BA (Hons), MPhil, PhD
Convenor/Instructor, Political Science
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Political Science
604.986.1911 ext. 2524
Fir Building, room FR423
tschouls@capilanou.ca
Education
PhD, University of British Columbia, 2002.
MPhil, Institute for Christian Studies, 1989.
BA (Honours), University of Alberta, 1985.
"Our task is not merely to acquire knowledge but also to awaken our minds to basic human qualities such as kindness, compassion, forgiveness and understanding."
Bio
Tim Schouls (PhD, British Columbia, 2002) is a political scientist whose main interests are in the areas of Canadian politics, political theory and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, Schouls worked as researcher for Native Counselling Services of Alberta in Edmonton, an organization that assists Indigenous persons caught up in the Canadian legal system.
Following completion of his Master of Philosophy from the Institute for Christian Studies, he served as lead researcher at Citizens for Public Justice, a citizen's advocacy organization located in Toronto. He took up his present position as instructor in political science at Capilano University in 1997. He served as chair of the School of Social Sciences from 2013 to 2015.
When Schouls is not teaching or pursuing research interests at Capilano University, he can be found hiking on the Sunshine Coast, snorkeling in Hawaii or frequenting Vancouver's many fine coffee shops. He also derives great pleasure from cooking and reading historical novels.
As a specialist in Canadian politics, in particular the politics of Indigenous peoples in Canada, I have a particular passion for justice and for fostering approaches to politics that are as inclusive and as empowering as possible for all peoples.
In my classroom, I seek to create an approach to learning that encourages students to develop critical tools necessary to be politically engaged and to enjoy their citizenship over the course of their lifetimes.
My intention is that the classroom establish a setting for students as a group to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of political approaches using principles like democracy, equality, fairness and justice.
My primary research interest is in the area of the politics of Indigenous peoples in Canada. I have written several articles on this topic as well as a book. I have also been a member of a major Canadian political party and have provided political commentary and analysis to Canadian newspapers and media outlets.
Schouls, T. The Spaces In Between: Indigenous Sovereignty Within the Canadian State. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, in progress.
Schouls, T. Why Group Representation in Parliament is Important, in Mark Charlton and Paul Barker, eds., Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, Fifth Edition. Scarborough: Thomson/Nelson, 2006.
Schouls, T. Shifting Boundaries: Aboriginal Identity, Pluralist Theory, and the Politics of Self-Government, Vancouver: UBC Press, 2003.
Schouls, T. The Basic Dilemma: Sovereignty or Assimilation, in John Bird, Lorraine Land, and Murray MacAdam, eds., Nation to Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Future of Canada, New Edition Toronto: Irwin Publishing, 2002.
Schouls, T. Aboriginal Peoples and Electoral Reform: Differentiated Representation Versus Voter Equality, Canadian Journal of Political Science Volume XXIX, Number 4, December, pp.729-749, 1996.
Schouls, T. Afterword: The Path Ahead, in Diane Englestad and John Bird, eds., Nation to Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Future of Canada. Concord: Anansi, 1992.
Spirit Award, Employee Recognition Awards, Capilano University, 2014.