Newsletter Geographers February 1996
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Western Division, Canadian Association Newsletter Geographers February 1996 WCAG '96 - Annual Division Conference conjunction with an outdoor leaders hip course March 8-9, 1996, Lethbridge, Alberta from the Physical Education department. Early March will see geographers from Despite the slight drop in enrolment in many across Alberta and British Coiurnbia of Alberta's universities and on this campus, converging on Lethbridge. This year tne geography courses at Augustana are heavily Division is holding the annual meeting at the enroled, bucking the trend. University of Lethbridge where a distinctly Glen Hvenegaard was active in the "western" flavour is assured. A full slate of parks fietd this fall, attending conferences in paper presentations is planned, with two Lake Louise IIUCN's Commission on Parks and concurrent full-day sessions being prepared. Protected Areas) and Calgary (Parks and In addition, field trips and opportunities to Protecred Areas in Resource-based experience the geographical diversity of the Economies). Lethbridge area are all planned. The Division Augustana is sponsoring an important will be holding its Annual General Meeting conference in May of this year, entitled after lunch Saturday, March 9, 1996. Time "Liberal Arts and the Future of University and place will be announced at the Education." The conference rs presented by conference. CIRLA, the Centre for lnrerdisciplinary Next year the annual conference is Research in the Liberal Arts, and will be held being hosted by the University of Northern in Banff, Alberta. For more information, Brilish Columbia in Prince George. Details will contact Chris at [email protected]. be announced in the next Newsletter. ab.ca. For questions about geography at Augustana University College, contact Glen Hvenegaard, 490 1-46 Avenue, Camrose, News and Announcements Alberta T4V 2R3 (ph.403-679-1574; ernail: [email protected] Augustana University College Carnosun College Budget cuts have been felt across the Camosc~nCollege is offering a "HONG province and on our campus. However, the KONG IN 1997" study tour. The objectives of geography department has been lucky to this program are to observe the political ex~andits map library and geography lab with transitron of Hong Kong from Brit~sh to kind donations from the Battle River Regional Chinese rule; study social and economic Planning Commission, the County of Camrose, transfarmations 17 Hong Kong; and and the City of Camrose. Next year, a new understand the ~rnpltcations on Canada's course on Canadian Cultural Geography, will relattonship with Hong Kong. Date: Last week be taught by Dr. Lucille Marr, from the History of June and first week of July, 1997 (10 deoartment. A field course in .,~hvsical days]. geography is in the works, to be taught in 1 Simon Fraser University University College of the Cariboo A book entitled Suburb of Happy Two UCC, Carla Stewart and Tracy Homes: Burnaby has just been published at Moore, have received funding from the Royat Simon Fraser University. Originally conceived Canadian Geographical Society for a study of as part of the university's activities to honour Kamloops' urban geography. The study is an Burnaby's centennial, the volume comprises investigation of recent changes in the housing ten chapters and three appendices specially stock in Kamloops' inner neighbourhoods. written for this project. The story of the The students will also try to determ~ne if founding of the municipality is outlined and these changes are accompanied by changes in the history of Burnaby during the first fifty the social composition of this area. The study years is highlighted. Other chapters discuss involves field work, the analysis of the ward system of local elections during the occupational and housing data, and the 1920s, the development of zoning, and how construction of maps and a report. The Burnaby has become a leader in handling project is supported by the RCGS's Grants in development and property information in map Aid of Research. These grants are made "to and cornpurer form. Special themes include stimulate and encourage geographical the story of Metrotown's development, land research among secondary school and college values along the main commercial part of students and their teachers and university Hastings Street, and how elderly men undergraduates". Ross Nelson and Robert negotiate space and time in their daily MacKinnon are supervising the study. routines. An evocative essay about Burnaby Ross Nelson is working with the Mountain's natural landscapes concludes the Kamloops' Tenants' Action Centre on a volume and will be of ~nterestto all who have Community Mapping Project. The primary ever hiked its trails and wondered about its objective is to increase the availability of geological make-up, vegetation, weather and affordable housing in Kamloops. The seasons. Append ices provide a discussion of Community Mapping Project will provide a trends in population development and sources data base on housing and its demand, identify