Westheimer will join the newly elected from the : Arts and Humanities, Science, and the Social Sciences, for the this fall in Montreal. In keeping with tradition, he will add his signature to the RSC’s historic to mark the occasion.
“I’m deeply honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. This recognition affirms not only my own work but also the importance of education to the health of democracy," says Westheimer.
“From my early years teaching in New York City public schools to my research and writing, I’ve been guided by the belief that education is about more than test scores – it’s about cultivating citizens who can think critically, care about one another, and strengthen democracy. I’m grateful to my students, colleagues and collaborators who have inspired this work," he adds.
Civics education and democratic engagement
Westheimer started as a high school teacher before becoming an award-winning author and professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Throughout his career, he has championed the transformative power of education to build a more just and democratic world and his groundbreaking work has reshaped how schools and education systems teach democracy. As a researcher and public figure, the reach of his ideas and theoretical contributions to interdisciplinary scholarship extends to curricular development and policymaking in Canada, the Americas, and internationally.
In print and on the air
Westheimer’s written words have travelled the globe. His academic journal articles have been downloaded over 400,000 times, and more than 11,000 citations highlight the impact of his published research.
His acclaimed book is considered a classic in the field of education and has been translated into a dozen languages. Recently published in its second edition, the book addresses the increasing fragility of democracy across the world. The volume offers a model for teaching the critical thinking skills students need to navigate the perilous present, and nurture hope for the future.
Westheimer is regularly quoted in major media, including The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, The London Free Press, and the New York Times; he is also a contributor to
On the air, he is a familiar voice as a columnist for the CBC Radio Ottawa Morning and Ontario Today shows, with his expert commentary segments on education reaching 250,000 listeners biweekly. He has appeared on CBC, NBC, CBS, and NPR news channels, on Good Morning America, and been interviewed on numerous Canadian and international podcasts.
Among his many professional achievements are membership in the U.S. National Academy of Education, election as an American Educational Research Association fellow, past holder of the University Research Chair in Democracy and Education, and founder and former Executive Director of Democratic Dialogue.
“I’ve been guided by the belief that education is about more than test scores – it’s about cultivating citizens who can think critically, care about one another, and strengthen democracy.”
Joel Westheimer
— Royal Society of Canada Fellow
Congratulations
“On behalf of the Faculty of Education, I extend our most sincere congratulations to Professor Joel Westheimer for this prestigious honor, which crowns over 30 years of excellence in research,” says Dean Francis Bangou.
“His invaluable contributions to civic education and democratic engagement have a global reach and remain a source of inspiration for the entire academic and educational community. This well-deserved recognition is a source of immense pride for our faculty, and we wish him continued success,” he adds.
About the RSC
"The RSC is the recognized pre-eminent body of independent scholars, researchers and creative people in Canada whose Members comprise a collegium that can provide intellectual leadership for the betterment of Canada and the world,” according to the
The Faculty of Education is privileged to be the academic home of two RSC Fellows: Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt (Class of 2021) and now, Professor Joel Westheimer (Class of 2025).
