Joan Durrant, PhD

Dr. Joan Durrant is a senior scholar in community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.

She is a child-clinical psychologist experienced in working with children and families with a range of challenges. She became interested in how parents understand their children’s challenges and how that understanding can fuel violent responding. While remaining a developmentalist at heart, over the years she has integrated additional disciplinary lenses into her work to deepen her understanding of parental violence.

She has travelled extensively to understand the role of culture in parental beliefs and behaviour, as well as in approaches taken to violence prevention. Her research has taken her many times to Sweden, where she has studied the history and implementation of the world's first ban on physical punishment, as well as Swedish parents' approaches to parenting.

Dr. Durrant and her team have implemented PDEP in countries throughout East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as across Canada. These experiences have helped us to understand historical and cultural forces that contribute to violence against children, and to identify adaptations needed to support parents living in various contexts.

Education

• PhD, Child-Clinical Psychology, University of Windsor

Awards

2020:

• Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, Academy of Social Sciences
• Dr. John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg RH Institute Foundation Award, University of Manitoba

2015:

• Researcher of the Year Award, Child Welfare League of Canada

2014:

• Children's Rights Supporter Award, Canadian Coalition for Children's Rights

2013:

• Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, Glencore Trailblazers and Innovators Award, Women’s Executive Network
• Human Rights Commitment Award, Manitoba Human Rights Commission

2012:

• Health Promotion and Innovation Award of Excellence, Canadian Institute of Child Health (twice)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Conferred by the Government of Canada
• YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, Education, Training, and Mentorship category

2011:

• Canadian Red Cross, Manitoba Chapter Power of Humanity Award: Humanitarian of the Year

2010:

• Sgt. Ian Logan Memorial Award for Leadership in Child Abuse Prevention, Provincial Advisory Committee on Child Abuse

2007:

• Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Manitoba

2006:

• Ted Freeman Award for Innovation in Education, Ontario Hospital Association (Awarded to the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth)

2005:

• University of Manitoba Merit Award for Research
• University of Manitoba Outreach Award

2004:

• University of Manitoba Merit Award for Service