Karen Rempel, B.Ed., M.Ed., Ph.D. (University of Calgary) is the Director of Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies in the Faculty of Education (CARES) at Brandon University. The Centre is an applied research institute with a particular focus on rural and remote communities. She began her career as a classroom teacher in Saskatchewan, then moved on to be a curriculum consultant and education policy analyst with the Ministry of Education in that province. After moving to Brandon in 1995 she began working as a researcher with the Rural Development Institute at Brandon University. She became Director of the CARES in 2008.
Karen has a deep commitment to education and the role that it plays throughout an individual’s lifetime. She is also a rural person and is particularly interested in the link between educational achievement, employment and economic development in rural, remote and northern communities.
Teaching
Dr. Rempel’s teaching activities are currently in the graduate studies program in the Faculty of Education. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in curriculum foundations, education research methods as well as thesis supervision. She has also taught rural community development and sustainable development. Her teaching philosophy is centered on student learning and engagement and the relevance of graduate work to educational practice. She also mentors graduate students who are members of research teams involved in the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies. The range of student participation and involvement includes preparation of literature to data collection, analysis, instrument design, contributions to and recognition in research reports and support for research-related activities.
Research
Dr. Rempel’s research activities are grounded in community-based participatory research (CBPR). She is an advocate for action research and the practical application of both qualitative and quantitative research as a tool for communities. She has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research and has a particular interest in the use of qualitative data analysis software for the analysis of textual data. She also uses photovoice research methodology as a community-based, action research methodology for marginalized populations. Her current research interests are focused on youth-at-risk and student mobility. As Director of the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies, she is currently the research director on several projects through the CARES. https://www.brandonu.ca/bu-cares/
One of the main research projects is the 2011-2017 SSHRC CURA VOICE Research Project. http://www.voiceresearchproject.ca/
Research Grants and Commissioned Research
| 2016 | Westman Immigrant Services. $20,000 (2016-2018). (Principal Investigator). Researcher-in-Residence Project. |
| 2015 | Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council. $32,000 (Principal Investigator). Commissioned research on Aboriginal youth employment and scholastic success in Brandon, MB. |
| 2014 | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Research Connection Grant. $25000. (Principal Investigator) Aboriginal Youth Educational Success and Leadership Community-based Research Project. |
| 2014 | Brandon University Research Committee Grant. $7500. (Principal Investigator) Models of Learning Continuums for Mobile Learners. |
| 2013 | SSHRC Partnership Grant (Co-Applicant) Assessing and Supporting Children’s Oral Language and Writing Development through Play in Classrooms, Daycares and Homes in Rural Northern Communities. Applicant: S. Stagg Peterson, OISE, University of Toronto. Co-applicant: K. Rempel |
| 2012 | Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (Principal Investigator) $72,000 Mobility patterns of rural youth-at-risk in Manitoba. |
| 2012 | Manitoba Rural Learning Consortium. (Principal Investigator) $36,000. Evaluation of Collaborative Inquiry and Action Research Professional Development Project. |
| 2012 | SSHRC Imagining Canada’s Future: Regional Panels Grant 2012. (co-applicant) $2700. Represented Brandon University as co-investigator on Prairie Region Consortium of 11 Western Canadian universities. Principal Investigator: Dr. David Malloy, University of Regina. |
| 2012 | Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada: Indian Studies Support Program. (co-applicant) $209,500.Recruitment and Retention of First Nations Students. |
| 2011 | Researcher-in-Residence project. (Principal Investigator) $40,000 Implementation of Community-based Research for Student Success. Commissioned research |
| 2011 | Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada /INAC (Project Director) $111,000 to assist with recruitment and retention plan for Aboriginal students to Brandon University. |
| 2011 | Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) (Principal Investigator) $24,000 Needs Assessment of First Nations Students at Brandon University |
| 2011 | SSHRC-CURA (5-Year) Michalos/Rempel (Co-Principal Investigator). $1M research award with additional cash and in-kind contributions amounting to $750,000. The Vital Outcome Indicators for Community Engagement (VOICE) for Children and Youth is aimed at student success for First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and northern communities. |
| 2010 | Service Canada (Principal Investigator) $50,000 funding for research on Youth Facing Barriers in selected rural and northern communities and regions. The project included working with these communities to use evidence from survey data to inform the development of community or regional plans. |
| 2010 | SSHRC-CURA (1 year) $20,000. (Michalos/Rempel co-Principal Investigators). Approval of letter of intent for SSHRC-CURA proposal. |
| 2010 | Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (Rempel/Kirk co-Principal Investigators) $24,000 for research project. Needs Assessment Research, Recruitment and Retention of First Nations Students to Brandon University. |
| 2010 | Growing Forward Program, Manitoba Agriculture and Rural Initiatives (Principal Investigator) $30,000. Economic Impact Assessment of Leafy Spurge in Manitoba. |
| 2008 | Canadian Council on Learning (Principal Investigator) $25,000 Researcher in Residence award. Small Schools Our Preference, one of 8 awards given nationally by the Canadian Council on Learning. Partner was Southwest Horizon School Division. |
| 2003 | Manitoba Research Alliance on Community Economic Development in the New Economy $10,000 research award as part of a 3-year research project undertaken by the Manitoba Research Alliance on Community Economic Development in the New Economy. |
Selected Publications
Moscou, K., Murray, J. Rempel, K. Paupanekis, E. (2016). Final research report: Scholastic success study of Aboriginal students in the City of Brandon. Brandon, MB: Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies.Scholastic Success Study City of Brandon 2016
Moscou, K., Murray, J. Rempel, K. Paupanekis, E. (2016). Final research report: Needs and gaps analysis of Aboriginal youth employment in Brandon. Brandon, MB: Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies.Needs and Gaps Analysis of Aboriginal Youth Employment Brandon
Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education studies (2016, January). Success through our eyes: A photovoice project. Brandon, MB: Author.Success Through Our Eyes: A Photovoice Project
Rempel, K. (2014). Final Report of the Program Evaluation of the mRLC. Submitted to the Manitoba Rural Learning Consortium.Final Report of the Program Evaluation of the Manitoba Rural Learning Consortium
Rempel, K. (2013). Final Research Report: Exploration of Factors that Contribute to Youth At-Risk Mobility in 13 Rural and Northern Manitoba Communities. Submitted to the Homelessness Partnership Secretariat.Final Research Report: Exploration of Factors that Contribute to Youth At-Risk Mobility
Rempel, K. (2012). VOICE Research Project Community Protocol. Protocol document for each of the communities involved in the VOICE project.VOICE Research Project Community Protocol for Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Rempel, K. (2011). Rural Manitoba Youth Facing Barriers Project: Final Research Report. Report prepared for Service Canada and the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies, Brandon University. Rural Manitoba Youth Facing Barriers Project: Final Research Report
Rempel, K., Kirk, J., Brown, C. & Moose, S. (2011). Needs Assessment Report: Brandon University Recruitment and Retention of First Nations Students. Report prepared for Brandon University, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies, Brandon University.
