| The ancestors of Nipissing University were Nipissing College (founded 1967 as an
affiliate of Laurentian University in Sudbury) and North Bay Teachers College (founded
1909). When Nipissing College was founded in 1967 Geography was one of the six disciplines
taught. In 1970 Dr. David Rees joined the College. His undergraduate work had been in
geology but his graduate work and research interests are geomorphology and northern
development. In 1973 Nipissing College and the North Bay Teachers College were amalgamated
to form Nipissing University College, and affiliate of Laurentian. Increasing enrolment in
the B.A. Geography programme led to Dr. Roman Brozowski joining the department to teach
human geography. In 1975 Dr. Keith Topps was appointed to teach soils, climate and
biogeography. In 1981 Roman Brozowski became Dean of Arts and Sciences and in 1983 Dr.
Anthony Blackbourn joined Nipissing as President and Professor of Geography. Dr. John
Belec arrived in 1984 to teach the human geography courses that could not be handled by
the two geographer administrators. A four-year geography programme was added in 1985.
In 1992 Dr. Belec moved to the University College of the Fraser Valley in British
Columbia. In 1991 and 1992 respectively Tony Blackbourn and Roman Brozowski returned to
teaching. Growing enrollment had led to the apointment of a second geomorphologist, Dr.
Norman Jones, in 1992. Dr. Jones left for Bishops in 1993 and was replaced by Dr. Eric
Mattson. Continuing growth in enrollment led to the appointment of Dr. John Morris in
human geography and Dr. David Rowbotham in physical geography in 1995.
Nipissing University received its charter as an independent university in 1992. The
work of its geographer administrators in earlier years contributed greatly to its
evolution into an independent chartered univeristy.
In 1998-99 the department had 39 majors in its three- year programme, 31 in its
four-year programme, 27 in a three-year environmental geography course, 39 in the
equivalent four-year course, and 62 students in a four-year physical geography
environmental science degree. The department has recently introduced specializations in
Community Economic Development and International Development. |
