About The Royal Canadian Geographical Society

John Geiger
President
John Geiger is Editorial Board Editor for The Globe and Mail, and a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto. Born in Ithaca, New York, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Alberta. Mr. Geiger is the author of five books of non-fiction, including the international bestseller Frozen In Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition. His latest book, The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible, has been published in 14 countries. His documentary, The Angel Effect, was broadcast on National Geographic’s Explorer in 2011. Other television appearances include PBS NOVA and Channel 4 in Arctic Passage, and BBC4 in Wilderness Explored: Arctic. Mr. Geiger has lectured widely, including presenting talks at the Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine/University of London in the United Kingdom; the Royal Ontario Museum; the Edinburgh International Book Festival; the Vancouver Maritime Museum; the Explorers Club, New York and the National Arts Club. He was a presenter at the 2009 ideaCity conference in Toronto, the 2010 Bristol Festival of Ideas and Sonic Acts 2012 in Amsterdam. He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Golden Jubilee medals and the Stefansson Medal from the New York-based Explorers Club.

Bruce Amos
Vice-President
Bruce Amos is Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Chair of the Management Board of Canadian Geographic Enterprises. He is also chair of the Canadian Geographic Names Board. Most of his career was spent with Parks Canada, including 3 years as Director-General of National Parks. For many years, Bruce was responsible for the establishment of new national parks and marine conservation areas across Canada, often via land claims agreements with aboriginal peoples. He has been involved in international conservation activities through UNESCO and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas. He graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Applied Science, proceeding to complete his Master of Philosophy at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Mr. Amos currently operates his own photography business, selling his work on a number of stock photography websites as well as from his own website at www.bruceamos.com. His photographic interests include landscapes, architecture, textures and abstracts.

Gavin Fitch
Vice-president
Gavin Fitch practices in the areas of environmental and energy regulatory law at McLennan Ross LLP in Calgary. He represents clients before administrative tribunals such as the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), the National Energy Board, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board, the Surface Rights Board and the Land Compensation Board. Mr. Fitch has extensive experience acting in environmental approval and energy permitting processes for oil and gas facilities, mining projects and electric power facilities. He also has expertise in the field of aboriginal law, including the duty to consult, land claims, expropriation, and surface rights. Mr. Fitch has been widely recognized for his achievements within his field, awarded the title of Calgary Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers 2012 and recognized in the area of Environmental Law by Who's Who Legal - Canada. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alberta, his master’s degree in communications at Syracuse University and his law degree at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Paul R. Ruest
Vice-President
Dr. Paul Ruest has worked in the field of education for more than 30 years as a public school teacher, school principal, school superintendent and university president. He holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and his publications have been mostly in the fields of educational administration and language learning. He has co-authored a novel, Le pensionnaire, and a play, Les manigances d’une bru, and been a guest speaker at numerous conferences. Dr. Ruest is a recipient of the Governor General’s 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal for his outstanding contribution to education. He was awarded the médaille d’or de la Renaissance by the president of France for his contribution to the French language and culture. He is a chevalier de l’Ordre des palmes académiques and has been admitted to l’Ordre du Conseil de la vie française en Amérique. He is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canada. Dr. Ruest is president and CEO of PJR Action, a private consulting firm specializing in education, health and public policy.

Beth Dye
Secretary
Beth Dye is a geography educator with 26 years of teaching experience at the secondary level with the British Columbia and Ontario jurisdictions. She served as the National Chair for the Canadian Council for Geographic Education (CCGE) from 2004 to 2010. Ms. Dye is currently the Chair of the Great Canadian Geography Challenge, having been appointed to this position in 2002. As Chair of the CCGE, Ms. Dye has accompanied Canadian teams to four National Geographic World Challenges, where the Canadian team has won Bronze twice, Silver once and Gold in 2009 in Mexico City. She will be accompanying the team to the next world challenges in the summer of 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has been active in education initiatives and professional development throughout her career, including serving on various committees for curriculum and exam development and taking students on field trips to locations throughout Canada and Europe. In 2004, Ms. Dye received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s 75th Anniversary Medallion for Volunteer Service. In 2000, she received the Nystrom Innovation and Social Studies Education Award. Most recently, Ms. Dye was nominated to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Ms. Dye received her Master of Education degree from Simon Fraser University in 2004.

