Rick Enns, PhD, RSW

PhD University of Alberta
MSW University of Manitoba
MA (Canadian History) University of Manitoba
BA (Double Honours: History and Religion) University of Manitoba

Areas of Research

Canadian Federal Indian Education Policy
My research has focussed on archival records and secondary sources tracing federal Indian education policy in Canada from the establishment of industrial and residential schools in western Canada in the 1880s to federal efforts at closure following the Second World War and through the 1960s. Particular areas of research include pre-World War I policies and conditions, the 1946-48 Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons and efforts to transfer Indigenous students to public and provincial school systems, and federal oversight of residential schools and residences in Newfoundland and Labrador after 1949.
Immigration and Resettlement Policy
I have examined the housing circumstances of refugees in major centres across western Canada, and the experiences of private sponsor groups and sponsored families. My research has also examined federal policy including efforts by the Harper government to reduce health benefits available under the Interim Federal Health Program.
Critical Social Work Practice in Mental Health
My teaching in this area has focussed on equipping undergraduate and graduate students to understand the use of the DSM in mental health practice and dominant treatment approaches, typically based on a DSM diagnosis. Equal attention is paid to understanding the DSM as a social and historical document, and developing critical understandings of current diagnostic and treatment approaches utilizing critical, Marxist, and social justice perspectives.

Supervising degrees

Social Work - Doctoral: Accepting Inquiries
Social Work - Masters: Accepting Inquiries

Contact this supervisor

Complete the following form if you are interested in working with this supervisor for your Graduate Program. All fields are required, unless indicated otherwise.

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

UCalgary Notice of Collection
The University of Calgary (UCalgary) respects your privacy and is committed to ensuring the privacy of all students, staff, and community members. Your personal information is being collected under the authority of section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA). It will be collected, used and disclosed for the purposes outlined in UCalgary’s Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Information and managed in accordance with UCalgary’s Privacy Management Program. Your personal information may be input into automated systems to generate content or make decisions, recommendations, or predictions. If you have questions regarding this notice or UCalgary’s collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information, please contact accessandprivacy@ucalgary.ca.