Ken Coates (historian)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ken Coates is a Canadian historian
focused on the history of the Canadian North
and Aboriginal rights and indigenous claims
. Other areas of specialization include Arctic sovereignty
; science, technology and society, with an emphasis on Japan
; world and comparative history; and post-secondary education. Dr. Coates is currently Dean
of the Faculty of Arts and a professor
of History
at the University of Waterloo
.
Dr. Coates has played an integral role in the development of the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus
and is currently a member of the Waterloo Stratford Campus Advisory Board.
and Ph.D.
from the University of British Columbia
, and his M.A.
from the University of Manitoba
. He was a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of History at Langara College
from 1980–1982 and at the University of British Columbia
from 1982-1983. He then joined Brandon University
as an Associate Professor from 1983-1986 before joining the History Department at the University of Victoria
from 1986-1992. In 1991 Dr. Coates was appointed the first Vice-President Academic at the University of Northern British Columbia
where he stayed until 1995. Dr. Coates taught at the University of Waikato
in New Zealand
from 1995–1997 and then held the position of Dean of Arts at the University of New Brunswick
from 1997–2000 and the University of Saskatchewan
from 2001–2004. Dr. Coates joined the University of Waterloo in 2006.
Dr. Coates is an outspoken opponent of Anti-Semitism
. In an article published in the National Post
, Coates stated that fighting Anti-Semitism "does not assume unquestioning support for Israel
" but that "We must make it clear, before hostile words turn into aggressive actions, that the Jews will never again stand alone."
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
focused on the history of the Canadian North
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
and Aboriginal rights and indigenous claims
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. Other areas of specialization include Arctic sovereignty
Territorial claims in the Arctic
Under international law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it. The five surrounding Arctic states, Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark , are limited to an exclusive economic zone of adjacent to their coasts.Upon ratification...
; science, technology and society, with an emphasis on Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; world and comparative history; and post-secondary education. Dr. Coates is currently Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty of Arts and a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
.
Dr. Coates has played an integral role in the development of the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus
University of Waterloo Stratford Campus
The Waterloo Stratford Campus is a satellite campus of the University of Waterloo in the City of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Faculty of Arts...
and is currently a member of the Waterloo Stratford Campus Advisory Board.
Early life and education
Dr. Coates received his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, and his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He was a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of History at Langara College
Langara College
Langara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which serves approximately 20,000 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs...
from 1980–1982 and at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
from 1982-1983. He then joined Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
as an Associate Professor from 1983-1986 before joining the History Department at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
from 1986-1992. In 1991 Dr. Coates was appointed the first Vice-President Academic at the University of Northern British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
where he stayed until 1995. Dr. Coates taught at the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from 1995–1997 and then held the position of Dean of Arts at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
from 1997–2000 and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
from 2001–2004. Dr. Coates joined the University of Waterloo in 2006.
Dr. Coates is an outspoken opponent of Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. In an article published in the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, Coates stated that fighting Anti-Semitism "does not assume unquestioning support for Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
" but that "We must make it clear, before hostile words turn into aggressive actions, that the Jews will never again stand alone."
Selected bibliography
- Arctic Front (Thomas Allen Publishers, 2008).
- Innovation Nation: Science and Technology in 21st Century Japan (London: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2007).
- The Road, Constructing the Alaska Highway (Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication, 2007).
- Land of the Midnight Sun: A History of the Yukon, 2nd Edition (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2005), with W. R. Morrison.
- Strange Things Done: Murder in Yukon History, (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2004), with W. R. Morrison.
- A Global History of Indigenous Peoples: Struggle and Survival (London: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2004).
- Japan and the Internet Revolution (London: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2003).
- An Apostle of the North: Memoirs of the Right Reverend William Carpenter Bompas (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 2002).
- The Marshall Decision and Aboriginal Rights in the Maritimes (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2000).
- Canada's Colonies: A History of the Yukon and Northwest Territories (Toronto: James Lorimer and Company, 1985).