Keith Exelby
Treasurer
Keith Exelby is currently a senior business advisor with MDS Aero Support Corporation, an Ottawa-based supplier of test facilities for gas turbine engines. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, having extensive knowledge in the areas of commercial banking, risk management and business analysis. Mr. Exelby is the chairman and treasurer of Canadian Environmental Test Research and Education Centre, “EnviroTrec,” a not-for-profit organization that is partnered with other businesses to stimulate and perform research and technology development for aviation and gas turbine operations. Mr. Exelby also serves as Treasurer of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and sits on the management board of Canadian Geographic Enterprises, the publisher of the Canadian Geographic magazine. His career started with Lombard Banking in the U.K. Prior to his retirement from HSBC Banking Group in 2008, Mr. Exelby held the position of Vice President and Manager in Ottawa. He was educated in the United Kingdom and has a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from Swansea College.

Gisèle Jacob
Gisèle Jacob was President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society from 2005 to 2010. She spent most of her career in the federal public service. When she retired, she was a Deputy Secretary General at the Canadian Human Right Commission. Most of her career was spent at the Ministry of Environment in various executive positions, her latest being Director General, Program Integration in the Environmental Protection Service. Ms. Jacob was also on loan for four years as Vice President, Public Affairs at the Mining Association of Canada. After retiring, she was named Chair of the Geographical Names Board of Canada, a position she held for 10 years. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at the Université de Montréal, proceeding to pursue economics and business administration courses at Dalhousie University.

Dr. W. Peter Adams
Dr. Peter Adams is the founder of the Department of Geography at Trent University. He was chair of the Department from 1968 to 1977 and remained a professor while also serving as Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Dean of Science and Associate Vice President from 1977 to 1987. Adams was also the executive director of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies. He was elected MPP for Peterborough from 1987 to 1990, and was elected to the House of Commons in 1993 where he served as a Member of Parliament until 2006. Dr. Adams has published numerous articles on the Canadian Arctic, on the environment and other geographical topics, and has written and co-authored several books. Actively involved in promoting health issues, sports and athletics, Dr. Adams chaired the Sport, Recreation and Wellness for All campaign at Trent University and is a Board Member of Casa De Angelae, a home for intellectually challenged women. He received an honorary degree from Trent University in 2010. Most recently, Dr. Adams was the recipient of the Order of Ontario.

Allen B. Clarke
Allen Clarke is a consultant on matters of corporate governance and the design implementation and marketing of financial products. He is a member of independent review committees for the Bank of Montreal, Ridgewood Capital Asset Management and Enervest/Canoe. Prior to this, Mr. Clarke has held senior management positions in the financial services industry, including at Opus 2 Financial, AGF Funds, Richardson Greenshields, Central Guaranty Trust and McLeod Young & Weir. Mr. Clarke has been an Honorary Trustee of the Royal Ontario Museum since 2001. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at Minnesota State University, received his master’s degree from Carleton University and completed executive courses from the Wharton School of Business.

Dr. Jody Decker
Dr. Jody Decker is an associate professor in geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. She teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses around the themes of geography of health and place, transmission of infectious diseases and landscape and identities. She is a former reviews editor for the Canadian Geographer and recent winner of the Canadian Geographer's award for teaching excellence in Canada. She has been a member and, since 2009, director of the Grants Review Committee and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society for many years. She is currently a board member of the Heritage Planning Advisory Committee for Waterloo Region, one of the associate directors of the Heritage Resources Center at the University of Waterloo and a recent winner of the Heritage Award of Excellence for the Region of Waterloo. Dr. Decker was a registered nurse until 1991. She earned her Ph.D. at York University in 1989 and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medical Geography at Queen’s University in 1992.

