https://simplecast.com The official podcast of the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, featuring interviews with faculty members and students in our sociology and law and society programs. 2024 The Sociological Imagination @UCalgary en Fri, 2 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Fri, 2 Jan 2026 16:28:25 +0000 https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/f236029e-cc8d-43a8-8bbd-c491f30ff382/f9ea9d88-74d4-4b57-aa5c-897aa66a1b09/3000x3000/uofc-20crest.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com episodic The official podcast of the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, featuring interviews with faculty members and students in our sociology and law and society programs. Michael Adorjan, Nazario Robles Bastida false https://feeds.simplecast.com/mTiZmSFB law and society, research, sociology, university of calgary Michael Adorjan madorjan@ucalgary.ca fa57b71b-95b0-42ef-865d-ae26da75b302 Dr. Hiller begins our discussion by recalling the development of sociology as a discipline in Alberta in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and how sociology grew as the University of Calgary emerged as an independent institution.  Hiller identifies three themes that are related to each decade in the development of the department.  The 1960s were years of immense growth as faculty were recruited globally to fill the needs of an expanding department and as a full range of courses were developed. The 1970s can be described as focused on the institutionalization of the department through the establishment of policies and procedures in terms of governance and ultimately the establishment of the Ph.D. program.  Dr. Hiller then recalls the 1980s, during which time he served as department head (1982-1988), as one of a consolidation of the previous decade of growth through a variety of initiatives which sought to move the department forward through collegial engagement.  Hiller then highlights favorite memories including the department’s 40th anniversary event which brought back many alumni who told about their contributions professionally since graduation with sociology degrees. Dr. Hiller closes our podcast with a discussion of how his own research evolved in relation to broader issues in the discipline and in Canadian society.

]]> Fri, 2 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 madorjan@ucalgary.ca (Harry Hiller, Nazario Robles Bastida, Lizzie Rajchel, Michael Adorjan) https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-4-harry-hiller-diYTlEEb Dr. Hiller begins our discussion by recalling the development of sociology as a discipline in Alberta in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and how sociology grew as the University of Calgary emerged as an independent institution.  Hiller identifies three themes that are related to each decade in the development of the department.  The 1960s were years of immense growth as faculty were recruited globally to fill the needs of an expanding department and as a full range of courses were developed. The 1970s can be described as focused on the institutionalization of the department through the establishment of policies and procedures in terms of governance and ultimately the establishment of the Ph.D. program.  Dr. Hiller then recalls the 1980s, during which time he served as department head (1982-1988), as one of a consolidation of the previous decade of growth through a variety of initiatives which sought to move the department forward through collegial engagement.  Hiller then highlights favorite memories including the department’s 40th anniversary event which brought back many alumni who told about their contributions professionally since graduation with sociology degrees. Dr. Hiller closes our podcast with a discussion of how his own research evolved in relation to broader issues in the discipline and in Canadian society.

]]> Episode 4: Harry Hiller Harry Hiller, Nazario Robles Bastida, Lizzie Rajchel, Michael Adorjan 00:45:57 Our 4th episode features Dr. Harry Hiller, who became Professor Emeritus in 2013 after 41 years of service in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. His continual involvement in the discipline and his research led to his post-retirement appointment as Faculty Professor of Sociology. Macro-sociological questions pertaining to Canadian society structured much of his research including regionalism, migration, and the development of sociology as a discipline in Canada. Among his many publications are two books which reflect these interests, Canadian Society: A Macro Analysisand Second Promised Land: Migration to Alberta and the Transformation of Canadian Society. A second theme in his research as an urban sociologist has been on the urban impact of the Olympics. As Director of the “Cities and the Olympics Project”, Hiller has published extensively on the topic and contributed to global discussion and debate. He served in a variety of administrative roles in the University including Department Head from 1982-1988. Our 4th episode features Dr. Harry Hiller, who became Professor Emeritus in 2013 after 41 years of service in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary. His continual involvement in the discipline and his research led to his post-retirement appointment as Faculty Professor of Sociology. Macro-sociological questions pertaining to Canadian society structured much of his research including regionalism, migration, and the development of sociology as a discipline in Canada. Among his many publications are two books which reflect these interests, Canadian Society: A Macro Analysisand Second Promised Land: Migration to Alberta and the Transformation of Canadian Society. A second theme in his research as an urban sociologist has been on the urban impact of the Olympics. As Director of the “Cities and the Olympics Project”, Hiller has published extensively on the topic and contributed to global discussion and debate. He served in a variety of administrative roles in the University including Department Head from 1982-1988. sociology false full 4 e53b49aa-9ac6-40d2-afe2-e3c503e6559c Dr. Stebbins reflects on the many years he served in the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, beginning with the period during which the department developed its doctoral program. He reflects upon his career researching the sociology of leisure, which he recalls was not initially reflected in mainstream sociology. There were challenges having leisure taken seriously given sociology’s frequent focus on serious social problems and societal ills. Developing the concept of serious leisure, Dr. Stebbins reflects on the development of leisure studies in sociology, and how the department of sociology at the University of Calgary became a hub where a more positive approach to leisure emerged, taking its conceptualization seriously. More recently, Dr. Stebbins discusses, leisure is taken up through interdisciplinary scholarship that is international in scope and scale. Dr. Stebbins encourages those interested in his research and in leisure studies to visit his website: www.seriousleisure.net where they may read more about Dr. Stebbins and his longstanding contributions to the sociology of leisure.

