The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences fosters research into human, social and cultural knowledge for the well-being of society. Founded during World War II, the Federation has, for sixty years, nurtured cultural, political and intellectual freedom, helped shape public policy, enhanced intellectual productivity, and applied human and social science to the common good on behalf of its members.

The Federation aids work across the broad range of the humanities and social sciences in administration, education, and law; in anthropology, drama, and fine arts; in history, modern languages and literature; in linguistics, classics, and philosophy; in political science, psychology, and religious studies; in sociology, social work and communications; in women's studies, socialist studies and leisure studies; in area studies, Canadian studies and international development; in environmental studies, folklore and in computing in the humanities, and in cultural studies, industrial relations and geography, helping these fields to yield scholarly progress and social renewal.

The Federation's constituencies are scholarly associations and universities representing over 50,000 professors and graduate students in the humanities and social sciences; professionals in government, the private sector, and non-government agencies; and independent scholars. Over the years, the Federation has served and continues to serve its constituencies by:

• organizing the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences at which over 6,000 scholars share their research;
• managing the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP) which, since 1941, has helped publish over 5,000 scholarly books. The ASPP's 66 peer-review committees make accessible the widest range of scholarship. It also awards four annual book prizes;
• advocating the importance of humanities and social sciences teaching and scholarship to governments, to media, and to the general public;
• highlighting research issues and facilitating research exchanges;
• holding special events, such as its Breakfast on the Hill series;
• extending services to, and supporting, societies, it will help recruit and retain scholars, train academics for roles on society boards, facilitate membership and subscription lists, as well as explore electronic resources.

By extending services to over 65 learned societies, the Federation provides the necessary infrastructure that aids self-management, enhances collaborative research and facilitates membership within these societies. For over 68 university members, the Federation monitors nation-wide trends in enrolment and program design. With over half of all Canada's undergraduates enrolling in humanities and social sciences programs, increased resources to better assist deans and vice-presidents (academic and research) in tracking national issues are necessary.

Encouraged by the Federation, the media increasingly promote social justice, cultural practice and artistic expression, showing the public how liberal education informs daily life. The Federation aims to broadcast the humanities and social sciences through a wider range of media and through more non-governmental agencies.

The Federation's General Assembly approved in November 2001 a five-year fund-raising campaign to establish an endowment so that advocacy, renewal of infrastructure, offering of awards, dissemination of research, and research development might be founded on an assured, permanent, and nation-wide basis. The campaign's name is: The Canadian Endowment for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Its target of $11.4 million was based on a thorough review of administrative functions and budgetary categories. The target was also set up to match income from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and from memberships of associations and universities.

When all donations will have been received in 2011, the fund's annual income is expected to be $550,000.

To obain further information about supporting the campaign or for a full version of this Case Statement, please contact us at 613-238-6112 or by email at fedcan@fedcan.ca.