Health and Health Care Study Group
About the Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group
The Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group, also known as GHHCSG, brings together CAG members and researchers with shared interests in health geography, health care systems, health equity, access to care, and the spatial dimensions of health and wellbeing.
The group facilitates the exchange of ideas, information, and opportunities among researchers, students, and practitioners working in this field. Members are kept up to date on conference, employment, research, and networking opportunities through informal communications, an email distribution list, and group updates.
Welcome to GHHCSG
Welcome to the Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group of the Canadian Association of Geographers. GHHCSG supports connection and conversation among members whose work explores the relationship between geography, health, wellbeing, health care access, and health systems.
The group provides a space for researchers, students, and practitioners to share opportunities, exchange ideas, and stay connected with others working across health geography and related fields.
Purpose
The purpose of GHHCSG is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information among researchers interested in health geography and health care issues. Through informal communications and member updates, the group helps circulate relevant conference, employment, research, and student opportunities.
Student Support
GHHCSG also supports student engagement through its Student Award, which recognizes emerging scholarship and encourages student participation within the CAG community.
Reports and Communications
GHHCSG shares updates, opportunities, and group communications with members through its informal email distribution list and web page.
Use this section to access available reports, communiqués, and archived communications from the Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group.
Awards
The Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group Student Award recognizes student contributions to health geography and health care research. The award supports emerging scholars whose work contributes to conversations around health, place, access, equity, and care.
Recent Recipients
2024
Keely Stenberg
Rodrigo Curty Pereira
Button suggestion:
View Student Award Details
Leadership & Contact Information
To learn more about the Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group, join the email distribution list, or share relevant opportunities with members, please contact the current group leadership.
Executives:
Chair – Andrea Rishworth
Secretary – Emily Shantz
Social/Communications – Abraham Marshall Nunbogu
Student Representative – Cynthia Itbo Musah
General Contact
Join the Community
Get Involved with GHHCSG
Interested in health geography, health care access, health equity, or the spatial dimensions of wellbeing? CAG members are invited to connect with the Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group, participate in group communications, and stay informed about opportunities in the field.
Become a CAG member to take part in GHHCSG and connect with others working across health geography and health care research in Canada.
Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group (FIGS)
Study Group
Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group (FIGS)
About FIGS
FIGS brings together CAG members interested in feminist, intersectional, and equity-focused geographies.
The group supports student participation, newsletter contributions, conference sessions, awards, lectures, and other community activities.
Use the sections on this page to access FIGS newsletters, reports, student awards, the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture Series, and archival materials from FIGS and CWAG.
Welcome to FIGS
The Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group supports conversations, research, mentorship, and community-building around feminist and intersectional geographies within the Canadian Association of Geographers.
Through newsletters, awards, lectures, conference activities, archives, and student engagement, FIGS provides space for members to connect around issues of gender, equity, access, and social justice in geography.
Get Involved
FIGS welcomes participation from students, faculty, researchers, practitioners, and community members whose work or interests connect with feminist, intersectional, and equity-focused geographies.
Members are encouraged to contribute news, updates, resources, announcements, and reflections for future FIGS newsletters.
FIGS Zine
The FIGS Zine provides a space for creative contributions, reflections, resources, and community updates from members of the Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group.
Use this section to access the latest FIGS Zine and related materials.
The “Second Dose, A Feminist Call For Anything” and our second Zine is now available! Download the PDF or view our interactive flip book version.
In the spring of 2020, FIGS put out a “call for anything” in response to continued academic and other pressures to remain productive in the face of a global pandemic. Quaranzine is a feminist response to that pressure, and a site for solidarity in these difficult times. We hope you enjoy it!
FIGS Newsletters
The FIGS newsletter shares updates, announcements, resources, member news, and contributions from the FIGS community.
Next Newsletter Seeking Submissions
The FIGS newsletter is published at least twice a year. Members are invited to send news, contributions, links, resources, congratulations, heartwarming stories, and other items that may be relevant to the FIGS community.
Please send submissions to figscag@gmail.com with the subject line “Newsletter.”
Contributions are welcome in both French and English.
Newsletter Archive
Newsletter archives will be added soon!
FIGS Student Paper Award
The FIGS Student Paper Award recognizes student work that contributes to feminist, intersectional, and equity-focused conversations within geography.
