Armaan Musaji from Markham, Ontario wins 31st
Annual Canadian Geographic Challenge
15-year-old says winning the competition was a surprise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, June 1, 2026 – After an exciting weekend of competition in the nation’s capital, 15-year-old Armaan Musaji from Milliken Mills High School in Markham, Ontario was named the winner of the 2026 Canadian Geographic Challenge, earning the title of Canada’s Top Young Geographer and taking home the $3,000 grand prize.
More than 10,000 students from across the country participated in the competition, from 300 schools in every province or territory.
The national final, held at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s headquarters at 50
Sussex Drive, brought together 20 outstanding students aged 12 to 16 from 7 provinces or territories including: Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Over the course of three days, participants tackled written tests, outdoor fieldwork, and live-
audience challenges to demonstrate their knowledge of human and physical geography at both local and global scales.
“This weekend we saw students who weren’t afraid to step outside, pay attention, ask questions, and look at the world through a geographic perspective. That curiosity and determination to understand nature and our role in it is what makes them geographers at heart—and it’s exactly why they excelled in the Challenge,” said John Estabillo, Director of Education at Canadian Geographic Education. “Representing the future of geography in Canada, these students are bright, inquisitive, and ready to make a difference.”
After an intense weekend of activities, five finalists advanced to the final round which took place in the Alex Trebek Theatre, named for the late Jeopardy! host and former Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The final round, hosted by RCGS Explorer-in-Residence Ray Zahab, was watched by a live audience of family members, educators, and supporters, and culminated in an exciting finish.
The top 5 finalists from across the country included:
- Armaan Musaji, Grade 10 student from Markham, Ontario (1st place)
- Brendan Alilovic, Grade 9 student from Toronto, Ontario (2nd place)
- Eric Yuan, Grade 10 student from Calgary, Alberta (3rd place)
- Jonah Kolta, Grade 9 student from Markham, Ontario (4th place)
- Ameya Shah, Grade 8 student from Richmond, B.C. (5th place)
“Geography is important in today’s world because it allows you to know where you are in the
world, and it helps you make connections between different aspects of your surroundings. My
interest in geography started from my childhood, when my parents gave me a small globe of the world. Remember, without geography, you’re nowhere,” said Armaan Musaji, winner of the Can Geo challenge.
“The Can Geo Challenge is one of the Society’s proudest traditions,” said John Geiger,
President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. “It not only fosters a lifelong
love of geography but builds confidence, leadership, and critical thinking skills. We’re so proud of every student who participated this year.”
“This year more than 10,000 students in Grades 4-10 competed in the Can Geo Challenge across the country. It is a great way for teachers to engage their students in learning more about Canada and the world. Geography matters more than ever, that’s why I am proud to have guided this competition for many years,” said Paul VanZant, Chair of Canadian Geographic Education.
The competition and its 31-year legacy were made possible through the generous support of Kensington Tours and the Trebek Family Foundation. The Challenge continues to inspire thousands of Canadian students annually, and this year’s event reaffirmed the importance of geographic education in understanding and shaping the world.
Media Contact:
Rosemary Thompson
Senior Vice President, Canadian Geographic
(613) 240-6739
[email protected]
Photos and video available upon request.
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