This issue of GeoMatters is built around Effecting Policy in Resource Management the theme of community, both in research and in education. The faculty, staff and by Patricia Fitzpatrick students in Geography are involved in community projects at many levels. In this issue, you will see how Geography fac- ulty are involved in engaging the public One of the strengths of the disci- organizations. As part of that analysis, using film and citizen-science websites pline of Geography, and the research we prepared reports for submission as that both informs and involves people we do in the department is that in con- evidence to an arms-length commis- in communities. It endeavours to show our students what research we do for sidering how society manages its re- sion. We then testified in front of the the community and make opportunities sources, both human and physical, to commission – subject to cross- exami- for students to engage in service learn- have the opportunity to influence what nation by the commission, the propo- ing as part of their education experience. is happening the real world. This is nent, other intervenors and the public. Research and education projects can also how I come to approach “community” The community organization – like the lead to effective change in policy, directly – the theme of this issue. commission – used our independent or indirectly, which impacts provincial or Over the past several years, I and reports to take a position as to whether national communities. The best outcome Alan P. Diduck, from Environmental the projects should proceed. of these projects is the legacy continues as Studies & Sciences, have been fortu- At the provincial level, this work we observe our students actively engaged with their communities, both on-campus nate to partner with community orga- has been very successful. Our reports and off-campus. nizations to participate in several dif- were quoted extensively in the com- If you have any suggestions for future ferent environmental assessments. We mission documents, and there were newsletter articles, please feel free to con- have provided an independent analy- several recommendations related to tact us at: [email protected] sis of the role of adaptive management our evidence. The recommendations in monitoring and follow-up program were then built into the final license is- Editors: Joni Storie & Weldon Hiebert of different proposed projects, includ- sued by the Province of Manitoba. In ing the Bipole III Transmission Proj- this way, it has been a great opportu- ect, the Keeyask Generation Project, nity to apply scholarly research to real- and most recently the Enbridge Line world examples, and, hopefully, con- 3 Replacement Project for community tribute to better projects in future! Table of Contents Geographers in a Cemetery .................2 Winter Walking ....................................3 Icelandic Rescue ..................................3 BC Community/Climate Change ..........4 GESA and the Community ...................4 Grey Ghettoes .....................................5 City Studio ...........................................5 Dr. Fitzpatrick overlooking the city of Yellowknife, N.W.T. http://geography.uwinnipeg.ca (Photo: Marie Adams) 1 Geographers in a Cemetery by Chris Storie and Brad Russell What do seventeen students, five faculty and staff and a cemetery have in common? Geography! During the 2014 of- fering of the colloquially title Churchill Field Course (GEOG 4801), we undertook the first service learning project based on a request from community leaders. This project’s pur- pose was to produce a map and database of the Churchill Community Cemetery. When we brought this idea to the students, they unanimously agreed that it should be done and over the course of almost 4 hours, five teams of stu- Figure 2: Additional Burial Site (on La Vérendrye Ave down from dents mapped, photographed and catalog each burial site primary cemetery). (Photo: C. Storie) within the cemetery (Figure 1). The data was then compiled over the proceeding months by Brad Russell, our map li- brarian, into the coherent database that it is today. Figure 3: Additional burial site (near airport). (Photo: C. Storie) these have been largely left to Mother Nature for almost 70 years, we were unsuccessful in finding them our first time. Figure 1: Dan and Kate mapping a burial site. (Photo: C. Storie) We have vowed to return and try again! During our final evening in Churchill, Chris gave an open presentation on the mapping project at the Overpass In August 2015, Chris and Joni (Storie) returned to to over 40 people from the community. The question and Churchill. Part of their time in Churchill was spent map- answer period was designed to allow for input from com- ping the outlying burial sites in and around the town (Fig- munity members but to also better understand how the ure 2 and Figure 3) for inclusion into the database. In ad- community would like the final product delivered. Overall