Historical Research Consultant (Contract)

Heritage Voices of Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec

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Contractual, Part-time (August – October 2026)

Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec (hybrid; regional travel required)

Organization
Centre for Access to Services in English (CASE-MCQ)

Project Overview

Heritage Voices of Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec is a regional heritage documentation initiative that will collect and share 20 stories celebrating the cultural heritage of communities living in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec regions. The project focuses on collecting histories, contributions, and lived experiences of English-speaking communities (ESC) in Québec in order to reflect the region’s cultural diversity and the contributions of English speakers in our regions.

Working in collaboration with partners such as QAHN, ELAN, the St. George’s Church Foundation, and RDN (EnRoute App), CASE-MCQ will curate multimedia content - oral histories, archival materials, photographs, and recordings - reflecting both historical depth and contemporary diversity. A part-time consultant will conduct interviews, collect documentation, and contribute to the creation of a rich collection of English-speaking voices and histories. All materials will be hosted on RDN’s bilingual interactive platform, ensuring long-term accessibility across Québec and collaboration with regional heritage institutions. In the absence of equivalent English-language heritage institutions in the MCQ, the project will work closely with Francophone cultural and heritage organizations (including museums and historical societies), while maintaining a clear focus on English-speaking community vitality.

Position Summary

CASE-MCQ is seeking an experienced bilingual historical researcher to document and preserve the stories of the English-speaking communities of Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec. Working independently and in collaboration with the Executive Director, project partners, and community stakeholders, the successful candidate will conduct oral history interviews, identify and document historical resources, gather archival materials, and curate engaging multimedia content for publication through RDN's EnRoute digital heritage platform.

The ideal candidate will possess strong qualitative research and interviewing skills, excellent written and spoken English, strong spoken and written French, and the ability to build respectful relationships with people from diverse linguistic, cultural, and generational backgrounds. The successful candidate must be highly organized, able to work independently with minimal supervision, and committed to preserving community history with accuracy, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Documentation

• Identify and recruit participants, with a primary focus on English-speaking community members, while also including stories from other language communities where relevant

• Conduct oral history interviews in English and/or French (audio and/or video)

• Collect, catalogue, and document archival materials, photographs, and personal records

• Ensure informed consent and ethical documentation practices

• Transcribe, summarize, and prepare research materials for publication

Content Development and Curation

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and project partners to curate engaging, historically accurate, and accessible multimedia content

• Contribute to bilingual content development (English and French)

• Adapt stories and materials for presentation on RDN’s interactive digital platform

• Support the integration of curated content into partner exhibits, online spaces, and community events

Partnership and Community Engagement

• Work collaboratively with Anglophone and Francophone heritage institutions, museums, and historical societies

• Support outreach activities and community engagement efforts

• Participate in meetings, interviews, and events with community members and partners

• Foster respectful dialogue and understanding across language groups

Project Coordination Support

• Maintain organized documentation systems and metadata

• Track research progress and contribute to internal reporting

• Work closely with the Executive Director to meet timelines and project deliverables

Expected Project Outcomes

By the end of the contract, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to:

• Conducting and documenting approximately 20 oral history interviews.

• Identifying, collecting, and cataloguing historical photographs, archival documents, and other supporting materials.

• Preparing interview summaries and supporting documentation for publication.

• Curating historically accurate and engaging multimedia content for RDN's EnRoute digital heritage platform.

• Maintaining organized research records, metadata, and participant consent documentation.

• Contributing to the successful completion of project milestones and reporting requirements.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education or equivalent experience in history, heritage studies, anthropology, sociology, communications, journalism, museum studies, or a related field

• Demonstrated experience in qualitative research, oral history, or community-based documentation

• Excellent spoken and written English (required)

• Strong spoken and written French

• Experience working with minority or diverse communities

• Knowledge of Québec’s cultural and heritage landscape, particularly in Mauricie–Centre-duQuébec, is an asset

• Experience with digital archiving tools, audio/video recording equipment, or content management systems is an asset

• Valid driver’s licence and ability to travel within the region

• Excellent interviewing and storytelling skills

• Strong organizational and project management skills

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Experience managing multiple stakeholders

• Cultural sensitivity and respect for community narratives

• Commitment to ethical standards and historical accuracy

Contract Details

• Independent contractor agreement, part-time (16 hours per week for a 10-week contract, August– October 2026).

• $35/hour, plus reimbursement for eligible travel expenses and per diems in accordance with CASE policy.

• Hybrid work model combining remote work and in-person interviews.

• Regional travel within Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec required.

• Flexible schedule.

How to Apply

Please submit a curriculum vitae, a brief cover letter outlining your relevant research experience, and, if available, one or two samples of previous research, writing, oral history, heritage, or documentation work to: dg@casemcq.org

Application deadline: Ongoing until the position is filled

Start date: August

Senior Community Development Specialist - Poverty Reduction & Social Inclusion (Part-time contract)

Contractual, Part-time ( September 21, 2026 – May 31, 2027, with potential continuation subject to project funding)

Work arrangement: Hybrid, with regular travel throughout Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec

Project Overview

The Centre for Access to Services in English (CASE) is a regional community organization serving English-speaking residents throughout Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec. CASE works to strengthen access to services, community participation, inclusion, and the well-being of English speaking communities across the region.

