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Past Students in CPRC's Graduate Studies Program
CPRC was the first research institute within the University of Regina to offer an accredited degree program. The Canadian Plains Studies Program facilitates interdisciplinary studies of master and doctoral students on topics relevant to the Canadian Plains.
Click here for information about applying for Graduate Studies through CPRC and for a list of our current graduate students and their topics.
Completed
Theses through CPRC's Canadian Plains Studies Program since
1995:
Sharon
Baldwin, M.A.
Self-interest and the Public Interest: Professional Regulation in Saskatchewan,
1905-1948.
Defended Fall 1998. Supervisor: Dr. William Brennan (History); Committee Members:
Diane Secoy (Biology), Art Opseth (Engineering), Jim Pitsula (History).
Lisa Dale-Burnett,
Ph.D.
Agricultural Change and Farmer Adaptation in the Palliser Triangle, Saskatchewan,
1900-1960. This study, within the PECOS Project, investigated the adaptive
strategies developed by past residents of part of the Palliser Triangle. It
examined how these strategies have changed over time and their environmental
and social implications.
Defended May 2002. Co-Supervisors: Dr. Randy Widdis (Geography) and Dr. James
McCrorie (Sociology). Committee Members: Dr. James Pitsula (History), Dr.
Joseph Schmutz (Biology, University of Saskatchewan)
John
Burton, M.A.
Public Ownership in Saskatchewan Potash: An Analysis of Factors Leading to the Saskatchewan Government's 1975 Decision.
Defended December 2004. Co-Supervisors: Dr. Howard Leeson (Political Science); Dr. Robert McLaren (Administration). Committee Member: Dr. Murray Knuttila.
Darrell
Davis, Ph.D.
Chemical Dependency and Relationship to Personality, Demographic, Psychometric Variables and Treatment Outcome.
Defended May 2005. Supervisor: Dr. Peter Hemingway (Education). Committee Members: Dr. Brian Sveinson (Counselling Services, U of R), Dr. Robert J. Moore (Campion), Dr. David Gauthier (CPRC).
Gloria
DeSantis, Ph.D.
The Power to Change: the Advocacy and Empowerment Functions of Nonprofit Organizations
and the Health Impacts on Marginalized Communities.
Dr. Michael Polanyi (Saskatchewan Population Heath and Evaluation Research
Unit); Dr. Luc Theriault (Social Work)
Loretta
Gerlach, M.A.
An Exploratory Study into the Appropriateness of Community Policing Theory
and Strategy Given the Over-Representation of Aboriginal People in the Criminal
Justice System in Saskatchewan. Community policing theory has become central
to the strategic planning of policing organizations in Saskatchewan as well
as North America. However, community policing theory, and thereby initiatives,
tend to ignore those issues pertaining to the over-representation of Aboriginal
people, especially in Western Canada. This thesis explores the gaps in community
policing theory, the real effects on Aboriginal people, and seeks direction
for more viable solutions in Saskatchewan
Co-Supervisors: Dr. James Harding (Human Justice) and Dr. Randy Widdis (Geography).
Committee members: Dr. Robert Stirling (Sociology), Dr. Sandra Pearce (Human
Justice)
Bruce
Hanbidge, M.A.
Habitat Requirements of a Keystone Species. GIS modeling to predict the abundance
and distribution of the Richardson's Ground Squirrel.
Dr. Paul James (Biology); Dr. David Gauthier (Geography)
Miriam
Handel, M.A.
"Pushing the Boundaries": Restorative Justice Practice in a First
Nations Community. Restorative justice theory in a First Nations community
on the prairies and the actualization of self-government in the administration
of justice.
Defended April 2003. Co-Supervisors: Dr. Otto Driedger (Justice) and Dr. Jim
Mulvale (Justice). Committee Members: Christine Watson (First Nations University
of Canada), William Asikinack (First Nations University of Canada)
Wendee
Kubik, M.A.
The Research and Study of Farm Stress and Coping: A Critical Evaluation. A
critical analysis of the research and study of farm stress and coping is offered
from a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account the many problems that
are affecting farm life and some of the unique characteristics of farm families.
Defended Fall 1996; Supervisor: Dr. Robert Moore, Psychology (Campion); Committee
Members: Bob Stirling (Sociology); Jim McCrorie (Sociology).
Wendee Kubik, Ph.D.
The Changing Roles of Farm Women and the Consequences for their Health, Well-being and Quality of Life. A qualitative and quantitative study utilizing a 20-page questionnaire and in-depth interviews to focus on the changing roles of Saskatchewan farm women. Partners in this research are the Farm Stress Line and the Saskatchewan Women in Agriculture Network (SWAN).
Defended Summer 2004; Supervisors: Dr. Bob Moore (Campion); Dr. Bob Stirling (Sociology/Social Studies)
Neil
McLeod, Ph.D.
