The Media Club Meeting on March 19, 2019 featured Alexandra Pope, digital editor, Canadian Geographic who develops French lesson plans. They develop educational resources to ensure geography is part of the curriculum, advocate for geography education across Canada and host a summer institute for professional development for teachers to learn about the available resources.
Giant floor maps (the size of a gymnasium) are another part of Canadian Geographic’s educational program. They come with a suite of lesson plans for grades kindergarten to twelve. The map folds up into a goalie bag and can be rented for up to three weeks. They are available to schools free of charge.
The Canadian Geographic office is located at 50 Sussex Drive, between the French Embassy and the Rideau Falls. Built in 1999 by the National Capital Commission (NCC) originally as the “Canada and the World” pavilion (2000-2005), it stood empty as they sought new occupants that were culturally significant. The NCC signed Canadian Geographic for a 20 year lease in 2016 and renovated the building for their needs. In May 2018, Canadian Geographic moved in.
In addition to office space, the building is available to rent for special events. The building includes a 300 seat theatre to present talks, film screenings and educational workshops.
“Geography is everything. It involves politics, society, culture (how you interact with the area and landscapes) and how they shape our relationships in the country,” concluded Pope, who is also a karaoke fan and sings for fun. “Karaoke also reflects the geography and culture of an area through peoples’ song choices.”
