Royal Canadian Geographical Society - Organizational Structure

Organizational Structure

The Society's Board of Governors and its program committees are made up entirely of volunteers, many of whom are members of the College of Fellows. Traditionally, Fellows were elected "in recognition of outstanding service to Canada." Past Fellows of the Society include such eminent names as the painter A.Y. Jackson, explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Edward Shackleton, geographer and son of Sir Ernest, former Conservative leader and Nova Scotia Premier Robert Stanfield, explorer Henry Larsen, historian L'abbé Arthur Maheux, anthropologist Diamond Jenness, businessman E.P. Taylor, broadcaster and traveler Lowell Thomas, and hotelier Conrad Hilton. Current Fellows include Gilbert M. Grosvenor, of the National Geographic Society. Besides regular Fellows, the Society elects Honorary Fellows, people recognized for special or outstanding achievements. The President, and other members of the executive, are elected by the College of Fellows at the Society's annual general meeting.

To be elected a Fellow of the Society, someone must be proposed by existing Fellows, approved by the Fellows Committee and elected by the College of Fellows. Fellows are granted the right to use the initials "F.R.C.G.S." after their names.

The Governor General of Canada serves as the patron of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.