Peter G. Johnson
Professor Peter G. Johnson has significantly advanced the academic, public and private perception of our academy in Canada and on an international scale. Over the course of a career spanning three decades, he has significantly advanced the profession and practice of geography in Canada through student training, research, and administrative and selfless public service.
Dr. Johnson has contributed to teaching at the undergraduate, from introductory level to advance 4th year courses, and post-graduate levels since his appointment at the University of Ottawa in 1969. Since the 1970's he has developed the field program of the department by way of his Yukon field course. Peter has supervised Nineteen MA and 4 PhD students supervised. Each year up to a dozen or more students are brought to Yukon to undertake field research under the supervision of Dr. Johnson at the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) Kluane Lake Research Station. Many of these students have continued on to advanced level degrees and/or influential positions in public and private industries. The north and in particular the Kluane region of Yukon has been the base for much of Professor Johnson's research activities. He has been a fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America since 1998.
Dr. Johnson has successfully laboured to bring Canadian and northern geographic issues to the forefront of the public arena for decades. He has increased both the public profile and perception of geography as an important discipline that can contribute positively to addressing environmental and social issues that face Canadians today. At the same time Dr. Johnson's public roles have instilled at the highest levels of government and industry an appreciation of geographic issues that face Canada today. As such he has influenced the integration of geographic concepts and concerns into the policy realm at national and international scales.
Peter has filled a number of roles in the international Arctic science arena. In 1998 he was appointed to represent Canada in the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and serves as Vice-President since 2000. In 1999 he joined the Steering Committee of the Northern Research Forum, founded by the President of Iceland. During his tenure as President of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies he worked on establishing the University of the Arctic and has recently moved the Canadian Polar Commission (CPC) into a role on the University Council. Johnson served as vice-chair and now chair of the Canadian Polar Commission
In 2002, Dr. Johnson received the esteemed Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 from the Governor General of Canada and was recognized as someone who has helped create the Canada of today through outstanding and exemplary contributions. Dr. Johnson, above all others, should be recognized by his peers now for his outstanding contributions to the academy and profession of geography in Canada.
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