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- Meet the summer recipients of UBC’s 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration FundFrom supporting parents of children with speech delays to exploring Indigenous-led solutions to wildfires, this summer’s projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff on reciprocal initiatives.
- A Sustainable Approach to Collecting Unwanted Items during Student Residence Move-Out PRE Funded Project | Each spring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central and Southern Interior of BC partners with UBCO’s Student Housing to collect and sell donated clothing and household items in the thrift market.
- Meet the CEN: Staff Spotlight with Kat CuretonIn our second “Meet the CEN” interview, we introduce Kat Cureton, the Advisor at UBC Community Engagement and leader of the Community Engagement Network.
- Apply to be a reviewer for the 2023/24 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) FundJoin a diverse group of UBC faculty, staff, and community leaders to review CUES fund proposals and make recommendations for funding. The reviewer role involves a one-time commitment from January 2 to February 21, 2024.
- Apply for the 2023/24 Community-University Engagement Support FundGet up to $25,000 to support community-university partnerships and projects. Submit a Notice of Intent by September 22, 2023.
- Meet the CEN: Staff Spotlight with Holly Kim We’re thrilled to present a new series that shines a spotlight on the dynamic individuals who make up the heart of our Community Engagement Network (CEN). In our inaugural feature, we’re proud to introduce Holly Kim, the Operations and Program Manager at UBC Community Engagement.
- UBC Strategic Plan: UBC Connects at Robson SquareConnects in the News | Located in the heart of Vancouver’s vibrant downtown core, UBC’s Robson Square facility expands the university’s reach beyond the Point Grey campus, and provides the perfect venue for encouraging equitable knowledge exchange between UBC and the downtown Vancouver community.
- Museum of Vancouver and UBC Hosted “Making Space” Panel to Discuss the Complex Meanings of Asian Heritage Month and Asian Canadian Representation PRE Funded Project | the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) and the UBC Public Humanities Hub (PHH) co-organized “Making Space” in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. The event fostered a thoughtful conversation about the future of Asian Canadian communities and the importance for institutions to prioritize inclusivity and reciprocity.
- Pancouver: Cultural researcher Kathleen Zaragosa nurtures Filipino heritage through power of languageConnects in the News | Kathleen Zaragosa speaks Tagalog and is now learning her family’s heritage language of Oasnon. Zaragosa will relate her own experience at a free Downtown Vancouver event that was inspired by the work she did as a UBC student.
- The Revelstoke Child Care Society and HELP UBC Joined Forces to Enhance Child Development and Well-being for Young Families in Revelstoke, BC CUES Funded Project | The Revelstoke Child Care Society has partnered with the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC to improve access to services, programs, and positive experiences for families with young children in Revelstoke, BC.
- Project TEACH final report: Bridging the gap between recognition and action in coastal ecosystems in Southern British ColumbiaThe final report of Project TEACH addresses conservation challenges within the coastal forests in southern BC, and includes recommendations to transition towards an ecologically-informed governance model.
- Report: UBC’s 2023 Partnering in Research ConferenceRelive the highlights of UBC’s 2023 Partnering in Research Conference, including video recordings of the plenary sessions, photos, and key takeaways.
- Meet the spring recipients of UBC’s 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration FundWe have already funded 12 community-university projects this spring! Discover how UBC students, staff, and faculty are collaborating with community partners on a range of initiatives.
- Volunteer for the UBC Connects at Robson Square Program UBC Connects at Robson Square is seeking dedicated volunteers to support our innovative event programming.
- Apply for the 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration FundGet up to $1,500 to fill small resource gaps and empower community partners to build reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty, and staff.
- Three takeaways from our April CEN session: Exploring tensions and opportunities of community-university engagement work within colonial systems The Community Engagement Network recently held its first in-person gathering in over three years, bringing together members from both Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
- 31 community partners receive funding from UBC’s 2022-23 Community-University Engagement Support FundUBC awards over $745,000 to support community-university partnerships that benefit communities and advance collaborative research, teaching and learning throughout British Columbia.
- Preserving and sharing syilx digital heritage: Westbank First Nation and UBCO collaborate on interactive web mapThe Westbank First Nation Archaeology Office have teamed up with Dr. Neha Gupta (UBCO) to develop a unique digital archaeology project that celebrates syilx heritage and strengthens Indigenous data governance.
