The
St. John’s Declaration
Helping to Improve
Geographic Literacy
in Canada
[This Page was originally published on: Sep 7, 2013 ]
Last month at the Canadian Association of Geographers conference in St.John’s, Newfoundland, a group of concerned geography educators came together to discuss deficiencies in geographic knowledge, work on a strategy and create an action plan to help geographic education in Canada.
The group are concerned that people do not understand that geography is not just about maps, but the ability to understand and analyze spatial related issues and approach them from a geographic perspective. Knowing more about geography and the world around us can help us cope better with flooding and natural disasters and use the power of location to help make better decisions.
The St. John’s Declaration is a document that resulted from the meeting that will be sent out to all the major educational institutes and professional organizations to seek their endorsements for the cause.
“The Canadian GIS & Geomatics website has been a long standing supporter of Geography & GIS Awareness in Canada, and in support geographic learning, teaching and research that is the foundation of the Canadian geomatics sector, supports the St. John’s Declaration for Advancing Geographic Education.”
I am sure that over the next few months you will be hearing much more about the St. John’s Declaration and you may also be asked to endorse and show your support for better Geographic education in Canada.
Help us get this document into all the various geospatial communities across Canada …
Below is the exact content from the St. John’s Declaration (download our PDF version , print a copy, and hang it up in your office or class room ) about the St. John’s Declaration.
ADVANCING GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION FOR CANADIANS
At a special meeting organized by the Canadian Association of Geographers and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a community of geographic educators came together to create an agreement and action plan for geographic education for Canadians.
Our goal is to advance geographic education in Canada.
We affirm that spatially literate citizens are essential to the future of Canada, and in particular
We have therefore agreed that we will
James Boxall, Canadian Geomatics Round Table Norm Catto, Memorial University Laura Power Crawley, Memorial University Rodolphe Devillers, Canadian Institute of Geomatics Karl Donert, European Association of Geographers Dan Duda, Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives Darryl Fillier, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Lew French, Ontario Association of Geographic and Environmental Education Al Friesen, RCGS Literacy Award recipient |
Brent Hall, Esri Canada Amanda Hooykaas, Canadian Association of Geographers Niem Tu Huynh, Association of American Geographers Peggy March, Canadian Geographic Education Lynn Moorman, Canadian Geographic Education Stuart Semple, Mount Allison University Bob Sharpe, Canadian Association of Geographers Mary Jane Starr, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society Kim Wallace, Educational Consultant |