Early in their existence, the Humanities Research Council of Canada (HRC) and the Canadian Social Science Research Council (CSSRC) were non-governmental institutions created by the academic communities in these disciplines. The councils were focused on funding research, connecting scholars and pursuing independent large-scale studies of their own. On the timeline, you will see some examples of those research projects and programs.
As the Canadian government began establishing its own bodies to support research, first in the form of the Canada Council and then in the form of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the two original councils—the HRC and the CSSRC—shifted towards becoming representatives for academic associations and universities. While certain programs, such as the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program, were still core to their operations, the councils now focused more on being a voice for the Canadian humanities and social science communities, and there was some evolution in their names.
Eventually, in 1996, what by then had become the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and the Social Science Federation of Canada merged. Today, the joint organization is the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, comprised of over 160 institutional, association and affiliate members, and representing over 85,000 Canadian scholars. The Federation remains the principal voice of the social science and humanities community, with a wide array of programming and policy work.
Peruse the interactive digital timeline to view highlights of our first 75 years, and visit the rest of the site to see how to engage with us now and into the future.
Presidents of the Federation, 1997- present
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Patrizia AlbaneseSociology, Ryerson University May 2019 -- present |
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Guy LaforestPolitical Science, Université Laval 2017 - 2019 |
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Stephen ToopeMunk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto 2015 – 2017 |
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Antonia MaioniPolitical Science, McGill University 2013 – 2015 |
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Graham CarrConcordia University 2011 – 2013 |
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Nathalie DesRosiersUniversité d’Ottawa 2008 – 2009 |
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Noreen GolfmanEnglish, Memorial University of Newfoundland 2006 – 2008, 2009 – 2011 |
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Don FisherEducational Studies, University of British Columbia 2004 – 2006 |
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Doug OwramHistory, University of Alberta 2002 – 2004 |
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Patricia ClementsEnglish, University of Alberta 2000 – 2002 |
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Louise ForsythWomen’s and Gender Studies, University of Saskatchewan 1998 – 2000 |
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Chad GaffieldHistory, University of Ottawa 1996 – 1998 |
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John ScottPhilosophy, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and Greg KealeyHistory, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador 1995 – 1996 |
Executive Directors of the Federation, 1997- present
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Gabriel MillerExecutive Director, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences May 2017- present |
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Christine Tausig FordInterim Executive Director, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences October 2016-May 2017 |
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Jean-Marc ManginExecutive Director, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2009-October 2016 |
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Jody CiufoExecutive Director, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2006-2009 |
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Paul LedwellExecutive Director, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2001-2006 |
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Louise RobertExecutive Director, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 1998-2001 |
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Marcel LauzièreFounding Executive Director, Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada 1996-1998 |
