Biography of Ian MacLachlan
Born and raised in Montreal, I obtained my B.A. (Honours, 1976) and M.A. (1981) from Carleton University in Ottawa before studying for my doctorate at the University of Toronto (1990). While working on my doctorate I taught in geography departments at University of Toronto at Mississauga(1985-86), University of Windsor(1986-88), and Carleton (1988-89) before I joined the Department of Geography at The University of Lethbridge in 1989.
In 1991, I taught International Studies on a faculty exchange with Hokkai Gakuen University, Sapporo, Japan. I was a Research Associate at the Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma de México during study leave, 1995-1996. On my second study leave, in 2003-04, I was a Visiting Scholar at the Centre of Canadian Studies at the University of Edinburgh. My third leave in 2011-2012 took me to the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Western Australia.
As an economic geographer, I have wide interests in Canada and overseas. I have focused much of my research on a variety of livestock and beef issues ranging from contemporary cattle production in Alberta, to nineteenth century slaughterhouse reform in the United Kingdom, and the livestock revolution in the developing world. Some of my more recent work has shifted into the area of planning history, regional economic development, and resource towns as outcomes of my last study leave.
I have been involved in a number of university service activities including Marshal of Convocation, General Faculties Council, Parliamentarian/Assistant Parliamentarian, and Chair of the Academic Quality Assurance Committee. I have served the City of Lethbridge as a Public Member on the Municipal Planning Commission, as a board member of Nikka Yuko, the Lethbridge and District Japanese Garden Society, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East.
I share a century house in South Lethbridge with my wife of over twenty-five years, Diane Clark, and two very bad cats. Downhill skiing, hiking in the Alberta Rockies, recreational SCUBA diving, and riding my bicycles and motorcycles are avocations that I would like to do more often.
I retired from the University of Lethbridge at the end of 2015 at age 63. In my 3rd Age Career I have a post-retirement contract with the University of Lethbridge in the autumn semesters of 2016 and 2017. In the spring semesters of 2016, 2017, and 2018 I am appointed as a Professor of Geography at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School of Urban Planning and Design where I teach "Human Geography for Planning Graduate Students".
As you can see, the landscapes of southern Alberta and northern Montana are hard to beat from the saddle of a motorcycle!
