Paul Kariya resigns his post

Posted by admin on Oct 20, 2009 in News | 0 comments

Dr. Paul Kariya, professor of leadership and geography at Trinity Western University, is resigning his post to venture forth into the world of environmentalism and independent energy.

Kariya has been associated with TWU for the last eight years. He spent the first seven years as a sessional instructor in Geography and Environmental Studies, and the last year as a member of the full time faculty for the Master of Arts and Leadership (MAL) school. During his time as a sessional, Kariya also worked with the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Kariya was raised in a Japanese-Canadian family, in a fishing community on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He has three academic degrees in geography, and has done a lot of work in the public service and charitable not-for-profit business world. One experience that has deeply shaped him is the three years he spent working with the BC First Nations people through the Department of Indian and
Northern Affairs in BC.

It is largely a passion for environmental work in the world outside academics that has led Kariya to resign. While he has enjoyed the time spent reading, teaching, and writing, he is restless to get back into the world of environmentalism.

“I’m a little frustrated sitting here, reading about it, writing about it, teaching it, where for the 30 years before
I’ve been actively trying to do it,” said Kariya.

Effective mid-November, Kariya will become the executive director of an organization called the Independent Power Producers association of British Columbia (IPPBC). IPPBC is an umbrella organization of independent power producers – such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy producers – that aims to increase the amount of energy in BC coming from alternative, sustainable sources.

For an environmentalist like Kariya, accepting this new post is a controversial move. Many of the companies involved have less than perfect track records, and part of the organization’s approach involves privatization. Kariya recognizes that many of the criticisms are valid, but sees a greater vision.

“I want this industry to survive,” said Kariya, “because ultimately we need to get there. We can’t continue to rely on the sources that we have.”

While Kariya’s reasons for resigning begin as an “it’s not you, it’s me” scenario, in reality it is both.

“I thought I was coming into a far more stable environment in the leadership school and I found it a very rocky, tumultuous place,” Kariya said. While he recognizes that the university is going through changes, and there is a need for different areas of the university to fight through it, he doesn’t feel it is his role at this point to “lead the charge.”

While Kariya perceives TWU as struggling in terms of finances and enrolment, he sees TWU as healthy in other areas, such as academics and training Christian leaders. “We have people who want to come, teachers who want to teach, and that’s healthy. The world needs it desperately.”

As a board member for the Christian environmental organization A Rocha International, Kariya sees great benefit in training Christian environmental leaders. Christians are often criticized for not caring about the environment because, as Kariya said, “we don’t need to care, our redemption is elsewhere.” In contrast, the goal of A Rocha – and TWU has its own chapter – is to bring a Christian message “that comes with action and doing of creation care.”

Kariya is also excited about TWU’s involvement with the Kwantlen First Nation. “The university is making a statement saying we want this to become a welcoming campus to indigenous peoples,” said Kariya. Last summer TWU invited the Kwantlen leadership onto campus for a drum and welcome ceremony. There are many opportunities for collaboration, including with the Salmon River ecosystem, skills and training, and fishing issues.

While he is resigning from his full time post, Kariya plans to remain involved with TWU on a part time, sessional basis, and still sees potential for a full-time role in the future.

“I hope Trinity isn’t finished with me,” said Kariya, “because I’m not finished with Trinity.”