The Canadian Association of General Surgeons is the only national organization entirely dedicated to representing the interests of General Surgeons in Canada.
As a general surgery resident in Canada, your membership with the association is paid for by your residency program. We invite you to explore the membership benefits available to you on the website.
Highlighted Benefits
- Resident representation on the Board of Directors and several CAGS Committees
- Annual CAGS Exam resources and Review Webinar series
- Live webinars on a variety of clinical and non-clinical topics (recordings also available)
- National Teaching Rounds webinar series
- Annual Resident Research Retreat
- Annual Resident Teaching Awards
- National Events Calendar
- CGSF 40,000$ Operating Grant Competition
- Monthly newsletters
- Job Board that includes career, locum, and fellowship opportunities
- Rural Surgery Mentorship program
- Women in Surgery Mentorship program
- Affinity programs with: Goodlife Fitness, Perkopolis, TD Meloche Monnex
- Discounted submission fees with the Canadian Journal of Surgery
- Advocacy for issues such as national licensure and workforce planning
- Resident content highlighting research and accomplishments of our fellow peers
CAGS Resident Committee
The Resident Committee is made up of one representative from each of the general surgery residency programs in Canada. The committee meets virtually every other month throughout the year in order to discuss common issues facing surgical residents across the country. Committee members are also assigned to directorships. These are sub-groups within the committee that are tasked with various projects throughout the year. Here are the positions and what our directorships are currently working on:
Resident Committee Co-chairs
Oversees committee meetings and supports directors in fulfilling their responsibilities as needed.
Sarah Mansouri (Sherbrooke)
Ashley Robinson (Dalhousie)
Sponsorship Directors
Coordinates the creation and distribution of CAGS scrub caps for all new PGY1 residents annually. Contributes to the creation and distribution of CAGS-branded clothing.
Janyssa Charbonneau (Laval)
Nicole Labine (USask)
Resident Handbook Director
In charge of updating, improving, and distributing the Resident Handbook, the ultimate resource for general surgery residents in Canada in English and French.
Talal Hijji (McGill)
Aghiles Abbad (Montreal)
Research Director
Responsible for the promotion of research activities within the Canadian General Surgery resident body. Coordinates the Resident Research Corner program.
Lily Park (McMaster)
Linda Fei (Queen’s)
Scrub Caps Off Director
Coordinates the monthly resident profiling feature, “Scrub Caps Off”.
Dexter Choi (Ottawa)
Stephanie Jiang (Toronto)
Mentorship Directors
Develop and maintain the General Surgery mentorship program across Canada. Develop and organize a symposium at the CAGS CSF meeting geared towards medical students.
Zosia Czarnecka (Alberta)
Brynn Aucoin (NOSM)
Emily Courage (Memorial)
Survey Directors
Responsible for quarterbacking the creation of the National Resident Survey, its distribution to residents, and the eventual presentation of its results at the CSF CAGS Resident Symposium in September.
Emily Heath (Calgary)
Gladys Bruyninx (Saskatchewan)
Dara Hallock (Manitoba)
Social Media Director
Coordinates our social media presence, maintaining regular Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram postings and trying to grow how we reach residents. Responsible for the creation of the Resident Awareness Week poster and its distribution. Helps co-chairs organizing the CAGS CSF Resident Social.
Rachel Peet (Western)
Diversity Director
Engage and recruit medical learners from diverse backgrounds and minority groups. Help create a more equitable environment and culture in General Surgery by liaising with mentorship and diversity programs across the country. Ensure committee programming is inclusive for all.
Aghiles Abbad (Montreal)