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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    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, Dana
    The 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.
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    Bridging the Gap: Regina Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-10) Harrison, Alaina
    This 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.
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    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, Joanne
    Recently 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.
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    Community Food Assessment University-Community Partnership Evaluation
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2014-04) Beaudry-Mellor, Tina
    Regina's Community Food Assessment is a participatory, community-led process that is examining a broad range of food-related issues and resources in the City of Regina. The primary goal is to improve the security, sustainability and resiliency of the community's food system through the development, implementation, and evaluation of a Community Food Assessment. In addition to examining and reflecting upon the community partnership that is implementing the Community Food Assessment, this evaluation was specifically interested in evaluating the community-university aspect of the partnership to date for the purpose of sharing experiences with others and providing insight into potential best practices for future models. This is measured through a largely reflective approach rooted in the principles of action research. Key lessons have been identified to strengthen the partnership going forward and to be shared with other similar initiatives.
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    Community Research Unit 2016-2017 Annual Report
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-10-31) Community Research Unit
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2008-2009
    (2009-09-10T20:04:06Z) Hansen, Yolanda
    The Community Research Unit's annual report for June 2008 - June 2009.
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2009-2010
    (2010-10-25T20:49:43Z) Hansen, Yolanda; Elliott, Patricia
    The Community Research Unit's annual report for the 2009-2010 academic year.
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2010-2011
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-09) Hansen, Yolanda; Elliott, Patricia
    The Community Research Unit's Annual Report for the academic year 2010-2011.
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2013-2014
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2014-09) Beingessner, Naomi
    The Community Research Unit's annual report for June 2013 - June 2014, describing the CRU's research projects and capacity building activities and the Arts CARES program.
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2014-2015
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2015-09) Beingessner, Naomi
    The Community Research Unit's annual report for June 2014 - June 2015, describing the CRU's research projects and capacity building activities and the Arts CARES program.
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    Community Research Unit Annual Report 2015-2016
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2016-09) Beingessner, Naomi
    The Community Research Unit's annual report for June 2014 - June 2015, describing the CRU's research projects, events, capacity building activities and the Arts CARES program.
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    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, Kyle
    This is the final report of the CRU's evaluation of the Arts CARES 2009 program.
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    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, Kyle
    This report presents the summary findings of the evaluation of Arts CARES 2009, an intensive community service-learning program in the Faculty of Arts.
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    Community-Based Research Showcase Final Report and Action Items
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2015-01) Beingessner, Naomi; Cibart, Sarah; Stewart, Michelle
    This report summarizes the proceedings of the Community Film Showcase and Community-Based Research Showcase. Over one hundred participants turned out to learn about research done by community organizations and present research needs to University of Regina students and faculty. The goal of this report was to showcase these presentations and support the continued and enhanced collaboration of the University and community organizations.
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    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, Jeeshan
    Many 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.
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    Creative Collaborations Symposium Summary
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-06) Planning, Committee
    This document summarizes the Creative Collaborations Symposium, held May 3-4, 2011 at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon.
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    Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program: Community Development Research & Report
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-04) Graves, Dianna
    This 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.
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    Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program: Research Summary
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2011-04) Graves, Dianna
    This 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.
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    Development of the Anonymous Reporting and Third Option Programs
    (Community Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2015-03) Wuerch, Melissa; Beingessner, Naomi; Price, Heather; Carlson, Stephanie; George, Debra; Robinson, Pat
    The Anonymous Reporting and Third Option Program are being piloted in Regina, Saskatchewan as a step to better support victims of sexual assault and create a coordinated community response to this issue. The report contains the learnings from this initiative, specifically the step-by-step process used and the suggestions for success, and allows for this information to be utilized by interested jurisdictions and stakeholders when considering the development and implementation of both programs.
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    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, Darrin
    The 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.