TheRoyal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS;French:Société géographique royale du Canada) is a Canadiannonprofit educational organization. It has dedicated itself to spreading a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation ofCanada, including its people, places, natural and cultural heritage, as well as its environmental, social and economic challenges.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society was founded in 1929 by a group of eminent Canadians, includingMarius Barbeau, an ethnographer and folklorist who is today considered a founder of Canadian anthropology, the Hon. A.E. Arsenault,Premier of Prince Edward Island and justice of the province's supreme court,Lawrence J. Burpee, Secretary for Canada of the International Joint Commission,John Wesley Dafoe, managing editor of theWinnipeg Free Press, the Hon.Albert Hudson, a justice of theSupreme Court of Canada, and Dr. O.D. Skelton, Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs.
The Rt. Hon.Viscount Willingdon, Governor-General of Canada, was the founding patron. J.B.Joseph Tyrrell, a geologist and cartographer whose exploits included the discovery ofAlbertosaurus bones in Alberta's Badlands, and making first contact with theIhalmiut ("People from Beyond") of theKeewatin district of Canada'sNorthwest Territories, served as founding Honorary President.Arthur Philemon Coleman, a geologist and explorer who between 1884 and 1908 made eight trips of discovery to theCanadian Rockies, was named Honorary Vice-president.
At its first meeting, Charles Camsell said the society was formed "purely for patriotic purposes", and he hoped it would "be a unifying influence upon the life of Canada."[1] A report by the acting secretary, E.S. Martindale, stated the intention of the founders: "The work of making the resources and other geographic factors of each part of the Dominion more widely known and more clearly understood is one of the best educational services that can be undertaken—and one that cannot be rendered except through a geographic organization animated by a broad national purpose."[2]
Among those who have addressed meetings of the RCGS over the years are Sir Francis Younghusband, Sir Hubert Wilkins, Maj. L.T. Burwash, Dr. Isaiah Bowman, Dr.Wade Davis,Michael Palin, Dr. Phil Currie, and SirChristopher Ondaatje.
The RCGS publishes an award-winning English-language magazine,Canadian Geographic, which has been published continuously since 1930 (then calledCanadian Geographical Journal). The society also publishesCanadian Geographic Travel quarterly. The society's French-language magazine,Géographica, which is published in collaboration withLa Presse, was introduced in 1997.
Alan Beddoe designed thecoat of arms for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and his fonds includes a black and white photograph of the letters patent.[3]
In October 2016, it was announced that the society's new home would be an "iconic" building at50 Sussex Drive in Ottawa.[4] The society moved into its new headquarters in Spring 2018, and it debuted two exhibitions –Explore byChris Cran andLessons From the Arctic: HowRoald Amundsen Won the Race to the South Pole.
In May 2019, theprime minister of Canada,Justin Trudeau, attended the official opening ceremony of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's headquarters at 50 Sussex Drive.[5]
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society helps fund education, expeditions, research and lectures programs. Notably, it was a partner in the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition that located HMSErebus, one of two exploration vesselslost on the British Arctic Expedition led bySir John Franklin.
The society's board of governors and its program committees are made up entirely of volunteers, who are members of the College of Fellows. Traditionally, Fellows were elected "in recognition of outstanding service to Canada."[8] Fellows are entitled to use thepost-nominal lettersFRCGS (Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society).[9]
Past Fellows of the society include eminent names such as:
Besides regular Fellows, the society elects Honorary Fellows, people recognized for special or outstanding achievements. The president, and other members of the executive, are elected by the College of Fellows at the society's annual general meeting.
TheGovernor General of Canada serves as the patron of the society.[10] The society has honorary officers, including honorary presidents and honorary vice-presidents. A volunteer Board of governors, chaired by the president of the board, and an executive committee, provide general oversight.
Day-to-day operations of the society, its programs and business, are provided by itschief executive officer, currentlyJohn G. Geiger. The CEO is also responsible for strategic leadership, in consultation with the board of governors.
1930–1941: Dr.Charles Camsell, geologist in charge of explorations for the Geological Survey of Canada, and commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Oversaw the exploration of the uncharted parts of Canada's North—a vast area covering 1.4 million square kilometres or about 25 percent of the country.
1941–1944: Dr.George J. Desbarats, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries and of National Defence. He was the Canadian official who first learned that explorerVilhjalmur Stefansson was separated from his ship, and that the Karluk was missing in the Arctic ice.
1944–1950: Mr. Charles C. Cowan, vice president and managing director, British American Bank Note Co.; Dir., National Film Board
1950–1955: Air MarshalRobert Leckie, an aviation pioneer and Chief of the Air Staff for the Royal Canadian Air Force. An outstanding fighter pilot during the First World War, he flew attacks on German Zeppelins, and downed two.
1955–1963: Maj.-Gen. Hugh A. Young, commanded the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade at Normandy, and served as Deputy Minister of Public Works. Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1950 to 1953. As head of the advisory committee on Northern Development, in 1953 he studied threats to Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.
