NEARLY A CENTURY AGO, IN 1929, a remarkable group of Canadian innovators came together to form the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). They were drawn from all regions of the country and from all sectors of society. They had one shared purpose for the new Society: to publish a magazine that would “be a unifying influence upon the life of Canada.”
Their intention was for the RCGS to touch all Canadians–”to count among its members all men and women who have complete faith in their country, and who recognize it as a duty and a privilege to learn more about Canada”– and to help spread that knowledge at home and abroad. Little has changed in the intervening years.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society publishes Canadian Geographic, the country’s number one paid magazine by readership, and operates Canadian Geographic Education, which reaches 28,000 educators in every province and territory. Little wonder the maple leaf sits in the middle of the Society’s iconic Compass Rose flag; Canada is at the heart of everything we do.
Irrespective of any tariffs imposed by the U.S. Administration, let’s not forget what has happened in recent months: A U.S. President threatening economic pressure to undermine Canadian sovereignty, stating that without an imagined “massive subsidy” from the U.S., Canada “ceases to exist as a viable country” and implying it would somehow be desirable to be downgraded to the status of the 51st state.
This should serve as a wake-up call for us all. We cannot leave this fight to politicians and government alone; we all have a stake in standing up for our country, celebrating its achievements, and deepening our knowledge of its human and physical geography. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Geographic, and Canadian Geographic Education have never been more vital.
Help us to fulfill our founders’ vision, so beautifully captured in our motto, DUCIT AMOR PATRIAE – love of country leads me
John Geiger, C.M.
Chief Executive Officer
Founded in 1929, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society has been making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world for 96 years.
Best known for its Canadian Geographic magazine, the Society also supports Canadian geographical expeditions and provides grants and scholarships for cutting-edge geographical research.
The Society’s vision is to help Canadians chart a successful future by fostering a greater understanding of Canada’s geography — its diverse human and physical landscapes — as well as the changes affecting its people and the environment.
The Society is also active in building and supporting geographic education throughout the country with its educational program, Can Geo Education.
As one of the largest programs of its kind in Canada, Can Geo Education provides free geographic educational resources to more than 28,000 member educators coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Inspiring the desire to learn, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge through formal and informal education, Canadian Geographic Education (the country’s largest educational non-profit) creates its acclaimed bilingual grade-school curriculum and student programs for its network of 28,000-plus K-12 teachers, as well as parents and students.
Can Geo Education communicates with learners in every province and territory, providing easy access to resources that are topical, authoritative and consonant with curricular needs, ensuring that students receive essential lessons about their country, their communities and the very ground on which they stand.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is a non-profit organization, funded primarily by generous donations. The Board of Governors and its program committees are comprised entirely of volunteers.
