Funds 20 research partnerships on important issues affecting Canadians
KITCHENER, ONTARIO - Feb. 4, 2010 - Canadians living with dementia and their families and caregivers will benefit from new research at the University of Waterloo. The project will examine how to ensure that everyone involved in the care of people living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia — including persons living with dementia themselves — are active participants and decision makers in their care.
Funding for the project was announced by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), at the Village of Winston Park care facility for seniors in Waterloo, along with investments in 19 other large-scale research projects at universities across Canada.
"This research will help design a new, improved approach to providing care for people living with dementia and support for their families and caregivers," said Minister of State Goodyear. "Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, improve Canadians' quality of life and strengthen the economy for future generations."
In total, 20 research projects will receive an investment of $20 million over six years through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's (SSHRC) Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) grants. The funding will bring communities and universities together in partnerships to build knowledge in areas affecting Canadians.
The CURA team will be led by Dr. Sherry Dupuis, University of Waterloo recreation and leisure studies professor and director of the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program, and Dr. Carrie McAiney, a professor in psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster University. The project will include partners from across the university sector and numerous community, seniors' care and not-for-profit organizations from the Kitchener–Waterloo area and across the country. The partners include, among others, a number of area branches of the Alzheimer Society of Canada and several colleges and hospitals from across Ontario.
CURA grants, among the largest grants offered by SSHRC, support joint research projects between researchers based at post-secondary institutions and community-based organizations.
"These grants highlight the excellence of our country's talented researchers and recognize the importance of fostering collaboration to keep Canada at the leading edge of research, development and innovation in the 21st century," said Chad Gaffield, President of SSHRC.
The projects focus on a wide range of issues of importance to Canadians, such as community food security, employment innovations and the impact of co-operatives.
Today's funding announcement also includes several CURA projects researching Canadian environmental issues, including sustainable forest management in New Brunswick, the impact of climate change on coastal communities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and how to teach sustainability in schools in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Projects also focus on research on Canada's northern communities, including Inuit leadership and governance in Nunavut and Nunavik.
For the full list of CURAs announced, see the SSHRC website (
http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/site/winning-recherche_subventionnee/results-resultats/2010/cura-aruc_eng.pdf)
SSHRC is an independent federal government agency that funds university-based research and graduate training through national peer review competitions. SSHRC also partners with public and private sector organizations to focus research and aid the development of better policies and practices in key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life.
For more information, please contact
For additional information on this release
and other SSHRC research projects:
Trevor Lynn - Manager, Communications
613-992-7302
Cell: 613-302-9879
Trevor.Lynn[at]sshrc-crsh.gc.ca 
