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- 2023 Archives
- Scientists dig deep and find a way to accurately predict snowmelt after droughts
- Cracking the Case of Missing Snowmelt After Drought
- 2023 Esri Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Daniel Murphy
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Kyle Kusack
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Matthew Taylor
- Anke Baker Wins Staff Achievement Award
- Spring 2023 Virtual Geospeaker Event with Ginger Gosnell-Myers
- CAG Paper Presentation Award - Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven!
- Informing & Engaging Urban Youth on Public Hearings: GEOG 363 Final Showcase
- Research Talk: Modeling Urban Wetland Complexities
- Highlight Paper: Quantifying land carbon cycle feedbacks under negative CO2 emissions
- Bright Addae winner of the 2023 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jonny Cripps
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Diandra Oliver
- 2023 Geospeaker Presentation with Dr. Pauline McGuirk
- Congratulations to Our Graduates - October 2023
- Evaluating the impact of educational goals at SFU
- The Belongings of Precariously Housed People - A Report
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Takuma Mihara
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Adrienne Arbor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Claire Shapton
- 2023 Distinguished Speaker Presentation with Dr. Deb Cowen
- Cheers to Paul Degrace and his well-earned retirement!
- 2024 Archives
- Professor Nicholas Blomley Honored with the Community-Engaged Research Achievement Award
- Graduate Students Claire Shapton and Marina Chavez Honored with the Community-Engaged Graduate Scholar Award
- Applications now open: 2024 ESRI Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Associate Professor Rosemary Collard achieves 13th place on SFU Altmetric List
- The PEAK feature: GSU hosts inaugural RANGE conference
- Gabrielle Wong wins First Prize in 2023 Student Learning Commons Writing Contest
- Gabrielle Wong receives Warren Gill Memorial Award
- Professor Nick Blomley receives Warren Gill Memorial Award for Community Impact
- Geography Student Union recipient of the FENV 2024 Changemaker Awards
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland reveals the secret sauce of great teaching
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland Receives SFU 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Bright Addae
- GIS undergraduate students participate in the Canada-wide 2024 AppChallenge competition
- Senior Lecturer Andrew Perkins Receives SFU 2024 Dean's Award of Excellence in Teaching
- Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven, Canada's 2024 ESRI Young Scholar
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Robert Ehlert
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Stephan Nieweler
- Eugene McCann writes on "livable cities" in The Tyee
- Tiana Andjelic wins the 2024 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Marina Chavez
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Mia Fitzpatrick
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Lan Qing Zhao
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Tyler Cole
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Benjamin Lartey
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Olivia Nieves
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Max Hurson
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to John Sykes
- Farewell to Robert "Bob" Horsfall, Associate Professor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to André Araújo
- SFU Geography welcomes ethnobotanist, Leigh Joseph, as professor of Indigenous geographies
- Physical Geography September: What is Physical Geography?
- Alysha Van Duynhoven communicates award-winning research at international GIS conference
- How Dr. Tracy Brennand’s visionary leadership shaped the Department of Geography - a heartfelt thank-you
- Dr. Tracy Brennand honoured with the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jay Matsushiba
- Human Geography October: What is Human Geography?
- MA Student Joy Russell featured on CBC Vancouver
- Human Geography October: What is Urban Worlds?
- Ajay Minhas Receives 2024 Warren Gill Award
- Dr. Nadine Schuurman featured in SFU news article on Runnability
- Hallway Screens Slides
- 2023 Archives
- Alumni
How Dr. Tracy Brennand’s visionary leadership shaped the Department of Geography - a heartfelt thank-you
Over the past decade, Dr. Tracy Brennand has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Chair in the Department of Geography – a role she held almost continuously from 2014 to 2024. During this period, she refashioned the Department in terms of its composition, mission and position in the greater university. Dr. Brennand single-handedly transformed our Department in terms of degree offerings, EDI priorities, collegiality and cohesion.
Any work was always guided by her deep commitment to the students’ experience and the well-being of faculty and staff which earned her our trust and respect. We are not alone in feeling that Dr. Brennand’s leadership was truly remarkable. The recent external review praised many of the accomplishments the department achieved under her guidance. She was also recognized by the Canadian Association of Geographers with the Award for Service to the Profession of Geography in 2024.
She started to transform the Department by establishing a vision and mission for the Department as well as a strategic plan. These were critical steps towards hiring 11 new faculty members during her tenure and allowing us to finally welcome the first Indigenous faculty member. Not only did we grow as a department but, under Dr. Brennand’s tutelage and support for innovation, our enrollment increased significantly as well.
Dr. Brennand initiated a review of the learning objectives for all of our undergraduate and graduate programs to guide their re-examination and revision. The establishment of three new programs (BA Human Geography, BA Urban Words, BSc Geographic Information Science) is perhaps the most tangible outcome of those efforts.
Space is scarce in universities and Dr. Brennand worked tirelessly to acquire a bright departmental meeting room and to win funds for much needed renovations. Under her leadership, we were able to renovate teaching labs, research space and social spaces, to create an Indigenous mural, and to make small upgrades throughout the department. As Geographers, we understand how much space matters and how impactful these efforts will be going forward.
Dr. Brennand has had a positive effect on the community aspects of the department by applying an EDI lens for activities as well as modeling truth and reconciliation efforts. She also strengthened ties with both the undergraduate and graduate student unions.
The Department is grateful for her hard work, tenacity and relentless efforts to advance our growth. Despite her profound professionalism, she always connects on a human level first and we are as grateful for her accomplishments as we are for her friendship. Dr. Brennand's leadership and dedication will continue to shape the Department of Geography for years to come.