Community Research Unit
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10294/407
The Community Research Unit (CRU), based in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina, builds relationships between our community and faculty by facilitating community-based participatory research and community service-learning opportunities. The CRU matches community groups interested in undertaking research with university faculty and student researchers and organizes the annual Arts CARES community service-learning program.
Our Mission:
The mission of the Community Research Unit (CRU) is to enable the Faculty of Arts to serve as a resource for non-profit organizations and communities, rural and urban, and to be enriched in turn by our relationships with those communities. In doing so, the University enhances civic engagement and its own actual and perceived value to the province as well as its capacity to produce high quality and relevant knowledge.
Our Mandate:
The CRU functions as a partnership between community-based organizations and university faculty and students. Our mandate is to provide independent, participatory research support in response to needs expressed by community-based organizations to build their organizational capacity and enhance community quality of life.
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Item Open Access Housing Support Coordinator Position Paper(2009-03) Goulden, DanielleThis position paper speaks to the need for a Housing Support Coordinator, similar to other initiatives across Canada, to work collaboratively among the three levels of government, the community-based organization community (CBO) and those individuals and families most affected by housing concerns and homelessness.Item Open Access Community Research Unit Annual Report 2008-2009(2009-09-10T20:04:06Z) Hansen, YolandaThe Community Research Unit's annual report for June 2008 - June 2009.Item Open Access Community service-learning in the Faculty of Arts: an evaluation of the Arts CARES 2009 program summary report(2009-10-19T17:50:39Z) Hansen, Yolanda; Hodder, KyleThis report presents the summary findings of the evaluation of Arts CARES 2009, an intensive community service-learning program in the Faculty of Arts.Item Open Access Community service-learning in the Faculty of Arts: an evaluation of the Arts CARES 2009 program final report(2009-10-19T17:50:50Z) Hansen, Yolanda; Hodder, KyleThis is the final report of the CRU's evaluation of the Arts CARES 2009 program.Item Open Access Making the Links symposium report(2009-10-29T22:31:37Z) Hansen, YolandaThis is a summary report of the ideas and outcomes of the Making the Links: Community Engaged Research in Regina symposium hosted by the Community Research Unit on Oct 20, 2009.Item Open Access Community Research Unit Annual Report 2009-2010(2010-10-25T20:49:43Z) Hansen, Yolanda; Elliott, PatriciaThe Community Research Unit's annual report for the 2009-2010 academic year.Item Open Access Access and Affordability: Saskatchewan Food Banks Explore the Cost of Healthy Eating(Regina Food Bank, 2010-12-07) Bernard, Travis; Novik, Nuelle; Douglas, Fiona; Hansen, Yolanda; Dunsmore, Lorne; Compton, Steve; Folkerson, DanaThe Regina Food Bank serves food insecure clients on a daily basis and an increase in demand over the past year prompted the question "Why are so many people requiring assistance at our food bank?". This research compared the cost of healthy eating to income available to food bank clients and discovered a large gap in income that results in food insecurity.Item Open Access Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program: Research Summary(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-04) Graves, DiannaThis summary examines the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH), a crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on multi-dwelling properties. It compares the program in different Canadian and American cities, and asks if it would be successful in Regina.Item Open Access Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program: Community Development Research & Report(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-04) Graves, DiannaThis report examines the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH), a crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs on multi-dwelling properties. It compares the program in different Canadian and American cities, and asks if it would be successful in Regina.Item Open Access Creative Collaborations Symposium Summary(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-06) Planning, CommitteeThis document summarizes the Creative Collaborations Symposium, held May 3-4, 2011 at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon.Item Open Access Exploring Schools as Community Hubs(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-08) Graves, DiannaThe purpose of this report is to research the concept and model of community hubs, specifically schools that have become community hubs, and to investigate the hub model as an alternative to the closure of Athabasca School, a neighbourhood elementary public school in Regina, Saskatchewan, that was closed at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.Item Open Access Community Research Unit Annual Report 2010-2011(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-09) Hansen, Yolanda; Elliott, PatriciaThe Community Research Unit's Annual Report for the academic year 2010-2011.Item Open Access Bridging the Gap: Regina Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-10) Harrison, AlainaThis community-based research project, led by Carmichael Outreach, focuses on learning why landlords are hesitant to rent to social assistant recipients. The outcomes are a research synopsis and educational documentary video produced by Living Sky Media.Item Open Access Far From the Heart: Report on the Effectiveness of Forum Theatre as an Educational Tool regarding Youth Dating Violence and Sexual Assault in Saskatchewan Schools(Sheatre Educational Alternative Theatre, 2012-06) Kloeble, CandiceSheatre’s Far From the Heart, developed in collaboration with a group of teens under professional direction, is a Forum Theatre presentation with an innovative approach that challenges youth to speak and act out their thoughts and attitudes surrounding dating violence. The purpose of this research was to get a broad sense of the literature surrounding adolescent prevention programs for dating violence, statistics surrounding sexual assault and dating violence particularly pertaining to youth, and the use of Forum Theatre as an effective educational tool for changes in attitude and/or behavior. The report explored key demographic considerations and statistics, dating violence prevention programs, Forum Theatre as an educational tool, methodology, survey analysis, and best practices. The research highlighted the demonstrable need for further dating violence prevention programs across Canada.Item Open Access Communities Respond - Summary Report of PFS