Exploring Cree Narrative Memory
Defended January 2005. Supervisor: Dr. Patrick Douaud (Education). Committee Members: Dr. David Miller (FNUC), Dr. Randy Widdis (Geography), Dr. Florence Stratton (English), Dr. Bela Szabados (Philosophy and Classics).
Maureen
Murray, M.A.
Circles of Healing: Stories of Trauma and Recovery from Native American and
Western Perspectives. This study investigated cross-cultural approaches to
psychological healing and the growth from trauma. Three primary areas contributing
to healing were investigated: the role of spirituality, the role of family
and/or community, and the personality characteristics of the individuals who
participate in the research.
Supervisor: Dr. Paul Antrobus (Psychology, Luther College). Committee Members:
Dr. Mary Hampton (Psychology, Luther College), William Asikinack (Indian Studies,
First Nations University of Canada), Dr. Bill Smythe (Psychology)
Robert
Nestor, M.A.
Hayter Reed and the Allotment of Indian Reserve Lands on the Canadian Prairies.
This thesis concentrated on Hayter Reed's allotment policy for Indian reserves
on the Canadian Prairies during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.
Issues surrounding the evolution of such a policy within the Victorian 'frame
of mind' was addressed, as were the effects this policy had on Indian lands
and Indian people.
Defended Fall, 1997; Supervisor: Dr. David Miller (Saskatchewan Indian Federated
College); Committee Members: Murray Knuttila (Sociology); Jim Pitsula (History)
Rory O'Hagan, M.A.
A Geography of Absence: Identity, Alienation and Ambiguity on the North American Grasslands. This study argues that the grassland form a region that has often been shaped, defined, adapted to, and understood in the negative. The discussion first takes into account how a relative deficiency of water has influenced biological and cultural adaptation. The bulk of the paper, however, concerns the way in which people (mainly of European descent) have conceived of the Prairies, and characterizes a relationship between people and place that has often been fraught with ambiguity and estrangement.
Defended December 2005. Supervisor: Dr. Patrick Douaud (Education); Committee Members: Dr. Peggy Wigmore (English); Dr. Randy Widdis (Geography)
Roger
Petry, Ph.D.
The Role of Free Knowledge at Universities and its Potential Impact on the
Sustainability of the Prairie Region. The goal of this thesis is to examine
the potential impact on the sustainability of the prairie region of the development
of free knowledge by its publicly-funded universities. Here Free Knowledge
is understood as the transformed use of private intellectual property rights
to create a non-proprietary public good.
Dr. Eldon Soifer (Philosophy)
Todd Radenbaugh,
Ph.D.
Changing Landscapes and Resource Use by Breeding Birds in the Mixed Grassland
Ecoregion, Saskatchewan. The use of information system technology to integrate
and analyze data collected in the Prairie Ecosystem Study (PECOS) area. This
database was used to generate predictive models that simulate alternate land
use schemes for the investigation of possible sustainable strategies of prairie
use.
Defended Fall 2003. Supervisor: Dr. David Gauthier (Geography); Dr. Katherine
Bergmann (Geology); Dr. Mark Brigham (Biology); Dr. Peter Leavitt (Biology)
Roxanne
Roth, M.A.
Health Delivery Reform: A case study of health delivery system reform in two
Saskatchewan rural health districts. This thesis examines various demographical
changes within the two rural communities, with special attention placed in
the level of stress among the elderly rural residents.
Defended Summer 1997. Supervisor: Dr. James McCrorie (Sociology); Committee
Members: Jim Pitsula (History); Lorne Brown (Political Science); Joesph Schner
(Psychology).
Blair
Stonechild, Ph.D.
Indian Higher Education Policy in Canada. Will identify and interpret key
factors in the evolution of Canadian Indian higher education (university)
policy. Key factors include the rationale and nature of such policy and issues
of legislative authority, policy-making, and funding powers.
Defended Spring 2004. Supervisor: Dr. James Pitsula, (History); Committee
Members: Eber Hampton (First Nations University); Rod Dolmage (Education)
Roderick
Irwin Stutt, Ph.D.
Water policy-making in the Canadian Plains: historical factors that influenced
the work of the Prairie Provinces Water Board (1948-1969). 1996
Charlotte
Thompson, M.A.
A Case Study of the Surrendered Pheasant’s Rump Reserve Land: 1901–1971.
In 1881 John C. Nelson surveyed adjoining reserves for the bands of Chief
Pheasant's Rump and Ocean Man, comprising 44,800 acres of high-quality prairie,
bush and small lakes. In 1901, after several successful years of farming,
these people were amalgamated onto the White Bear Reserve, and land previously
theirs was opened to settlement. This thesis tells the history of this 44,800
acres of land, and its treatment during the ninety-year hiatus from reserve
status.
Defended Spring 2003. Co-supervisors: Dr. David Miller / Dr. Carl Beal (First
Nations University of Canada). Committee Members: Dr. Bill Brennan (History),
Dr. James McCrorie (Sociology), Dr. Bernie Selinger (First Nations University
of Canada).
