This year's Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences boasts an exciting lineup of programming, both academic and cultural. Give yourself and your career an edge at Career Corner. Be inspired by some of our world-renowned speakers at Big Thinking. Check out the online Calendar of Events to see more events, including some of the wonderful cultural programming from the University of Victoria. And don't forget to book your travel and accommodations.

At its Annual General Meeting on March 23, 2013, the Federation's board of directors witnessed the transfer of presidential duties from Graham Carr to Antonia Maioni. The Federation's Executive Director, Jean-Marc Mangin, thanked Dr. Carr for his strategic leadership, his effectiveness as the Federation spokesperson, and his ongoing participation on the Board for the coming year as Past-President. Dr. Maioni is Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, in the Department of Political Science and the Institute for Health and Social Policy. She expressed her pleasure at representing the member associations and institutions as the Board President.

In other business at the AGM, the board warmly welcomed the Federation's newest member: the Canadian Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres / Association canadienne des bibliothèques, archives et centres de documentation musicaux. And, after two years of work, the membership unanimously accepted new bylaws that allow for both improved policy capacity and compliance with the new Not for Profit Act. The Federation welcomed all new board members, and thanked both the returning and outgoing members for their dedication to the work of the Federation. The new board of directors can be seen here.

The Federation's Annual Conference was a great success this year. Outgoing President Graham Carr issued a call to arms in his opening address. SSHRC President Chad Gaffield followed with a presentation on the Imagining Canada's Future program. General Assembly members then had the opportunity to participate in one of a series of workshops. The afternoon featured an insightful discussion between Dr. Eliot Phillipson and Alex Usher on the state of social sciences and humanities research in Canada, which was followed by a provocative address by John Ralston Saul entitled "A Country Won or Lost by Its Intellectuals." The day wrapped up with the awarding of the Canada Prizes in the Social Sciences and Humanities. For more information on the day's proceedings, including videos of many of the speakers, please see www.ideas-idees.ca/conference.