FIGS Student Paper Award Winners
2024 Wiley Sharp, University of Toronto
2024 Mikayla Lochbihler, Carleton University
2023 Emma Melis, McGill University
2023 Wajiha Mehdi, University of British Columbia
2022 Jessica Froese, University of Northern British Columbia
2022 Sophie Rowson, York University
2021 Shruti Raji Kalyanaraman, York University
2021 Lila Mansour, University of Northern British Columbia
2020 Bryanne Lamoureux, University of Winnipeg
2019 Julie Han, Simon Fraser University
2019 Hanieh Haji Molana, Kent State University
2019 Alex Perna, Brock University
Canadian Women and Geography Study Group Student Paper Award
2015 Christine Alic, Brock University
2013 Reiko Obokata, University of Ottawa
2012 Laurence Simard-Gagnon, Université Laval, Québec
The Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Fund
The Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Fund was established in memory of Suzanne Mackenzie, a much-loved member of the geographic community in Canada and internationally. Suzanne is remembered for her courage, generosity, humour, deep sense of justice, commitment to feminism, and care for friends, family, students, and colleagues.
Every second year, the Fund supports the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture and Reception, held during the CAG Annual Meeting. The lecture honours Suzanne’s contributions to feminist geography by inviting a speaker whose work reflects her interests, passions, and lasting influence within the discipline.
The Fund also helps cover reception costs and partial travel expenses for the invited speaker, where required.
To make a donation to the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Fund, please visit our Charitable Funds page.
Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture Series
Every second year, the Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group is honoured to sponsor the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture.
The lecture recognizes Suzanne Mackenzie’s contributions to feminist geography and provides an opportunity to highlight important scholarship connected to gender, equity, social justice, and geographic thought.
Dr. Sharlene Mollet (2023)
Dr. Sharlene Mollett is a professor in the Department of Human Geography and Global Development Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture, “Racial Geographies of Land and Domestic Service in Panama,” at the CAG Annual Meeting in Montréal in 2023.
Dr. Beverly Mullings (2021)
Dr. Beverley Mullings is a professor in Geography and Planning and Women’s Studies at Queen’s University. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture, “Beyond the Dark Side of Resilience,” during the online CAG Annual Meeting hosted by UNBC in 2021.
Dr. Margo Greenwood and Ms. Linda Sioux (2018)
Dr. Margo Greenwood and Ms. Linda Sioux were the 2018 Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture nominees. Their lecture was delivered in Québec City and continued the series’ focus on feminist, intersectional, and justice-oriented geographic scholarship.
Dr. Sarah de Leeuw (2016)
Dr. Sarah de Leeuw is an associate professor at the University of Northern British Columbia. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture in 2016 at Dalhousie University, sharing work connected to feminist geography, colonial relations, and critical place-based scholarship.
Dr. Linda Peake (2014)
Dr. Linda Peake is a professor at York University in the Department of Social Science. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture, “Rethinking Feminist Urbanism into Geography,” at Brock University in 2014.
Dr. Audrey Kobayashi (2012)
Dr. Audrey Kobayashi is a professor of Geography at Queen’s University. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture, “Coming to the Intersection: Impossible Conversations on Race and Gender along the Road,” at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2012.
Dr. Catherine Nolin
Dr. Linda Peake is a professor at York University in the Department of Social Science. She delivered the Suzanne Mackenzie Memorial Lecture, “Rethinking Feminist Urbanism into Geography,” at Brock University in 2014.
Previous Lectures
2008
Dr. Damaris Rose
Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
Refractions and recombinations of the ‘economic’ and the ‘social’: A personalized reflection on challenges by—and to—feminist urban geographies
delivered at Université Laval
2006
Dr. Maureen Reed
University of Saskatchewan
Seeking red herrings in the wood: Tending the shared spaces of environmental and feminist geographies
delivered at Lakehead University
2004
Dr. Isabel Dyck
University of British Columbia, at the time
Feminist geography, the ‘everyday’, and local–global relations: Hidden spaces of place-making
delivered at Moncton, NB
2002
Dr. Evelyn Peters
University of Saskatchewan
Conceptually unclad: Feminist geography and Aboriginal peoples
delivered at the University of Toronto
2000
Dr. Jennifer Hyndman
Simon Fraser University, at the time
Towards a feminist geopolitics
delivered at Brock University
Who is Suzanne Mackenzie?
