A St. Albert researcher has received a Canada Research Chair grant in recognition of his groundbreaking work in researching Canada’s LGBTQ community.
The federal government unveiled its latest round of Canada Research Chair recipients June 14. One of them was St. Albert resident Kristopher Wells.
The Canada Research Chair is a five-or seven-year grant worth up to $1.4 million given to top or emerging talents in different areas of research. Researchers are nominated for chairs by their post-secondary institutions and selected by an expert panel. Some 2,000 of the chairs are active at any one time, and the grants can be renewed once.
Wells is a renowned international advocate and researcher of LGBTQ issues who has served as an expert consultant for many local and international organizations, including UNESCO and the federal government. He is the co-editor of the International Journal of LGBT Youth, the chair of St. Albert’s policing committee, and, as of this week, the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth.
Wells, an associate professor of health and community studies at MacEwan University, said he learned of the government’s decision back in May but wasn’t able to speak about it until it was officially announced. The fact that the announcement came just prior to Pride Week was a happy coincidence.
While the Chair doesn’t come with a physical chair, Wells said it does include $500,000 over five years for his research. He also got to name the chair and pick its research focus.
“We’ve certainly seen here in Alberta and elsewhere in Canada a lot of backlash to sexual and gender minority youth,” he said, such as over gay-straight alliances and trans students in schools.
Wells said his research would focus on policies and practices that would encourage the full and equitable participation of LGBTQ youth in all aspects of our society. This would include a national study of the experience of trans youth in the health and education system (the initial results of which should be out this fall) and new courses at MacEwan. He also hoped to create new ways for pro athletes to support LGBTQ youths similar to the recent Pride Tape campaign.
Wells said it was exciting and humbling to receive this grant, especially since it was the first Canada Research Chair ever awarded at MacEwan.
MacEwan provost Craig Monk said in an email that Wells had become an acknowledged expert in a time when LGBTQ issues had become ever more important to public policy.
“He is outspoken and provocative, and his views challenge me to learn more about things outside my own experience,” he said.
“We do not always agree, but his work and the way he does that work epitomize the essence of a university to me.”
Wells said he hoped his research would help create a better world for our LGBTQ youth.
“I believe when we know better, we can do better.”
