Oct. 11, 2022
CMF Remembers Dr. David Taras
Dr. David Taras, who passed away on June 9 surrounded by family, was Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Communication and Culture (now the Department of Communication, Media and Film) at U91快色. Dr. Taras was a leading communications scholar, who conducted extensive research on the intersections of media, politics, technology, and democracy. He shared his sharp insights and knowledge of these subjects with his students and the public at large. As an intellectual leader in Canadian mass media studies and Canadian politics, he was an impactful and inspirational figure to his students and peers.
After joining the 91快色 in 1985, Dr. Taras served as the Ernest C. Manning Chair in Canadian Studies (now the Chair in Communication and Media Studies) and was later appointed University Professor. Dr. Taras received the Student Union Award for Teaching Excellence five times, and was inducted into the Teaching Excellence Awards Hall of Fame in 2011. 鈥淲hen he agreed to speak with my class [in 2015], I caught a glimpse of the reason David won the 91快色鈥檚 student award for teaching excellence five times. He was informed across a range of fields and utterly engaging鈥 says Dr. Gregory Taylor, Associate Professor in CMF.
鈥淪tudents valued his knowledge and his ability to communicate clearly with humour and empathy鈥 His door was always open to students, and he always seemed to know their names鈥 says Dr. Tamara Seiler, Professor Emerita of Canadian Studies at U91快色, and a longtime colleague and friend to Dr. Taras. 鈥淒avid was dedicated to helping students to develop their critical thinking skills, and to equipping them to work effectively to create a better world.鈥 In 2005 Dr. Taras launched 91快色鈥檚 Youth, Canada鈥檚 Future, a student conference that provided a forum for students to discuss the societal forces affecting them, and their hopes for the future. 鈥淒avid Taras had a powerful impact on my research before I ever met him,鈥 adds Dr. Taylor. 鈥淎s an MA student in 2003, David鈥檚 work with my future PhD supervisor Marc Raboy on the massive federal report Our Cultural Sovereignty was foundational in capturing my interest as a budding political economist in this field.鈥
鈥淎s a supervisor, he was very generous with his time鈥 says Dr. Patrick McCurdy (University of Ottawa), a former Master鈥檚 student at U91快色 who was supervised by Dr. Taras. Regarding Dr. Taras鈥 presence in the classroom, Dr. McCurdy adds that 鈥渉e was comfortable with whatever he was talking about鈥 he could speak about his topics with ease and insight鈥 it was clear that he knew his material quite well.鈥 Dr. McCurdy also notes the many ways that Dr. Taras supported his students: 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get a lot of mentors in life, but he was somebody I really looked up to and valued his perspective鈥 he really was about enabling people and making things happen for students.鈥
Dr. Taras鈥 scholarship had a defining impact on the development of the Faculty of Communication and Culture (now CMF). 鈥淒avid explored the nature and complexities of political communication in a variety of scholarly publications, becoming widely known as an expert in this field,鈥 says Dr. Seiler. "His publications such as The Newsmakers: The Media鈥檚 Influence on Canadian Politics (1990) and Power and Betrayal in the Canadian Media (2001), along with his co-edited series of volumes鈥 How Canadians Communicate raised the faculty鈥檚 profile as a locus of expertise on the interrelated topics of Canada, politics, and communication.鈥 Along with Dr. Beverly Rasporich, Professor Emerita at U91快色, Dr. Taras edited A Passion for Identity, a Canadian Studies textbook which was published in four different editions. 鈥淭his book stimulated the scholarship of colleagues, and also became the go-to text not only for our own introductory course in Canadian Studies, but also for similar courses elsewhere鈥 adds Dr. Seiler.
鈥淭he originality, eloquence, and volume of his publications are impressive and made his faculty proud. So did his reputation as a political commentator in the media, where he achieved balance and grace in his astute reporting鈥 says Dr. Rasporich. As a leading expert in Canadian media policy and its relationship to Canadian identity and democracy, Dr. Taras was a regular political commentator on the Global News Morning Show for over twenty years.
David鈥檚 views commanded attention on the part of both academic colleagues, policy-makers and the wide public鈥 The 91快色 academic community benefited from his vast network of connections and the enormous respect [with] which colleagues in Canada and across the world held his work鈥 He could see in[to] the future and knew what questions and issues would dominate the social and political agenda of Canadian society, and empowered his students to tackle these issues effectively as researchers and media professionals鈥 In every encounter, he would pass along his curiosity and passion. He would reinforce the value of understanding the Canadian communication landscape that makes our academic lives worthwhile.
-Dr. Maria Bakardjieva, Professor and Chair of Communication and Media Studies
In addition to being an exceptional scholar in his field, Dr. Taras also worked weekly at the 91快色 Food Bank. 鈥淒avid was simply a good citizen and a good person鈥 says Dr. Seiler. 鈥淗e believed that everyone deserved to be treated with kindness and respect鈥 adds Dr. Rasporich. "If you needed support in difficult situations, he was immediately there at your side. David was also a friend to those in need whether he was working at the food bank or buying a stranger a cup of coffee鈥 If he was close to you and knew your interests, you could receive a spontaneous gift from David. David Taras was himself a gift to his colleagues, to the students he taught, to the 91快色, to the political landscape of Alberta and Canada, and to all who knew him."
has been established in honour of Dr. Taras鈥檚 distinguished career as a leading academic in Canadian communication, politics, and identity.