Congratulations to Dr. Emily Bremer and Dr. Alex Marland on their recognition from the Royal Society of Canada
Two Acadia professors are among the 159 honorees named by the Royal Society of Canada in their 2026 class of Fellows and College Members. A hearty congratulations to Dr. Emily Bremer (Kinesiology), on becoming a College Member, and Dr. Alex Marland (Politics), Jarislowsky Chair of Trust and Political Leadership, on advancing from Member to Fellow!
“I couldn’t be happier for Drs. Bremer and Marland for these amazing and well-deserved achievements,” says Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo, Provost and Vice-President Academic. “They exemplify the excellence, curiosity, creativity, and public impact that the Royal Society of Canada celebrates, and they represent the extraordinary scholarship happening at Acadia.”
“Their work supports students, drives knowledge creation, informs policy and decision-making, contributes to national dialogues, and shapes the world around us. We are immensely proud to see Drs. Bremer and Marland recognized in this way, and grateful for all their contributions to Acadia, Nova Scotia, and Canada.”
Each year, the RSC recognizes exceptional scholarship, artistry, and science with one of the highest honours in Canada. The members of the RSC have been advancing scholarship, advising governments and NGOs, and keeping Canadians abreast of the latest research on matters of public interest since 1882.
“Their work spans breakthroughs in medicine, technology and climate research, contributions in the arts and literature, leadership in reconciliation, and efforts to build a more inclusive future. These individuals are shaping Canadian society through their scholarship, creativity, and impact – today and into the years ahead,” says Françoise Baylis, FRSC, President of the Royal Society of Canada, in the Royal Society news release welcoming the newest Fellows and College Members into the RSC.
Dr. Marland has taken the Canadian politics scene by storm with frequent appearances on news channels across the country as an expert on political messaging, branding, and party politics. He was in particularly high demand to explain what was going on with all the recent floor crossings in Parliament, and what it means for Canada's political parties.
His recent book, No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics, was recognized with two awards this year: the American Political Science Association’s 2026 Seymour Martin Lipset Award for Best Book on Canadian Politics and the Canadian Political Science Association’s 2026 Donald Smiley Prize for best book about the study of government and politics in Canada.
Dr. Emily Bremer, Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Health Inclusive Communities, is an internationally recognized scholar with a strong publication record who also walks the walk. Outside of the classroom, she is the Research Director of the S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program, an adapted physical activity program for individuals experiencing disability.
Each year, S.M.I.L.E. changes the lives of its participants, and the Acadia students who coach them one-on-one, as they form meaningful relationships and learn together.
Dr. Bremer and Dr. Marland will receive their honours at a Royal Society ceremony in Ottawa on November 13, and we’ll have a more in depth interview with both of them closer to that date.