Doug Owram
Encyclopedia
Dr. Doug Owram is Professor of History and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia Okanagan, a post he assumed on July 1, 2006. He was formerly Vice President (Academic) and Provost at the University of Alberta
.
in 1970, going on to complete his master's degree in history at Queen's in 1972. In 1976 Owram received his PhD in history from the University of Toronto
and subsequently joined the faculty at the University of Alberta
.
he served as Associate Dean of Arts, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Acted as Department Chair and Associate Vice-President (Academic). In 1995 he was appointed Vice-President (Academic) and in 1998 the title of Provost was added making him the chief operating officer of the university. He completed his term as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) in 2003.
In addition, Dr Owram served in many capacities outside the university. Chief among these was his tenure as President of the Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2001 to 2003, as Chair of the Campus Alberta Quality Council from its inception in 2004 until July 1, 2006, and as a National Historical Association board member since 2004. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of NeWest Press, including a term as Vice-President, and on grant committees of SSHRC and the Molson Prize Committee. Recently he served as a member of the SSHRC steering committee on the future of the Humanities.
Owram was the recipient of a University of Alberta McCalla Professorship in 1989, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1990. He received the J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Research Excellence in 1995.
movement between the years 1856 and 1900. The book was published by the University of Toronto Press
, and was based on work Owram had done for his doctoral disseration
at the University of Toronto
.
Owram sets out to study how the idea of the Canadian West
evolved in the minds of central Canadians. He traces conceptions of Rupert's Land
from a barren wasteland to an area that was ripe for settlement and offered the best, and sometimes only, hope of prosperity and redemption for the Canadian nation
. Particular emphasis is given to the Red River Rebellion
and its effects on the perception of the West and how indicative it was of burgeoning Western alienation
.
The book continues by examining the re-evaluation of the suitability of the region for agriculture
and settlement. Also noted is the desire of central Canadian expansionists to foster the emergence of a 'British' moral character on the prairies. Owram elaborates on the problematics associated with settling Palliser's Triangle
and the work of John Macoun
; an individual who's interpretation of the Triangle caused many hardships for future settlers.
A concluding section of the book further discusses sources of Western alienation
and offers a brief discussion of the historiography
of Red River Settlement
.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
.
Education
Owram earned a bachelor of arts degree (first class with honours) in history and economics from Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in 1970, going on to complete his master's degree in history at Queen's in 1972. In 1976 Owram received his PhD in history from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and subsequently joined the faculty at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
.
Career
During his time at the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
he served as Associate Dean of Arts, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Acted as Department Chair and Associate Vice-President (Academic). In 1995 he was appointed Vice-President (Academic) and in 1998 the title of Provost was added making him the chief operating officer of the university. He completed his term as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) in 2003.
In addition, Dr Owram served in many capacities outside the university. Chief among these was his tenure as President of the Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2001 to 2003, as Chair of the Campus Alberta Quality Council from its inception in 2004 until July 1, 2006, and as a National Historical Association board member since 2004. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of NeWest Press, including a term as Vice-President, and on grant committees of SSHRC and the Molson Prize Committee. Recently he served as a member of the SSHRC steering committee on the future of the Humanities.
Owram was the recipient of a University of Alberta McCalla Professorship in 1989, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1990. He received the J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Research Excellence in 1995.
Author
The author of several books, Owram's more recent titles include Born at the Right Time: A History of the Baby Boom Generation (University of Toronto Press, 1996) and Promise of Eden: the Canadian Expansionist Movement and the Idea of the West 1856-1900 (University of Toronto Press, 1980 and 1992). Recent publications include a piece on Canada for the Oxford History of the British Empire and a forthcoming paper on NAFTA.Promise of Eden
Promise of Eden is a 1980 book by Doug Owram, examining the Canadian expansionistExpansionism
In general, expansionism consists of expansionist policies of governments and states. While some have linked the term to promoting economic growth , more commonly expansionism refers to the doctrine of a state expanding its territorial base usually, though not necessarily, by means of military...
movement between the years 1856 and 1900. The book was published by the University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press is Canada's leading scholarly publisher and one of the largest university presses in North America. Founded in 1901, UTP has published over 6,500 books, with well over 3,500 of these still in print....
, and was based on work Owram had done for his doctoral disseration
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Owram sets out to study how the idea of the Canadian West
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
evolved in the minds of central Canadians. He traces conceptions of Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
from a barren wasteland to an area that was ripe for settlement and offered the best, and sometimes only, hope of prosperity and redemption for the Canadian nation
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Particular emphasis is given to the Red River Rebellion
Red River Rebellion
The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...
and its effects on the perception of the West and how indicative it was of burgeoning Western alienation
Western Alienation
In Canadian politics, Western alienation is a concept that the Western provinces - British Columbia , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - have been alienated, and in extreme cases excluded, from mainstream Canadian political affairs in favour of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec...
.
The book continues by examining the re-evaluation of the suitability of the region for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and settlement. Also noted is the desire of central Canadian expansionists to foster the emergence of a 'British' moral character on the prairies. Owram elaborates on the problematics associated with settling Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle
Palliser's Triangle, or the Palliser Triangle, is a largely semi-arid steppe region in the Prairie Provinces of Western Canada that was determined to be unsuitable for agriculture because of its unfavourable climate. The soil in this area is dark brown or black in color and is very nutrient-rich....
and the work of John Macoun
John Macoun
John Macoun was an Irish-born Canadian naturalist.- Early life :Macoun was born in Magheralin, County Down, Ireland in 1831, the third child of James Macoun and Anne Jane Nevin. In 1850 the worsening economic situation in Ireland led his family to emigrate to Canada, where he settled in Seymour...
; an individual who's interpretation of the Triangle caused many hardships for future settlers.
A concluding section of the book further discusses sources of Western alienation
Western Alienation
In Canadian politics, Western alienation is a concept that the Western provinces - British Columbia , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - have been alienated, and in extreme cases excluded, from mainstream Canadian political affairs in favour of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec...
and offers a brief discussion of the historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
of Red River Settlement
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
.