The Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS) share our deepest condolences and respect following the passing of Professor Frazer Taylor on March 22, 2025. Professor Taylor had a remarkable and distinguished career at Carleton University, leaving an indelible mark through his significant contributions that extended until the end of his life. Along with other pioneers in the field, he started moving digital cartography and geographic information science forward in the 1960s. He made significant contributions to the field for the rest of his life.  He received numerous awards for these contributions as a Canadian scholar, including the Killam Prize (2014) and the Order of Canada (2021).

Professor Taylor was Secretary-Treasurer of CAAS from 1970 to l985. Our Frazer Taylor Prize, awarded to graduate students presenting papers at the annual CAAS Conference, recognizes Professor Taylor as a distinguished geographer and Africanist. Valued at $500, the prize is awarded annually to the best graduate student paper presented at the previous CAAS Conference. Winners of this prize are also invited to submit their manuscripts to the Canadian Journal of African Studies where editors can facilitate a process of review and publication. The CAAS community, including graduate students benefiting from this award, will always remember Professor Taylor’s commitment and passion for African Studies in Canada. We offer our sincerely wishes of comfort to Professor Taylor’s family, the Carleton community, and friends. May his memory and remarkable works remain a blessing.

Learn more about his distinguished career here.