Completed Theses through CPRC's Canadian Plains Studies Program from 1973 to
1995:
Louis Ariano.
Spatio-temporal images among the Plains Indians. M.A. 1988
Oliver
Brass.
An opinion study concerning causes and solutions of problems relating to Canadian
Indians and crime. Ph.D. 1985
Thora
Lynn Cartlidge.
Historic district conservation in Winnipeg and Minneapolis/St. Paul. M.A.
1984
Kenneth
David Falconer.
Tommy Douglas, 1930-1944: A case study of leadership and social structure.
M.A. 1979
Beryl
Alice Forgay.
Attitudes in Saskatchewan society toward people labelled mentally retarded.
M.A. 1987
Nancy
Jane Foulds.
The North-West press and the Conservative government's settlement policy 1878-1896,
M.A. 1982
Margaret
Hughes.
The functional hierarchy of business centres in Regina. M.A. 1972
Janet
Knowles.
Prairie themes in Saskatchewan songs. M.A. 1991
John Ormond
Mitchell.
The administrative politics in an educational action-research program in Canada:
Case study of Saskatchewan NewStart Incorporated. M.A. 1978
Rosalind
Grace Morgan.
An ecological study of the northern plains as seen through the Garratt site.
M.A. 1978
John Lucas
Moser.
The impact of city council's decisions between 1903 and 1930 on the morphological
development of Regina. M.A. 1978
Donald
Joseph Philippon.
An analysis of The Foundation Grants Act, 1970, and its application in Saskatchewan
school units. M.A. 1973
Anwar
Saddozai Qureshi.
Local variation in rural farm depopulation in southwestern Saskatchewan. M.A
1978
Robert
Bruce Shepard.
American influence on the settlement and development of the Canadian Plains.
Ph.D. 1994
Alexander
Blair Stonechild.
The Indian role in the North-West Rebellion of 1885. M.A. 1989
William
Arthur Wells.
Saskatchewan government cable television policy, 1971-1982. M.A. 1986
Gail Lesley
Zahradnitzky.
The development and application of prairie railway policy. M.A. 1974 |
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CPRC's past Research Fellows
CPRC’s Research Fellow Program was established in 1983 to provide support to visiting scholars conducting studies on the Canadian prairie region.
Click here for information about CPRC's Research Fellows Program and for a list of current CPRC Research Fellows.
Past Research Fellows
Dr. James
Aber (Department of Geology, Emporia State University, Kansas).
Topic: Remote Sensing and Glacial Geomorphology and research in Glacial Geology.
Dr. Aber was on a faculty exchange with Dr. Alec Paul, Department of Geography,
University of Regina.
Mr. Abe
Arnold (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Topic: Canadian Jewish history, to produce a book with a working title of
Canada and the Jews: From New France to New Jerusalem.
Mr. William
Beeching (Regina, Sask.)
Topic: to write a book published by CPRC - Canadian Volunteers: Spain, 1936-1939
- This is the story of Canadians who fought in Spain as part of the International
Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.
Mr. Ian
Bickle (Retired Journalist, Regina)
Topic: History of the construction of the Hudson Bay Railroad (The Pas to
Churchill, Manitoba).
Dr. Niels
Braroe (Anthropology & Archaeology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Topic: Study of Nikaneet Cree at Maple Creek. His original study was published
by Stanford University Press entitled Indian and White: Self-Image and Interaction
in a Canadian Plains Community.
Mr. Barry
Broadfoot (Author and Broadcaster, Nanaimo, B.C.).
Topic: Research for a documentary on the Current and Future Plight to the
Western Grain Farmer as laid out in his book Next Year Country.
Mr. John
Campbell (Geography, Queens University of Belfast, Ireland).
Topic: The study of the geographic loci of CCF electoral support in the province
of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Cecilia Danysk (History,
Dalhousie University).
Topic: The penetration of capitalist farms in prairie agriculture production
during the period 1880 to 1930.
Drs. Polo
Diaz, Robert Stirling and Murray Knuttila (University of Regina).
Topic: A comparative study of the impact of international wheat prices on
the prairies of Canada, Australia and Argentina.
Mr. Zhang
Dongan (Director of the Canadian Economy and Trade Studies, Sichuan University,
People's Republic of China).
Topic: Research in preparation for a book on the economics of prairie agriculture.
Mr. Steve
Dorey (Economics, University of Regina).
Topic: A study in respect of prairie regional trade patterns and policies
resulting in a CPRC publication Free Trade on the Prairies: The Implications
of the Canada-US Trade Pact for the Three Prairie Provinces.
Dr. Patrick Douaud (University of Regina).
Topic: French translation of selected entries for the online Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan.
Mr. David
Doyle (Educator and historian, North Battleford).
Topic: Study of Cree Indian life during the period between the signing of
treaties in the 1870s and the onset of welfare in the 1960s.
Mr. Michael
Gertler (Sociology, University of Saskatchewan).
Topic: To study the changing structure of agriculture on the North American
Plains.
