As part of the ongoing 50^th Anniversary celebrations, Trent University is pleased to welcome an acclaimed historian and a scientist as the Traill visiting fellows. Dr. Bill Waiser ’71 and Dr. Marley Waiser ‘71 will live at Traill College between November 4-14, 2014 interacting with students, offering public lectures and participating in various University and College events. 

Professor Bill Waiser will deliver a free public lecture about Henry Kelsey, an English fur trader, explorer and sailor who played an important role in establishing the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada, on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in Bagnani Hall, Traill College. The talk, Inland Country of Good Report: Henry Kelsey Revisited, will be followed by a reception.

“It is a great honour to welcome both a prominent historian and a scientist as the 2014 Traill Visiting Fellows,” remarks Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Traill College. “Nothing is more characteristic of Trent University than the ability to bridge the gap between the humanities and sciences. Both are the embodiment of the interdisciplinary, transformative and purposeful education that Trent offers. I would like to extend a warm welcome to students, faculty and the public to come out and meet this extraordinary Trent couple.”

Along with Professor Tom Symons, the Waisers will host a College dinner on November 14, 2014. Other events hosted by the visiting fellows include a workshop about careers in the arts and sciences on November 6, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in Scott House, Traill College; and College Tea in the Traill College Senior Commons Room on November 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Prof. Bill Waiser is distinguished professor emeritus and A.S. Morton Research Chair at the University of Saskatchewan. He has published over a dozen books, including Loyal till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion, with Blair Stonechild, a finalist for the 1997 Governor General’s literary award for non-fiction. Other works include His All Hell Can’t Stop Us: The On-to-Ottawa Trek, and Regina Riot, winner of the 2003 Saskatchewan Book Award for non-fiction. He is best known for his centennial history of the province, Saskatchewan: A New History.  His most recent book, Tommy’s Team, was a shortlist finalist for the Canadian Authors Association best book in Canadian History for 2011. Bill has been awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and granted a D.Litt.

Dr. Marley Waiser received her B.A. at Trent University, her M.A. at the University of Saskatchewan and her Ph.D. at Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Before her retirement in 2012, she had a distinguished career with Environment Canada, working as a biologist and research scientist in the National Water Research Institute in Saskatoon. She is a prolific author of scientific journal and conference papers on the effects of climate change on inland waters, the impact of pharmaceuticals and herbicides on aquatic ecosystems, nitrogen and phosphorous loading in prairie wetlands. She is adjunct professor in the Department of Food and Applied Microbiological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan where, in addition to directing courses and lecturing in others, she has supervised undergraduate, MSc. and Ph.D. theses. She is the recipient of numerous research grants from NSERC, the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency, the Pesticide Science Fund, Health Canada and the National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative.

About the Traill College Visiting Fellowship

Each year, members of the Traill College community nominate candidates for a Visiting Fellow to offer special lectures to both the public and the graduate students at the College.