Political scientist Roger Gibbins spent nearly 30 years teaching at the University of Calgary and served as president of the Canada West Foundation. He is remembered for his pioneering work on the politics of Western Canada.Political scientist Roger Gibbins began his lengthy and distinguished career in Calgary in the 1970s as Alberta began its whirlwind transformation from an agricultural hinterland to an economic powerhouse.
“You could argue that he actually explained to Albertans and Westerners who they were and what their place could be, and was, on the national stage,” said Doreen Barrie, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, who became a long-time friend of Dr. Gibbins after having him as her graduate supervisor in the 1970s and 80s.
“While he was an extremely hard-working and dedicated professor and researcher, he was never less than a devoted and engaged father,” his elder son, Christopher, said. Then, with their second child on the way, Dr. Gibbins accepted a teaching position at the University of Calgary. His tenure began in 1973 and stretched until 2002, during which he taught thousands of students while researching and publishing countless articles and books on the political identity of Western Canada, on subjects such as federalism, constitutional reform and Indigenous issues. His work made him a trusted voice to federal and provincial leaders.
In 1998, Dr. Gibbins became president of the Canada West Foundation, a non-partisan think tank based in Calgary. The foundation, in a memorial post, said he inspired Canadians to think differently about policy issues, insisting that “if you show people the possibilities, they will be motivated to explore options and produce ideas that drive toward positive change.” He held the position until his retirement in 2012.
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