Consultations 2011-2012(Poverty Free Saskatchewan, 2012-10) Banks, Brian; DeSantis, Gloria; Gilmer, Peter; Gingrich, Paul; Mulvale, Jim; Nelson, Kristin; Havelock, JoanneRecently Saskatchewan has experienced an increase in economic activity – a “boom”, but this monetary gain has not been experienced by everyone. Many people struggle daily without adequate income, food, or housing. Poverty affects a very wide range of people. Groups that are particularly hard hit are Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) people, newcomers, women (especially senior women), single men, students, youth, people with disabilities, people with addictions and mental health issues, people leaving prisons, and vulnerable and special needs populations, including those with intellectual challenges. Poverty is a problem in urban, rural and northern locations. Poverty excludes many Saskatchewan residents from full participation in our province. Yet Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada without a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to deal with poverty. People in every part of Saskatchewan have decided that it is time for action and are seeking solutions .Previously, PFS published two documents: Let’s Do Something About Poverty and Strategies to Eliminate Poverty in Saskatchewan. To gauge citizen response and advance the work of eliminating poverty in the province, PFS conducted a series of consultations in 2011 and 2012. The Communities Respond report outlines the input received from the community discussions. These ideas will be used in future to develop an integrated and comprehensive poverty elimination plan. This plan will be built on the results of the community consultations, and a review of successful strategies in other provinces and in local Saskatchewan communities.Item Open Access Mapping Corporate Power in Saskatchewan(Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2012-12) Enoch, SimonThe following study seeks to identify networks of corporate power in the province by documenting the inter-locking relationships between corporations, industry and trade associations, advocacy groups, policy institutes, universities, political parties and government itself. We draw upon the traditions of sociological power structure research that emphasize the social networks in which these enterprises are embedded and the importance of viewing these networks as “arenas of power” (Scott, 1991, 182). The study of corporate interlocks is at the centre of this form of research. An interlock exists when a particular individual sits on two or more corporate boards, with multiple interlocks between corporations revealing a level of dense corporate elite integration. Equally important to our research are the interlocks that exist between corporations and the governing boards of other corporate-sponsored or corporate-interest organizations and/or institutions, such as policy planning groups, inter-sectoral organizations, trade or industry associations, government advisory boards or other corporate interest advocacy groups.Item Open Access Composting: A Sustainable Solution for University of Regina's Food Waste Disposal(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2013-06-27) Ahmed, JeeshanMany steps had been taken in the past at the University of Regina to initiate a composting program on campus. However, those ideas did not turn out to be fruitful. In this report, several composting practices across Canada have been looked at in order to determine the best possible options for composting on campus. The costs of each composter along with its benefits and drawbacks have been identified in this report. The report stresses the importance of implementing a composting program on campus as it can result in cost savings from reduced garbage pickup for land filling and benefits from finished compost. Composting would also improve the reputation of the University of Regina as a pioneer for engaging in environmentally sound practices within the community. A series of procedural steps required to begin a composting program have been highlighted along with recommendations for choosing the right composting option. However, further discussions would need to take place in order to proceed to the implementation stages.Item Open Access Homelessness in Regina: Current Situation and Solutions from Other Communities(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2013-10-16) Vracar, NikolinaThis report was prepared for Carmichael Outreach, a community-based organization that provides housing and support services to citizens of Regina. Objectives of the report are to provide an overview of the city's housing and homelessness situation (e.g., available housing, number of homeless individuals, barriers that homeless individuals face, and available support services) and to examine successful housing strategies of other municipalities. Several Canadian municipalities including Moncton, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver have successfully housed homeless individuals by using the Housing First approach. With the Housing First approach homeless individuals are first housed and then given support services as needed. The use of this approach is supported by reports and research literature across North America. Research indicates that the Housing First approach is more successful at housing homeless individuals and more cost-efficient than the traditional Continuum of Care approach.Item Open Access A Living Wage for Regina(Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2014-01) Gingrich, Paul; Enoch, Simon; Banks, BrianWhat annual income does a family require to maintain a decent standard of living? What is the Living Wage in Regina? The main purpose of this report to describe the concept of the Living Wage and calculate what is the actual base income level of a family of four in Regina. The methodology for calculation of the Living Wage and the cost of living data developed for this report will contribute to a wider discussion of what is a fair wage for families in today’s economy.Item Open Access Environmental Scan: Conventional and Indigenous Food Systems and Gaps in the Regina Area, SK(Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2014-01-29) Sanden, Tracy; Desmarais, Annette Aurelie; Marsden, Dawn; Hansen, Yolanda; Qualman, DarrinThe Environmental Scan is the first phase of work in the Regina Community Food Assessment, a collaborative, participatory process that brings people together from various sectors of the local food system to: analyze the local context; identify the assets, gaps and priorities of the community; and develop an action plan to improve community food security. The Scan is a snapshot of our local food context at this time, and is meant to help us understand more about our local food system, including an acknowledgement of what we don't yet know. The report examines some key elements of the Regina-and-area food system. That is, it looks at production, economic, and cultural context of that food system.