Margaret North
Margaret North was a faculty member in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia from 1963 until her retirement last summer. She therefore contributed many years of university teaching, committee work and research. But it is for her extra contributions to the promotion of geography outside the university setting that makes her special. These contributions fall into three categories of activities.
-the promotion of the teaching of geography in Canadian schools.
-support, liaison and articulation with geography departments in the B.C. colleges
-support and committee work at the regional and national level on the C.A.G. education committees
Margaret has devoted much energy and given considerable feedback to the B.C. Ministry of Education relating to changes in provincial geography curricula. She has organized workshops for the Vancouver School Board and has worked on developing an interactive computer based resource on field studies for social study and geography teachers. As a member of the B.C. Council for Geographic Education she has helped plan professional development activities for teachers. For many B.C. teachers Margaret was their only contact with a university. In 1998 she helped organize the Canadian Council for Geographic Education residential institute at U.B.C. Although officially retired she is currently organizing the National Council for Geographic Education annual meeting of some six hundred school and college geographers from across North America to be held at U.B.C. from August 1st to 3rd, 2001.
The early 1970s saw the establishment of regional colleges in B.C. B.C. is unique among the provinces in mandating the articulation of curricula among colleges and universities with credits fully recognized in all post secondary institutions. Margaret was one of several very supportive university faculty who worked with many college geography departments advising faculty, articulating lower level programs and courses and participating in professional development sessions with college geography faculty. She was appreciated for her acceptance that they were valued colleagues in post secondary geography and not a mechanism to feed lower level students to universities. She continued to be a respected and often consulted university contact giving advice and support until her retirement. It is to be hoped that someone at the university will emerge to fill the role she created and occupied so well.
Margaret has always supported the CAG especially at the regional level. She has regularly attended the CAG Western Division Meetings, chairing sessions and participating in panel discussions on geographic education. She has been a member of and chaired the Western Division Education Committee and chaired/co-chaired the national CAG Education Committee between 1992-1998. She also edited the Western Division Newsletter for three years.
Margaret North’s contribution to the profession of geography during the past four decades can be summarized as quiet and unassuming yet constant and effective. Margaret really cares about the status and promotion of geography at all levels. It is very fitting that her commitment, organizational ability and her unselfishness in the giving of her time are recognized by bestowing her the CAG Award for Service to the Profession. Thank you Margaret.
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