Hello, As we have all seen by now, this COVID-19 crisis has not only affected our families, our communities and our country, but indeed the whole world. It has dramatically impacted our populations, our economies, our cultures. And, yes, believe it or not, even our climate. So, it strikes me that geography is perhaps even more important now than it has ever been, because it can help us gain an appreciation for the natural world around us and how to interact with, and better utilize, our planet and its resources. In other words, it provides a framework for how we care for the Earth, most importantly, because it encompasses both the social and natural sciences. The study of geography also helps us build a deeper understanding of how we live together, providing us a clearer and necessary sense of direction for the future. In recent months, the notion of one global home has been top of mind for all of us. Watching the COVID-19 virus spread throughout the world with little sense of borders has brought to life the reality that we all share one common planet. It has also showcased the need for a much deeper understanding of global population health. How do we identify future threats and what are the shared solutions to keeping us healthy? Last year, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society launched the Unmasking Influenza Project about the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic. Medical geography incorporates geographic techniques into the study of health and the spread of disease, which means there will be an important role for geography in the challenging time ahead. It’s clear to me that more projects like these are needed. So in discussion with John Geiger, CEO of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, I have decided to launch an appeal for the education programs at the Society. Let’s call it “Alex’s Appeal.” Now, I know many of you are stressed, but I ask you to make as generous a donation as you can to this appeal, either one time or by signing up for a monthly gift to support the educational work of the Society. On March 30th, the Canadian Geographic Education team launched the Online Classroom to help students, parents and teachers at home, thus increasing the geographic literacy of all Canadians. But there aren’t budgeted dollars for the Online Classroom project, and it’s an important program, as many of you know. Another important program I’ve been most involved with is the Canadian Geographic Challenge, which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Last year, more than 20,000 Canadian students from 500 schools participated. This year, the RCGS is trying something completely new in order to protect the health and safety of all the students and teachers that participate. The challenge is being run online. That should mean an even greater number of participants. We’ll see. Of course, all the work of the RCGS is educational. Its mission has always been to make Canada better known to Canadians and the world. Notably, Canadian Geographic, one of Canada's most trusted and beloved magazines, has been encouraging exploration and enabling discovery for 90 years. You can learn all about it at rcgs.org. I hope I’ve persuaded you of the importance of geographic literacy to understand and react to current events, because all events are geographic and they can affect us directly as we have seen with the current COVID-19 crisis. Please consider making a donation to “Alex’s Appeal.” A monthly gift is the most effective way to give, but a single donation is most welcome. Please visit www.rcgs.org/alexappeal or call 613-745-4629. If you have any questions about how to make a gift, please reach out directly to Sarah Legault at legault@rcgs.org. The RCGS still has some logo socks left they tell me. And they’ll be happy to send you a pair if you sign up for a monthly gift by July 31st. Of course, a single donation is most welcome also. But please be as generous as you can, as your donation is more important than ever for the future of the Society. I want to thank you so much for reading this today. I leave you with this message: stay healthy. Sincerely, Alex Trebek Honourary President, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society |