Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Royal Canadian Geographical Society The Royal Canadian Geographical Society was founded in 1929 with the important mandate of making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.

In honour of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, we are republishing one of his most compelling essays for Canadian Geographic.In ...
07/30/2026

In honour of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, we are republishing one of his most compelling essays for Canadian Geographic.

In "Tracing the Nile," Sir Christopher revisits one of history's greatest geographical mysteries, drawing on his own expedition to retrace the journeys of the Victorian explorers who sought the source of the world's longest river. Combining history, firsthand experience and a lifelong passion for exploration, the story reflects the curiosity and determination that defined his remarkable life.

Sir Christopher Ondaatje, a great explorer, philanthropist and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, passed away on July 20 at the age of 93. A steadfast champion of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Sir Christopher's legacy continues to inspire explorers, geographers and storytellers alike.

Read the story: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/tracing-the-nile/

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society mourns the passing of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, an RCGS gold medallist and Vice ...
07/30/2026

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society mourns the passing of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, an RCGS gold medallist and Vice Patron of the Society. Ondaatje was a remarkable man who overcame immense challenges in his early life to become exceptional in every field he entered: business, sports, literature and exploration. Ondaatje was an accomplished explorer who considered discovering the true source of the Nile his life's greatest accomplishment.

He was a constant source of inspiration and guidance to the RCGS over many decades. A medal for exploration was created in his honour as well as the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Reading Room which is being renewed this year.

The RCGS has lowered its flag in honour of Sir Christopher Ondaatje's extraordinary life. We extend our condolences to his many friends and to his family.

Read more: https://rcgs.org/about/news-releases/sir-christopher-ondaatje-obituary/

📸 : (1) RCGS Collection, artist: Jill Hooper

Meet the artist behind Stephen Harper's official portrait. 🎨Phil Richards has spent a career painting Canadian luminarie...
07/29/2026

Meet the artist behind Stephen Harper's official portrait. 🎨

Phil Richards has spent a career painting Canadian luminaries — premiers, university presidents, CEOs, and even Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee portrait — but this was his first time painting a prime minister.

Richards calls their collaboration "probably the most intensive I've had with any sitter."

Curious what made it into the final piece? See the portrait, and read about his process: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/artist-phil-richards-on-painting-the-prime-minister/

Congratulations to RCGS Explorer-in-Residence and Honorary Vice-President Jill Heinerth!Jill has been named the 2026 rec...
07/27/2026

Congratulations to RCGS Explorer-in-Residence and Honorary Vice-President Jill Heinerth!

Jill has been named the 2026 recipient of the 21st Century Adventurer Award, presented by Land Rover Defender and the European Outdoor Film Tour. She received the honour in Munich, Germany, in recognition of a career spanning three decades spent venturing into and charting the world's underwater cave systems.

Through her work, Jill has helped bring attention to how groundwater shapes life above ground. Part of the award funds will go toward her ongoing research in the Kichi Sibi Ottawa River cave system, along with efforts to mentor the explorers who will follow in her footsteps.

Learn more about Jill's remarkable achievements: IntoThePlanet.com

07/23/2026

La photographie animalière est l’une des formes de narration les plus exigeantes : elle requiert des compétences techniques, de la patience et des semaines passées sur le terrain à attendre un instant extraordinaire.

Maxime Légaré-Vézina est le photographe émergent de l’année Audain, nommé par Canadian Geographic. Son travail est le fruit de la rencontre entre la curiosité, la discipline et l’amour du Canada en pleine nature.

À la Société géographique royale du Canada, nous ne faisons pas appel à l’intelligence artificielle pour raconter l’histoire du Canada. Nous envoyons des personnes comme Maxime la rapporter de chez nous.

Soutenez les conteurs qui rendent cela possible.

Faites un don à la SGRC dès aujourd’hui : rcgs.org/summer

07/22/2026

Wildlife photography is one of the most demanding forms of storytelling — requiring technical skill, patience, and weeks in the field waiting for a single extraordinary moment.

Maxime Légaré-Vézina is this year's Audain Emerging Photographer of the Year, named by Canadian Geographic. His work is what happens when curiosity, discipline, and a love of this country meet in the wilderness.

At the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, we don't use artificial intelligence to tell Canada's stories. We send people like Maxime to bring them home.

Support the storytellers who make that possible.

Donate to the RCGS today: rcgs.org/summer

This evening, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are invited to step outside at golden hour for one shared, national...
07/18/2026

This evening, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are invited to step outside at golden hour for one shared, national moment.

Here's how to join in:
🌿 Find your ground — a backyard, a trail, a shoreline, a rooftop
🧭 Choose your company — alone with your thoughts, or alongside the people you love
🌇 Let the land set the pace — walk, sit, watch the light change
📸 Capture the moment — snap a photo or write a short caption about where you are and what you're noticing

Post with and tag — let's watch the sun set across the whole country together. 🇨🇦

More on how to participate: https://everyoneoutdoorstogether.ca/how-to-participate-as-an-individual-or-group/

Photo by Joshua McCullough, via CanGeo Photo Club

Today is World Snake Day 🐍 Held every July 16th, it brings together conservationists and animal lovers to celebrate the ...
07/16/2026

Today is World Snake Day 🐍

Held every July 16th, it brings together conservationists and animal lovers to celebrate the diversity and ecological importance of snakes — animals too often defined by fear rather than fact.

Snakes are sentient beings who communicate through body language, coiling or flattening to signal fear, not aggression. That same fear is often what leads people to kill non-venomous snakes on sight.

Let's move past the myths. Learn more 👇
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/our-campaigns/sentience/animal-awareness-days/world-snake-day/

📸 Photos by: Payton Maffioli, David Harcus, Anthony Amsel, Christian Core, Kiana Virgoe, Kathryn Peiman, Michel Bury, Melvin Laureano (via CanGeo Photo Club)

07/16/2026

Follow along as an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society surveys the wrecks of Quest and Terra Nova in the Labrador Sea

07/16/2026

What you put on your skin ends up in our waters. So, how can we reduce our impact on the environment while still staying sun safe? 🌊☀️

Summer means more time outside and in the water. With increasingly intense UV rays, sun protection is non-negotiable. However, many popular sunscreens contain toxic chemicals that harm both human health and aquatic ecosystems.

According to [tag environmental defence], these are some of the top ingredients you should avoid when picking up your next sunscreen:

🚫 Oxybenzone — a common UV filter linked to hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and coral reef damage

🚫 Octinoxate — associated with hormone disruption and harm to marine ecosystems

🚫Other chemicals to avoid incluse: Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octocrylene

So, what sunscreens are safe to use?

Some safer sunscreen brands recommended by British Columbia Conservation Foundation include:

⛱️ Raw Love

⛱️ Waxhead Sun Defence

⛱️ Stream2Sea

⛱️ Raw Elements

These non-nano mineral sunscreens which use zinc oxide or titanium oxide as key ingredients are considered “River Safe.”

Learn how to decode sunscreen labels, discover top-rated River Safe brands, and more in our Harmful Pollutants Action Hub here: https://www.biinaagami.org/harmful-pollutants-in-the-great-lakes-2

Address

50 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1K4C1

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Royal Canadian Geographical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Royal Canadian Geographical Society:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category