As a Visiting Scholar, Professor Bala contributed simultaneously to CRILF and the University by: (1) lecturing in appropriate classes; (2) making presentations to the University and the broader professional community; and (3) consulting to CRILF and faculty members on specific projects.

CRILF was very fortunate to have Dr. Margrit Eichler as its Visiting Scholar during the Fall 1990 term. Dr. Eichler is a Professor of Sociology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Her areas of expertise include family policy, non-sexist methodology, and feminist scholarship. At the time of her visit, Dr. Eichler had recently completed a large-scale research project on women's studies professors in Canada.

As a Visiting Scholar, Dr. Eichler gave guest lectures for the Faculties of Law and General Studies, and the Departments of Sociology and Educational Psychology at The University of Calgary. A public lecture, co-sponsored by CRILF, the Department of Sociology, The University of Calgary Women's Network, and the Committee for the Establishment of the Gender Institute, was given on new reproductive technologies. Dr. Eichler was also a panelist at the International Banff Conference entitled Human Rights in the Twenty-first Century: A Global Challenge.

In Edmonton, Dr. Eichler gave a presentation on the privatization of female and child poverty at the University of Alberta. This presentation was co-sponsored by CRILF, the Alberta Association of Social Workers, the University of Alberta Women's Studies Program, the Alberta Criminal Justice Association, and The University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work (Edmonton Division). Dr. Eichler also met with the Alberta Government Interdepartmental Committee on Family Policy and members of the Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families for a consultation on family policy issues.
In addition to these formal presentations and meetings, Dr. Eichler had numerous meetings with Institute staff and Board Members, University faculty, and interested parties from outside agencies.

Due to the overwhelming response to Dr. Eichler's tenure as a Visiting Scholar, CRILF invited her back for two visits during the Winter 1991 term.

Dr. Don Edgar was the Institute's Visiting Scholar during the Fall of 1992. At the time, Dr. Edgar was Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, a position he held until December 1993. Dr. Edgar's expertise lies in family law and demographic and social changes affecting the family.

Dr. Edgar met with representatives of government departments, non-government agencies, and academics in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton. In Ottawa, Dr. Edgar gave a workshop to the Canadian Council on Social Development, and had a round table discussion with representatives from Justice Canada, Solicitor General Canada, Health and Welfare Canada, and the Women's Secretariat. In Toronto, Dr. Edgar gave an informal presentation to representatives from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. At a public lecture at The University of Calgary co-sponsored by CRILF and the Family Studies Group, Dr. Edgar spoke on the Policies, Research and Function of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Dr. Edgar also met with several academics at The University of Calgary, as well as members or the Canadian Bar Association Family Law Subsection and CRILF Board members, and gave two guest lectures to students. In Edmonton, Dr. Edgar had meetings with representatives of the Alberta Association of Social Workers, the Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families, and held a seminar on the use of family law to support individual and family well-being, hosted by the Alberta Law Reform Institute.

Under Research and Training for Reform, a program administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CRILF hosted a program participant from Russia, Dr. Svetlana Polenina. Dr. Polenina was in Calgary from June 11 to 23, 1995 and CRILF provided her with office space, and arranged contacts during her stay.

Dr. Polenina is a Professor of Law, and Doctor of Juridical Sciences, Civil Law. She is Chair of the Women's Rights Commission, and member of the Russian Union of Lawyers in Moscow. Dr. Polenina concentrated her internship on the study of women's issues in new family and labour codes.

Mr. Rob Allen, Director of Policy Research and Development, National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in London, England was successful in obtaining funding from the British Council to visit CRILF. Mr. Allen arrived in Calgary on November 27, 1995, and spent a few days in Ottawa before flying home on December 6th.

In Calgary, Mr. Allen's itinerary included meetings with the members of the Calgary Police Service Youth Unit, Serious Habitual Offender Unit and Centralized Analysis Unit, Calgary Young Offender Centre, Enviros Woodpark Group Home, Family Court, John Howard Society, as well as a presentation at City Hall and a local Board member dinner.

In Ottawa, Rob met with the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service Youth Unit, Street Youth Program, John Howard Society, and Deputy Minister of Justice, and made a presentation to Justice Canada and Solicitor General Canada.

CRILF was pleased to host a Visiting Scholar from Melbourne, Australia, Justice Nahum Mushin. Justice Mushin was referred to CRILF by the Chief Justice of Alberta, The Honourable Catherine Fraser, and was in Calgary from July 19 - 27, 1996 and in Canmore from July 28 to August 3, 1996. CRILF provided Justice Mushin with office space, and arranged contacts during his stay. Justice Mushin is a Justice of the Family Court of Australia, and teaches advocacy to barristers and solicitors, as well as family law at Melbourne University. He also instructs judges and others in areas such as domestic violence, child abuse and separate representation of children in the court. Last year he was appointed to the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, and recently he has chaired an advisory committee on access to the court by ethnic communities.

Justice Mushin was accompanied by his spouse, Judith Pierce, who practiced family law for over 20 years, and is currently working as a solicitor in a community justice program in Australia. She is the national co-convener of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Children's Access Services, which is in the process of establishing access supervision centres.