Suzanne Mackenzie was a much beloved member of the geographical community, both in Canada and around the world. A pioneer in feminist urban geography, she contributed actively to discussions and research about women and geography and continues to be remembered for her courage, her commitment to feminism, her deep sense of caring for friends, family and students, her sense of justice and her irrepressible humour. These characteristics were all bound up in a generous spirit. She died on October 24, 1998 in her home in Nelson, B.C., at the age of 48. (Please see "Tributes to Suzanne Mackenzie", Gender, Place and Culture 6 (4), 2009: 401–415; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713668837.)
Sample of Suzanne's early Women & Environments teaching material, McGill University, 1980 (pdf)
From the FIGS/CWAG archives
The Status of Women in Geography by Suzanne Mackenzie, 1989.
Provided by Damaris Rose
Women and The Reproduction of Labour Power in The Industrial City by Suzanne Mackenzie, 1980 – in 2 parts
Description of the Working paper
Part 1 Part 2
Become Part of the FIGS Community
Interested in feminist, intersectional, and equity-focused geographies? FIGS welcomes CAG members who want to connect, contribute, and take part in conversations, initiatives, newsletters, awards, lectures, and events that support this work within the discipline.
Become a CAG member to get involved with FIGS, contribute to future newsletters, participate in study group activities, and connect with others working across feminist and intersectional geographies.
GIScience Study Group
Study Group
GIScience Study Group
About the GIScience Study Group
The GIScience Study Group, also known as GIS-SIG, brings together CAG members with interests in GIScience, GIS applications, geomatics, spatial data, and related technologies in Canada.
The group fosters collaboration, supports student training and academic excellence, and provides opportunities for student members through travel grants, awards, mentorship, and community activities.
Welcome to GIS
Welcome to the GIScience Study Group of the Canadian Association of Geographers. GIS-SIG supports CAG members whose work, research, teaching, or professional interests connect with GIScience and related spatial technologies.
The group aims to build a collaborative community for members interested in GIS, geomatics, spatial analysis, geospatial education, and the role of spatial data in geographic research and practice.
Goals
The GIScience Study Group supports work and conversation around:
- GIScience and GIS applications research
- Model curricula and educational tools with Canadian content
- Spatial data access, including free or at-cost distribution
- Innovative techniques for collecting and sharing spatial data
- Education in GIS, geomatics, and related technologies
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between geographers and others working with GIS
Student Support
GIS-SIG provides support for student members through awards, travel grants, mentorship opportunities, and conference-related activities. The group encourages student participation and connection within the wider CAG community.
GIScience Awards
The GIScience Study Group recognizes and supports student members through awards and travel grants. These awards help encourage student participation in CAG activities and support emerging scholars working in GIScience, geomatics, spatial technologies, and related areas of geographic research.
Award Recipients
2025
- Florent Amat
- Mohsen Ansari
- Lewis Blagogie
- Cameron Brubacher
- Kyle Dery
- Stella Harden
- Jayda Hylton-Pelaia
- Fahime Karami
- Nadia Keshmiri
- Bright Kwakye
- Nkosinothando Mhlanga
- Ebenezer Narh
- Gaspard Octeus
- Tejumade Ojo
- Reforce Okwei
- Shweta Parajuli
- Greeshma Prakash Sherly
- Saeideh Sahebivayghan
- Emory Shaw
- Elyia Willyono
- Ben Woodward
- Yihang Zhang
2024
- Silas Asante
- Urbanus Azupogo
- Amanda Bishop
- Cameron Brubacher
- Simone Cominelli
- Hawjin Falahatkar
- Raphaelle Frechon
- Miranda Frison
- Jayda Hylton-Peleia
- Barbara Kerr
- Nadia Keshmiri
- Philip Lynch
- Ebenezer Narh
- Reforce Okwei
- Saeideh Sahebivayghan
- Paul Walter
- Ben Woodward
- Yihang Zhang
2023
- Florent Amat
- Amanda Bishop
- Elle Buckvold
- Alysha van Duynhoven
- Haoxuan Ge
- Alyshan Mammadzda
- Ebenezer Narh
- Riley Scanlan
News & Updates
Stay up to date with GIS-SIG announcements, student opportunities, conference activities, mentorship initiatives, and events related to GIScience and geospatial research.
Archived News: GIS Days 2025
On behalf of GIS Student Executive, Ben Woodward
I wanted to make you all aware of two student-focused GIS conferences that are quickly approaching.
