Lorne Elkin
Teacher, naturalist, social researcher, community developer. Born on Dec. 1, 1937, in Moose Jaw, Sask.; died on Jan. 29, 2015, in Regina, during surgery, aged 77.
Lorne Elkin was a man with a deep awareness of the rights and wrongs of society, and relentlessly addressed both. Most notably, he was a champion of people who are discriminated against on the basis of intellectual abilities.
He learned about human rights and social injustices starting at a young age. Lorne and his twin brother, Larry, were born and raised in Moose Jaw, along with their younger sister, Joanne. Their parents, Hub and Elsie, were political and trade union activists in the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which formed Saskatchewan's, and North America's, first socialist government in 1944.
Lorne established his own credentials as a progressive through his dedication to issues such as the exclusion and isolation of those who are intellectually challenged. He studied psychology at the University of Saskatchewan and his doctoral dissertation ("The Sociology of Stupidity") was an indictment of discrimination against people living in institutions, or in communities, on the basis of their intelligence. A study he did in the early 1970s took a thorough look at the opportunities and challenges involved in deinstitutionalization of these people.
In 1976, Lorne joined the sociology department at the University of Regina, where his teachings on social psychology inspired a generation of students to pursue their own projects of discovery. He retired, as professor emeritus, in 1997.
While his academic career was based in Regina, his personal life was firmly anchored 65 kilometres away, in Moose Jaw, where he and his family lived. In 1960, while working as a clinical psychologist at the Saskatchewan Training School for the mentally challenged, Lorne met Joy Wood, a student nurse. Joy and a friend went on a double blind date with Lorne and another young man; a week later, Lorne phoned Joy to go bowling – even though she hadn't been his date. Things took off from there and they married in 1962. They chose to raise their sons, Ché and Kim, in Lorne's home town. For him, the commute was worth it.
Lorne's deep interest in his community often took him before city council to critique what he saw as unfair flood-protection programs in the Moose Jaw River valley. His questioning of municipal actions and policies rankled elected officials and administrators, but his efforts earned the respect and gratitude of his neighbours.
Lorne's contributions went beyond teaching and research: He put his beliefs into practice. In 1974, he was the guiding force in the development of the Churchill Park Greenhouse Co-op in Moose Jaw. With the aid of government grant programs, Lorne and other community volunteers established a pioneering co-operative workplace at what would become the province's largest greenhouse of its time. It was a model job site for workers with social, physical, or intellectual disadvantages, and was featured in a 1982 National Film Board production, Everyone's Business. During its 35 years of operation, more than 200 local residents gained productive employment and empowerment in this unique project.
Although Lorne is deeply missed by family and friends, his legacy of his leadership in support of disadvantaged Canadians will never be forgotten.
Don Mitchell is a long-time friend and colleague of Lorne's.