Lynn Gidluck says she is happier than she has ever been working as the Director for the Saskatchewan office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and helping manage a successful Regina Public Relations firm – Benchmark Public Relations Inc., which she co-owns with her husband, Pat Rediger.

“My long-term objective has always been to do public policy research and to use this work to advocate for progressive social and economic change,” says Gidluck.   “My position with the Centre for Policy Alternatives allows me the unique opportunity to work with academics and community activists from across Western Canada who are doing research that explores societal problems and formulates innovative public policy alternatives.”

Gidluck says she is able to put her working knowledge of government and media relations to good use in this position.

“So much great research never reaches the right people,” says Gidluck. “My job with CCPA is to help publicize public policy research and to ensure that those in a position to make changes are aware of the issues and the alternatives.”

Gidluck says she is delighted to have the opportunity to be a Visiting Research Fellow with the Humanities Research Institute. She says this will allow her to network with the academic community at the U of R and grow the office of the CCPA. It will also allow her to complete two of her own research projects.

“My Fellowship with the HRI will facilitate research for a book that I am writing entitled: Remembering the Regina Manifesto: A Policy Document that Forever Changed the Face of Canada says Gidluck. “I was very pleased to have received a centennial grant from the province of Saskatchewan in 2005 which covers most of the costs associated with researching, writing and publishing this book.”

Gidluck is also a co-investigator with Dr. Sonya Corbin Dwyer for a one-year research project: “Examining Issues of Race, Racism and Racial Identity in Families of Asian Children Adopted by White Parents”. This project received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Gidluck is a graduate in history and political science of the University of Regina who spent much of her working career in a variety of positions with the Government of Saskatchewan, including Media Relations advisor to Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials during the Romanow Administration; Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture and Executive Director of Corporate Affairs for the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation.

Lynn’s email address is ccpasask@sasktel.net