Presidential Biography

Dr. RALPH ANDREW NILSON
President and Vice-Chancellor
Vancouver Island University

FORMAL EDUCATION

1984 Ph.D. University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
College of Human Performance and Development.

1978 M.Sc. Southern Connecticut University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, College of Education.

1976 B.A. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.
Department of Geography. College of Arts and Sciences.

HONORARY APPOINTMENT

1996-2004 Vice Consul, Royal Norwegian Consulate for the Province of Saskatchewan

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2004 - 2006: Vice President, Academic, and Professor, School of Recreation Management and Kinesiology, Acadia University

2002 - 2004: Director, Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre, First Nations University of Canada, and Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina

1992 - 2002: Dean and Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina

1989 – 1992: Assistant Dean Academic, Associate Professor, Faculty of Physical Activity Studies, University of Regina

1987 - 1989 Assistant Professor, Field Work Coordinator (1988-89), Faculty of Physical Activity Studies, University of Regina.

1983 - 1987 Director, Assistant Professor, Leisure Services Program, Department of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA.

1981 - 1983 Assistant Professor: Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies. Hood College, Frederick, Maryland.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Over ninety (90) provincial, national and international presentations on a variety of intersectoral topics including but not limited to:

Social Determinants of Health,
Healthy Public Policy
Changing Demographics
Population Trends
Population
Health Goals
Intersectoral Collaboration
Aboriginal Leadership Development,
Recreation’s Role in Population Health
Leadership, Developing a Cooperative
Approach Through Strategic Alliances
Volunteerism in Rural Communities,
Leisure and Aging
Community Involvement
Healthy Lifestyles of Older Adults,
and Eco-tourism and Community Development.

REFEREED/NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS

Over seventy (70) publications related to areas of research and public involvement identified above including the new “Discover Saskatchewan” book series.

GRANT FUNDING

An active research program which has generated over $4.0 million dollars in external funding.

GRANTS FUNDED

Investigators	Project Title	Dates	Granting Agency	Funding
Dr. Ralph Nilson and Willie Ermine	Isi Askiwan- The State of the Land: Prince Albert Grand Council Elders Gathering on Climate Change	2003 - 2004	Natural Resources Canada- Climate Change and Impacts Directorate	$55,000
Dr. Ralph Nilson Collaborator: Dr. Patrick Fafard, Sask Health	Post-Doctoral funding for Wendee Kubick Health Policy Research and Capacity Building	2002	Health Services and Utilization Research Commission (HSURC) Note: Funding received but returned to the HSURC as student took faculty position	36,750/yr for 2 years
Dr. J. Frankish Co-investigators: Dr. R. Nilson and six other scholars	Taking action on the Non Medical Determinants of Health The Role of Regional Health Authorities.	2002	Canadian Institutes of Health Research	120,000/yr for 3 years
Dr. E. Hampton (SIFC), Co- Investigators: Dr. R. Nilson, Dr. B. Waygood (UofS)	ACADRE Proposal: Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre	2003	Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation	500,000 /yr for 6 years
Dr. E. Hampton (SIFC), Co- Investigators: Dr. R. Nilson, Dr. B. Waygood (UofS)	ACADRE Proposal: Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre	2001	Institute for Aboriginal Peoples Health (IAPH) of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)	500,000/ yr for 6 years
Dr. C. D’Arcy (U of S) Co-investigators: Dr. R. Nilson, Dr. R. Bowen, Dr. D. Butler- Jones.	“Happy or Blue? Prevalence and Social Determinants of Emotional Well-Being in Saskatchewan: An Analysis of Data from the Saskatchewan Population Health and Dynamics Survey”.	2001	Health Services Utilization Research Commission (HSURC). Socio-Health Grant.	70,000
Dr. T. Hinch (U of A); Co- Investigators: Dr. J. Harper (U of M); Dr. R. Nilson.	“Economic and Cultural Exchange through Sport Tourism: Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders”.	2001	The Canada-European Mobility Program for Cooperation in Higher Education and Training. HRDC.	200,000
Dr. R. Nilson	Provincial Parks Books Discover Saskatchewan Series	2001	Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation	7,500
Dr. R. Nilson	Research Assistant – Discover Saskatchewan Book Series.	2001	Centennial Summer Student Employment Program.	8,000
Dr. R. Nilson	Research Assistants (2)	2001	Federal Summer Career Placement Grant.	2,520
Dr. R. Nilson	Churchill River Canoe Book – Discover Saskatchewan Series	2000	Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation	4,000
Dr. R. Nilson; Dr. D. Butler Jones, Saskatchewan Health. Co-Investigators: C. D’Arcy, University of Saskatchewan; P. Smith, University of Regina; W. Osei, Saskatchewan Health; R. Passmore, Saskatchewan Health.	Saskatchewan Population Health and Dynamics Project	1999	Saskatchewan Health	562,000
Principal: Dr. R. Nilson	Saskatchewan Canoe Routes Book Project. Discover Saskatchewan Series.	1998	Parks and Recreation Association.	5,670
Principal: Dr. R. Nilson; Co-Investigators:Ed Udd – WSU; Miriam Sahagun, Mexico, Campeche.	Eco 96 North American Mobility in Higher Education.	1996/7	Human Resources and Development Canada. Funded at $120,000 level. Funded at the same amount in the United States, Total grant for ECO 96 - $360,000.	120,000
Principal: Dr. R. Nilson	Historic Sites and Markers Book Project	1997	Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation.	18,500

TEACHING

Undergraduate and graduate teaching experience. Graduate student supervision, committee membership and external examiner experience. Also leading curriculum development for a new interdisciplinary degree in Population Health and a new interdisciplinary degree in Leadership. Currently supervising six graduate students. Two teaching awards have been received.

UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE

Founding Chair, Board of the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU);
Vice-Chair, Saskatchewan Health Research

Foundation (SHRF)(Order in Council appointment);

Board member, Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute; Board Member
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan; Member,
Medical Research Advisory Committee,
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Sask; Board member
Prairie Regional Health Promotion Centre; Member
Management Board of the Canadian Plains, Research Centre; Member, Editorial Board, Saskatchewan Encyclopedia Project;
Board Member, Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Chair, Board of Regents, Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (A historic high school) Outlook, Saskatchewan;
Board Member, Sask Sport Hall of Fame;
Member, Norway & Canada: Research and Technology Forum Steering Committee

Other relevant experience: Founding Chair of the Saskatchewan Provincial Health Council (An Order in Council Appointment); Member, Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Review Committee; Non-governmental member, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health (ACPH); President, Canadian Council of University Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators; Member, Health Canada Committee to assess reinstitution of ParticpACTION; Member, Advisory Board of the Small Town Institute.

Continue to be committed to supporting Aboriginal health, population health, recreation and sport provincially and nationally through active involvement on committees and advocacy groups.

Member of eight professional organizations.

PERSONAL: Spouse: Suzanne Nilson, PhD; Daughters: Bethany and Anna