Mr. Dennis
Gruending (Writer, Broadcaster, Regina).
Topic: Writing a biography of Allan Blakeney, Premier of Saskatchewan.
Mr. Max
Headley (Anthropology, University of Windsor).
Topic: Study of the transformation of household commodity producers through
their involvement in societal and global processes of capitalist development.
The prairie region of Canada has been chosen for comparative purposes.
Dr. Norman
Henderson (Geography, University of East Anglia, U.K.)
Topic: History of the intersection of culture and ecology in the Qu'Appelle
Valley. He spent the summer of 1994 traveling with a dog travois and the summer
of 1995 was spent using a horse travois.
Mr. Michael
Hopkinson (Environment & Community Research Unit, Bedford College, UK).
Topic: Study of the prairie landscape in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Ms. Dominique
Kaiser (Sociology, University of Tubingen, West Germany).
Topic: Research for Ph.D. thesis on ideology in the Canadian prairie novel.
Ms. Ella
Kalcounis (Director, Calgary Women's Writing Project, University of Calgary).
Topic: An oral history of the migration of Greeks from the Mount Parnon area
of Greece to the prairie region of Canada.
Dr. Patrick
Kyba (Political Science, University of Guelph).
Topic: History of the Conservative Party in the province of Saskatchewan.
Also the author of CPRC's Alvin: A Biography of the Honourable Alvin Hamilton,
P.C.
Dr. Ann Leger-Anderson
Topic: History of Women in Saskatchewan. Dr. Leger-Anderson's work was cut short by her death in January 2006.
Mr. Malcolm
Lewis (Geography, University of Sheffield, UK).
Topic: Received a Canada Research Award by the Canadian High Commission (UK)
to undertake a study of cartography symbols found on eighteenth-century prairie
maps.
Dr. Alex MacDonald (Campion
College, University of Regina).
Topic: Saskatchewan utopias and intentional communities: a reference guide.
Mr. Max
Macdonald (Saskatchewan journalist and former editor of the Saskatoon Star
Phoenix and executive vice president of the Regina Leader Post, Regina).
Topic: The history of the construction of the South Saskatchewan River Dam.
Dr. Stewart Mein (Author/Historian,
Pierceland, SK).
Topic: A military history of Western Canada from 1870 to 1920.
Mr. George
Melnyk (Writer and Historian, Calgary).
Topic: Researching and editing a collections of readings on the subject of
social and political unrest in the prairie region from the time of Louis Riel
to the present.
Dr. Grace Morgan (Regina,
Ph.D. Anthropology U of Alberta)
Topic: Man/Environmental Relationships of Plains/Parkland Ecosystem Modeling.
Dr. Alijca
Muszynski (Sociology, University of Waterloo).
Topic: Rural Community Study on Wishart, Saskatchewan.
Mr. John
Othick (Economics & Social History Queen's University, Belfast, Northern
Ireland).
Topic: The development of a Canadian Studies program at Queen's University
of Belfast with emphasis on the Canadian Plains.
Mr. Bob
Phillips (Editor, Western Producer Publications, Saskatoon).
Topic: To work with the Center in connection with the Prairie Trade Patterns
and Prospects project.
Dr. Barbara
Powell (English, University of Regina) and Ms. Myrna Williams (Graduate Student
in English, University of Regina).
Topic: Research and write a directory to the material relating to women's
history in the Saskatchewan Archives.
Mr. Curt
Schroeder (Executive Director, Saskatchewan Natural History Society).
Topic: Study of the conservation of the Greater Prairie Chicken and Black-footed
Ferret.
Dr. Irene
Spry (Historian, Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa).
Topic: Research for CPRC book Records of the Department of the Interior and
Research Concerning Canada's Western Frontier of Settlement.
Dr. Betty Ternier Daniels (Cochin, SK).
Topic: Toward sustainability: prairie universities in a postmodern world.
Dr. Donald
Wetherell and Ms. Irene Kmet (Historians, Edmonton).
Topic: A study of the history of the farm implement manufacturing industry
in the prairie region for the period 1870-1970.
Mr. Donny
White (Curator of Cultural History at the Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat,
AB).
Topic: Documentation of the life and work of pioneer photographer, Geraldine
Moodie.
Dr. Audrey Whitson (St.
Joseph's College, University of Alberta).
Topic: Earth pilgrimage. Alberta represents a collage of images and voices
of the land. The voices recorded are those of the First Peoples and the first
Euro Americans in their encounters with the land, as well as those of Dr.
Whitson seeking to rediscover the sacred in the land.
Dr. Roy
Wortman (History, Kenyon College, Gabier, Ohio).