Joanne DiCosimo Joanne DiCosimo served as President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Nature for 13 years, retiring in 2010. A museum professional for 32 years, Ms. DiCosimo is credited with transforming the Canadian Museum of Nature into a national museum of natural science for the 21st century. Ms. DiCosimo joined the CMN after nine years as Executive Director of the Manitoba Museum. While there, she negotiated the gift of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s artifact collection to the Manitoba Museum, ensuring the national treasure would continue to be preserved and accessible to the people of Canada. She helped found the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada in 2004, a network of 16 natural history museums, zoos and aquariums that work in concert to preserve and interpret the natural worlds and to educate and inspire people about Canada’s natural environment. Ms. DiCosimo grew up on the north basin of Lake Winnipegosis and is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg and Harvard University. In 2008, she was named a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association, the highest recognition for a museum professional in Canada. She is a recipient of the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the Prix Manitoba Heritage Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals for service to Canadian culture and heritage.

Dr. Alison M. Gill
Dr. Alison Gill is a professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., with a joint appointment in the Department of Geography and the School of Resource and Environmental Management. Dr. Gill holds geography degrees from Hull University, U.K. (BA); University of Alberta (MA) and University of Manitoba (Ph.D.). Dr. Gill’s research has for many years focused on issues of growth and change and related policy and planning issues, especially in the context of mountain resort communities. Institutional arrangements and the politics of place are important theoretical constructs underpinning much of her work on tourism and the transformation of place. Dr. Gill recently served as the President of the Canadian Association of Geographers and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. She has also served terms as Chair of the Department of Geography at Simon Fraser University and as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She serves on the editorial boards for a number of academic journals, including: Tourism Geographies, Journal of Travel Research, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research and the Annals of Tourism Research. Dr. Gill has published over 70 academic articles and book chapters.

Lt. Col. Brian Hodgson
Lt.- Col. Hodgson is the Sergeant at Arms and Director of Visitor, Ceremonial and Security Services with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Following active service in the British Army’s Gordon Highlanders, he had a long and varied career in the Canadian Army Reserves, serving latterly as a Deputy for the Commander’s Advisory Group, Combined Forces Command in Afghanistan, an assistant chief of staff, 41st Canadian Brigade Group and as Commanding Officer, South Alberta Light Horse (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps). From 1986 to 1992 Mr. Hodgson was Intelligence Officer in the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service. His community leadership has seen his involvement on the Edmonton boards of the Salvation Army, CARE Canada, Capital Health Foundation, Royal Commonwealth Society, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum, Canada West Military Museum Society, Nancy Fairley Scholarship Committee, Sir Winston Churchill Society and the Edmonton Police Foundation. His contributions have been recognized with the awards of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelors of Arts, majoring in history and political science.

Jim Lewis
Jim Lewis joined the board of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in November 2010. He is owner, President and Managing Consultant of Lewis Communications Inc., a Manitoba-based public communications company he founded in 1988, providing communication services for leading national, international and Manitoba-based companies, Crown corporations, governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Lewis currently serves as Vice President of Literacy Partners of Manitoba supporting efforts to improve literacy and essential skills in Manitoba, and raise awareness of the importance of those skills. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and training in marketing, communications theory and media relations. He has also taught public communication courses at the University of Winnipeg and speaks on communications topics to business, academic and not-for-profit organizations.

David Mitchell
Ottawa, Ontario David Mitchell is President and CEO of the Public Policy Forum in Ottawa, Ontario. The Forum is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the quality of government in Canada through multi-sectoral dialogue and research on governance and public service. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Mitchell has served as Vice President at three Canadian universities: Queen’s University, the University of Ottawa and Simon Fraser University. He has held senior positions in both the public and private sectors. Serving as a member of the British Columbia Legislature from 1991 to 1996, Mr. Mitchell oversaw a broad range of issues including parliamentary reform and advanced education. In the private sector, he has held executive positions within Canadian resource industries. Mr. Mitchell holds a master’s degree in Canadian and American history from Simon Fraser University. He is a regular contributor to several magazines and newspapers and serves as a frequent public affairs commentator on television and radio.

