This new publicly available database is being called "an important contribution to the public availability of a searchable database of thousands of pollution-related 'incidents' in the tar sands."

Global Forest Watch has made this database available for download from their website - it's not publicly searchable, but you can set it up on your own computer.  It contains information relevant to both researchers and the concerned public.

From the backgrounder:
Greenpeace, Sierra Club Prairie, Keepers of the Athabasca and Global Forest Watch Canada today released databases compiled by prominent scientist Dr. Kevin Timoney, one with more than 6,500 incidents, regarding tar sands operations that raise serious concerns about how companies are allowed to operate in this province by the Alberta government. (July 30, 2010)

Read the full backgrounder | Download the database from globalforestwatch[dot]ca

A new initiative from the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society: creating an asset map of all resources for domestic abuse within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.  They're currently conducting a survey of existing services, with the intent to evaluate the current status of programs to address this issue in their region.

To read a letter from the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society about the project, click here.  Read more on the Wood Buffalo Nonprofit Sector Link website.

The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW) / Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal (CWRP) and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto are conducting a survey on kinship care in Canada.  If you work in an agency that provides kinship support services, please consider taking part in this valuable research!  The online survey is available until August 31, 2010.

From the website:
The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW) in collaboration with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, is conducting an investigation of the availability and types of supporting services in Canada that best address some of the major issues faced by kinship caregivers and their families.  This online survey is intended to determine the types of kinship support services your agency provides, as well as the circumstances under which the services are available.

To read more about this research, or to complete the survey, click here.

Visit the homepage of the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal.

Leading academic researchers from across Canada and the United States recently received funding approval from the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health, a branch of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to conduct an intervention research project aimed at developing long-term strategies to improve community health and well-being in First Nations communities. 

From the news release:
"The single greatest challenge that we collectively face is finding solutions that will make poverty history for all Canadians, no matter where they live," said National Chief Atleo. "We know First Nation communities face a unique set of circumstances that require unique and innovative solutions. The Experts Panel that will carry out this research project will provide leading edge information on the way forward. This is the kind of expertise we need to bring new approaches and new thinking to these complex issues which have held back First Nations and Canada for too long. This is important work for First Nations and all Canadians."

Read the full release here.

The Feminist North Network (FemNorthNet) is a research alliance based at the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW).  The project's goal is to look at the social and economic challenges that affect women in the North, especially those facing aboriginal populations. The initiative is run by researchers, advocates and community leaders, including researcher and policy analyst Jane Stinson of CRIAW, and is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Read more about FemNorthNet at the CRIAW website

High Risk Youth Uncensored: An Educational Exchange

From the iHuman website:

iHuman has partnered with university-based researchers, strategically positioned community-based workers, and a number of youth at risk in a collaborative research project called High Risk Youth Uncensored. The group is working together to develop a workshop series that will educate service providers (e.g., police officers, lawyers, and group home staff) on strategies and considerations for working with youth at risk.

Project partners include the University of Alberta, CS High Risk Unit, Criminal Defense Office, and The City of Edmonton.

Read more.