Topic: History of the Plains Indians. |
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CPRC Projects (Historical)
The Great Sand Hills Regional Environmental Study
Administered through Canadian Plains Research Center, and under the supervision of a Scientific Advisory Committee, a Regional Environmental Study of the Great Sand Hills in southern Saskatchewan is being conducted. The study is 1) characterizing the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of the Great Sand Hills in the form of a baseline assessment; 2) using information from the baseline assessment to conduct a cumulative risk assessment and vulnerability analysis through an assessment of impacts on the Great Sand Hills; and 3) using the assessment of impacts to develop alternative scenarios for sustainability with recommendations as to the preferred scenarios. A recommended scenario will be accompanied by options for maintaining the ecological integrity of the Great Sand Hills. Link to the Great Sand Hills Study final report.
Climate Change and Adaptive Strategies for Conservation Area Planning in Grassland Environments
This project studies the influence of climate change on the fragmentation of native prairie in order to develop adaptive conservation strategies to meet biodiversity conservation needs for the prairies of Canada. The study measures the extent and distribution of native grasslands currently under various forms of protection by linking information on protected areas, biodiversity and land cover for the prairies and assessing gaps in protected area systems relative to remaining native prairie. It measures the fragmentation of native grasslands within and outside of current protected areas. It then assesses the potential impacts of climate change on the risk and vulnerability of remaining native grasslands to further fragmentation. Finally, the project will provide policy recommendations to three levels of government (municipal, provincial, national), non-government organizations, and industry and community associations on the adaptation strategies necessary for the conservation of fragmented native prairie habitats in the face of projected climate change impacts for the prairies.
Climate
Change and Prairie Biodiversity: Prediction and Adaptation
CPRC is partnering with Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management with
funding through the Canadian Climate Change Action Fund to develop an understanding
of wildlife adaptations to climate change impacts on habitats in the prairies
of southern Saskatchewan.
Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
CPRC participated in the University of Regina's CFI Committee to develop three
proposals in biology, computer science, and engineering to secure CFI funding
for the University. Each of the proposals was successful. CPRC was also represented
through its Executive Director as a co-applicant in the successful computer
science proposal ($544,700) to establish an Institute for Informatics at the
University.
Canadian
Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA)
Until 2004, Dr. Gauthier represented CPRC and members of the academic community
as a director of the board of CCEA. CCEA is a non-profit, registered charitable
organization with representatives from numerous jurisdictions throughout Canada.
Its mission is to facilitate the development in Canada of a nation-wide network
of protected ecological areas. It advances that mission through the development
of science-based projects, reports, meetings, and conferences on critical
aspects of protected areas.
During the period of Dr. Gauthier’s participation on CCEA’s board,
CPRC produced the CCEA national newsletter entitled "eco"; CPRC
developed and maintained an internet home page for CCEA; CPRC participated
in each of the CCEA annual conferences since 1995; published the proceedings
of the 1995 CCEA conference on protected areas in resource-based economies;
assisted in organizing the CCEA's 1996 national conference on protected areas
and landscape ecology entitled "Caring for Home Place"; was a partner
with CCEA in the federal GeoInnovations 1999 program to develop a North American
Conservation Areas Database; assisted in developing CCEA's fact sheets; assisted
in maintaining CCEA's financial accounting; and was a partner is CCEA's federal
Millennium Partnership Fund entitled "Canada's Conservation Achievements."
Canadian
Plains Source Database
CPRC assisted in developing a database of researchers and projects involved
in topics related to the Canadian Plains. As a component of the development
of that database, CPRC worked with the Environment and Ecology Working Group
of the Planning and Priorities Committee at the University of Regina, in cooperation
with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, to develop a database of
all University of Regina researchers involved in environmental and ecological
research.
Canadian
Unity Public Lectures and Academic Forum
CPRC, along with the University of Regina's President's Office and the Department
of Political Science, co-organized a series of three public lectures and an
academic forum on issues related to Quebec's continued involvement with Canada
and implications for the Prairies. The three public lectures were as follows:
The Canadian Plains Research Center Lecture: "Fatal Attraction: Decentralization
and the National Unity Debate," Roger Gibbons, University of Calgary.
The Stapleford Lecture: "Preserving the Canadian Federation: A Two Track
Approach," Peter H. Russell, University of Toronto
The Woodrow Lloyd Lecture: "The Theory, Praxis and Evolution of Sovereignty-Association,"
Josée Legault, Montreal, Quebec.
The two-day academic forum involved 35 invited participants.
Carry
the Kettle First Nation
CPRC's GISD was involved in a project to characterize information that will
be used by the Carry the Kettle First Nation in land claims negotiations.
Carry the Kettle First Nation is trying to obtain compensation for 9 quarter-sections
that were surrendered in 1905. This project involved the Indian Studies Research
Center at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (a research assistant)
and the Carry the Kettle First Nation. A number of datasets were developed
for this research including land use, assessment layer, land title layer,
settlement patterns layer, and land value.
Datasets
Quality Control
CPRC's GISD was contracted to develop an AML (Arc Macro Language) for the
purposes of data quality control on SaskGeomatics geographic information systems
products. SaskGeomatics is responsible for development, maintenance, and updating
of all digital base maps for the province of Saskatchewan.
