Community Engagement and Research Centre
Our Mission
The mission of the Community Engagement and Research Centre is to enable the Faculty of Arts to serve as a resource for community groups, formal and informal, and to be enriched in turn by our relationships with those communities. Through this engagement, the Faculty of Arts and the University of Regina enhances its capacity to produce high quality and relevant knowledge, and in turn increases its ability to serve the wider community and province.
Our Mandate
The Community Engagement and Research Centre will function collaboratively as a partnership between community groups and university faculty and students. Our mandate is to provide independent, participatory research support in response to needs expressed by communities with a view toward building capacity and enhancing our quality of life.
Learn More
The Community Engagement and Research Centre works to build meaningful relationships between the U of R's Faculty of Arts and our communities. It does this in two main ways:
- community-engaged research
- capacity building
What is Community-Engaged Research?
Community-engaged research is research carried out by university and community researchers to address a need expressed by the community. It is research with and for the community. This type of research emphasizes collaboration between the university and the community, acknowledges different types of knowledge, and seeks positive social change. Because the research need is initiated by the community, community-engaged research is often directly applicable to the goals and needs of community partners. The resulting knowledge is considered a public good.
Learn about the Community Engagement and Research Centre's current and past projects.
What is Capacity Building?
The Community Engagement and Research Centre believes that the University of Regina is a rich resources for our communities, and as such, we should offer our knowledge, expertise and resources to enrich and empower non-university partners. We do so in a variety of ways, including:
- Organizing the Toolkit Workshop Series. This series, held quarterly during the fall and winter semesters, consists of affordable half-day skills training workshops offered to students, community organization staff and volunteers, and the general public. In past years, we have offered workshops on: fundraising, volunteer engagement, learning to use social media, event planning, board governance, research & evaluation techniques, intro to graphic design, grant writing, and more.
- Making connections between community organizations and university partners for initiatives and requests other than research projects.
- Mentoring a Faculty of Arts graduate student member of the CERC board of directors: this enriches our board of directors and gives graduate students an opportunity to learn how to be a valued member of a non-profit board of directors.
Work with Us
Do you have an idea for a collaborative research project? Call or email us to talk about ways to connect with faculty, staff, and students at the University of Regina who can help you with your research needs.
Composition
The Community Engagement and Research Centre is supported by and located in the Faculty of Arts. Facilitation of the Community Engagement and Research Centre is carried out by the Community Coordinator with input from the Academic Director and overseen by the Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies). Together they work with a diverse group of Arts faculty researchers and community organizations to facilitate community-based, community driven research projects across the province.
| Amber Fletcher | Academic Director | Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Studies University of Regina |
| Michelle LeMoal | Community Coordinator | Community Engagement and Research Centre University of Regina |
| Tom McIntosh | Associate Dean (Research and Graduate) | Professor, Department of Politics and International Studies University of Regina |
- Serve the various research and research-related needs and/or program development needs of groups within the broader community;
- Build connections and relationships between and among members of the University and community;
- Acknowledge and utilize the experiential knowledge of communities and the technical knowledge of the University, and to promote community-engaged scholarship in our social and academic environments;
- Actively pursue the two-way transfer of learning between the community and the University to assist in building capacity and knowledge in both environments;
- Link the analyses of problems to solutions in order to help facilitate healthy social change for those who lack power and opportunities in our communities;
- Act as a clearinghouse for research partnerships, skill sets, and research results;
- Encourage and support service-learning and community engagement opportunities in the Faculty of Arts;
- Actively mentor students and instill a responsibility for community engagement;
- Promote institutional change that supports community engagement.
The Arts Internship Program can help connect you with part-time, unpaid support for your community organization. University of Regina Arts students major in a variety of different programs in the Social Sciences and Humanities. These students bring a broad range of skills, talents and experiences to the work place.
- Qualified Faculty of Arts undergraduate students are placed for part-time work within your organization
- Students pay regular tuition but there is no fee for your organization
- Your input helps ensure the best candidates are selected to work with your team
- There are two placement cycles per year: September to December, and January to April
- Internships are 13 weeks in length
- Students work up to eight hours per week
- First priority for internship placements will go to nonprofit community organizations
- These organizations do not have the resources to hire students but are demonstrably committed to facilitating learning and career-building opportunities for interns
- You will gain a skilled and motivated student to support and enhance your organization's work in the community.
- Students bring new perspectives, different experiences, enthusiasm and energy to your team.
- Interns can provide additional support to special projects or events, or assist your team with new ideas or initiatives.
- You'll gain valuable networking partnerships and advocates at the University of Regina, as program facilitators get to know your organization, and as students relay their experience with your organization.
- You will have the opportunity to provide mentorship, training and guidance to the next generation of talent within your profession or area.
- The Internship program could translate into a longer term recruitment opportunities for your organization.
Contact CERC for more information!
Toolkit Workshops
The Community Engagement and Research Centre is proud to offer free skills development workshops and webinars. Though our focus is on the needs of people that work in the not-for-profit sector, all of our sessions are open to anyone who can benefit from them. If you have ideas for us or would like to be asdded to our email list to learn about future training sessions then please contact our office.
Social Media for Nonprofits
Social media success can seem like a pipe dream to many small-to-medium sized nonprofits. Without the money to hire an outside agency or even have a part-time person dedicated to this work, how can you even hope to keep up with all the changing platforms and use social media to your organization’s advantage, let along use it as a community building tool? In this fast-paced Toolkit Workshop you will learn a few tips and tricks for developing a strategy with your social media efforts. You’ll learn about building a marketing tech stack and how to make sense of analytics so that you can measure the results of your efforts. Whether you are totally new to the social media landscape or you feel your skills are a little more advanced, you’ll leave this session with new ideas for ways to connect with your members, donors and clients.
The Generational Divide (with Shari Hildred)
For the first time in history there are four distinct generations in the workforce, each with its own characteristics, dynamics and tendencies. Leading people from all four generations can be a challenge but if we understand what makes other generations tick, we can avoid division and conflict. The facilitator identified ways to encourage productive and inclusive intergenerational collaboration at work; provide recommendations around workplace practices, processes, and norms that are inclusive of various dimensions of diversity including age, race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Myths and Misconceptions of Employment: Panel discussion with people with lived experiences with disabilities
Representatives with lived experience with a variety of disabilities came together to share their personal experiences of stigma, discrimination and misconceptions in the workplace. Through the moderated discussion, people viewing the recording will learn about what employers' responsibilities are to accommodate disabilities in their workplaces. They will leave with ideas for policies and practices they can implement to make the culture in their organizations more welcoming and open to people who often face obstacles or barriers to employment that can usually be quite easily accommodated.
The panel was moderated by Robin East (Chair of the Board for Barrier Free Saskatchewan and Community Engagement and Research Centre board member). He was joined by Chelsea Wisser, Eileen Lennie-Koshman and Brenda Edel.
Nov. 23, 2022
In today's world, it's not enough to be a bystander - we have to be proactive, taking part in learning opportunities and many uncomfortable conversations that can help us on our journey to navigating effective allyship. In this session, individuals from a wide array of diverse backgrounds shared their insights and stories to open up a dialogue on how to find our voice, amplify others, and act as allies in workplaces and in the community.
Panelists were Sharon Kambale, Chasity Delorme, and Dr. Fritz Pino. The session was moderated by Aria Ramdeo.
With Ricardo Arisnabarretta-Montejo
October 27, 2022
Microaggressions are everyday verbal and nonverbal slights, snubs, or insults (either intentional
or unintentional), that communicate negative or hostile attitudes towards any individual but that
disproportionally affect culturally marginalized and racialized groups. From a language
perspective, this workshop looked at what micro-aggressions are and how they manifest. This
workshop also presented ideas on how we can respond to them as a recipient, as
someone who has committed a microaggression, and as a witness to one.
An important part of nonprofit management lies within effective organizational recruitment and retention for both staff and volunteers (including board members). This workshop explores key aspects of human resource and volunteer management including concepts related to attracting and retaining resources that a nonprofit requires. The concepts examine how nonprofits can maximize the retention of the organizations’ most valued asset – our
employees and our volunteers.
Facilitator: Shari Hildred is the owner of Valmore Consulting and focuses her work in the non-profit sector. She is a facilitator, professional and leadership trainer and instructor with the University of Regina and she provides management services to a number of non-profit clients in Regina, across Saskatchewan and across Canada. Shari draws on expertise gained from over 25 years of in the private, public and non-profit sectors, which include working with countless non-profits in the arts, cultural, heritage, social inclusion, humanitarian, health and sports sectors. Shari works with non-profits that range in size from large corporate entities to small, local grass roots organizations. Regardless of size, Shari is committed to assisting organizations in developing best practices and processes to run effective and efficient operations and to deliver programs and services that support community.
Shari:
- is a designated Project Management Professional (PMP),
- studied Cultural Resource Management at the University of Victoria,
- completed Art of the Executive Leader training at Banff Centre for the Arts,
- studied public policy at the UofR Jonhson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy,
- was the recipient of the City of Regina Municipal Heritage Award in the Category of Education,
- was the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Heritage Excellence Award.
Resources:
Research Projects
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Living Expenses in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Community |
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Band Office |
| Health and Self: Understanding Barriers to Accessing Community Programming and Supports by Rural and Remote Girls Ages 8-13 in Saskatchewan |
Sask Girls United |
| Landfill Recycling Project | EnviroCollective |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Research with kēhtē-ayak (Cree for “Old Ones”) | mâmawêyatitân centre |
| Understanding the Needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Residents of Regina's Heritage Neighbourhood |
Heritage Community Association |
| Building a Saskatchewan Accessibility Act: Nothing About Us Without Us |
Barrier Free Saskatchewan; North Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre |
| Digital Professional Development Resources for Regina Based Organizations Serving the Community |
Regina Public Library |
| By Right Not Privilege: Evaluative Research on Saskatchewan’sFree Gladue Writing Project Research |
FASD Network of Saskatchewan; File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council |
| Exploring the Impact of Physical Rehabilitation and Recreational Walking among People in Late Stages of Recovery from Acquired Brain Injury |
Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| The Value of Arts and Culture for Community Cohesion |
Saskatchewan Arts Alliance |
| Accessing Healthy Food in Regina 2020 | REACH Regina; Regina Food Bank; Saskatchewan Health Authority |
| Macipiciw: Restoration of Indigenous men's roles and responsibilities |
The YWCA; Newo Yotina Friendship Centre; |
| Play at Home Study | Project Play YQR; Regina Early Years Family Resource Centre |
| Settlement Work in Schools During COVID-19 | Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies |
| Development of Modern Technology and Programming for Interactive Firesafety Lessons with ElementarySchool Children |
Regina Fire and Protective Services |
| Renewing Regina's Theatre Community | Renewing Regina’s Theatre Coalition |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Evaluating Mental Health Realities for 2SLGBTQIAP+ People in Regina |
UR Pride Centre |
| Uncovering Hidden Homelessness in Regina | Circle Project; Poverty-Free Saskatchewan |
| Strengthening Family Reunification |
YWCA Regina; RPIRG; |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| The State of Saskatchewan Trails Report | Saskatchewan Trails Association; Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association; Saskatchewan Parks, Culture and Sport; Resort Communities Association of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan In Motion; Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities; Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association |
| Rest Assured: Changes to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program and the Impact on Beneficiaries |
Saskatchewan Disability Income Support Coalition |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Assessing the Programming Needs for Two-Spirit Youth in Regina |
Heritage Community Association; |
| Should Saskatchewan History be relaunched? A Feasibility Study to Determine a Way Forward |
Heritage Saskatchewan |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Urban Agriculture Best Practices for the City of Regina |
Food Regina |
| Farmers, Policy, and Local Food Systems in Saskatchewan: Barriers and Opportunities |
Food Regina; Saskatchewan Health Authority |
| Reconciliation in the Media: Building Relationships for Better News Coverage |
FNUniv INCA Program; |
| Rails To Trails Conversion Guide |
Saskatchewan Trails Association; |
| Factors affecting Uilization of Preventive Healthcare Services among Immigrant Women in Regina |
Regina Immigrant Women Centre |
| After Rehabilitation: Meeting the Long-Term Housing Needs of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury in Regina, SK |
Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association; |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| A Review of Global Citizenship Education in Saskatchewan Schools |
Saskatchewan Council for International |
| Farmers, Policy, and Local Food Systems in Saskatchewan: Barriers and Opportunities |
Food Regina; Saskatchewan Health Authority |
| Interpersonal Violence and Abuse and Animal Safekeeping |
STOPS to Violence; |
| Seniors Neglect and Abuse Response Line – A Systems and Services Review of Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region |
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health- |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Campus Living Wage Campaign |
RPIRG;Saskatchewan Federation of Labour |
| Interpersonal Violence and Abuse and Animal Safekeeping |
STOPS to Violence; |
| Improvising with iPads: A Partnered Inquiry into Technology-based Music Therapy, Improvisation and Cultural Expression in Health Settings |
Native Health Services- Wascana Rehabilitation |
| Position Paper on Canada’s Prostitution Legislation |
PATHS |
| Anonymous Reporting & Third Option Program Pilot Project |
Regina Sexual Assault Centre; |
| Climate Action Plan (CAP) Engineering Assessment and Design |
Saskatchewan EcoNetwork (SEN); |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Of Land and Living Skies: A Community Journal on Place, Land and Learning |
Saskatchewan Outdoor and Environmental |
| African Canadian Saskatchewan Forum | African Canadian Saskatchewan Forum Workign Committee; Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan |
| Cooking Fires in Regina |
Regina Fire & Protective Services |
| Evaluation of the Regina Community Food Assessment |
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region; |
| Saskatchewan Living Wage Project |
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - |
| Housing First Project |
Carmichael Outreach |
| SCIC's 40th Anniversary History Project |
Saskatchewan Council for International |
| Are Students with Children Getting the Support they Need to Succeed in Higher Education?: An Exploration of the University of Regina Community |
Regina Parents as Students Success |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Campus Compost Project |
Facilities Management; URSU; |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Ecole Connaught Community School: 100 Years of Community and Education |
Ecole Connaught Centennial Committee |
| Mapping Corporate Power in Saskatchewan |
Saskatchewan Public Policy Working Group; |
| REACH Outcomes Measurement |
REACH; Regina Early Learning Centre |
| Saskatchewan Poverty Elimination Public Involvement Program |
Family Services Regina; |
| Sheatre's Far From the Heart: Assessing the Impact |
ESOLVE; Indigenous Peoples Health Research |
| Bridging the Gap: Regina Landlords and Renters on Social Assistance |
Carmichael Outreach; |
| Exploring Schools as Community Hubs |
Save Athabasca School Committee |
| Crime-Free Multi-Housing |
Queen City Tenants' Association; |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| SACHM Centennial History Project |
Saskatchewan African-Canadian Heritage |
| Voices in Education: An Exploration of Digital Storytelling |
Save Our Schools |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| The Cost of Healthy Eating |
Regina & District Food Bank; |
| North Central Community History | North Central Community Association; RPIRG |
| The Women of Washington Park Place | Ehrlo Community Services |
| PROJECT TITLE | COMMUNITY PARTNER(S) |
| Court Breach Alternatives |
Regina Alternative Measures Program (RAMP) |
| Building SEED Regina | SEED Regina; North Central Community Organization |
| North Central Housing Facilitator | North Central Community Association (NCCA); Homelessness Partnering Strategy; |
Contact Us
Drop By
Classroom Building 411
University of Regina
Mailing Address
Community Engagment and Research Centre
c/o Dean of Arts Office
3737 Wascana Parkway
University of Regina
Regina, SK S4S 0A2
Michelle LeMoal, Community Coordinator
Phone: 306-585-4226
Email: community.engagement@uregina.ca
Dr. Amber Fletcher, Academic Director
E-mail: Amber.Fletcher@uregina.ca