]]> Tue, 2 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 madorjan@ucalgary.ca (Lizzie Rajchel, Michael Adorjan, Nazario Robles Bastida) https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-3-robert-stebbins-7ULINI_2 Dr. Stebbins reflects on the many years he served in the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, beginning with the period during which the department developed its doctoral program. He reflects upon his career researching the sociology of leisure, which he recalls was not initially reflected in mainstream sociology. There were challenges having leisure taken seriously given sociology’s frequent focus on serious social problems and societal ills. Developing the concept of serious leisure, Dr. Stebbins reflects on the development of leisure studies in sociology, and how the department of sociology at the University of Calgary became a hub where a more positive approach to leisure emerged, taking its conceptualization seriously. More recently, Dr. Stebbins discusses, leisure is taken up through interdisciplinary scholarship that is international in scope and scale. Dr. Stebbins encourages those interested in his research and in leisure studies to visit his website: www.seriousleisure.net where they may read more about Dr. Stebbins and his longstanding contributions to the sociology of leisure.

]]> Episode 3: Robert Stebbins Lizzie Rajchel, Michael Adorjan, Nazario Robles Bastida 00:29:57 Dr. Robert Stebbins is an Emeritus Professor of the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary. He joined the department in 1976, immediately serving as department head for six years. Dr. Stebbins’ research centers on the sociology of leisure, including conceptual development of the ideas of casual versus serious leisure. He has authored over 300 research articles and 65 books and monographs. Dr. Stebbins has served as President of the Social Science Federation of Canada in 1991-1992, after having served as President of the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association in 1988-1989. He was also Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (1993-96) and elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences (1997) and the Royal Society of Canada (1999). He was elected Senior Fellow of the World Leisure Academy in 2010. Dr. Robert Stebbins is an Emeritus Professor of the Department of Sociology, University of Calgary. He joined the department in 1976, immediately serving as department head for six years. Dr. Stebbins’ research centers on the sociology of leisure, including conceptual development of the ideas of casual versus serious leisure. He has authored over 300 research articles and 65 books and monographs. Dr. Stebbins has served as President of the Social Science Federation of Canada in 1991-1992, after having served as President of the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association in 1988-1989. He was also Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (1993-96) and elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences (1997) and the Royal Society of Canada (1999). He was elected Senior Fellow of the World Leisure Academy in 2010. sociology, leisure studies, law and society false full 3 e9ccc486-351d-4841-9560-2fd6d93c8a17 Dr. Voyeur, who is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, reflects on the increasing diversity of faculty at the university over the years, and her active community engagement both at the national and international level. Dr. Voyageur discusses the changes regarding research with Indigenous communities; i.e., away from an extractive, colonial framework emphasizing pathology and maladaptation to one that is strengths-based, and centers principles of OCAP (ownership, control, access and possession). Dr. Voyageur also recalls favourite memories and considers what is next for sociology as a discipline moving forward.

]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000 madorjan@ucalgary.ca (Cora Voyageur, Berenice Cancino, Nazario Robles Bastida, Michael Adorjan) https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-2-cora-voyageur-ZEfHO_1x Dr. Voyeur, who is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, reflects on the increasing diversity of faculty at the university over the years, and her active community engagement both at the national and international level. Dr. Voyageur discusses the changes regarding research with Indigenous communities; i.e., away from an extractive, colonial framework emphasizing pathology and maladaptation to one that is strengths-based, and centers principles of OCAP (ownership, control, access and possession). Dr. Voyageur also recalls favourite memories and considers what is next for sociology as a discipline moving forward.

]]> Episode 2: Cora Voyageur Cora Voyageur, Berenice Cancino, Nazario Robles Bastida, Michael Adorjan 00:20:56 Our second episode features Dr. Cora Voyageur, a full Professor who joined the Department of Sociology at The UofC in 1989, and is currently the longest serving faculty member in our department. Cora reflects on her career with our department, changes regarding research with Indigenous communities, as well as challenges and favourite memories over the years. Our second episode features Dr. Cora Voyageur, a full Professor who joined the Department of Sociology at The UofC in 1989, and is currently the longest serving faculty member in our department. Cora reflects on her career with our department, changes regarding research with Indigenous communities, as well as challenges and favourite memories over the years. university of calgary, sociology, cora voyageur false full 2 38873c74-f063-46ed-a973-8de82fc1b826 In this episode, we have a conversation with emeritus Professor Tom Langford regarding his memories of the department. Tom reflected on his years spent in our department, how it has changed over time, and favourite memories.

]]> Sat, 23 Nov 2024 23:15:14 +0000 madorjan@ucalgary.ca (Tom Langford, Nazario Robles Bastida, Michael Adorjan) https://the-sociological-imagination-ucalgary.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1-tom-langford-TGoumDGe In this episode, we have a conversation with emeritus Professor Tom Langford regarding his memories of the department. Tom reflected on his years spent in our department, how it has changed over time, and favourite memories.

]]> Episode 1: Tom Langford Tom Langford, Nazario Robles Bastida, Michael Adorjan 01:14:31 For our inaugural episode of The Sociological Imagination @UCalgary, we interviewed Emeritus Professor of Sociology Dr. Tom Langford, who reflects on his years spent in our department, how it has changed over time, and favourite memories. For our inaugural episode of The Sociological Imagination @UCalgary, we interviewed Emeritus Professor of Sociology Dr. Tom Langford, who reflects on his years spent in our department, how it has changed over time, and favourite memories. university of calgary, tom langford, sociology false full 1