WELCOME TO OUR

COMMUNITY

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@UBCGSA

〰️ @UBCGSA

Founded in 1969, the Geography Students’ Association (GSA) is a student-run club supported by the University of British Columbia’s Department of Geography. As one of the most active student associations on campus, we:

  • Run social events throughout the year, including our world-famous BZZR Garden, pub trivia nights, & adrenaline-pumping sporting events.

  • Host engaging talks and workshops from faculty, guest speakers, & career advisors via our GeoTalks lectures & Career Days events series.

  • Organize our very own Geography Mentorship & Advisement Program (GMAP) & annual academic workshop conference (Town Hall).

That’s not all– we publish the Trail Six Undergraduate Journal of Geography, run the GeoGarden, and throw a killer end-of-year celebration at Geogala.

GSA Committees

The contributions of the GSA’s committees are core to our club operations. As an organization dedicated to delivering a memorable student experience through all facets of university life: academic, professional, and of course, social, we rely on the work and ideas of each committee to ensure that our programming reflect the diverse interests of our student body.

Joining a committee is a great opportunity to meet some new faces, get involved in your community, and gain valuable experience in project management, leadership, and event planning.

All committee members must be a current (2025/26) member of the GSA. Please visit our home page to learn about the perks of a $10 membership and to join the community.

Academic Committee (2-5 Hrs/Month)

The Academic Committee operates under the GSA’s Academic portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Academic.

  • The Academic Committee operates under the GSA’s Academic portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Academic. Academic committee members will have a chance to: 

    • Connect with faculty representing the Department of Geography, School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), and industry professionals;

    • Get exposure to research and other academic opportunities hosted by the Department;

    • Get more involved in the GSA and broader Geography community; and

    • Gain experience in small and large-scale event planning.

  • As a member of the Academic committee, you are expected to:

    • Plan events and initiatives to support the academic development of student members of the GSA community;

    • Attend a monthly/bi-monthly committee meeting, led by the 2024/25 VP Academic;

    • Attend a monthly all-hands meeting, joined by all committee members, volunteers, and GSA executives; and

    • Support the VP Academic in general project management & event planning tasks.

    This may involve:

    • Supporting the organization of the GeoTalks lecture series through faculty/guest speaker outreach, venue bookings, and other logistics.

    • Evaluation of workshop proposals and event planning logistics for our GSA Town Hall workshop conference.

Sustainability Committee (3-6 Hrs/Month)

The Sustainability Committee operates under the GSA’s Sustainability portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Sustainability.

  • As Geographers, we see sustainability as more than environmental stewardship. 

    The GSA defines sustainability locally, as a practice of active place-making. Our goal is to help the student community achieve a state of balanced socio-ecological well-being, while creating space for creative expression and individual development. 

    The Sustainability Committee is overseen by the VP Sustainability. As a member, you will have a chance to:

    • Get more involved in the GSA and broader Geography community;

    • Apply geographical concepts and principles of sustainability in a practical environment;

    • Raise awareness about socio-environmental issues affecting the student community at UBC;

    • Gain exposure to sustainability opportunities, organizations, and leadership programs operating on the UBC campus; and

    • Develop experience in small and large-scale event planning.

    • Ensure the GSA aligns with best practices in sustainable event planning by attending and providing input at event preparation meetings across the GSA’s portfolios;

    • Support the completion of an end-of-year internal audit;

    • Attend a monthly committee meeting, led by the 2024/25 VP Sustainability;

    • Attend a monthly all-hands meeting, joined by all committee members, volunteers, and GSA executives; and

    • Support the VP Sustainability in general project management & event planning tasks.

events calendar

At A Glance

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At A Glance 〰️

Geogarden Volunteers

Geogarden volunteers operate under the GSA’s Geo Garden portfolio, overseen by the Geogarden Manager.

  • This section is currently being updated and will be available soon. Thank you for your patience!

  • This section is currently being updated and will be available soon. Thank you for your patience!

Fundraising & Graduation Committee (5-7 Hrs/Month)

The Fundraising & Graduation Committee operates under the GSA’s Graduation & Sustainability portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Graduation.

  • The Fundraising & Graduation Committee operates under the GSA’s graduation portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Graduation. Fundraising & Graduation committee members will have a chance to: 

    • Meet new faces in the geography community at social and fundraising events, held throughout the year;

    • Contribute in a meaningful way to fundraise and deliver events with genuine impact to the wider Geography community;

    • Connect with faculty, staff, alumni, the broader Geography community, and other GeoGala attendees; and

    • Gain experience in small and large-scale event planning, fundraising and project management.

  • As a member of the Fundraising & Graduation Committee, you are expected to:

    • Participate in the design and execution of the 2026 GeoGala and other graduation events;

    • Host and contribute ideas for fundraisers to support the GSA’s programming & activities;

    • Attend a bi-weekly committee meeting, led by the 2025/26 VP Graduation;

    • Attend a monthly all-hands meeting, joined by all committee members, volunteers, and GSA executives; and

    • Support the VP Graduation in general project management & event planning tasks.

    There is no requirement to be graduating this year, we actively encourage students from all years to apply to join this committee.

