A century of promoting Canada's humanities and social sciences.
A national presence for the HSS, nearly a century in the making
For almost 100 years, the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences has provided leadership and connection for Canada’s humanities and social sciences (HSS) community, working alongside generations of scholars, institutions, and scholarly associations to strengthen the value and impact of HSS scholarship.
That shared purpose first took shape through the creation of the Humanities Research Council (HRC) and the Canadian Social Science Research Council (CSSRC). Established in the early 20th century, these councils emerged to create a unified presence for scholars and scholarly organizations in national conversations.
As Canada’s research ecosystem evolved, so too did the need for a more integrated and targeted approach. In 1996, the HRC and CSSRC merged to form the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together two traditions of leadership into a single organization designed to embolden its national impact.
What we’ve built together
Since then, the Federation has expanded its work as a national convenor and promoter through initiatives that bring Canada’s HSS community together and embolden its work to go farther, including national advocacy, the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences; Big Thinking Summits and the Big Thinking podcast; the Scholarly Book Awards and the Canada Prizes, its national book prize; and a suite of funding, awards, and EDID-focused programs.
Informed by our members, this work makes visible what over 90,000 HSS scholars and leaders contribute across the country: scholarship and teaching that deepens understanding and shape public life.
An inflection point, and what comes next
In 2026, the Federation marked a significant inflection point 30 years since its founding as a national organization, and nearly 95 years of continuous leadership across its predecessor organizations.
Amid sustained change in postsecondary education, the Federation’s Strategic Plan: Inflection Point (2026-2030) set a new course for the organization’s national role in promoting the HSS in Canada, work that will unfold as a shared mission for and with its community over the next five years.