Royal Society of Canada

• Formation — 1882 • Type — Learned society • Status — Nonprofit organization • Headquarters — 282 Somerset Street W • Location — Ottawa, Ontario • Languages — * English • French

In the late 1870s, the Governor General of Canada, John Campbell, Marquis of Lorne, determined that Canada required a cultural institution to promote national scientific research and development. Since that time, succeeding governors general have remained involved with the affairs of the Society. In 1882, the Royal Society of Canada was founded with the personal patronage of Lord Lorne. A year later, in 1883, the Society was incorporated by an act of the Parliament of Canada. From its founding until the early 1900s, the structure of the RSC imitated the model of the Royal Society of London, but with the important addition of literature and other elements found in the Institut de France. Like their counterparts, membership to the RSC was limited and by election. Initially, the RSC was divided into four sections, each of 20 Fellows. These sections were: French literature, history, and archaeology; English literature, history, and archaeology; mathematical, physical and chemical sciences; and geological and biological sciences. The founding fellows of the RSC included Sandford Fleming, the originator of the world system of Standard Time, and William Osler, one of the greatest physicians of his time. The fellows of the RSC were nominated by a committee directed by the Principal of McGill University, John William Dawson, and by the former Premier of Quebec, Pierre Chauveau. These two men served as the first and second presidents of the Society. • Illustration — Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (seated), the consort of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, is admitted to the Royal Society of Canada at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, Ontario. The officers of the Society (standing, left to right) are: Charles Camsell, L.S. Russell, T.W.N. Cameron, President Leon Marion, and C.P. Stacey As Canadian scholarship and research increased, the RSC also grew. Within three decades, the fellowship of the RSC doubled in number. After several phases of restructuring, the RSC evolved its contemporary organization. In 2010, Governor General David Johnston was elected as an honorary fellow of the Society.

Each year, the RSC elects approximately 100 Fellows to its three Academies: the Academy of Arts and Humanities, the Academy of Social Sciences, and the Academy of Science. These individuals have made significant contributions to their fields and Canadian public life. In 2024, the RSC included over 2,500 Fellows. There are three divisions of the Academy of Arts and Humanities: an anglophone division, humanities; a francophone division, letters and humanities; and a bilingual division for the arts, embracing architecture, creative writing, and other arts. There are two divisions of the Academy of Social Sciences: an anglophone division, social sciences; and Sciences Sociales. There are five bilingual divisions of the Academy of Science: applied sciences and engineering; Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences; biological sciences; medical sciences; mathematical and physical sciences. Presently, the Fellowship comprises four categories: Regularly Elected Fellows, Specially Elected Fellows, International Fellows, and Honorary Fellows. Once inducted into the Society, Fellows may use the post-nominal letters FRSC (fellow of the Royal Society of Canada) in English and MSRC (membre de la Société royale du Canada) in French. • Illustration — Academies of the RSC

The RSC officially began the Institutional Member (IM) programme in 2004. The goal was to provide a mechanism by which the Society could develop its programmes in conjunction with Canadian universities and by which universities could have formal and direct input into the strategic organization and governance of the Society. This closer relationship facilitates the nomination of new Fellows and College Members from all Canadian universities and provides a means for the Society to sponsor scholarly activities at institutions of all sizes across Canada. There are currently 61 Institutional Members of the RSC.