- The Ubyssey: Fail to Appear addresses the mental health system’s failures to seeConnects in the News | Fail to Appear, is a striking commentary on the shortcomings of Canadian legal systems’ dehumanizing and disempowering approaches to the mental health crisis.
- Hip Hop workshop for Black History MonthIn February, hip-hop artist Ndidi Cascade hosted a youth empowerment workshop, which was part of a series of culture-based workshops co-organized by Sher Vancouver and UBC Medicine student Simrat Mahil. Their joint efforts aim to establish safe spaces for the South Asian LGBTQIA2S+ community.
- ‘Translator kids’ take centre stage at ACAM panelThe hua foundation and UBC’s Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies program jointly hosted “Translator Kids” on January 12, 2023. The event centered on the emotional labor and stress experienced by children of immigrants when translating for their parents and communities.
- UBCO professor is helping bring back the Pony Cabaret – an evening featuring drag storytelling, comedy and burlesque.Dr. Michael V. Smith (UBCO) is partnering with the Living Positive Resource Centre and Inspired World Cafe to gather artists across several different disciplines for the 7th Annual Pony Cabaret. The event is queer-run and aims to make a space where everyone can feel welcome.
- Increasing food security for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and low-income folxSaige Community Food Bank & Community Kitchen has provided the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and low-income folx access to a safe, no-barriers food bank and bi-monthly community kitchens for over 11 years.
- Three projects highlight how community organizations partner with UBC Land and Food Systems to address needs in BC’s food systemThree Faculty of Land and Food Systems initiatives received funds of up to $1500 through PRE to work with these community partners: Watari Counselling and Support Services; ARC Arts Roots and Culture Community Society; and, FarmFolk CityFolk Society.
- Watch Hearts Beat, a new documentary by two UBC studentsThe documentary celebrates the shared traditions of drumming, dancing, singing and storytelling between Coast Salish and Irish cultures, and showcases the incredible talent and artistry of the Downtown Eastside community.
- Incorporating Indigenous knowledge, perspective, and voice into UBC’s nursing curriculumAssistant Professor of Teaching Elisabeth Bailey joins with community partner Dancing Water Sandy and School District 27 in Healing Together: Building Relationships to Decolonize Nursing Education.
- Eight community organizations receive PRE funding to partner with Arts students, faculty and staff on Indigenous reconciliation, equity, and climate actionEight community-university projects being co-led by Faculty of Arts members have been funded by the 2022 Partnership Recognition and Exploration fund.
- 47 community partners receive funding from UBC’s 2022 Partnership Recognition and Exploration fund This fall, the Office of Community Engagement awarded over $70,000 to support community-university collaboration and relationship building.
- The Ubyssey: Africans in BC town hall discuss role of diaspora in development of the continentUBC Connects at Robson Square offers funding to drive community-focused programsConnects in the News | Christian Sopuruchi, president of PFF, opened the event by speaking about his experience providing educational resources to disadvantaged children in Nigeria.
- UBC signs Statement of Cooperation with the Ismaili Council for BCSigned on September 28, 2022, this Statement of Cooperation sets the foundation for continuous institutional cooperation in the areas of community engagement and knowledge exchange.
- Public Engagement at Robson Square: UBC and the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver host public dialogue on settler colonialism, identity, and migrationWe spoke to the students, faculty, staff, and community partners that worked together to create this community-university event.
- The Ubyssey: Classical compositions and contemporary connections: An interview with the Matrix DuoConnects in the News | Mina McKenzie and Jack Campbell perform together as the Matrix Duo.
- UBC Today: UBC Connects at Robson Square offers funding to drive community-focused programsConnects in the News | Introducing UBC Connects at Robson Square, a brand-new initiative aiming to provide students, faculty and staff with the support required to collaborate with community partners in delivering innovative, community-focused programming.
- UBC submits Expression of Interest to become co-host of new Canadian classification for community engagementThe host of the inaugural Canadian Carnegie Community Engagement Classification will be responsible for providing the resources and leadership necessary to launch the new classification in Canada.