CASE is launching a multi-year community development initiative focused on better understanding and addressing poverty and social exclusion among English-speaking residents ofMauricie and Centre-du-Québec.

The initiative takes a community development approach: rather than providing direct poverty-relief services, it seeks to better understand community realities, identify barriers and servicegaps, strengthen partnerships, engage people with lived experience, and ensure that community knowledge contributes to regional planning and decision-making.

The Position

CASE is seeking an experienced, highly autonomous Senior Community Development Specialistto lead the implementation of the first phase of this initiative.

The successful candidate will conduct regional research and ecosystem mapping, engage English-speaking residents - including individuals with lived experience of poverty and social exclusion - and build relationships with municipalities, community organizations, public institutions, service providers, and regional networks.

The Specialist will play an important role in strengthening CASE's presence within regional poverty-reduction and social-inclusion initiatives and ensuring that the realities and priorities of English-speaking communities are represented in regional discussions.

While the initiative covers Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, particular attention during the first phase will be given to Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières, with activities also extending to Drummondville, Arthabaska and other communities across the region.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Community Development Specialist will:

• Conduct regional mapping of organizations, roundtables, programs and services related to poverty reduction and social inclusion.

• Research and document accessibility barriers, structural barriers, service gaps and underserved populations affecting English-speaking residents.

• Develop a baseline community profile and identify community strengths, assets and existing resources.

• Build and maintain partnerships with municipalities, community organizations, public institutions, regional networks and service providers.

• Develop and strengthen referral pathways and opportunities for regional collaboration.

• Plan and facilitate community consultations, focus groups, surveys, interviews and other participatory research and listening activities.

• Engage English-speaking residents from diverse communities across the territory, with particular attention to people with lived experience of poverty and social exclusion.

• Create welcoming and accessible opportunities for residents to identify barriers, strengths, unmet needs and community priorities.

• Analyze qualitative and quantitative findings and identify emerging priorities and opportunities for action.

• Prepare reports, presentations, recommendations and other knowledge-mobilization materials.

• Share community findings and lived experience with regional partners to support planning and decision-making.

• Represent CASE at relevant committees, planning tables, community meetings and regional initiatives addressing poverty reduction and social inclusion.

• Identify opportunities for collaboration and help establish priorities for subsequent phases of the project.

• Monitor project indicators, maintain appropriate project documentation and contribute to progress and final reporting.

These responsibilities reflect the Year 1 work plan, which specifically calls for research and regional mapping, partnership development, participatory research, knowledge development, regional mobilization, and project evaluation and sustainability planning.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who combines strong community-development skills with the ability to work independently across a large and diverse region.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A university degree in community development, social sciences, sociology, social work, public administration, community economic development, research, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

• Significant experience in community development, community engagement, applied research, social development, poverty reduction, social inclusion, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience developing partnerships and working collaboratively with community organizations, public institutions, municipalities and/or regional networks.

• Experience conducting consultations, interviews, focus groups, surveys, needs assessments or other forms of community-based or participatory research.

• Strong facilitation, relationship-building and stakeholder-engagement skills.

• Excellent analytical and report-writing abilities.

• Ability to synthesize community feedback and research findings into clear priorities, recommendations and presentations.

• Strong organizational and project-management skills.

• A high degree of initiative, autonomy, professionalism and sound judgment.

• Ability to work sensitively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds,

including individuals experiencing poverty, isolation or barriers to participation.

• Strong English-language communication skills.

• Functional French sufficient to develop relationships and collaborate effectively with French-speaking regional partners.

• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec; access to reliable transportation is required.

What We Offer

• $38.00/hour

• 14 hours per week

• Flexible, part-time schedule

• Hybrid work arrangement

• Reimbursement for approved regional travel

• A high degree of autonomy in organizing and carrying out project activities

• The opportunity to lead a new regional initiative and help strengthen the inclusion of

English-speaking communities in poverty-reduction and social-development planning The position has been specifically budgeted as a senior role because of the expertise, autonomy and leadership required to independently undertake ecosystem and asset mapping, needs assessment, community consultation, stakeholder engagement and partnership development, and to represent CASE within regional committees and collaborative planning structures.

About the Contract

The initial contract will run from September 21, 2026 to May 31, 2027, corresponding to the first 36-week funding period approved for the project.

This position forms part of a planned three-year community development initiative. Continuation beyond the initial contract period will be subject to the renewal and availability of project funding.

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the position to: dg@casemcq.org Subject line: Senior Community Development Specialist – Application

Application deadline: September 6, 2026

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

CASE values diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates with a range of

professional, cultural and community experiences.