The first is Esri Canada’s GIS in Education and Research Conference (https://hed.esri.ca/gisconference/), which will be taking place on October 16th at the University in Toronto. While the call for papers for this conference has closed, individuals may still register to attend this in-person conference (https://events.esri.ca/CF-25OCT16-TORONTO-GISinEducationResearch). Additionally, and new this year, the Education and Research Conference is accepting submissions for a Map Gallery. Accepted submission formats include paper maps, posters, Dashboards, and Story Maps. Submissions must be made to this form (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/4f4c5aa7bb8b4acf844203672ff98252) by no later than October 6th. A full list of guidelines is attached here, and you do not need to be attending the conference to make a Map Gallery submission.
The second is Western University’s GIS Days event (https://gisdays-westernu.hub.arcgis.com/), which will be taking place mostly online from November 17th to November 19th. Western GIS Days is currently accepting Lightning Talks, Demonstrations, Tutorials, and Map Gallery submissions. Individuals from all universities or organizations are welcome to submit a presentation for the online portion of the event here (https://gisdays-westernu.hub.arcgis.com/feedback/surveys/e8a7763664aa4141bc07abe048a1f9bc/explore) by no later than October 10th.
Additionally, in person GIS day events with opportunities to present will be taking place at Brock University, the University of Manitoba, Western University, the University of Waterloo, and likely other universities. As members of the Canadian GIS community, we encourage you to attend and support these events!
If you have an GIS day event to add, please email us at Ben Woodward
bwoodward@uwaterloo.ca and Victoria Fast victoria.fast@ucalgary.ca so we can share with our members and update the list on our website.
Leadership & Contact Information
To learn more about the GIScience Study Group, please contact the current group leadership.
Executives:
Chair – Victoria Fast
Vice Chair – Liliana Perez
Treasurer – Grant McKenzie
Student Councillor – Sophia Jewell
Student CouncillorJaymie Fletcher
Student CouncillorSam Mason
General Contact
RECENT INITIATIVE
Call for Geospatial Fellows and Mentors
The CAG GIS Study Group is inviting applications for up to five (5) Geospatial Fellows and recruiting 10+ Mentors for a half-day, in-person mentorship workshop and roundtable clinic at CAG 2026 (University of Victoria) on June 1, 2026 (afternoon).
- Geospatial Fellows (senior honours UG, MSc/PhD, postdoc, early career) will present a project-in-progress and receive structured feedback from Mentors and peers. Fellows receive a $400 presenter honorarium (issued after participation).
- Deadline to apply as a Fellow: Friday, March 6, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific)
- Mentors (faculty, senior researchers, practitioners, and advanced PhDs/postdocs with strong methods expertise) are invited to join facilitated discussions and/or host a themed clinic roundtable.
- Deadline to register as a Mentor: Friday, May 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific)
Join the Community
Get Involved with GIS-SIG
Interested in GIScience, geomatics, spatial technologies, or geospatial research? CAG members are invited to connect with the GIScience Study Group, participate in study group activities, support student initiatives, and contribute to future news and events.Become a CAG member to take part in GIS-SIG and connect with others working across GIScience and geography in Canada.
Study Groups
Research & Collaboration
Study Groups
Connecting Geographers Through Shared Research Interests
Specialized Study Groups
The Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Study Groups provide members with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas within specialized areas of geography.
These groups bring together students, researchers, educators, and professionals who share common academic, research, and professional interests across a wide range of geographic topics.
Study Groups help foster scholarly discussion, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and encourage networking among members from across Canada and beyond. Many groups also organize special sessions, workshops, meetings, and presentations during the annual CAG conference, creating valuable opportunities for professional development and knowledge sharing.
Through active participation in Study Groups, members can engage with emerging research, contribute to important geographic conversations, and strengthen connections within Canada’s geography community.
CAG Study Groups cover diverse themes including urban geography, GIScience, environmental studies, feminist geographies, economic geography, rural geography, health geography, Indigenous geographies, and many other specialized fields within the discipline.
1. Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group (FIGS)
FIGS aims to provide a forum for people interested in issues of access, equity, and the well-being of women in geography and for those whose research is linked to questions of gender as they relate to relations of class, race/ethnicity, sexuality, nation/ality, and ability. FIGS particularly encourages student membership and participation in FIGS activities, including conference sessions, social events, newsletter contributions, and other opportunities.
