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9DALHOUSIE
HOSTS INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTICIPATORY
ACTION RESEARCH (PAR) TRAINING
P
articipatory action research (PAR) is an ap-
proach for supporting effective research in and
with communities. Meshing nicely with client-
centred practice and integrated knowledge translation
(iKT), it is grounded in the philosophy that to effect useful
change, stakeholders actively participate in all phases of
the research process, from conception through data col-
lection and analysis to the implementation of actions that
create change.
To enhance our skills in this collaborative research
method, 16 community partners and an interdisciplinary
group of 19 researchers from Nova Scotia recently partic-
ipated in PAR training at Dalhousie University, led by
renowned PAR researcher, Dr. Jacques Chevalier. This ini-
tiative was funded by a Nova Scotia Health Research
Foundation Catalyst Award received by the project team
(that included three School of Occupational Therapy Fac-
ulty members - Heidi Lauckner (lead), Grace Warner and
Cathy White – and other colleagues from the Faculty of
Health Professions - Rob Gilbert, Lois Jackson, and Jessie-
Lee McIsaac). The award supported research capacity
building amongst 7 established research teams and 10 in-
dividual researchers/community partners engaged in
community-based projects such as recreation and mental
health/chronic conditions, supporting caregivers and vol-
unteers within palliative care and resilience amongst Mi’k-
maw youth. Of particular interest from an occupational
therapy perspective is how PAR can foster meaningful en-
gagement of community members in research and collec-
tive action about issues that are important to them.
This PAR training energized participants with hands-
on learning, fostering the development of fundamental
tools, skills and attitudes to support collective inquiry in
future initiatives grounded in both experience and social
histories. Moving forward, the Catalyst Award will support
the initiation of an informal Community of Practice that
will provide opportunity for continued learning and shar-
ing of PAR tools and projects. The collective experience
of the training was well summarized by one participant
who stated: “We now have brilliant techniques to illicit
data in real time and where people can be active partici-
pants in the data analysis.” The occupational therapy fac-
ulty and their research teams look forward to next steps.
Continued on next page...
D
alhousie University changed the face of health
care education in Atlantic Canada on Decem-
ber 1st with the opening of the new Collabo-
rative Health Education Building. The $38.5-million facility
is beyond breathtaking with floor to ceiling windows, nu-
merous spaces for students to study and learn, and ad-
SCHOOL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOINS
DALHOUSIE AT THE OPENING OF
THE COLLABORATIVE HEALTH EDUCATION BUILDING