Jim S. Murray
Montréal, Québec Jim Murray is retired after a lifetime spent working in the shipping industry. He served as Vice President of Fednav Limited, whose ships traded to the High Arctic, allowing Mr. Murray to make unforgettable visits to Nanisivik, Resolute, Little Cornwallis Island, Grise Fjord, Axel Heiberg Island and Eureka in Nunavut. Mr. Murray’s past leadership roles in the shipping industry include the position of Director at Denholm Ship Management Ltd. He served as a lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry from 1950 to 1952. Mr. Murray has been the Chairman of multiple organizations, including the Maritime Employers Association, Liberian Shipowners Council and the St. Lawrence Valley Natural History Society. Mr. Murray was educated at Glasgow Academy in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Robert J. D. Page
Dr. Robert Page is the TransAlta Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability at the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy at the University of Calgary. Dr. Page is also an Adjunct Professor at the Haskayne School of Business. He is known at home and abroad for his work in areas of environmental risk management, climate change policy and regulations, carbon capture and storage, international environmental standards and energy systems. In addition to his position with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Dr. Page holds an executive position with Enmax Corporation, serves on the Management Committee with the International Environmental Standards in Geneva and is a board member of both Pollution Probe in Toronto and the Canadian Water Network at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Page is Former Chair of the Board for the International Emission Trading Association in Geneva and a Past Chair for the National Round Table on Environment and Economy. Previous to his position at the University of Calgary, Dr. Page served as the Vice President of Sustainable Development at TransAlta Corporation in Calgary.

Dr. André G. Roy
Dr. André Roy serves as the Dean for the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Roy is a highly respected leader, administrator, teacher and an internationally recognized scholar. Before being appointed in 2011, Dr. Roy was a professor at Université de Montréal, serving as both the head and interim head of the Department of Geography as well as Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He has been a visiting professor or research fellow in many institutions, including Emmanuel College at Cambridge University and the Department of Geography at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. Between 2003 and 2011, he held the Canada Research Chair in Fluvial Dynamics. In 2008, Dr. Roy received an award for academic distinction for his scholarly contribution in geography by the Canadian Association of Geographers. His research has been published on a wide range of topics, including geomorphology and hydrological processes. Dr. Roy completed a master’s degree in geography from the Université de Montréal, proceeding to complete his Ph.D. from the State University of New York in 1982.

Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson is the Executive Liaison to Canadian Geographic Education. He serves on both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Annual Fellow Dinner and Nominating committees. Mr. Wilson is retired from a career in education, having worked in Canada, the United States and Nigeria. He is currently the Director at both the Ontario Trillium Foundation, one of the largest granting foundations in Canada, and the Ottawa Sports Awards, the country’s largest amateur athlete recognition program. Mr. Wilson is a consultant with the 2015 Canadian Little League Baseball Championships, the first ever to be held in Ottawa. He received the Special Recognition Award in 2011 from the Premier of Ontario for over 40 years dedicated to community service. Mr. Wilson is actively involved in returning professional baseball to Ottawa and working on an advisory committee for a new City of Ottawa recreation complex. He is a former two-term member of the City of Nepean Parks and Recreation Committee.

Connie Wyatt Anderson
Connie Wyatt Anderson has been teaching high school social sciences, including grades 10 and 12 geography, on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, a progressive First Nations community adjacent to The Pas, Manitoba, since 1992. She has been involved in the creation of student learning materials and curricula and has contributed to a number of textbooks, teacher support guides and school publications. She has written educative materials for several non-profit groups and recently co-authored the Grade 11 History text used in Manitoba schools. Ms. Anderson is Chair for the Canadian Geographic Education. In this role, Ms. Anderson represents the entirety of the CG Education as a national organization. She completed her Bachelor of Education from the University of Winnipeg in 1992. Ms. Anderson received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal presented by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.