Faculty Member Phil Dearden and the SOGS win WDCAG Conference Awards
March 7-8 the UVic Geography Department hosted the Western Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference. The conference was a resounding success with over 370 registrants, dozens of posters and seven concurrent paper sessions, it was the most well attended WDCAG meeting ever held.
The conference began last Friday with a selection of well-led field trips to both distant and nearby sites; followed by an energetic and inspiring keynote presentation by Jon Turk. Saturday paper sessions dawned early for a few visitors to Victoria, but what followed was an extravagant overview of the scholarly wealth of the discipline of Geography. All the presentations were well-attended and the posters drew the attention of all. The conference ended with a lively dinner, a delightful and thoughtful dinner speech from CAG President Jean Andrey, and concluded with the awarding of presentation trophies to students, and to trivia and scavenger hunt aficionados.
Of special note are the WDCAG awards presented to two departmental members:
Phil Dearden was awarded the William C. Wonders Award for Scholarly Distinction in recognition of his work in the environmental and resource geography of Canada and for his efforts to communicate this to undergraduate students across Canada through publication of his widely-used textbooks. Congratulations Phil, wherever today finds you.
The Society of Geography Students (“The SOGS”) received the J. Lewis Robinson Award for Meritorious Service in recognition of their enduring commitment to the Geography in Schools program. Their outstanding service in encouraging interest in the discipline of geography among high school students on southern Vancouver Island is exemplary. Congratulations SOGS, a well-deserved recognition.
The success of WDCAG 2014 is due entirely to the tireless efforts of Team Geography. Particular thanks are due to Cam Owens for his commitment to building and sustaining a team of geography community members that extended from undergraduate to graduate students, to staff and faculty. With over 40 volunteers always eager to help, the conference organization was amazing and nearly flawless. Thanks so much Team Geography.