On October 18 in 1975, 82 professionals came together in Ottawa to discuss a report that favored the formation of an Association for Cartography. This inaugural meeting sponsored by the Resources Mapping Division of Environment Canada, led to the formation of the Canadian Cartographic Association (CCA).
At that time the Canadian Institute of Surveying (CIS) represented the interests of seven geospatial related disciplines: geodesy, photogrammetry, photo-interpretation, land surveying, hydrographic surveying, engineering surveying and cartography. The report indicated that there was a need to represent cartography separate from these disciplines due to the dominance from the survey sector.
Mr. Jean-Paul Drolet, Dr. John A. Wolter and Professor Gerald McGrath presented papers, all that were later published in the Canadian Cartographer.
Professor Janusz Klawe from the University of Alberta was nominated for the role of President and then elected by acclamation. Professor Gerald McGrath from Queen’s University was then elected to the role of Vice-President.
During his first speech as new CCA President, Janusz Klawe reminded everyone that the Canadian Cartographic Association was founded to be essentially a cartographic association in the widest terms rather than an association of cartographers and hence would welcome into its membership all who have a serious interest in cartography. [Click here to read the minutes from the 1975 CCA Inaugral Meeting in Ottawa].
Some CCA past presidents at the 1983 AGM held at the University of Calgary.
(front row) Ray Boyle, Janusz Klawe, David Douglas
(back row) Michael Coulson, Gerald McGrath, Henry Castner
[photo source: Alberta Auringer-Wood]
Now five decades later, the CCA continues to be open to anyone with an interest in any aspect of mapping, with members representing government, industry, academia, and the general public. The CCA hosts annual meetings at cartography related Conferences from coast to coast, and promotes geography awareness through the CCA scholarship and awards.
The table below contains a summary of CCA Past Presidents, with their affiliation, location of the annual conference (with any partner associations in brackets), and links to any associated conference documents.
| Year | CCA President | Affiliation | Conference | Conference Material
(if available online) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-25 | Glenn Brauen | University of Toronto Scarborough | (2025) Ottawa, Ontario (CAG)
(2024) Scarborough, Ontario (2023) Calgary, Alberta (ACMLA) |
|
| 2020-22 | Ted MacKinnon | Natural Resources Canada | (2022) Online
(2021) Online (2020) Online |
|
| 2018-20 | Monica Lloyd | Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) | (2019) Prince George, British Columbia (CIG / NBCGIS) | |
| 2016-18 | Julia Siemer | University of Regina | (2018) Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
(2017) Ottawa, Ontario |
|
| 2014-16 | Chris Storie | University of Winnipeg | (2016) Winnipeg, Manitoba
(2015) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island |
|
| 2012-14 | Anna Jasiak | Natural Resources Canada | (2014) St. Catharines, Ontario
(2013) Edmonton, Alberta (ACMLA) |
|
| 2011-12 | Gerald Stark | Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development | Waterloo, Ontario | |
| 2010-11 | Donna Williams | Natural Resources Canada | Calgary, Alberta (CAG, ACUPP) | |
| 2009-10 | Daniel G. Cole | Smithsonian Institution | Regina, Saskatchewan (CAG, CGRG, & CRSS) | |
| 2008-09 | Clifford H. Wood | Memorial University | Wolfville, Nova Scotia (GANS – Geomatics Atlantic) | |
| 2007-08 | James Boxall | Dalhousie University | Vancouver, British Columbia (ACMLA) | |
| 2006-07 | Clifford H.Wood | Memorial University | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Congress) | |
| 2005-06 | Rick Gray | Ridgetown College, University of Guelph | Ottawa, Ontario (GEOTEC) | |
| 2004-05 | Christine Earl | Carleton University | St.John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (ACMLA) | |
| 2003-04 | Claire Gosson | Natural Resources Canada | Lindsay, Ontario | |
| 2002-03 | Ute Dymon | Kent State University | Victoria, British Columbia (CAG) | |
| 2000-02 | Patricia Connor * | University of Western Ontario | (2002) Waterloo, Ontario
(2001) Montréal, QC (ACMLA) |
|
| 1999-00 | Michel Fournier | Cartologique | Edmonton, Alberta (ACMLA) | |
| 1998-99 | Roger Wheate | University of Northern BC | Ottawa, Ontario (ICA) | |
| 1997-98 | Brian Klinkenberg | University of British Columbia | London, Ontario (ACMLA) | |
| 1996-97 | Gary McManus | Memorial University of Newfoundland | St.John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| 1995-96 | Janet Mersey | University of Guelph | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 1994-95 | Marcia Faurer | University of Winnipeg | Calgary, Alberta | |
| 1993-94 | Alun Hughes | Brock University | Ottawa, Ontario (NACIS) | |
| 1992-93 | Majella Gauthier | Université du Québec à Chicoutimi | Winnipeg, Manitoba | |
| 1991-92 | Peter Keller | University of Victoria | Montreal, Québec (Carto-Québec) | |
| 1990-91 | Claudette LeBlanc | NS LRIS | Hamilton, Ontario / Syracuse | |
| 1989-90 | Jean Carriere | Université du Québec à Montréal | Victoria, British Columbia (PICS) | |
| 1988-89 | Norman Drummond | McGill University | Halifax, Nova Scotia (CISM) | |
| 1987-88 | Christopher Gold | Memorial University of Newfoundland | York, Ontario | |
| 1986-87 | Malcolm Brown | University of Manitoba | Québec, Québec (Carto-Québec) | |
| 1985-86 | Clifford H. Wood | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Vancouver, British Columbia | |
| 1984-85 | Michel Rheault | Université de Sherbrooke | Fredericton, New Brunswick | |
| 1983-84 | David Douglas | University of Ottawa | London, Ontario | |
| 1982-83 | Michael Coulson | University of Calgary | Calgary, Alberta | |
| 1981-82 | Henry Castner | Queen’s University | Lindsay, Ontario | |
| 1980-81 | Raymond Boyle | University of Saskatchewan | St.John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| 1978-80 | Fraser Taylor | Carleton University | (1980) Montréal, Québec
(1978) York, Ontario |
|
| 1977-78 | Leonard Guelke | University of Waterloo | Vancouver, British Columbia | Conference Program |
| 1976-77 | Gerald McGrath | Queen’s University | Ottawa, Ontario | Conference Program |
| 1975-76 | Janusz Klawe | University of Alberta | Kingston, Ontario | Conference Program |