The Geological Survey of Canada Today

The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) is still going strong today.

Photograph of the Geological Survey of Canada building on Booth street in Ottawa

The GSC building today,
Booth Street, Ottawa
Source

Photograph of a landslide near Fort St. John, British Columbia

Cecil Lake Road landslide, northeast of
Fort St. John, British Columbia
Source

Photograph of a geological survey party eating lunch on a Hurwitz quartzite outcrop with their helicopter in the background, 1997

Geologists eating their lunch on a Hurwitz quartzite outcrop in 1997
Source

Now part of the Earth Sciences Sector of the government department of Natural Resources Canada, the GSC's work has developed in many new directions and is helping Canadians, and others, live better and safer lives. Today's GSC scientists continue to deepen our understanding of how the Earth works, leading to new discoveries of mineral resources like diamonds, oil and gas, and helping to reduce the risks to our communities from earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods and magnetic storms.

GSC scientists are also studying things like climate change and its impact on Canadians. They are trying to protect our environment, so that Canadians continue to have a safe supply of drinking water in the years to come, as well as fish to eat that do not contain harmful metals.

Photograph of two geologists testing seismographic field equipment in the woods

Testing seismographic field equipment
Source

With offices across Canada, the GSC has grown from a handful of geologists to hundreds of employees working in all corners of the country. The GSC also works with partners around the world.

In cooperation with the provinces and territories, the Geological Survey of Canada continues to do mapping. Although all of Canada's vast territory has been mapped topographically, there are still places that have not been mapped geologically. There are still many mineral discoveries to be found by future geologists. Who knows? That geologist might even be you!

Photograph of two geologists collecting material in a boulder field on Melville Peninsula, Nunavut

Geological research in a boulder field on Melville Peninsula, Nunavut
Source

PreviousNext