The history of the Canadian Rangers is a “living history.” The purpose of my research is to explore historical and contemporary aspects of the Rangers, the “eyes and ears” of the Canadian Forces in northern, coastal and isolated regions of the country. To write a representative study, I cannot just read official government documents or newspaper articles. I need to learn from those of you who know the Rangers best.

I am not only interested in hearing from former or current Rangers, but from anyone who has worked with them or knows them, including other members of the CF, members of communities with a patrol, etc.

As part of the “ethics review” process, I am obligated to come up with a list of questions to structure any interviews. Please feel free to answer any (or none) of the following unless they seem relevant to you! I am really interesting in learning about your experiences with the Rangers on your own terms. So if you have anything that you are willing to share with me, I would like to hear or read it. For more details, please see the attached consent form.

If you are willing to share your stories with me, I can be reached by email at: pwlacken@uwaterloo.ca

Or you can leave me a message at St. Jerome’s University at 519-884-8111 ext. 28233 and I will call you back.

Some basic research questions include:

1. What is your name? Where are you from? How long have you lived there? What is your background/ employment/ etc.?

2. What is your relationship with the Canadian Rangers?

3. How long have you had this relationship with the Rangers or been a Ranger?

4. What do you remember about your first visit to/participation on a Ranger patrol?

5. Can you tell me what you do as a Ranger/Ranger instructor?

6. Can you tell me about your last exercise with a Ranger patrol?

7. Can you tell me about other exercises and activities that you have undertaken with the Rangers?

8. What skills do the younger members bring to patrols? What skills do the older Rangers bring? Do Rangers learn from one another?

9. In your opinion, how do community members who are not Rangers feel about the Rangers?

10. Have you had any involvement with the Junion Canadian Rangers program?

11. What do you find most important about the Rangers?

For those of you who are willing to share your stories about the Canadian Rangers, thanks for participating in my study.
The data collected during interviews will contribute to a better understanding of the contributions that the Canadian Rangers have made, and continue to make, to sovereignty and security, as well as community.

Please remember that any data pertaining to yourself that you requested to be kept confidential will be treated as such. Once all the data are collected and analyzed for this project, I plan on sharing this information with the research and policy community through seminars, conferences, presentations, journal articles, and a book. If you are interested in receiving more information regarding the results of this study, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at either the phone number or email address listed at the bottom of the page. If you would like a summary of the results, please let me know now by providing me with your email address. When the study is completed, I will send it to you.

As with all University of Waterloo projects involving human participants, this project was reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through, the Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo. Should you have any comments or concerns resulting from your participation in this study, please contact Dr. Susan Sykes in the Office of Research Ethics at 519-888-4567, Ext. 6005.

In 2004, this research also received ethics approval from the University of Saskatchewan. University of Saskatchewan Behavioural Research Ethics Board, approved 30 March 2004 (Beh 03-1367)