To recognize outstanding achievement in the fields of geography, education, science, and exploration, and for volunteering to assist the Society, the following awards were given in 2022 to individuals who have made a special impact.
Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey Medal
Awarded to Professor Emeritus John H. England (University of Alberta), a distinguished scientist for his contributions to environmental change in the Arctic region from the last Ice Age to the current period.
Gold Medal
Awarded to Dr. Joseph MacInnis, a physician and scientist, who has developed innovative diving systems, which were used to explore the world’s oceans; to Mark Pathy, businessman, philanthropist and astronaut for his generous support for Society programming; to Joshua Kutryk, Canadian astronaut, RCAF lieutenant colonel, and engineer for his contributions to exploration and Canada’s space program. Also, two Gold Medals approved in 2017 have been presented this year to Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, lawyer and former Prime Minister of Canada for his public service and leadership in defining the Canadian identity; to Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, lawyer and former Prime Minister of Canada for his public service and efforts to unite the country.
Charles Camsell Medal
Awarded to Professor Lynn Moorman (Mount Royal University) for her dedication to the Society in the roles of Governor and Can Geo Education Executive, and creating learning resources used in educational outreach; and to Gavin Fitch for his service to the Society as Governor, Vice President and two-term President, in addition to serving as a member on a number of committees.
Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration
Awarded to John Baldwin, a ski pioneer, who has explored and documented the landscape of the Coast Mountains of B.C., increasing international awareness of the area through his writing.
Martin Bergmann Medal for Excellence in Arctic Leadership
Awarded to Professor Christopher Burn (Carleton University) for his leadership in long-term permafrost investigations in the Canadian Arctic, as well as mentorship of young scientists and community partnerships with northern communities and organizations.
Louie Kamookak Medal
Awarded to Antoine Normandin, a geographer who has been an active member of the Fellows Committee and instrumental in maintaining up-to-date information on the Fellows of the Society; to David Kajganich, an American screenwriter, for his work on The Terror, a fictionalized account of Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition of 1845-1848; to Russell Potter, a Franklin expedition scholar and author of two books on the subject; to Geir Kløver, an expert on Norwegian polar history and director of the Fram Museum in Oslo; to Adam Shoalts, bestselling author and Westaway Explorer-in-Residence with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society; and to Alanna Mitchell, a science journalist, playwright and contributing editor to Canadian Geographic.
Alex Trebek Medal for Geographic Literacy
Award to Professors David Hik (Simon Fraser University) and Zac Robinson (University of Alberta) for the development and teaching of the highly rated Massive Open Online Course entitled Mountains 101.
Gilles Gagnier Medal for Innovation in Geographic Education
Awarded to Sarah Gallah, a secondary teacher in Toronto, for her advancement of geographic literacy through innovative techniques, including coding, to address climate change issues.
