Dr. Chad Gaffield Reappointed President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 5, 2011) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), today announced the reappointment of Dr. Chad Gaffield as President of the Council.

"Dr. Gaffield has had a remarkable academic career and has done an exemplary job as President of SSHRC," said Minister Paradis. "I am confident that he will continue to do so."

Dr. Gaffield has been the President of SSHRC since 2006. He has also had a distinguished 20-year academic career at the University of Ottawa, where he held a University Research Chair and was founding director of the Institute of Canadian Studies from 1997 to 2003. Dr. Gaffield also served on the executive committee of the institution's board of governors and was vice-dean of graduate studies. He is a former president of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, championing the Data Liberation Initiative during his tenure, as well as a former president of the Canadian Historical Association. Dr. Gaffield played a pivotal role as Principal Investigator for the Canadian Century Research Infrastructure project.

Dr. Gaffield is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and has received several honours throughout his career, such as the Prix de la Francophonie, the RSC's J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. In July 2011, Dr. Gaffield was presented with the inaugural Antonio Zampolli Prize from the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organisations.

Dr. Gaffield holds a BA (Honours) and an MA from McGill University and a PhD from the University of Toronto.

SSHRC is an independent federal government agency that funds research and graduate training at the post-secondary level through national peer-review competitions. SSHRC also partners with public, private and not-for-profit sector organizations to focus research and aid in the development of better policies and practices in key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life. For more information, visit the SSHRC website (www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx).