Mission & Vision
Advancing Geography Across Canada
Our Commitments & Core Objectives
The Canadian Association of Geographers is dedicated to strengthening the discipline of geography through research dissemination, educational advancement, professional recognition, and national and international collaboration.
Through its publications, academic initiatives, partnerships, and member services, the CAG supports geographers at every stage of their careers while promoting the importance of geography in education, research, and society.
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Dissemination of Geographic Research
Through The Canadian Geographer and the presentation of papers at national and regional meetings, the CAG is committed to the dissemination of geographic research.
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Promotion of Geographic Education at All Levels
Through the CAG Education Committee, individual members’ support of Summer Institutes for Geographic Education, the “Great Canadian Geography Challenge,” and the monitoring of geography at colleges and universities across Canada, the CAG is committed to the promotion of geographic education at all levels.
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Recognition of Geographic Excellence
Through the CAG awards for scholarship, service, contributions to the public and private sector, teaching excellence, and undergraduate scholarship, the CAG is committed to the recognition of geographic excellence.
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Increased Cooperation with Other National and International Geographic Organizations
Through associate membership agreements with l’association professionelle des géographes du Québec, the Association of American Geographers, and the Institute of British Geographers; the Canadian Association of Geographers/Royal Canadian Geographical Society corresponding membership agreement; and membership in the International Geographical Union, the CAG is committed to working with other geographic associations to promote geography as a key discipline in education, research, and the public and private sectors nationally and internationally.
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Increased Participation in National Interdisciplinary Organizations
Through membership in the Humanities and Social Science Federation of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences, the CAG is committed to working with related disciplinary interest groups to promote the importance of scholarship and research in Canada.
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Improved Service to the Membership
Through the CAG Newsletter, the website, the CAG Directory, associate membership agreements, membership in national and international organizations, publishers’ discounts, and the organization of regional and national meetings, the CAG is committed to providing the highest level of service possible to all geographers, whether they are students, teachers, professors, employed in the public or private sector, retired, or non-waged.
Approved by the Executive Committee of the CAG — 1996.
Join the Community
Be Part of the Future of Geography
Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, or professional, the CAG offers opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute.
Our Board Members
Our Board Members
Guiding the direction of the CAG
The Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight for the organization. Comprised of elected officers and representatives from across Canada, the Board reflects the diversity of the geographic community, including scholars, educators, students, and professionals working in public, private, and non-profit sectors.
The Board is responsible for guiding the Association’s mission to advance the study and application of geography, promote research and education, and support a national network of geographers. Through collaboration with committees, regional divisions, and members, the Board ensures that the CAG remains responsive to emerging social, environmental, and scientific challenges.
Key responsibilities of the Board include setting organizational priorities, supporting conferences and initiatives, recognizing excellence in geography, and fostering equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within the discipline
This page is currently being updated as part of our new website launch. Board photos and additional content will be added soon.
Board Executive
Toronto Metropolitan University
University of Waterloo
Luther College, University of Regina
Regional Division Representatives
Saint Mary's University
McGill University
Brandon University
Université du Québec à Montr
University of Victoria
Board Members
Wilfrid Laurier University
University of British Columbia
University of Waterloo
Concordia University
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Université TÉLUQ
University of Waterloo
Thompson Rivers University
Join the Community
Be Part of the Future of Geography
Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, or professional, the CAG offers opportunities to connect, learn, and contribute.
Our History
From our beginnings to today
Our History
The story of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) begins in a time when geography was still a developing discipline in Canada, with only a handful of scholars and institutions recognizing its importance.
Emerging from post-war efforts to strengthen national research and policy, a small group of dedicated geographers gathered in Ottawa in 1950 with a shared vision—to establish a unified organization that would advance the study and application of geography across the country.
Driven by the belief that geographic knowledge was essential to understanding Canada’s vast and complex landscape, these pioneers laid the foundation for what would become a national association. From its formal creation in 1951 at McGill University, the CAG aimed to promote collaboration, support research, and elevate the role of geography in education and public life.
Over the decades, the Association grew alongside the discipline itself—expanding from a small network of academics into a nationwide community of scholars, educators, and students. While it faced challenges in membership and evolving relevance, its contributions to research, education, and the development of geographic thought in Canada remain significant.
Today, the history of the CAG reflects not only the growth of an organization, but also the transformation of geography in Canada—from a niche field into a dynamic and evolving discipline that continues to shape how we understand our world.
History Timeline
Pre-Formation (1940s–1950)
1940s (World War II era)
- Hugh L. Keenleyside recognizes the importance of geography in government and international affairs
- He facilitates hiring of J. Lewis Robinson as one of the first professional geographers in the Canadian federal government.
1947
- Keenleyside becomes Deputy Minister of the Department of Mines and Resources.
- Establishes the Geographical Bureau with support from C. D. Howe.
- Bureau begins operations under Dr. Trevor Lloyd.
1950
- Bureau upgraded to Branch status.
- J. Wreford Watson appointed Director.
- Staff grows to 10 geographers → future founders of CAG.
Formation of CAG (1950–1951)
August 29, 1950
- 9 geographers meet in Ottawa (Elgin Building).
- Decision to create the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG).
- Organizing committee formed (Watson, Gajda, Gutsell, Laurendeau, Nicholson, Reeds, Robinson, Tatham, Zaborski).
Late 1950 – Early 1951
- Outreach to geographers across Canada.
- Planning for inaugural national meeting.
May 30, 1951
- First official meeting held at McGill University.
- Formal establishment of CAG.
- Objectives defined:
- Promote geography in Canada
- Encourage research and education
- Facilitate collaboration
1951–1952 Executive Committee
- Honorary President: Griffith Taylor
- President: Donald F. Putnam
- Vice Presidents: Pierre Dagenais, J. Lewis Robinson
- Secretary-Treasurer: Pierre Camu
Early Development (1950s–1960s)
- Geography still emerging as a discipline in Canada.
Strong centers in Quebec:
- Université de Montréal
- Université Laval
- McGill University
1952
- First national meeting held at Université Laval.
1963
- CAG secretariat moves to McGill University (long-term base).
Challenges & Criticism (1967–1980s)
1967
- Closure of the Geographical Branch (government setback).
Key criticisms of CAG:
- Failed initiatives:
- National wall map project
- Geographic excursions program
- Comprehensive bibliographyPolicy influence on national issues
Despite this:
- Growth continues in academic geography.
Publications & Achievements (1967–1990s)
Major publication success:
- Canada: A Geographical Interpretation (Centennial contribution)
1993–1997
- Launch of major academic series:
- Canadian Geography Series (4 volumes)
50th Anniversary Reflection (2001)
- CAG reaches 50 years.
Reflection by Audrey Kobayashi:
- Shift in geography:
- From discovering facts → to understanding knowledge as socially constructed
- Continued evolution of the discipline
Acknowledgements
The author has made liberal use of the essays collected in Hamelin, L-E., and L. Beauregard (1979) Rétrospective 1951-1976. The Canadian Association of Geographers Directory 2000 compiled and edited by Harun Rasid was also a useful source. And Volume 45, Number 1 (Apring 2001) of The Canadian Geographer should not be missed, especially the introduction by guest-editor and Association President Audrey Kobayashi, “Truly our own: Canadian geography 50 years after/Un symbole national: le Géographe canadien après 50 ans”.
The individual papers in this now-scarce volume are:
- “Objectifs de la réunion” par Louis-Edmond Hamelin
- “The development of the Canadian Association of Geographers 1951-1976” by J. Keith Fraser
- “Geography in Canada 25 years ago” by J. Lewis Robinson
- “On neoclassicism in economic geography theory” by Leslie J. King
- “Épistémologie de la géographie au Canada français” par Ludger Beauregard
- “Le géographe dans la société” par Pierre Camu
- “Geographers and Canadian society” by William Wonders
- “The CAG as seen by its members” by Herbert A. Whitney and Luc Bureau
- “Comments on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the CAG” by Trevor Lloyd
- “Tableau de la géographie québécoise” par Louis Trotier
