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© IWA Publishing 2014 Water Quality Research Journal of Canada
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49.1
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2014
Editorial Dr Ronald Gehr, Editor, Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 2004–2013
As new Editors-in-Chief, before we divulge
IWAP journals has proved to be most advantageous to the
some of our plans for the future of the
readership which is now becoming more international.
journal, we want to pay tribute to Dr
Besides revising formats, improving turn-around time
Ronald Gehr, Professor at McGill Univer-
and other changes, one of the most significant long-term
sity, who took over the reins of the journal
contributions of Dr Gehr was to arrange to have all of the
in 2004. First, let us give a bit of history.
journal’s issues printed before the electronic dawn, archived
The Water Quality Research Journal of
at his home institution, McGill University, Montreal, and to
Canada (WQRJC) is the longest lived journal focusing on
make them available to the general public. The archived
water quality in Canada. The Canadian Association on
journals can be accessed free-of-charge through the
Water Quality (CAWQ) is the organization responsible for
CAWQ website (www.cawq.ca).
the WQRJC. The journal had humble beginnings in 1966
On behalf of the CAWQ board and all of its members,
as mimeographed copies of proceedings of the First
we pay homage to Dr Gehr for his extended efforts for the
Annual Conference on Water Pollution Research. Proceed-
journal.
ings of this annual Canadian conference were eventually
Now, let us shed some light on our plans for the future
printed and bound. In 1980 the journal was converted to
that we have elaborated in close communication with
an independent, peer-reviewed journal format with two
IWAP, which has published the journal now for about
issues per year, and was given the title Water Pollution
2 years.
Research Journal of Canada. By 1984 it progressed to a quar-
First of all, we plan to streamline the review process
terly publication. The journal changed its name to the
according to a new IWAP workflow so as to make it more effi-
current title in 1995. Throughout these metamorphoses,
cient and, especially, making its decision making faster. We
Environment Canada remained a staunch pillar supporting
know fast processing times have become a criterion by
the journal in various ways.
which potential authors select a journal. The leaner, more
When Dr Gehr became Editor-in-Chief, the journal was
international, Editorial Board will get more responsibility in
experiencing declining logistical and other support from the
the manuscript processing, in fact being in charge of it from
government and by 2008 the journal depended completely
the moment the paper is attributed to a particular editor
on the CAWQ. The government support of the early years
until his/her final decision on the manuscript. Personalized
provided a comfort zone and certainly a relaxed business
contact between editor and reviewer will ensure increased
model. Under his direction Dr Gehr nursed the journal
motivation of the reviewers and thus more timely reviews.
through many logistical changes as well as financial chal-
The size of the Editorial Board will be reduced to about 10
lenges to improve the journal’s stature, in addition to his
dedicated water professionals covering the variety of water
primary tasks of being the initial portal for all papers and
themes WQRJC is publishing on. In a first instance, the inter-
final arbiter in contentious situations. His dedication was
nationalization of the Editorial Board will occur by including
at the foundation of the journal’s success. Under his guid-
a number of US experts in addition to Canadian editors.
ance the journal eventually moved under the aegis of the
Second, we will carefully evaluate the journal’s Aims
International Water Association Publishing (IWAP) group
and Scope to provide a focus which will avoid major overlap
in 2011. Moving the journal into the suite of high quality
with key existing journals and therefore attract more high
doi: 10.2166/wqrjc.2013.111