The CAG survived to see its 50th birthday. The scientific program and festivities of the 2001 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Geographers was held in Montreal.  On this very special occasion we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the Association. It was an opportunity to showcase our discipline and to make a strong statement on the issues and challenges that concern geography. The scientific program was anchored around plenary sessions that discussed critical issues and presented a range of points of view. A special effort was made to attract the media and the general public and to increase the impact and visibility of geography. It was a special and memorable event that celebrated the CAG and its origins.