The concept of a nationally-supported institute for theoretical astrophysics dates back to discussions within the Canadian Astronomical Society in the early 1980s. A series of committees advocated a model of a university‑based institute governed by a council of Canadian astrophysicists. Proposals were solicited from universities across the country to host this institute, which by now had been named the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics/Institut Canadien d'astrophysique theorique. The University of Toronto won the resulting spirited competition, and CITA was established as an institute within the School of Graduate Studies in June 1984, with staff consisting of a single professor as the Acting Director and a visiting professor from Queen's University and a temporary administrative assistant. Today there are 7 faculty members two of which are Canada Research Chairs, two administrative staff, a Systems Manager and technical computing staff. At the same time, Professor Richard Henriksen worked on establishing CITA, Inc. as an incorporated national institute and charity governed by an elected Council of Canadian astrophysics/relativity professors to promote research in theoretical astrophysics across the country. CITA Council is selected from CITA Inc members. There are presently 55 members of CITA, Inc. CITA's research activities are supported by the University of Toronto, NSERC, multiple grants by the Ontario and Federal governments, as well as private sponsors including the Simons Foundation and CIFAR.
Membership
CITA has a small number of long-term faculty members, and a larger number of short term postdoctoral positions, as well as an active visitor program; the purpose of the relatively high influx of new researchers or visitors is to ensure that timely topics are well represented at CITA. There are currently approximately 20 postdoctoral researchers at CITA, and 4 full-time administrative and computer staff. Several graduate students in the University of Toronto Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics or Department of Physics work with CITA researchers throughout their graduate work, and typically ten undergraduates come to CITA to work over the summer. In 1985, Scott D. Tremaine came to CITA as its first Director; Margaret Fukunaga was hired as the permanent Business Officer and Richard Bond arrived as the second faculty member. Richard Bond became the Director in 1996 and Norman Murray was director 2006-2016. Since 1984, the directors of the institute have been as follows:
