Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
The Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship administered by the SSHRC seeks to develop research skills and assist in the training of highly-qualified personnel by supporting students in the social sciences and humanities who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences with the goal of training Canada's researchers and leaders of tomorrow. The award amount is $17,500.
Henok Alemneh – Master’s in Development Practice: Indigenous Development Alumni
Scholarship opportunities are key to succeed in graduate school. I think they incentivize students to think through their research projects and they also provide a badly needed financial support for many. I was also inspired by these and by the possibility of getting the prestigious award available to me at the time. Thanks to all the support from my academic advisors, Instructors, community partners and the MDP Program, I was able to put the effort and win the award. This success early on in my study helped me in many ways and it inspired me to achieve more. I eventually completed my Masters by receiving the University of Winnipeg Graduate Student of Highest Distinction Award. I have since been working for the Government of Manitoba in my area of study.
I would say to current students, make a good use of opportunities available to you. It is worth working on your great ideas even if some of your applications may not get awarded due to limited resources.
2021-22 Award Recipients
Courtney Dowdall – Criminal Justice
My name is Courtney Dowdall, and I am completing my Master of Arts in Criminal Justice and I expect to graduate in June 2022.
This is an extremely special moment for me as a scholar. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work, because I am very sure that many other nominees for this award were as capable of winning. The SSHRC award opens up many avenues for me as a novice researcher and it allows me to dedicate more time to my project and less time worrying about making basic day-to-day ends meet. This is a major stress relief and opens up space in my emotional tank for what is to come with my thesis project. Moreover, I am applying to a PhD program once my Masters is finished and this award absolutely bolsters my application. As for my career, I strive to work as a Homicide Detective for the Vancouver Police Department in my home province of British Columbia. The achievement of the SSHRC reinforces my capabilities as a novice scholar which shows tenacity, performance, and dedication to my goals. I am also devoted to teaching in a university setting. I cannot thank the SSHRC enough for affording me this opportunity and I am elated for the chance to represent the University of Winnipeg on this scale
I would like to thank Dr. Michael Weinrath, Dr. Steven Kohm, and Dr. Kevin Walby for their guidance, patience, and care for me throughout my graduate school journey. Their encouragement and kindness has afforded me opportunities within the department I never thought possible, including their support for my thesis which is a passion project for me. I also want to thank my parents, Lori Dowdall and David Dowdall, for their undying love and support for me throughout my educational journey. I am forever grateful. Lastly, I want to thank my partner, Breighton Campbell, for his grace through my graduate school stress and anxiety. His compassion has been integral to my successes and I cherish his strength.
My project is titled “Hysteria, Hope, Homicide: “Making Sense” of Homicide Investigators’ use of Emotional Labour” and my aim is to examine the ability, practicality, and requirement of homicide investigators to deal with complex emotions within themselves and those of individuals they encounter. My proposed research asks how the homicide investigators employed with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team in British Columbia rely on emotional labour practices to help them deal with complex emotions displayed by victims, perpetrators, the public, and within themselves. This project is being supervised by Dr. Kevin Walby.
I am passionate about this project for a few reasons. First, I have extensive personal experience conducting emotional labour in a criminal justice work setting and I know how personally taxing it can be. Investigators are cornerstone members of police departments and with the spotlight rightfully heavy on police right now, there is a need to understand the unique components that influence the experience of trauma and the use of coping strategies employed by police in specialized roles. This project is also important to me because I think scholars of criminal justice have a duty to give a voice to these hidden sectors of society that do not normally end up in the public eye.
Normally police hold immense power in society but in this case, they are vulnerable. When it comes to impact, this research will promote investigator’s mental health services and ensure precautions are taken to mitigate the onset of trauma-related mental health issues such as suicide, PTSD, chronic insomnia, cardiovascular disease, and family problems which are prevalent in law enforcement personnel. The mental health and wellness of investigators is critical for the progress of police in Canada. This research will provide insight into the emotional labour undertaken by homicide investigators and will enable investigative branches of police departments, national defense departments, firefighting services, and other first responders to craft policies and programs aimed at mitigating and treating the negative effects brought on by continued emotional labour. Resulting policies may include Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and/or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
As a novice criminologist, I’ve always been motivated by creative solutions, concepts that address underlying issues, dedication to solving societal issues, and being able to draw connections between my studies and the improvement of Canadian police culture. One of the things I love about attending the master’s program is witnessing the results of former graduate student work that has gone on to make an impact throughout Canada which is very motivating. I was inspired to apply to the SSHRC because the agency stands for building and mobilizing knowledge bases, training creative thinkers within our society, and driving innovations that embody positive improvements to our culture. These are goals and ideas I share with the SSHRC and this encourages my dreams of improving the mental health of first responders in Canada and across the world.
Sean Goldstone – Master in Environmental & Social Change
Achieving this award has helped build my confidence, which has been helpful in combatting self-doubt and nagging imposter syndrome that I know myself and a lot of my colleagues deal with.
This award will also ensure my success as a graduate by helping fund the costs of student life and in doing so grant me the peace of mind and time necessary to excel to the best of my ability in my studies. With this award, I can maximize the time I’m able to commit to coursework and develop my research in a meaningful way. In doing so, I hope to bring myself closer to a fulfilling career centred around natural resource research and policy development.
During my time at the University of Winnipeg, I’ve taken part in a number of fulfilling research assistant and supplementary work opportunities that have provided me with skills and experiences that have helped qualify me for this award.
In 2017 and 2018 I took part in a quantitative study that aimed to provide the City of Winnipeg with identifying criteria that could help slow the impact of Dutch Elm Disease on the city’s urban canopy. This project was my first exposure to taking part in meaningful research with important outputs and was a foundational experience that has led me to pursue similar opportunities.
Following this, I took part in a collaborative project involving the University of Winnipeg, Spence Neighbourhood Association, and various community members to conceptualize experimental green space project plans, now called the “Langside Learning Garden”. This project was a great exposure to the benefits of collaborative work and the positive results of numerous and diverse views, values, and goals being shared and integrated into a project.
During this project, I also conducted research that contributed toward fulfilling my undergraduate thesis requirement. This project looked at environmental justice implications of an environmental tribunal and the court proceedings surrounding a large water diversion project in the state of Karnataka, India. Throughout this research and the following outputs of the project, I gained important research and leadership skills that I believe determine my capabilities to properly conduct research throughout the following two years and helped qualify me for this award
I would like to thank the wonderful U of Winnipeg faculty who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over my many years as an undergraduate. In particular, I’d like to thank Alan Diduck, who has acted as a mentor to me through much of my work and studies and advised me throughout my undergraduate thesis work. As well, my family, friends and my partner, Faith, who have shown me unwavering support and have given me the confidence to pursue the Master in Environmental and Social change program.
In the coming academic year, I look forward to collaborating with the inspiring colleagues and faculty that make up the MESC program, as well as folks I have yet to meet through my research. I also look forward to learning about learning; first, through my research that explores learning as a catalyst for climate change adaptation in renewable resource sectors, and second, by means of course work that highlights the various approaches to knowledge development and how the interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of these varied methodologies can help solve important, complex problems.
Danijela Saric – History
I am very grateful and still in disbelief to have received this award! Not only does it validate that I am on the right track with my potential research project on Stalinist Russia but it takes a lot of stress off by allowing me to focus on my schooling instead of having to worry about squeezing work into an already very busy schedule. I am extremely thankful for the professors who encouraged my pursuit of further education while I was enrolled in my undergraduate studies at the University of Winnipeg and saw it as something I was capable of achieving. I am looking forward to pursuing my research project and hopefully contributing to academic scholarship!