Presentation of the Massey Medal

On this occasion, the 2012 Massey Medal was presented to Dr. Graeme Wynn, a world-renowned historical geographer and environmental historian. Over his nearly 40-year career, Dr. Wynn has contributed to the study of forest exploitation, conservation and management; of the histories of migration and settlement; and of the intersections of environment and empire. He works as a professor at the University of British Columbia, where he has served as the associate dean for arts and as the head of the Department of Geography. The 2014 Massey Medal was presented last May in Calgary to Dr. Derald Smith by His Honour Colonel (Retired) the Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. Sadly, Dr. Smith passed away on June 18, 2014.

As patron of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), the Governor General participated in the RCGS Awards Ceremony, held at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, in Ottawa.

Each year, the Massey Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding career achievement in the exploration, development or description of the geography of Canada. Awarded for the first time in 1959 by then-Governor General Vincent Massey, the medal is administered by the RSGC.

The Governor General is pictured with recipients of the following awards: the Canadian Polar Commission’s Northern Science Award; the Innovation in Geography Teaching Award; the 3M Environmental Innovation Award; the Martin Bergmann Medal; the Camsell Medal; the Lawrence J. Burpee Medal; and the Gold Medal.

As the Canadian Space Agency celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the Gold Medal was awarded to eight Canadian astronauts for their scientific research and exploration in Canada and space.