Keywords Geography

Establishment of the GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA (GSC) in 1842 marked a further stage. The PALLISER EXPEDITION (1857-60), sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society, and the Hind-DAWSON expeditions (1857-58), supported by the Government of Canada, generated information on climatic, vegetation, geological and landform contrasts in the Canadian West. Henry Y. HIND documented the overwhelming influence of GLACIATION on Canada. In this period Somerville's Physical Geography, the first book to be so titled, appeared in England (1848) and Herschel made the first reference to physical geography in the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1853). Much of the information generated by scientific exploration in Canada was incorporated into European physical geography. During the 1860s the Meteorological Service of Canada was organized; in 1870 the responsibilities of the GSC were extended to the western interior.

Sensitive descriptions of the physical environment of Canada ensued and meteorological networks were extended through western and northern Canada. By 1894 John MACOUN had discussed the FORESTS of Canada and their distribution and, in 1914, some of the first integrated SOIL survey work in Canada was organized by the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph. Regular reports on FLOODS were published by the Department of the Interior, Dominion Water Power Branch, from the 1890s.

As a Discipline
In 1915 the first Canadian university-level course in physical geography was established in the department of geology and mineralogy at the University of British Columbia. A course in meteorology and climatology was added in 1920. In 1921, E. Miller, the first geography-trained geography instructor in Canada, was appointed to the Faculty of Social Science at Université de Montréal to teach physical and human geography. In 1922, the name of the department was changed to geology and geography. Later in the 1920s and the 1930s, extended visits by J. Brunhes and R. Blanchard from France made Montréal the Canadian centre of academic geography. In 1935 Griffith TAYLOR became founding head of the first full department of geography in Canada, at the University of Toronto.

By 1950 general courses in physical geography were offered at UBC, Laval, McGill, McMaster, Université de Montréal, University of Toronto and University of Western Ontario, but a change in the degree of emphasis on physical geography within geography departments had taken place. This change derived primarily from the increasing dominance in Canadian geography departments of US-trained academic geographers, who came from a SOCIAL SCIENCE tradition. By 1995 there were 40 university geography departments in Canada, of which 27 had more than 15 faculty members.

Applications
The federal government departments in which most physical geographers have found employment provide an indication of the range of applications of physical geography: Atmospheric Environment Service; Division of Building Research, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL; National Hydrology Research Institute; Natural Resources Canada; GSC; Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Inland Waters Directorate and Lands Directorate, Environment Canada. Educational, private consulting and provincial governmental agencies are also major employers of physical geographers.

Physical geographic expertise may be applied to problems associated with PERMAFROST, snow, GLACIERS, mountain environments, urban climates, SOLAR ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE, LANDSLIDE and flood hazards, terrain analysis and environmental planning. The range of technologies employed to acquire and manipulate data include REMOTE SENSING, infrared and satellite photography, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, computers (analysis), etc.

Institutions and Journals
The International Geographical Union (IGU) is one of 8 member unions of an International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). Canada is one of 90 member nations of the IGU. Within Canada, the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG), the Québec Association of Geographers, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Québec Geographical Society form the national foci for most geographers. Physical geographers are also involved in the Canadian Geoscience Council (as representatives of CAG), the Canadian Geomorphological Research Group, the Canadian Geophysical Union, the Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Canadian Journal of Soil Sciences, the Canadian Meteorologic and Oceanographic Society, the Canadian Quaternary Association, the Québec Quaternary Association and the Geological Association of Canada, among others.

The Canadian scientific journals in which most Canadian physical geography research is published include The Canadian Geographer, CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC, Canadian Journal of Earth Science, Géographie physique et quaternaire, Atmosphere-Ocean, Cahiers de géographie de Québec, Revue de géographie de Montréal and Ontario Geography.

Author OLAV SLAYMAKER

Links to Other Sites
Ecozones and Ecoregions of Canada
Interactive website with maps and detailed descriptions about Canada's ecozones and ecoregions. Developed by Environment Canada.

Mapping
This site offers links to the very comprehensive Atlas of Canada and other sites related to geographic, geoscience, and spatial data. From Natural Resources Canada.

The Canadian Council for Geographic Education
An organization dedicated to promoting geographic literacy. Check out the extensive online teaching resources and interesting profiles of professionals working in various geographic disciplines.

GeoConnections
The GeoConnections Discovery Portal is your gateway to millions of geospatial data products. Browse metadata records or search by subject, coverage or product type to find, evaluate, visualize and access the geospatial data you need.

Surficial Materials of Canada
A detailed digital map of Canada’s geology, landforms, and hydrography. Caution: some features require complex downloading procedures. From Natural Resources Canada.

Glossary: The Canadian Atlas Online
A bilingual glossary of terminology commonly used in the study of geography. From the website for Canadian Geographic magazine.

Projecting Geography In The Public Domain In Canada
An intriguing discussion about the discipline and science of geography, the connections between subdisciplines, and more. By Dr. Peter Harrison, the National Research Council of Canada. From the wbsite for the Canadian Council for Geographic Education. A PDF file.

PhysicalGeography.net
Check out this extensive information source about physical geography. Offers an online textbook "Fundamentals of Physical Geography," a glossary of terms, animated graphics, and much more. Created by Dr. Michael Pidwirny, University of British Columbia Okanagan.

National Geographic Style Manual
The National Geographic Style Manual, a guide to preferred National Geographic Society style and usage. From the National Geographic Society in the US.

Nova Scotia's Natural History
An online guide to the natural history of various regions in Nova Scotia. From the website for the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

Glossary: Terrain Classification
Glossary of technical terms related to terrain features in the landscape. A Government of British Columbia website.

The Canadian Atlas Online
An extensive online resource about Canadian geography. Also provides related lesson plans. From the website for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.