- The Ubyssey: Documentary All Our Father’s Relations connects Musqueam and Chinese Canadian identity through family historyConnects in the News | The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Yoshizawa, Ling and Grant, focusing on the documentary’s significance to the Chinese immigrant and Musqueam communities in BC.
- How Universities are Supporting the Not-For-Profit SectorLearn about the different resources universities can offer community partners and how to access them.
- Students partner with Punjabi Market Collective to showcase revitalization effortsLearn how UBC students are taking their learning beyond the classroom and supporting community partners.
- CUES 2021-22: UBC partners with 27 organizations to create community-university projects across BCUBC is investing over $500,000 to support partnerships that will benefit communities across the province and advance collaborative research, teaching, and learning.
- New scholarship program supports Black Canadian students at UBCA new scholarship program is providing both financial and institutional support for Black Canadian students at the University of British Columbia […]
- Tŝilhqot’in Nation and UBC sign Memorandum of UnderstandingThe Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at UBC’s Vancouver campus on Wednesday […]
- UBC commits to net zero emissions by 2035The University of British Columbia today unveiled a bold new climate action plan to accelerate emissions reductions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2035 at its Vancouver campus—15 years ahead of the previous target date […]
- UBC expanding presence in Surrey with $70M land acquisitionUniversity acquires three-acre property near Surrey Memorial Hospital […]
- Partner Funding Illustrates Scope and Diversity of UBC-Community EngagementCommunity-led collaboration between Heiltsuk Nation, UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), Builders Without Borders and FP Innovations builds sustainable, healthy, culturally appropriate housing.
- ‘CUES’ Fund Illustrates Scope and Diversity of UBC-Community EngagementPictured above: BC Institute of Technology instructor Marcel Studer (centre) and an all-Heiltsuk construction crew in front of one of the Nation’s new Tiny Homes. In the Heiltsuk Nation’s central home of Bella Bella, nestled on the pristine and wild … Read more
- Exploring Culture and Community Through Stories of Chinese Canadian GardensUBC students teamed up to create Garden Stories, a project to learn about the stories of Chinese Canadian’s relationships to plants, food, and gardening.
- Lhoosk’uz Dené village taps into clean water after a 20-year waitAfter decades of relying on bottled water, the village now has a steady supply of clean drinking water straight out of the tap, thanks to a new water treatment plant crafted to their unique needs.
- A Path to Cultural SafetyDetermined to change the healthcare system to better support Indigenous people, Dr. Kurtz continues to have the honour of working with, learning from and walking alongside Shuswap Elder Jessie Nyberg.
- Journey to ReconciliationHow two Syilx Elders are sharing the truth on the path to reconciliation. “You cannot have reconciliation before you know the truth.”
- Bridging gaps in community health care“When we start graduating more Indigenous health-care professionals, people start to see themselves in their care team.” Dr. Willow Thickson
- Student Profile: Research to Make Research More AccessibleAlina McKay describes how her UBC Learning Exchange experience informed her post-graduate work and contributed to the MRAi project.
- Keep Calm and B.A.R.K. OnThe B.A.R.K. program brings together university students, trained therapy dogs and handlers in an effort to reduce stress, combat homesickness and foster interpersonal connections.
- Expressions of ReconciliationDesigned to help faculty and staff become better allies in the healing journey of reconciliation, the workshop consisted of four days of Indigenous education and self-reflection.
- Supporting pets and their people in the DTESOne Health Clinics, offered in partnership between UBC and Community Veterinary Outreach, provide essential health services to pet owners experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, while preparing future UBC grads for careers in public health.
- Black Opportunity Fund partners with UBC to empower next generation of Black leadersBlack Opportunity Fund and UBC have announced a new partnership to empower Black Canadian students to achieve their educational goals and career aspirations.
- UBC Faculty of Medicine Response to the TRC Calls to Action LaunchDermot Kelleher, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health and Santa J. Ono, UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, invite you to join us as we launch […]
- Statement on the Missing Children of Canada’s Indian Residential SchoolsRead the President’s Statement on the Missing Children of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.
- Climate activists Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis join UBCWorld-renowned climate activists and journalists Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis are joining the faculty at the University of British Columbia’s department of geography.