for further reading about Burnaby. constraints and opportunities in the housing Written with the public in mind, the market, and ultimately help set courses of book should appeal to all those with an action. The initial phase of the project is an interest in Burnabv history, geography and analysis of the geography of housing and social development and, by extension, the neighbourhoods from existing data bases. The municipalities of the Lower Mainland. analysis will provide a background for (Geographers among the authors are: Tom subsequent surveys of the community. Poiker (SFU), J. Bruce Prior (SFU and US Ken Favrholdt will be traveling to Dept. of State), Colin Crampton (SFU), Lyall Edinborough, Scotland this summer to present Armstrong (Genstar), Kenji Ito (Burnaby a paper at an upcoming Canadian Studies Planner), Louise McTague (SFU and Creo Conference. Inc.), Rod Fowler (SFU and Kwantlen). Len Evenden, chair of the univers~ty's Burnaby University College of the Fraser Valley Centennial Committee, edited the volume.] The Department hopes to see six The book is available through the geography majors graduate with UCFVISFU Centre for Canadian Studies at SFU 5.A. degrees this Spring. Interest in both (291-3689);the SFU Bookstore (Burnaby physical and human geography continues to Mountain and Harbour Centre branches be strong in the Fraser Valley region. New 291 -3656); the Duthie bookstores; and courses, new computer facilities (including several of the Coles, Smith, and Book PowerMac direct links to the Internet and a Company stores in Burnaby and Coquitlarn Website homepage under development at Cenrre. http://ucfv. bc .ca), an increasing number of field activities in geomorphology, another Admission Requirements: approval by rafting trip down the Fraser from Prince Chair, Pacific Rim Studies Program, George to the Strait of Georgia. participation in pre-trip orientation sessions, Interested individuals should contact register in PAC 190, no language either: Rick Blacklaws (Langara College) Ph: requirements. {Credits: PAC 190 Directed 323-5318; E-mail [email protected] Studies (1-5 units)) or Dr. Frank Williams (Langara College) Ph: Tentative activities: 323-5378 or Cliff Raphael (College of New i) studies of urban development in Hong Kong Caledonia } ph: 562-2131 loc. 276 E-mail: - visit port areas, airport and new town RaphaelQcnc. bc.ca. projects, tour of public and private housing projects; Medicine Hat College ii) observation of political transition - interview Medicine Hat College Geography has potiticians, students, and residents on undergone an expansion over the last year - their opinions and concerns of political one that continues into September of 1996. changes; Having reached a transfer arrangement with iii) understand cultural patterns - visit cultural both the University of Lethbridge (indirectly) centres, temples, shopping areas and and Lethbridge Community College (directly) other places of interests for students in the first year of LCC's An optional study tour to China (including Watershed Management Programme, we have Guangzhou and Beijing) is being planned in begun teaching courses in the "technical" side conjunction with the trip to Hong Kong. of the discipline. For further information, contact Dr. Three new courses have seen or are Francis Yee, Department of Geography, about to see the light of day. Map Camosun College, 310Q Foul Bay Road, Interpretation (Geog 332), Remote Sensing Victoria, B.C. V8P 5J2, by phone (604) (Geog 334) and Introduction to G.I.S. (Geog 370-3307, fax (604) 370-3417, or by E-mail: 338) have been added to the calendar and [email protected] schedule. While these classes serve a particular programme, they are all College of New Caledonia university-transfer as well. To that end, On March 21, 1996, Dr. David Ley will transfer arrangements are being worked-out. be the visiting speaker in the College of New A part-time member of the faculty has Caledonia Geography Department's been added to the roster of Medicine Hat Geography Lecture Series. The series is College - Mr. Ivan Shukster (B.Sc, from sponsored by the Koerner Foundation. Dr. University of Alberta). Despite reduced Ley is scheduled to give two lectures: an budgets, offerings at MHC have increased afternoon lecture to students from CNC and substantially. Each year at least seven first possibly UNBC and a public lecture in the and second year classes are being offered. evening. The public lecture should be of Despite the devilish nature of Ben great interest to the general public because it Moffat's field trip south last year (see earlier will deal with issues related to downtown Newsletters), he is venturing into the wilds of revitalization, an item of present concern to the USA again this spring. June will see a the Prince George community. dozen MHC geographers braving the roads, A two-month long (June-July) course of byways and National Parks of the study is currently in the development stage as south-central states. Anyone on the a joint effort between Langara College and GEOGRAPH discussion list knows the field The College of New Caledonia.