Everybody knows he’s a great teacher. But now it’s official.

Last Friday in Ottawa, Dr. Norm Catto of the Geography Department in the Faculty of Arts received the Canadian Association of Geographers Award for Excellence in Teaching Geographer at the CAG’s annual conference.

This is the first time a Memorial University faculty member has been so honoured. The award, which was established in 1997, is given annually to a member of the CAG who teaches in a recognized university, college, CEGEP or high school and who has distinguished herself or himself in courses with small and large enrolment, at different levels of instruction and over several years of teaching in the nominating institution.

Dr. Catto’s achievements are many and varied and include research, committee work, outreach, editing and organizing. But according to Professor Karen Butler of the Geography Department, “It is in the teaching of geography that Norm really shines. He regularly teaches at all levels of the curriculum here at Memorial: first year to PhD, spanning a range of specific topics from general introduction to geomorphology to hazards to quaternary environments.

"Norm makes trips to many schools in our area, engaging students from kindergarten to grade twelve, leading field trips with cooperating teachers and providing volumes of materials to our province's teachers for their virtual classroom.

"He has the respect of our undergraduates who flock to his courses; they know they will be given a rigorous yet fair course by someone who really does care about their progress. His graduate students applaud his willingness to adapt their programmes to particular personal circumstances. Norm is a true teacher; he can motivate, hold attention and impart knowledge effectively to a wide variety of audiences. As one of our undergraduate students has said ‘Norm Catto is the Godfather of Geography.'"