Trail 6 Editors (4-6Hrs/month, primarily in the second term)

Trail 6 Editors operate under the GSA’s Trail 6 Undergraduate Journal portfolio, overseen by the Trail 6 Editor In Chief.

  • Trail 6 Editors’ primary task is to support authors in perfecting final versions of their research papers for publication in the GSA’s nationally recognized undergraduate journal. Beginning in January, editors will review and select papers to be chosen for publishing before being matched with a co-editor and an author who they will assist. Editors are assigned papers based on their interests and area of study to ensure that they can critically examine the authors' arguments. The Trail 6 Editor-in-Chief will be available throughout the entire year to support editors and authors via training sessions, emails, or one-on-one meetings.

    • Attend training sessions in early December.

    • Review and vote on potential articles.

    • Meet with and build rapport with the assigned author and co-editor.

    • Improve authors' articles by proofreading, improving structure, examining arguments, ensuring clarity and more.

Social Committee (3-6 Hrs/Month)

The Social Committee operates under the GSA’s Social portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Social.

  • The Social Committee operates under the GSA’s Social portfolio, overseen by the Vice President Social. The GSA represents a core social hub for members of the Geography community at UBC. As a club dedicated to sharing good vibes with good company, this year, we are hoping to organize more low-stakes, casual, and inclusive social events to bring together the community on and off campus. Social Committee members will have the chance to: 

    • Meet new faces in the geography community at fundraising and social events, held throughout the year;

    • Develop key leadership skills in project management; and

    • Gain experience in small and large-scale event planning.

    • Contribute to a deeper sense of community throughout the GSA organization;

    • Contribute ideas for, plan, budget for, and execute socials held on and off campus;

    • Support the GSA’s Graduation portfolio in executing the 2025 GeoGala;

    • Attend a monthly committee meeting, led by the 2024/25 VP Academic;

    • Attend a monthly all-hands meeting, joined by all committee members, volunteers, and GSA executives; 

    • Enjoy the social events, be involved as much as possible; and

    • Support the VP Social in general project management & event planning tasks.

SUSTAINABILITY

The GSA is aligned with best practices in sustainable event planning set by the UBC Alma Mater Society (AMS Sustainable Action Plan) – encompassing areas of waste management, energy use, and local partnerships. We see sustainability as a state of balanced socio-ecological well-being– one in which students can participate in the social and ecological environments of the UBC Point Grey Campus for the long-term, while being able to express themselves unapologetically.

This is why want to provide opportunities for students to inspire and equip each other to make the change they want to see in their own communities.

GSA SUSTAINABILITY AUDIT

Recently our VP of Sustainability, Azélie Blanchette, audited the 2023/2024 GSA’s sustainability measures and activities. In an effort to boost transparency regarding the existing sustainability measures and improvements the GSA has compiled an audit, and plans to do so annually. The audit compiles previous executive responses and reviews the GSA’s sustainability practices.

A lot of work and review went into this year’s audit, be sure to read it here!

EVENT FEEDBACK

We want your feedback on our events! As part of our effort to enhance the GSA's social sustainability initiatives, we are introducing a new event feedback form designed to improve member engagement, satisfaction, and foster a stronger sense of community. If there’s anything you’d like to share, let us know here.

Meet Our 2025/26 Execs!

  • AZÉLIE BLANCHETTE

    PRESIDENT

  • ATTICUS HORNE

    VICE PRESIDENT - ACADEMIC

  • YAFA YUSUPOV

    VICE PRESIDENT - ADMINISTRATION

  • KATIE THURMAN

    VICE PRESIDENT - ARTS

  • KEIRAN HOANG

    AUS/SUS REPRESENTATIVE

  • GENEVIEVE BECK

    VICE PRESIDENT - COMMUNICATIONS

  • JULIET MCKINNEY

    VICE PRESIDENT - EXTERNAL

  • CAROLINE MARTER

    VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE

  • MAYA NG

    GEOGARDEN MANAGER

  • AVA DUCKWORTH-PILKINGTON

    VICE PRESIDENT - GRADUATION

  • DANIEL BLACKMORE

    TRAIL SIX - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

  • EMMA CALDER

    VICE PRESIDENT - INTERNAL

  • AEHA WAND

    VICE PRESIDENT - MARKETING

  • ALEXANDRA BRADFORD-PATTERSON

    VICE PRESIDENT - SOCIAL

  • GINGER CHU

    VICE PRESIDENT - SUSTAINABILITY

The 2025/26 GSA Team

Academic Committee Members

Alex Sy
Isabella Hall
Kaya Zhang
Sufi Oveisi
Adrianna Kozakiewicz
Austin Hart

Fundraising & Graduation Committee Members

Zoë Lichtwer
Rio Kobashi
Grace Preston
Julius Chen
Anders Lee
Zach Johnson
Alice Bock

Social Committee Members

Amy Liao
Sophia Sun
Aliya Hirji
Sofie Turner
Pranav Kalsi
Sigrun Forint

Sustainability Committee Members

Jeeyanshi Gupta
John Craig
Caroline Marter
Sonia Kazakova
Charis Wong
Ashley Zhou