Mark Bigland-Pritchard

Migration & Resettlement Coordinator, MCC Saskatchewan

MCC roles:

• Since September 2018, Mark is responsible for facilitating private refugee sponsorship and building awareness of the root causes of displacement.
• In 2009-10, as an energy consultant, Mark provided an environmental/climate assessment of all MCC’s main North American offices.

Specific topics:

• Forced migration and refugee issues
• Private refugee sponsorship
• Climate responsibility
• Creation care

Workshops:

• Introduction to private refugee sponsorship
• Orientation for private sponsors
• Understanding the international refugee crisis
• Understanding the climate crisis (and taking action – several variants possible)
• Addressing ecological grief

Experiential learning exercises:

• Forced to Flee (refugee simulation)

Sermons/talks:

• Subjects as above, plus whatever is in the lectionary

Professional background:

• Energy consultancy / architectural physics, including 8 years teaching energy studies at 2 British universities.
• Advocacy / campaign work, including 4 years as national coordinator of (British) Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Founder member of Climate Justice Saskatoon.

International experience:

• Consultant to Warm in Winter (Mongolia), 2012-13

Church:

• Member, Osler Mennonite Church. Former Mission & Service Chair, former refugee committee chair.

Education:

• MA Chemical Engineering, MSc Energy Conservation, PhD Architectural Physics