For most people, research begins in a formal environment; either in a laboratory or a classroom, for example. For EMU senior Don Lafreniere, research begins at home, in Sandwich, Ontario.
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Lafreniere |
In his first appearance at the Undergraduate Symposium, Lafreniere, representing the geography and geology department, will give an oral presentation, "The Settlement of Sandwich, Ontario, Canada: From Regional Capital to Blighted Urban Village." His presentation will be featured at 10 a.m. in room 304 of the Student Center during the Undergraduate Symposium March 28.
Sandwich, Ontario, located just southwest of Windsor, is Lafreniere's hometown. In his research, Lafreniere began to look at what possible changes could have occurred to affect the condition of Sandwich from past to present.
"Forces on one particular location can be enormous," Lafreniere said. "You have demographic changes, environmental changes, sociological changes and many other factors."
Within the history of Sandwich, one specific condition — transportation — was a constant in his research findings.
According to Lafreniere, what made his hometown move from a regional capitol to a blighted village was the relationship it had, or lack thereof, with the city of Detroit. Transportation issues regarding streetcars, steam ferries, boats and the Ambassador Bridge have all played a part in the evolving of Sandwich into a village.
"The Ambassador Bridge is a physical barrier between Sandwich and Windsor, and this effectively shut off Sandwich from the growth of Windsor," Lafreniere said.
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BRIDGE TO NOWHERE: While
many use the Ambassador
Bridge as a way to commute
between Detroit and Canada,
EMU student Don Lefreniere
said the bridge created a
physical barrier between
Sandwich, Ontario, and
Windsor, cutting off the growth
of Sandwich from Windsor. The
dilemma is the subject of
LeFreniere's Undergraduate
Symposium project. |
Lafreniere's project will identify some possible explanations for the changes that Sandwich has gone through over the years, and also allow for future implications, such as the current discussion to construct a new bridge between Windsor and Detroit. Lafreniere hopes to apply some of his research and findings to new and current situations, including the second bridge.
"I look at this modern discussion about where the road (for the projected new bridge) will go and it is impacting the same underrepresented populations that it has in the past," Lafreniere said. "We hope to represent everyone when making decisions that will impact communities and neighborhoods, but it's just not happening."
Only in his second semester at EMU, and a member of the Honors College, Lafreniere connected with his faculty sponsor, Chris Mayda, through a geography course and an honors contract.
Mayda, an associate professor of geography and geology, and Lafreniere, have come a long way since their initial meeting. Mayda recently finished a text in which Lafreniere provided maps and illustrations. This text inspired a special topics class that Lafreniere aided in creating and organizing. Their relationship and understanding of the importance of geography as a discipline inspired Lafreniere's participation in the Symposium.
