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Dr. Janice Barry receives UofM Outreach Award

November 18, 2015 — 

CP_Barry_Image_01The Faculty of Architecture is pleased to announce that Dr. Janice Barry was presented with the annual UofM Outreach Award at a ceremony on November 17, 2015. The award was presented to Dr. Barry and honours both support and academic staff who have been active in outreach activities, particularly during the previous year.

Dr. Janice Barry has shown leadership in outreach and service in several aspects of her work with the Department of City Planning. Through her work leading the studio course on Indigenous Planning she not only engages with community partners to broaden student’s experiences with different types of planning, but also contributes her own expertise to community members in a variety of ways. In particular, Dr. Barry’s work with Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) is notable for the sharing of University resources with the community. This multi-year partnership partners student groups with Indigenous communities to undertake planning and development studies. These studio projects are directed by the community and their self-identified needs, demonstrating the type of engaged outreach that Dr. Barry undertakes. Dr. Barry facilitates this work between the students and NCN, as well as other First Nations communities, and actively works to find funding to continue these partnerships. In addition to this, Dr. Barry provides on-going support and advice to NCN members throughout the year, acting as a sounding board on planning issues. She gives freely of her time to community members and provides substantial support related to her expertise.

Substantial amounts of time are required to reach out and engage in a meaningful way with Indigenous communities and to address their needs. Care, patience, passion and diplomacy are virtues in this kind of work. Janice embodies all these qualities. As studio instructor, she also exercises her skills at helping graduate students understand, appreciate and negotiate cultural complexities involved in urgent planning issues faced by Indigenous communities. Dr. Barry’s work supports the goals of the University’s Strategic Plan by increasing the diversity of outreach activities and enhancing engagement with Indigenous communities.

Ed Vystrcil, planning coordinator for NCN has said: “Our work with the U of M will have long lasting benefits to our community. It has provided us with a service we could otherwise not afford. At the same time, we provided a hands-on learning experience for the students. This relationship shows the importance of blending western knowledge and FN traditional knowledge for today’s and future generations”.

Congratulations Dr. Barry!

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