820010
(was 1200)
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Earth Science Sector
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC)
1500-605 Robson Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 5J3

Scientific Staff:

Dr. Melanie Kelman, Volcanologist

email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated Researchers

GSC Sidney :
Dr. John Cassidy, Seismologist
Dr. Herb Dragert, Crustal Deformation and Earthquake Hazards
Dr. Garry Rogers, Seismologist

University of British Columbia :
Dr. J.K. (Kelly) Russell

Simon Fraser University:
Dr. Glyn Williams-Jones

McGill University :
Dr. John Stix

Canada has examples of almost every type of volcano. Although none are erupting now, at least 3 did in the last few hundred years and numerous others have the potential to erupt in the near future. Other countries' volcanoes also can affect Canadians: eruptions in Alaska or along the west coast of the U.S.A. can impact forestry, agriculture and air travel across western Canada.  For these reasons Canada's federal geological survey (Geological Survey of Canada, GSC, part of Natural Resources Canada, NRCan) has been building a baseline of knowledge on the state of our volcanoes and has maintained an expertise in volcanology for several decades.  Most work has been aimed at fundamental understanding of recent volcanism in Canada through field studies of individual volcanoes and volcanic fields, but the GSC is continually improving its ability to monitor the volcanoes in order to forecast impending activity.  Research is supported through NRCan as well as cooperative projects with university researchers and funding from the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and other sources.

Since 1990 Canada has maintained an "Interagency Volcanic Event Notification Plan" (IVENP).  This plan was developed in response to the December, 1989 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, USA.  The plan, maintained by the Government Operations Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, coordinates the activities of all the potentially affected jurisdictions should an event occur in Canada or in neighbouring regions affecting Canadian.  Beside the GSC, the plan involves Environment Canada, Canadian Weather Service, Public Safety Canada, Emergency Management British Columbia, Transport Canada, NavCanada, the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Canadian Airline Pilots Association. All these agencies meet regularly to ensure that the IVENP is up-to-date.