Digital
Spatial Representation of Community Pasture Plans
CPRC's GISD created the digital conversion of Saskatchewan's Provincial Community
Pastures into an ArcInfo GIS geo-referenced digital format. This project was
funded by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
Ecological
Land Classification in Saskatchewan
CPRC worked with three branches of Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management,
Agriculture Canada, the Institute of Pedology (University of Saskatchewan),
and the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre to compile information that
characterizes the ecological elements of the 11 ecoregions of Saskatchewan.
One Ph.D. student was involved as a research assistant in this project.
Ecoregions
of Saskatchewan - Multimedia CD-ROM
In 1994 and 1995, the University of Regina worked with many partners to produce
the "Ecoregions of Saskatchewan" poster that won a national award
in 1996 and international recognition as an example which other jurisdictions
are using to develop similar products. CPRC had joined with a number of sponsors
to develop a multi-media CD-ROM based on the Saskatchewan ecoregions poster.
The CD-ROM has been available since 1998. Partners include Saskatchewan Education,
Saskatchewan Tourism, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, and
Parks Canada. The CD-ROM serves the educational and informational needs of
educators and researchers and forms part of the phased product development
of the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan project. In addition, CPRC published a
book Ecoregions of Saskatchewan to complement the poster map and CD products.
All three products were distributed to all Saskatchewan schools.
Environment Canada and Canada's Ecozones
CPRC assisted Environment Canada in producing a set of 20 folded posters covering
each of Canada's 15 terrestrial and five marine ecozones. A colourful illustration
on the front of each poster provides a composite of key features in each ecozone-a
visual aid for teaching about Canada's ecosystems. CPRC was particularly involved
in the production of the prairie vignette poster displaying information about
landforms, climate, and wildlife in the prairie ecozone of Canada. CPRC arranged
for a copy of the prairie poster to be distributed to all Saskatchewan schools.
Encyclopedia
of Saskatchewan
From 1996 to 2005, CPRC undertook one of the most ambitious publishing projects in Saskatchewan's
history. In May 1996, CPRC organized a workshop at the University of Regina that brought
together 25 agencies, institutions, and industries interested in furthering
the development of a Saskatchewan encyclopedia as a contribution to Saskatchewan's
centennial in 2005. Over the next nine years, an experienced publications management team and editorial board consisting of distinguished academics and government representatives produced, with contributions from more than 800 writers, an 1,100-page, single hard-cover volume which was launched on September 8, 2005. The Encyclopedia features 2,300 individual entries covering all aspects of life in Saskatchewan, along with 21 major essays written by noted experts on the subjects of Aboriginal peoples, agriculture, arts and culture, business and industry, education, geography, health, history, labour, law and justice, military history, politics and government, population, religion and philosophy, science and technology, social policy, sports, transportation, and women. The Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan was the Patron to the project and major sponsors included: Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 and the Government of Saskatchewan (Culture, Youth and Recreation; Environment; Government Relation; Industry and Resources; Learning), as well as Courtney Milne Producations Inc., Direct West, ISM, Leader-Post, Saskatchewan Archives Board, SaskCulture, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Saskatchewan Lotteries, and SaskTel, and many other individuals, organizations, and businesses who contributed funds or resources.
Grasslands
National Park (GNP) GIS Service Bureau
CPRC's GIS Department managed a vast
dataset for Grasslands National Park, including vegetation, soils, topography,
wildlife, cadastral, landuse, roads, and archaeological datasets and integrated GIS datasets to Global Positioning Systems and satellite imagery.
It also advised the Park on scientific research and technical GIS, hardware and
software issues and provided GIS training courses for Park staff.
Institutional
Linkage - Costa Rica and El Salvador
CPRC administered an International Organization for Higher Education (IOHE)
funded project involving the Department of Sociology at the University of
Regina to organize cooperative activities with the Universidad Nacional de
Costa Rica and the Universidad de El Salvador on issues related to sustainable
agricultural development.
IUCN
Conservation
In 1997, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management requested that CPRC
assess the assignment of appropriate World Conservation Union categories for
all Saskatchewan conservation lands. The findings of this project can be found
in CPRC Information Systems Report Series 97-1. One graduate student was funded
by this project.
Millennium
Partnership Projects
CPRC's Press was awarded a grant from the Canada Millennium Partnership Fund
(Millennium Bureau of Canada) for two of its publication projects. The first
involves a series of products based on the research of Donny White: In Search
of Geraldine Moodie and Geraldine Moodie: An Inventory (book and CD). The
second is a series of books based on oral interviews which were originally
compiled as part of the Indian History Film Project, which was housed at the
CPRC (1982-1987) - seven titles are anticipated in this series over the next
three years.
Native
Prairie Mapping Project
CPRC's GIS Department generated a digital map of remnant prairie in Saskatchewan.
