1. The award recognizes research achievement and career potential in Canadian geography. This may take the form of an original synthesis or regional study, a conceptual development, a significant research advance in a subfield of geography, or the development of a technique. 2. The recipient of the award must be: A member of the Canadian Association of Geographers, prior to the time of nomination; A Canadian citizen or landed immigrant; Within eight years of graduation, normally from a PhD, but in exceptional circumstances from a Master's or Bachelor's programme, on December 31 of the year of the award.