Brown, C., Rempel, K., & Lancaster, G.(2010). Turtle Mountain School Division Student Services Research Report. Report prepared for the Turtle Mountain School Division and the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies, Brandon University.
Rempel, K. Eberts, D., Wiseman, D. (2010). Economic Impact of Leafy Spurge in Manitoba. Report prepared for the Rural Development Institute, Brandon University.Economic Impact of Leafy Spurge in Manitoba
Rempel, K. (2009). Evaluation of the Frenchman River-Wood River Weed Management Association.
Rempel, K. (2009). Small Schools Our Preference. Report for Southwest Horizon School Division and the Canadian Council on Learning.
Rempel, K. (2008). Breaking Down Borders: Issues and Actions for Invasive Plant Species in Western Canada Final Report. Report prepared for the Greencover Technical Assistance Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Rempel, K (2008). Fostering a learning community: the role of local knowledge and a ‘sense of place’. In Homes on the Range: Conservation in Working Prairie Landscapes: Proceedings of the 8th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference and Workshop, held in Regina, SK., Mar. 1, 2007. Robert Warnock, lead editor. University of Regina, Canadian Plains Research Center.
Rempel, K. and Annis, R.C. (2007). An Action Plan for Influencing and Information Education Policy, Research and Practice in Southwestern Manitoba. Working paper prepared for the Westman Superintendent’s Group.
Rempel, K. (2004) Final Evaluation Report: Network of Community Enterprise Development Centres Learning for Life Initiative. Rural Development Institute, Brandon University
Rempel, K. (2004). The Evolution of Community Learning Networks: Political Philosophy and Historical Examples from Rural Manitoba. Working Paper prepared for the Manitoba Research Alliance on Community Economic Development in the New Economy.
Rempel, K. & Peers, B. (2002) Rural Adaptation Needs Assessment Final Report. RDI project report. Rural Development Institute, Brandon UniversityRural Adaptation Needs Assessment Report
Ferrazzi, G., Rempel, K., Annis, R., & Routledge, L. (2001) Final Report Phase I: Toward a Strategic Rural Research Agenda for Western Economic Diversification Canada. Prepared for Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Annis, R.C., Ferrazzi, G., & Rempel, K. (February 2001). Actions of Local Governments and Brandon University for Rural Development. Paper presented at Seminario Taller Sabre Gestion Municipal en la Costa Sur de Jalisco, Universidad de Guadalajara, Autlan, Mexico.
Rempel, K. (ed). (2001) Brandon and Area Labour Market Report Series. Brandon: Rural Development Institute, Brandon University.
Rempel, K., Annis, R., English, S. and Ferrazzi, G. (2001). Manitoba Community Adjustment Handbook and Toolkit. RDI project report. Rural Development Institute, Brandon University
Rempel, K. (1998). Building a Better Tomorrow – Impact Report, Canada-Saskatchewan Agriculture Green Plan Agreement, , Regina: Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Selected Curricula or Educational Resources
Warren, D., Rempel, K. (2001) Communications Production Technology Regina, SK. Saskatchewan Education
Rempel, K. Peake, D., Corby, E. (1999) Agricultural Technician Program. Regina, SK. Saskatchewan Education comprised of 8 individual curriculums.
Rempel, K. (1998) Agriculture 30: Value –added and Diversified Agriculture and Related Goods and Services Regina, SK. Saskatchewan Education.
Rempel, K. (1997) Agriculture Awareness Series: Food Safety, Biotechnology, Crop Protection, Prairie Grasslands, Regina, SK. Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Rempel, K., Stephenson, B. (1996) Getting the Message Out – 152 ways to More Effective Agricultural Awareness. Saskatoon, SK. Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions.
Rempel, K & MacDonald, I. (1995) Agriculture and You. Regina, SK Canadian Western Agribition.
Anderson, D., Huczek, G. & Rempel, K. (1991) Biology 20 Regina, SK Saskatchewan Education.
Anderson, D., Huczek, G. & Rempel, K. (1990) Science K-6. Regina, SK Saskatchewan Education.
Jordon, F. & Rempel, K. (1990) Saskatchewan Resources Series: Agriculture Regina, SK. Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Saskatchewan Education.
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