The spatial distribution of remaining native prairie is critical as a generic
and physical resource for agricultural development, environmental protection
and management, research, and social well-being. This baseline information
is also essential in meeting many information needs for policy development
and management of remaining native grasslands. Partners
included Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture and Food and Native Plant Society
of Saskatchewan.
Nature
Saskatchewan and the Blue Jay
From 1991-1997 CPRC's Press took over the technical production of the Blue
Jay, the journal of Nature Saskatchewan (then the Saskatchewan Natural History
Society). The Blue Jay appeared four times yearly and during the six years
of the Press's involvement, twenty-two issues were produced.
North
American Conservation Areas Database (NCAD)
The project entitled North American Protected Areas Database (described below)
represented a first stage in achieving a standardized conservation areas database
for North America. NCAD, representing a second stage, was led by CPRC's GISD
in order to develop of a standardized, integrated, geo-referenced database
of major conservation areas for North America (Canada, Mexico, U.S.). Partners
included Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, Erin Consulting and 1999 GeoInnovation
Program of the federal government. NCAD is currently available through GeoGratis
(ftp-geogratis.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca; directory north_america_cad) and CEONet (http://ceonet.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca).
North
American Ecological Region Mapping
As part of its continuing involvement in developing an ecosystem perspective
for the Canadian prairies, CPRC worked with Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. agencies
and institutional representatives, through the NAFTA Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (CEC), to develop a standardized ecological framework for North
America. The Great Plains is the sole ecological region on the continent to
span the three nations of North America. A final report including maps has
now been prepared in English, Spanish, and French. In addition to CPRC representation,
the CEC Working Group was composed of professionals from the Canadian Council
on Ecological Areas (CCEA), Environment Canada, British Columbia Ministry
of Environment, Lands and Parks (BCMELP), Environmental Protection Agency
(US-EPA), U.S. Forest Service, Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE),
Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (IdeE), Instituto Nacional de Geografía
e Informática (INEGI) and the Centro de Ecología of the Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (CE-UNAM).
North
American Protected Areas Database
CPRC worked
with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to apply the standardized
ecological region mapping to issues of protected areas and biodiversity. To
that end, CPRC developed a standardized database template of protected areas
for North America. Partners include the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas
(CCEA), Environment Canada, the Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA),
U.S. Forest Service, Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE), Instituto
de Ecología, A.C. (IdeE), Instituto Nacional de Geografía e
Informática (INEGI) and the Centro de Ecología of the Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (CE-UNAM). One University of Regina
Masters student was funded through this project.
Palliser
Triangle Global Change Project
CPRC was one of a number of sponsors working with the Geological Survey of
Canada (GSC) to produce a multi-media CD-ROM that presents the results of
research coordinated by the GSC. The CD (not yet released) will present an
overview of the Palliser Triangle as well as results of research coordinated
by the GSC outlining the impacts past climate changes have exerted on critically
important land and water resources. Despite being the driest part of the prairie
provinces, the Palliser Triangle often accounts for over half of Canada's
agricultural production. Future climate change, which is expected to include
more frequent drought events, could threaten sustainable activities in many
parts of this region.
Prairie
Adaptation Research Cooperative (PARC)
CPRC led the university's involvement as a member of the network of partners
that established PARC. This centre facilitates research on
adaptations to climate change on the prairies. The centre's administration
is located in the University of Regina's Research Park.
Prairie
Biodiversity Study (PBS)
CPRC administered the four-year, $212,000 study of prairie biodiversity and
agricultural activity in southern Saskatchewan. The project was funded by
Agriculture Canada through the federal government Green Plan program. Involving
the Government of Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM)
and Saskatchewan's Conservation Data Centre, the project completed two field
seasons of research with continued surveys of plant biodiversity and range
forage condition, as well as the compilation of existing comprehensive electronic
data sets for the prairies of Saskatchewan. The final year of the project
in 1997-1998 completed the analysis of data and preparation of the project's
final report. One Masters student was funded through this project.
Prairie
Centre for Excellence for Research on Immigration and Integration
This six-year project brought together
6 major universities and over 100 academics to study different aspects of
the complex phenomenon of immigration and integration, in collaboration with
community organizations, practitioners, policy makers, and other major stakeholders.
CPRC assisted by providing administrative services and
housing University of Regina students involved in the project.
Prairie
Conservation Action Plan (PCAP)
CPRC was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action
Plan which is a consortium of over 20 industry, government, non-government,
and academic organizations focused on the conservation of remaining native
prairie in Saskatchewan. CPRC published PCAP's original action plan as
well as its followup, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan 2003–2008.