Chair: Robin Westland, rwestland@tru.ca
2. Environment and Resources Study Group
The mission of the Environment and Resources Study Group is to promote effective environmental and resource management in Canada and abroad. Through regular meetings and newsletters, the study group serves as a forum for the exchange of expertise, information, and opinion between academics and practitioners on current issues of environmental and resource management.
Chairs: positions current vacant
3. Tourism and Recreation Study Group
The purpose of this group is to provide an opportunity for members to connect their research, work and/or learning pursuits in tourism, recreation and parks with other geographers across Canada. The study group hosts newsletters, conference sessions, and annual meetings while encouraging new and returning members to participate.
Chair: Chris Fullerton, chris.fullerton@brocku.ca
4. Economic Geography Study Group
The Economic Geography Study Group brings together geographers interested in the relationships between economy and society across different geographic scales. Topics include industrial restructuring, labour geographies, social polarization, institutional geographies, and globalization.
Chair: Patrick Brouder, pbrouder@tru.ca
5. Marine Studies and Coastal Zone Management Study Group
This study group promotes the study of oceans, marine environments, and coastal zones, encouraging collaboration and discussion among researchers and professionals interested in marine and coastal geography.
6. Health and Health Care Study Group
The Geographies of Health and Health Care Study Group (GHHCSG) facilitates the exchange of ideas and information among researchers interested in health geography issues, including conference opportunities, research initiatives, and professional collaboration.
Chair: Jenna Dixon, jenna.dixon@ubc.ca
Vice-Chair: Andrea Rishworth, andrea.rishworth@utoronto.ca
7. Indigenous Peoples Working Group
The Indigenous Peoples Working Group supports geographic research involving Indigenous peoples within and beyond Canada. The group promotes collaboration, scholarly exchange, and student engagement in Indigenous geographic research and related studies.
Co-chair: Deondre Smiles, geographicindigenousfutures@gmail.com
Co-chair: Vacant
8. Rural Geography Study Group
The Rural Geography Study Group supports research and discussion related to rural communities, landscapes, and development. The group has organized well-attended special sessions at recent CAG meetings and continues to encourage scholarly collaboration.
Co-chair: Nathalie Gravel, Nathalie.Gravel@ggr.ulaval.ca
Co-chair: Ryan Gibson, gibsonr@uoguelph.ca
9. Canadian Geomorphology Research Group (CGRG)
Established in 1993, the CGRG provides a strong voice for geomorphology research in Canada and supports collaboration among researchers and professionals across the country and internationally.
President: Jan Franssen, cgrg.gcrg@gmail.com
10. Public Policy Issues Study Group
This group focused on geographical aspects of public policy, including economic, environmental, social, and urban policy.
Note: The group was officially dissolved in 2017.
11. Geographic Information Science Study Group (GIS-SIG)
The GIScience Study Group supports collaboration, academic excellence, and student training in Geographic Information Science across Canada, while also offering travel grants and awards for student members.
Chair: Victoria Fast, victoria.fast@ucalgary.ca
12. Geographies of Asia Study Group
This group supports and encourages the study of Asia within the Canadian geographic community by facilitating research sharing, networking opportunities, and conference participation among members and graduate students.
Chair: Tom Waldichuk twaldichuk@tru.ca
13. Geographic Education Study Group
The Geographic Education Study Group promotes geographic education and geographic literacy at all levels while supporting research, collaboration, and educational initiatives beneficial to CAG members and educators across Canada.
Co-chair: Kelley McClinchey, kmcclinchey@wlu.ca
Co-chair: Chantal Déry, chantal.dery@uqo.ca
14. Diversity, Migration, Ethnicity and Race Study Group
This group provides a forum for discussions related to social diversity, migration, ethnicity, race, gender, and class. The group promotes collaboration, research sharing, and graduate student engagement within these fields.
Chair: Sutama Ghosh, sutama@torontomu.ca
15. Historical Geography Study Group
The Historical Geography Study Group promotes excellence in historical geography research, teaching, and scholarly exchange while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration within the academic community.
Chair: Matt Dyce, m.dyce@uwinnipeg.ca
16. Urban Geography Study Group
The Urban Geography Study Group creates a forum for researchers interested in urban geography, urban culture, urban development, planning, policy, globalization, and cities in Canada and around the world.
Chair: Evan Cleave, evan.cleave@torontomu.ca
