Rachelle D. Castonguay, 1953-1985

Abstract

Rachelle Castonguay, Research and University Affairs Analyst, Office of the Northern Research and Science Advisor, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, died tragically in the Air India plane crash on 23 June 1985 at the age of 32. ... While many of her colleagues and friends involved in northern studies remember Rachelle for her outstanding role in administering the Northern Scientific Training Program and, in particular, her dedication and contribution to university development of scientific expertise in the North, Rachelle's northern scientific focussed career was nonetheless diverse and extensive. Throughout her successful completion of a variety of research assignments, including a widely acclaimed study of land occupancy in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., Rachelle demonstrated her deep knowledge of the Canadian North and sensitivity to the background and lifestyles of native people. On graduating with a B.A. (Geography) from the University of Ottawa in the spring of 1975, Ms. Castonguay began with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development as a research assistant to prepare an inventory of the social content of the hearings of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry. ... Prior to her enrollment in the Master's program in geography at the University of Ottawa, in 1977 Rachelle spent her summer in the Yukon working for the Alaska Highway Pipeline Inquiry .... In her own field of toponymic research, Rachelle subsequently undertook a study of historical and actual land occupancy ... using place names as a tool to illustrate land use occupancy. ... Complementary to this compilation and analysis of toponymic data, Rachelle's fieldwork to Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. (1979), supported by the Northern Scientific Training Program, was undertaken to gather actual place names as well as other information to obtain an insight on understanding the toponymic system of native people of the area. This material subsequently formed the basis of her Master's thesis .... Finally, prior to her appointment as Research and University Affairs Analyst, Rachelle's knowledge of the North and its people was enhanced during the course of her duties with the Northern Research Information and Documentation Service. ... While Rachelle was captivated by the North and the lifestyles of its culturally diverse population, she was also keenly interested in applying her northern experience and knowledge to problem solving in other plural societies, particularly Third World countries. ... and looked forward to a future career in the delivery of educational programs addressing such issues as under-development, cross-cultural communications and language. Rachelle's openness, tolerance and acute cultural sensitivity emerged, in part, as a result of her rural Franco-Ontarian upbringing and daily exposure to English and French cultures. Furthermore, her heightened sense of compassion and social consciousness drew her to actively participate in local and regional citizens' and women's advisory groups, as well as in African famine relief efforts. ...