Prairie
Ecosystem Sustainability (PECOS) Study
CPRC administered the University of Regina's involvement in the joint University
of Regina/University of Saskatchewan three-year, $2 million project designed
to improve understanding of the sustainability of the prairie ecosystem and
prairie agriculture in Saskatchewan. Integrated socio-economic, health science
and physical science research on sustainable development for an agricultural
region in southern Saskatchewan was the main focus of this project. Four faculty
members and four graduate students (2 Ph.D., 2 Masters) represented the University
of Regina in this national Tri-Council (NSERC, SSHRC, MRC) Ecosystem Research
program. Two of the faculty members (D. Gauthier, J. McCrorie) and the two
Ph.D. students were directly connected to CPRC. Dr. Gauthier represented the
University of Regina on the project Management Committee, chaired the Information
Systems sub-committee for the project, and was a member of the Finance Committee
and Thematic Issue and Workshop Committee. Due to the interdisciplinary approach
of this project, CPRC's GISD maintained, administrated, updated, analyzed,
manipulated and generated datasets that included a variety of both human and
physical geography (e.g. population by township, hydrology, soils, etc).
Prince
Albert National Park (PANP) GIS Service Bureau
CPRC's GISD maintains, updates, manages, analyses, and manipulates a vast
dataset for the Park, including multiple forest covers, plant communities
layer, soil layer, biophysical resource layer, topographic layers, cadastral
data, roads, and hydrology. The Center advises the Park on scientific research
and technical GIS, hardware and software issues. Due to this linkage between
the Center and PANP, a number of students and graduate students have been
involved in different research and GIS projects. GISD has developed and currently
maintains a home page that contains GIS meta-data and research issues for
the park. The objective of this home page is to inform researchers on the
type and detail of GIS information that is available for the park (http://www.cprc.uregina.ca/panp).
Protecting
Saskatchewan's Natural Heritage
CPRC's GIS Division staff have
digitized all the currently available geo-referenced data regarding managed
areas in Saskatchewan at the international, federal, federal/provincial and
provincial levels. In 1998, with the support of Environment Canada, the Canadian
Council on Ecological Areas, SERM, Nature Saskatchewan, the World Wildlife
Fund (Canada) and a number of contributing agencies, CPRC produced a poster
map, entitled "Saskatchewan's Natural Heritage" depicting areas
in Saskatchewan managed for conservation purposes. The poster displays maps
and tables giving information about the status and distribution of conservation
lands in Saskatchewan classified according to the World Conservation Union's
standardized categories for protected areas.
Saskatchewan
Wetlands Conservation Corporation (SWCC)
CPRC's GISD was contracted by SWCC to obtain area extent calculations for
SWCC surveyed area in the prairies of Saskatchewan.
SSHRC
Strategic Theme Grant - Social Cohesion
CPRC administered the largest Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
of Canada (SSHRC) grant ($485,846) ever received by the University of Regina.
In this three-year (2000-2003) project, CPRC's Executive Director and eight
co-investigators studied rural adaptation and social cohesion for sustainable
development of the Prairies. The research project's six objectives were designed
to create a base of interdisciplinary knowledge to assist rural communities
and policy-makers in addressing the challenges of sustainable development
on the southern prairies. Co-operating with the U of R researchers were numerous
government, industry, and First Nations organizations.
Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation
Until 1996, Prairie Forum received financial support from SSHRC. When this
funding was withdrawn due to federal budget cuts, the Saskatchewan Heritage
Foundation, recognizing the importance of Prairie Forum to scholarly publishing
on the prairies, and Saskatchewan in particular, agreed to provide financial
support equal to the cost of one issue of the journal per year.
The
Nature Conservancy of Canada Lands (NCC) Digital Conversion
CPRC'S GISD performed the digital conversion of the lands owned by NCC in
the three prairie provinces of Canada. More work needs to be done in order
to standardize the attribute data of each prairie province. The conversion
of NCC lands into an ArcInfo GIS geo-referenced digital format has been funded
by NCC.
Training
for Regional Development (UPCD Tier 2 Project 098/S4704-244 CIDA)
CPRC administered the five-year, $500,000 project that involved Universidad
de La Serena (ULS), Chile, and Universidad Nacional Autonoma (UNA), Costa
Rica, and the University of Regina. The objective of this project was to enhance
the human resource development and capacity building in ULS and UNA through
the development of integrated, interdisciplinary training and research programs
with the support of University of Regina. Two one-month seminars (July of
1999 in Chile and July of 2000 in Costa Rica) provided discussions in
rural sustainable development issues as well as training in institutional
assessment, research methods and geographic information systems (GIS). The
project involved two technicians and nine academics in different disciplines
from the University of Regina and twenty-four academics from ULS and UNA.
ULS and UNA also benefited by increasing their resources in terms of
computer hardware and software needs. CPRC's GISD was responsible for the GIS
component of the project, involving instruction in spatial theory and training
in two geographic information system softwares (ArcInfo and ArcView).
Transdisciplinary
Environmental Sustainability Course
CPRC led in the development of a graduate course open to students in all disciplines
that focuses on examining issues involved transdisciplinary approaches to
sustainable development. This course is currently taught as Canadian Plains
Studies 801.
University
of Regina Geographic Information System
On behalf of the University of Regina, CPRC maintained a contract with ESRI
Corporation for a site license to the Arc/Info geographic information system
software. The site license permitted multiple users access to the GIS software
on a variety of platforms. |
