Geography at the University of Victoria MICHAEL C. R. EDGELL, Current Chair COLIN J. B. WOOD, Past Chair W . R. D e r r ic k S e w e ll, Past Chair CHARLES N. FORWARD, Past Chair Department of Geography University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W2Y2 T H E DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY began at the University of Vic toria in 1963, the year that the university was established. Its origins, however, date back further, to Victoria College (founded 1903) out of which the University itself was created. The college introduced first and second year geography courses in 1947 given by Donald Kirk. He was replaced in 1949 by Charles Howatson who offered introductory geology as well as lower division geography courses. Ten years later Charles Forward was appointed as a second faculty member to facilitate the introduction of a greater range of courses, following the 1959 expansion of Victoria College to a four-year bachelor’s level institution at which students were able to complete University of British Columbiadegrees. This arrangement continued until 1963. In 208 EDGELL ET AL.: Geography at the University of Victoria 209 those days the two faculty members were responsible for fourteen contact hours of teaching per week, plus various administrative duties. The university was originally located at the Lansdowne campus (which is now Camosun Community College). In the mid1960s , the University moved to its new campus 2 kilometers away at Gordon Head. Most students in the discipline at that time were destined for careers in teaching, or for further studies at the University of British Columbia or elsewhere. The nature of the subject matter was essentially descriptive, dealing mainly with the nature and distribu tion of physical features and human activities on the earth’s surface. The major questions posed were “what” and “where”? Revolution ary changes have taken place in the discipline since then. Geography has become amuch more analytical avenueofinquiry. Its philosophi cal basis has expanded and become more profound, using a greater range of modes ofinquiry, and its tools of analysis have become more sophisticated. To an increasing degree, it has become a predictive science, yet it has maintained a humanistic dimension. At the same time it has come to focus upon questions of high social relevance requiring application of sophisticated survey methods. This overall change in the nature of the discipline has been mirrored in the evolution of the department at the University of Victoria. The development has followed four main phases, and is now entering a fifth phase, each associated roughly with the term of office of the five chairs who have guided its development. With the move to the new campus, expansion took place under the first chair, Bryan H. Farrell, an energetic and resourceful cultural geographer. He played a major part in planning for the expansion in faculty and facilities. He believed that the department should provide a curricu lum consisting of the basic elements of modem geography and that it should offer a few selected lines of specialization rather than every specialty possible. The emphasis, he felt, should be reflective both of the department’s geographical location and of the problems faced by modem society and the province in particular. Thus, the department 210 APCG YEARBOOK • VOLUME 52 • 1990 began with three main foci of emphasis: resources management, urban development, and Pacific studies. Bryan Farrell wanted to ensure that the department was well equipped to provide training in all three areas. Togetherwith Richard Lycan, Charles Howatson, and Charles Forward, he drew up plans for laboratories in physical geography and facilities for teaching cartog raphy, including cameras and darkrooms which became a dominant feature of the Cornett Building. Faculty with a wide range ofinterests appropriate to the department’s foci were hired in the mid-1960s, including Mike Edgell, Harold Foster, Elmer Keen, John Maunder, and Derrick Sewell. The university map collection and a geography library were set up in conjunction with the McPherson Library. The technical section under John Bryant and later Ian Norie developed a reputation for cartographic and illustrative work. In addition to the lecture program, a strong emphasis on labora tory, field work, and seminars became a feature of the syllabus...
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Oct 1, 2001
Matthew D Pavelich + 1
Open Access