Special Issue Proposal

Journal « The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien »

Guest editors:
Chantal Déry – Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)
Guy Mercier – Université Laval
Raphaël Pelletier – Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Martin Simard – Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)

1. Topic

Geography in Quebec: a discipline, a territory, a society in transition?

2. Context and specific issues to address

Over the last few decades, geography in Quebec has evolved greatly, both in terms of approaches and analytical techniques, and in educational and professional terms. On the ground, the territory has also been transformed, notably through urban sprawl, renewed interest toward rural areas, and new modes of communication and mobility. Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated sanitary measures have not been without geographical effects. In addition, environmental issues are becoming more and more acute. In short, it seems appropriate to revisit with a fresh perspective a discipline, a territory and a society in transition.

We can identify three realms in which this transition is unfolding:

Institutionally, geography is a discipline that, all in all, has gained confidence, developing a territorial knowledge that is asserting itself and is the subject of debate. This movement, which is evident in teaching and research within the university milieu, is also echoed in the professional world, where geographers make use of their expertise, despite the absence of a recognized autonomous professional title. On the other hand, the place of geography in secondary and college education has been waning since the early 2000s, suffering in particular from the vagaries of reforms in teacher training, programs and textbooks in the province.

Beyond these disciplinary considerations, the terrain realities are changing at a rapid pace. For instance, climate change, the prevalence of natural and anthropogenic hazards, the growth of extractivism, and the rise of surveillance and geolocation technologies raise new issues and call for innovative responses based on geographic knowledge and expertise. In this respect, policies, programs and projects, proposed either by governments bodies or the civil society, in order to achieve greater sustainability, navigate between behavioral changes and technological solutions, generating controversy, debate or … inertia!

Moreover, research in geographic sciences and the practice of applied geography must also be deployed through new conceptions of living together, as well as through ideological pluralism and even opposition of values and social practices. Consequently, the identity relationships of the various actors to the territories are changing, a movement that is taking place in parallel with the diversification of the planning and development models of the of daily life environments. In this respect, the widespread commitment in principle to the ecological transition is coming up against the resilience of consumerist behavior.

We believe, such trends need to be discussed and analysed. Here are some of the specific issues or topics that could guide the expected proposals:

1. What are the elements of rupture or continuity that, in the long run, allow us to identify the trajectory of geography in Quebec over the last few decades?
2. Are there any key moments, key actors or famous authors that are significant in this transition of Quebec geography in recent years?
3. Are there any fields of study or action arenas in Quebec where geographers have particularly distinguished themselves?
4. What assessment can be made of Quebec’s public policies on rurality, water, protected areas, forestry, heritage or urban and regional planning?
5. What are the new topics, issues, concepts, methods and techniques that geographers are working on and how proper they are to address social problems?
6. How does Québec geography integrate emerging concepts such as decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), or the redefinition of boundaries between disciplines and within society?
7. Are there changes in the participation of women, cultural minorities, or Aboriginal peoples in the development of public policy or in the definition of priorities and approaches that should prevail in teaching, research, or the professional world?

3. Types of manuscripts allowed

Authors may propose two types of manuscript either in French or English:

• Research articles: Research articles report original and previously unpublished research. They are refereed and may vary in length from 5,000 to a maximum of 7,500 words, including the abstract, all text, references, tables, and illustrations (maximum of 5 tables and/or figures);
• Viewpoints: Viewpoints are short articles that offer a particular perspective on a geographical problem or issue. Viewpoints should be 2000-3000 words in length, including the abstract, all text, references, tables, and illustrations (maximum of 5 tables and/or figures).

4. Deadline for Submission

December 1st, 2022 (submission must be made through the TCG ScholarOne website:

5. Proposed review process

The papers will be first reviewed by the guest editors (relevance to the issue, quality and coherence and linguistic correctness). Then, there will be a double blinded peer review process by one set of 3 reviewers for each individual manuscript in order to evaluate their scientific value.

6. Author Guidelines for style and format

In addition to the information indicated above related to language, size and figures, the paper must follow the following rules:

• All manuscripts must represent original work that is not being published or considered for publication, in whole or in part, by another journal or on a website;
• All manuscripts must be submitted double-spaced and use Times New Roman font (character 12);
• It is expected that all Tables will be included as part of the manuscript file. However, all Figures (maps, photographs, tables, graphs, etc.) must be submitted as separate files (minimum of 300 dpi at the size required for reproduction).
• The first page of your manuscript should include the title (french and english), the abstracts (french and english / 200 words each), 3 to 5 keywords (french and english) and 3 key messages (succinct bullet points summarizing the key points of your manuscript.
• Paragraphs should begin with a setback for the first line, except for the first paragraph following a section title. Also, do not leave spaces between paragraphs;
• You may use up to three levels of headings, but they should not be numbered: Main section headings are bold (2 lines before the heading and 1 line after the heading); Subheadings are not bold (2 lines before the heading, but no lines after the heading); Third level headings are italicized (1 line before the heading, but no lines after the heading)
• The references must follow the “Chicago style”.

7. More information

For any supplementary information, do not hesitate to contact Martin Simard ( mgsimard [at] uqac.ca ).

Feature Image: “Quebec PQ (July 1960)” by davecito is licensed under CC BY 2.0.