dition, Joni and Chris, and a small group of people, headed the project was incredibly well received and many of the over to the old town site to map the original two cemeteries community members expressed their gratitude, said the that exist on the other side of the Churchill River. Given product went above and beyond expectations, and con- veyed how important it is to them and their families. This project has underscored to all those involved the mutual benefits to service learning and community en- gagement. Projects such as this go be- yond the learning outcomes associated with a particular course and extend well into the community. We look for- ward to engaging the community when we return in the future. Figure 4: Context map. (Source: Google Earth) 2 Winter Walking: Evaluating Human Per- Icelandic Rescue: ception and Climatic Factors to Enhance Canadian Style Pedestrian Safety by Weldon Hiebert Prior to the start of the Fall Term, a group by Gina Sylvestre and Nora Casson of geographers embarked on a tour of Ice- land to experience the fascinating geology of the island and how the inhabitants have managed to cope with living on a volca- In most winter cities, municipal of winter walking. Using this innova- nically active landscape. Each day was a governments and a car-centric public tive “citizen science” data collection new adventure exploring plate boundaries, are focused on the inadequate snow strategy will allow us to collect a large waterfalls, geyser fields, cinder cones and clearing of streets. However, with the dataset across the city, while engaging lava tubes. Highlights of the trip included a promotion of walkability, it has become Winnipeggers in the issue of winter walk on a glacier and a morning of whale imperative to understand both the ex- walkability. watching. perience and causes of poor walking The goal of the study is to analyze The rugged landscape of Iceland as well as its harsh climate makes road travel a conditions. During the winter of 2015- the association of winter walking as- bit of a challenge. Iceland’s main highway 2016, pedestrians will have the oppor- sessments with climatic data. Under- (Ring Road) is comprised of rough pave- tunity to contribute to a new website standing relationships between winter ment with narrow lanes and no shoulders, that is gathering information about walking conditions and weather con- not one that Canadians would expect for a winter walking conditions throughout ditions will help policy makers decide national highway system. Secondary roads Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Winter Walk- how and when to deploy limited snow are even worse with loose gravel, plenty of ing Condition Website is an innovative clearing resources. It is anticipated pot holes and again, no shoulders. Human-Physical Geography partner- that this research will lead to an im- While travelling along a secondary road, ship of departmental faculty members proved understanding about snow we came across a car which ended up par- tially off the road. Of course we immedi- Gina Sylvestre and Nora Casson. and ice conditions that create hazards ately pulled over and offered our assistance Winter walkers are encouraged to for winter walkers. Ultimately, the re- to the person desperately trying to free her participate in providing information searchers hope to contribute to an in- car from the soft volcanic “sand” which about walking surfaces that they expe- creased awareness by pedestrians of was surprisingly similar to snow; and snow- rience. The website will collect infor- dangerous walking conditions, as well like conditions are a situation very familiar mation that includes a rating scale of as improved municipal practices and to Canadians. Everyone chipped in and af- level of walking difficulty, descriptions policies on snow clearing of winter ter fifteen minutes of rocking and pushing of snow clearing, ice and snow condi- walkways. we were able to free the car from the ditch. tions that create barriers to walking, Watch for the website link on the The owner of the car was overwhelmed to tears by the generosity and help from a as well as basic information about a Geography website, facebook and twit- handful of intrepid geographers. walker’s physical ability and frequency ter pages in the near future. The Canadian prairie is a harsh environ- ment where a sense of community is im- portant and helping strangers overcome adversity comes as second nature. To take this community spirit and apply it overseas is, well, a Winnipeg thing! A participant of Gina’s Walking on Ice video. (Photo: Hillary Beattie) Geographers ponder on how to get this car unstuck. (Photo: Ina Vincent) 3 BC Communites/Climate Change GESA and the Community by Ian Mauro by Weldon Hiebert Earlier this summer, I was stand- our, especially given he is now in ing at the base of the “Mosquito” his 80th year and is an elder in his The Geography and Environmental totem pole, at an old indigenous own right.