1963–1967: Dr.Omond Solandt, scientist and first chairman of both Canada's Defence Research Board and the Science Council of Canada. He was a scientific advisor to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, and later a member of the joint military mission sent to Japan to evaluate the effects of the atomic bomb. He served as Chancellor of the University of Toronto.
1967–1977: Dr.Pierre Camu, geographer and civil servant. Served as president of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority, and later as chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). He is co-founder of the Trans Canada Trail.
1977–1986: Mr.Denis Coolican, served as president of the Canadian Bank Note Company and the first Chair of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. He was also a Vice President of Brascan.
1986–1992: Dr. Alexander T. Davidson, geographer and civil servant. Served as chief of resources for the federal Department of Northern Affairs, and assistant deputy minister of rural development; water; policy, planning and research for Environment Canada; and Parks Canada. He also was chairman of the federal Panel Concerning Low Level Military Flights in Labrador-Goose Bay.
1992–1998: Dr. Denis A. St-Onge, geoscientist with the Geological Survey of Canada. Conducted pioneering research into the evolution of landscape under extreme cold climate on Ellef Ringnes Island in the High Arctic. He is credited with developing a unique method of mapping geomorphology.
1998–2004: Dr. Arthur E. Collin, served as Scientific Advisor for the Maritime Forces (1965) and as the Dominion Hydrographer (1968). From 1971 to 1980 he served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Environment.
2004–2010: Ms. Gisèle Jacob, director general with Environment Canada and Deputy Secretary General for the Canadian Human Rights Commission. She also served as chair of the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
2010–2013: Mr.John G. Geiger, author ofFrozen In Time: The Fate of The Franklin Expedition and other books, former head of the editorial board ofThe Globe and Mail, current chief executive officer of the RCGS.
2013–2016: Dr. Paul Ruest, former president of the Université de Saint-Boniface.
2016–2023: Mr. Gavin Fitch, KC, lawyer.
2023–present: The Hon.Lois Mitchell, businesswoman and former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
1930–1934: J. Mackintosh Bell, geologist, explorer and writer. His field work included pioneer exploration in Arctic Canada for the Geological Survey of Canada. He later became director of theGeological Survey of New Zealand.
1939–1941: Senator W. A. Buchanan, former Member of Parliament and publisher of theLethbridge Herald.
Recognizing a particular achievement by one or more individuals in the general field of geography or a significant national or international event. It was first awarded in 1972.
2014: Canada's Astronauts, including Roberta Bondar, David Saint-Jacques, Marc Garneau, Steve MacLean, Dafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams, Robert Thirsk, Jeremy Hansen, Bjarni Tryggvason and theCanadian Space Agency
The Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, named after gold medal and Camsell Medal recipient SirChristopher Ondaatje, was established in 2013.
The 3M Environmental Innovation Award was established in 2009 by the Society and3M Canada to recognize outstanding individuals in business, government, academia or community organizations whose innovative contributions to environmental change are benefiting Canada and Canadians. The award was discontinued, with the final recipient named in 2015.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society awards the Camsell Medal to bestow recognition upon, and to express the society's appreciation to, individuals who have given outstanding service to the society. The award was established by the society's board of governors in 1992.
Established by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2012, the medal recognizes achievement for "excellence in Arctic leadership and science." It is named in honour ofMartin "Marty" Bergmann, a public servant.
Established by the society in 2013, this medal is awarded to recognize outstanding contribution to the general advancement of geography, or to other achievement that greatly enhances the ability of the society to fulfill its mission.
TheMassey Medal recognizes outstanding personal achievement in the exploration, development or description of the geography of Canada. The award was established in 1959 by the Massey Foundation, named for industrialist Hart Massey.
Established in 2013, the Innovation in Geography Teaching Award is presented to K-12 teachers who have "gone above and beyond their job description to further geographic literacy." Recipients are chosen by the board ofCanadian Geographic Education.
Established in 2018, the medal is named for Louie Kamookak, anInuk historian involved in the search forFranklin's lost expedition, and is awarded for those who have "been brought to the attention of the Executive Committee, Awards Committee, or to the CEO, as having made Canada’s geography better known to Canadians and to the world".
Canadian Geographic Education—formerly the Canadian Council for Geographic Education (CCGE)—is a joint initiative of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and theNational Geographic Society of Washington, D.C., established in 1993. The programs of the Can Geo Education aim to strengthen geographic education in the classroom. In addition to increasing the emphasis on geography within the school system, the Can Geo Education endeavours to increase the public awareness of the importance of geographical literacy.
In front of a Canada goose wings elevated and displayed the northern hemisphere of a terrestrial globe all Proper.
Escutcheon
Azure an annulet Or surmounted of a compass rose of eight points Argent charged in the centre with a maple leaf slipped Gules on a canton also Argent a representation of the Royal Crown Proper.
Supporters
On a grassy mound on either side a malamute sled-dog Proper.
