Water Quality Research Journal of Canada sample issue

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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


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