Navigation Block On this page Current Research Past Research Contact On this page Current Research Past Research Contact Focused Efforts NWP’s Centre for Community Enhancement and Social Innovation (CCESI) uses innovative research approaches to tackle complex social issues. By applying rigorous social science methods in partnership with our community and government stakeholders, we help policymakers, non-profits, and public sector entities make data-driven decisions that bridge service gaps and improve community programs. The CCESI has completed two Tri-Council-funded projects, including Civic Belonging in a Northern Resource Economy and Grande Prairie Police and Crisis Team Evaluation. Whether we’re conducting local program evaluations, engaging in large-scale partnered projects, or training the next generation of social science researchers, our team is committed to creating a more resilient and inclusive community through increased understanding, student research assistant opportunities, and work-integrated learning. NWP’s Centre for Community Enhancement and Social Innovation (CCESI) uses innovative research approaches to tackle complex social issues. By applying rigorous social science methods in partnership with our community and government stakeholders, we help policymakers, non-profits, and public sector entities make data-driven decisions that bridge service gaps and improve community programs. The CCESI has completed two Tri-Council-funded projects, including Civic Belonging in a Northern Resource Economy and Grande Prairie Police and Crisis Team Evaluation. Whether we’re conducting local program evaluations, engaging in large-scale partnered projects, or training the next generation of social science researchers, our team is committed to creating a more resilient and inclusive community through increased understanding, student research assistant opportunities, and work-integrated learning. Show More add Show Less close Office of Applied Research Meet our Lead Researcher Dr. Connie Korpan has led numerous community enhancement research projects at NWP, including the Police and Crisis Team Evaluation and Civic Belonging in a Northern Resource Economy. Read More About Dr Korpan Current Research One is Too Many: A Collaborative Approach to Psychological Health and Safety and Suicide Prevention in Trades and Energy Primary Researcher: Dr. Connie Korpan Collaborator: Tracy Golnick, Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention Background: “NWP will play a critical role in collaborating with RCSP and various industry partners to investigate how workplace-related stressors impact the mental health of their workers, an issue with direct implications for productivity, safety, and long-term sustainability. By co-developing evidence-based mental health supports that align with the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety, these collaborations will help industries strengthen their workforce and fulfill their role as key economic drivers in the region. This research ensures that interventions are both practical and rooted in the realities of the sector,” said Dr. Korpan. “We are excited to include NWP students in this project! Involving students in this work equips them with applied research experience, sector-specific knowledge, and problem-solving skills. It also connects them to industry networks, fostering a workforce that is both skilled and socially responsive.” This three-year collaborative research project focuses on psychological health and safety in the Energy and Trades sectors. The study addresses critical workplace challenges faced by workers in these industries, including isolation, unstable work conditions, extended absences, and poor mental health literacy. While the Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace exists, its implementation remains voluntary and not specifically adapted to these sectors' unique needs. The study aims to develop data-driven, customized recommendations aligned with the National Standard to enhance psychological health and safety initiatives. This collaborative effort includes gathering input on specific organizational challenges, developing comprehensive data collection tools, and engaging workers across various roles and experience levels. Objective: This three-year collaborative study aims to investigate and improve psychological health and safety in the Energy and Trades sectors. Through partnership with the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention and Northwestern Polytechnic, the project seeks to address the unique occupational stressors faced by workers in these industries, where mental health challenges are often exacerbated by factors such as isolation, irregular schedules, and hazardous conditions. Expected Outcome: The project will deliver three key outputs: a comprehensive research report analyzing workplace stressors and their impacts, a practical Toolkit to assist sector leaders in developing and implementing tailored Health and Safety Programs, and a Future Directions paper identifying areas requiring additional research to address the workforce's evolving mental health needs. These deliverables will be developed through active collaboration with industry partners using a Participatory Action Research approach. Partners: Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention CDN Controls Northern Mat & Bridge LP County of Grande Prairie We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Past Research Civic Belonging in a Northern Resource Economy: At-Risk Youth Re-connection in Northwest Alberta Primary Researchers Principal Investigator/Project Director: Dr. Connie KorpanResearcher: Dawn Moffat McMaster Background “Our hope is that the young co-researchers will gain a means of contributing to social change and feel empowered by the experience.” – Dr. Korpan on the use of Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) in the Civic Belonging Study. This project represents the first regional use of the youth participatory action research (YPAR) approach. This Community Enhancement Research project will address the issue of low community connection and engagement among youth in resource-dependent northern Alberta communities. Lack of community connection and engagement is associated with higher instances of poverty and crime, lower levels of education attainment and other poor social outcomes. Young people are especially likely to report low connection and engagement, and recent evidence suggests that many people living in northwestern Alberta communities experience a relatively poor sense of place belonging. Korpan, Moffat McMaster, and their co-researchers will perform interview research with engaged and disengaged youth in Jasper and Grande Prairie to identify factors that aggravate and mitigate community connection. They will use Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), which involves recruiting students and other young people in the community to act as co-researchers. Objective Identify the relationship between northern resource economy contexts and youth sense of connection, how this relationship affects youth decisions, and how, in turn, these decisions affect connection and belonging. Expected Outcome Furnish municipal leaders, social support funders, agencies, and service providers with evidence to inform funding priorities, identify service needs and overlaps, and to capitalize on existing community strengths. Partners City of Grande Prairie – Community and Social Development Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta RCMP Grande Prairie Detachment Sunrise House Jasper Community Team Get in Touch Connect with us about how we can help launch your research project. Office of Applied Research Office: E401E Campus: Grande Prairie Campus Phone: 780-539-2078 Email: research@nwpolytech.ca