ontario; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1905; Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1906; pages 92-94
• 1910 Simcoe District, Ontario; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1909; Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1910; pages 158-163
• 1914 Orillia Sheet, Simcoe and Ontario Counties, Ontario; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 49A, 1914.
• 1914 Geology of Lake Simcoe Area, Ontario, Beaverton, Sutton and Barrie Sheets; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1912; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1914; pages 294-300
• 1915 Ottawa, Carleton and Ottawa Counties, Ontario and Quebec; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1662, 1915.
• 1915 The Calcareous Drift and Lacustrine Deposits in Rainy River District, Ontario; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1913; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1915; pages 170-177
• 1916 The Trent Valley Outlet of Lake Algonquin and the Deformation of the Algonquin Water-plane in Lake Simcoe District, Ontario; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Museum Bulletin , 23, 1916; 24 pages
• 1916 Late Pleistocene Oscillations of Sea-level in the Ottawa Valley; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Museum Bulletin , 24, 1916; 14 pages
• 1916 Diagram Showing Shorelines of Lake Algonkian and Lake Iroquois; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1619, 1916.
• 1916 Brechin Sheet, Ontario and Victoria Counties; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 66A, 1916.
• 1917 District De Rainy River, Ontario : Geologie Superficielle Et Sols; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir , 82, 1917; 111 pages
• 1917 Beaverton Sheet, Ontario, York and Victoria Counties, Ontario; Johnston, W A; Mclean, S C. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 161A, 1917.
• 1917 Sutton Sheet, York and Simcoe Counties, Ontario; Johnston, W A; Mclean, S C. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 162A, 1917.
• 1917 Barrie Sheet, Simcoe County; Johnston, W A; Mclean, S C. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 163A, 1917.
• 1918 Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the area Along the Hudson Bay Railway; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1917 Part D; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1918; pages 25-36
• 1918 Semi - Refractory Clay and Pure Quartz Sand of Swan River Valley; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1917 Part D; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1918; pages 37-39
• 1921 Winnipegosis and Upper Whitemouth River Areas, Manitoba, Pleistocene and Recent Deposits; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir , 128, 1921; 42 pages
• 1921 Sedimentation of the Fraser River Delta; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir , 125, 1921; 46 pages
• 1921 Diagram Showing the Distribution of Surface Deposits, Fraser River Delta, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1854, 1921.
• 1921 Part of Williams Creek, Cariboo District, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1942, 1921.
• 1921 Upper Whitemouth river, townships 1 to 10 (ranges 8 to 18, east of principal meridian), Manitoba; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1802, 1921.
• 1921 Winnipegosis, Townships 30 To 37, Ranges 16 To 23, West of Principal Meridian, Manitoba; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1771, 1921.
• 1921 Float Observations, Flood-tidal Currents, Entrance of Fraser River and Strait of Georgia, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1851, 1921.
• 1921 Diagram Showing Seaward Advance of Fraser River Delta, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1858, 1921.
• 1921 Diagram Showing Changes in the River Channels, Fraser River, Between Woodwards Landing and Strait of Georgia, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1857, 1921.
• 1921 Discharge Data, Fraser River, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1856, 1921.
• 1921 High Water Data At Mission Bridge, Freshet Stages, Fraser River, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1855, 1921.
• 1921 Comparative Soundings, Fraser River, Between Woodwards Landing and Strait of Georgia, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1853, 1921.
• 1921 Float Observations, Ebb-tidal and River Currents, Fraser River, Between Woodwards Landing and Strait of Georgia, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1850, 1921.
• 1922 Part of Antler Creek, Cariboo District, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1941, 1922.
• 1922 Placer Mining in Barkerville Area, British Columbia; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1921 Part A; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1922; pages 59-71
• 1923 Fraser River Delta, British Columbia; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 1965, 1923.
• 1923 Placer Mining in Cedar Creek Area, British Columbia; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1922 Part A; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1923; pages 68-81
• 1925 Barkerville Area, Cariboo District, British Columbia; Uglow, W L; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Map , 2046, 1925.
• 1926 Gold Placers of Dease Lake Area, Cassiar District, British Columbia; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1925 Part A; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1926; pages 33-74
• 1931 Winnipeg Sheet, Surface Geology, Manitoba and Saskatchewan; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map , 254A, 1931.
• 1931 Deep Borings in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1931; pages 67-133
• 1931 Deep Borings in the Prairie Provinces; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1931; pages 74-97
• 1931 Ground Water Resources of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Johnston, W A; Wickenden, R T D. Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1931; pages 50-64
• 1932 Gold Occurrences of Canada, Summary Account; Cooke, H C; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Economic Geology Report , 10, 1932; 61 pages
• 1933 Placer and Vein Gold Deposits of Barkerville, Cariboo District, British Columbia; Johnston, W A; Unglow, W L. Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1933; pages 1
• 1933 Deep Borings in the Prairie Provinces; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1932 Part B; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1933; pages 90-94
• 1933 Borings in eastern Canada; Johnston, W A; in, Summary Report 1932 Part D; . Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report , 1933; pages 69-71
• 1948 Surface Deposits, southern Saskatchewan; Johnston, W A; Weir, J D; Wickenden, R T D. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper , 48-18, 1948.
• 1961 Surficial Geology, Plum Coulee Area, West of Principal Meridian, Manitoba; Charron, J E; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Preliminary Map , 30-1960, 1961.
• 1965 Surficial Geology, Winnipeg Area, East of Principal Meridian, Manitoba; Charron, J E; Johnston, W A. Geological Survey of Canada, Preliminary Map , 9-1964, 1965.
• 1973 Norway House and Grand Rapids, Manitoba; Johnston, W A; Ermanovics, I F. Geological Survey of Canada, Preliminary Map , 5-1972, 1973.