Canadian Geographic Education Professional Development

Canadian Geographic Education offers professional development programs designed to strengthen geography teaching and learning across Canada's K–12 classrooms. As the education arm of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), Can Geo Education brings together the Society's extensive resources, partnerships with leading geographers and educators, and a deep commitment to increasing geographic literacy among Canadian students — including meaningful integration of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems. Professional development offerings include Summer Institutes at the RCGS headquarters at 50 Sussex in Ottawa, where educators hear from expert guest speakers, gain hands-on experience with new learning resources, and engage in cross-country peer discussions. A free annual Virtual Summer Conference features sessions on GIS, outdoor education, French-language resources, Indigenous education, and other topics relevant to geography classrooms. Can Geo Education also provides customised workshops — both in-person and virtual — that can be tailored to the specific needs of individual schools or district boards, covering everything from experiential learning techniques to integrating geographic technologies into the curriculum. For educators seeking financial support to attend geography-related professional development, the Phyllis Arnold Grant provides up to $1,500 CAD to cover conference-related and travel expenses. Whether you teach primary or secondary students, Can Geo Education's programs offer practical resources and collegial connections that help bring Canada's geography — physical, cultural, and Indigenous — alive in the classroom.