- New Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives supports implementation of UBC’s Indigenous Strategic PlanUBC has launched a new Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI) to coordinate the implementation of UBC’s 2020 Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP) on both UBC campuses.
- Supporting pets and their people in the DTESUBC-community partnership addresses public health needs while preparing future grads When the BC government declared the COVID-19 pandemic a public health emergency in March of 2020, Kelsi Jessamine and Dr. Doris Leung had to act quickly to continue supporting their … Read more
- Community-University Liaison InitiativeWe are excited to announce that we have received funding for a 2-year pilot staff position of Engagement Strategist that will link UBC migration researchers from across faculties with practitioners and organizations in the BC settlement sector.
- Photo Gallery: Snapshots Of ResilienceHow do you move forward after being released from prison? That’s the question at the heart of a community-based research project that had been meeting at the UBC Learning Exchange for four years before COVID-19 restrictions and has recently released … Read more
- Student Profile: Connecting with Chinese seniors helped shift her academic focusYanice Guo explains how her work in the English Conversation Program also made her feel more connected in Vancouver.
- The National Forum on Anti-Asian RacismOn June 10–11, 2021, join the National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism and contribute to crucial discussions. To address it, we must examine anti-Asian racism within the broader context of racism against Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities.
- Desire to help fellow Indigenous students leads to prestigious award for new graduateUBCO master’s student Sandra Fox, Indigenous Community Liaison, is being recognized with the Governor General’s Gold Medal for her research on Indigenous identity.
- President’s Statement on the Missing Children of the Kamloops Indian Residential SchoolRead the President’s Statement on the Missing Children of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
- Where Are All The Black People? Underrepresentation In The AcademyThe purpose of this speaker series is to foreground Black voices in fields where Blackness is particularly underrepresented, and provide actionable and measurable strategies to UBC […]
- Through our eyes, with our voices: How students and faculty are creating space to heal and be proud of their Asian identitiesFour faculty members are interviewed about how racism impacts them and how they are making the learning space a transformative one.
- UBC Connects: “Pluralism: Strengthening respect for diversity”Maaza Mengiste is a novelist and essayist whose work examines the individual lives at stake during migration, war and exile. This virtual Masterclass connects […]
- Made-in-the-DTES software tool provides paths to citizenship and confidenceMore than an app: How a made-in-the-DTES software tool called Linkvan provided paths to citizenship and confidence.
- 2020 CUES Fund Recipients AnnouncedOne thing that makes the fund unique is that support goes directly to community partners, an approach that helps remove financial barriers for organizations that are often underserved, marginalized, or excluded.
- COVID-19: UBC and the CommunityNow more than ever, that UBC must stand with and by communities, to continue our work in partnership toward a more just and sustainable society
- UBC continues to be a global leader in impactUBC’s global impact is highlighted in the new Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, ranking second in Canada for impact, and 13th in the world.
- Celebrating 10 years of health mentors at UBC HealthThe UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program has reached a milestone, as 2021 marks 10 years of the program’s success in providing students with opportunities to learn from patient educators.
- UBC Global Engagement Strategy LaunchUBC President and Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono launched UBC’s global engagement strategy, In Service, on April 12, 2021. The program featured local and global speakers […]
- Synapses: Conjuring the futureAn exciting new multimedia collaboration between Professor Bob Pritchard and Turning Point Ensemble imagines one possible future for humanity — and points to another for classical music performance.
- UBC’s Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot appointed United Nations representative on rights of Indigenous PeoplesUltimately, Dr. Lightfoot says her goal will be to support the implementation of Indigenous human rights in practice, in concrete and consistent ways.
- President’s Statement On Anti-Asian RacismStatement on Anti-Asian Racism
- UBC Connects: “Beyond the Police state”Grounded firmly in the urgencies of the present, Desmond Cole and Robyn Maynard will discuss the limitation of reform and the necessity of creating abolitionist futures.
- UBC Connects: “Represent, Represent: The stories we tell change the world around us”This virtual Masterclass connects a small group of Faculty of Arts students with Kevin Kwan to discuss creative solutions to real-world problems.
- Nisga’a Scholar Launches UBC’s New Centre For Indigenous FisheriesQ&A with Indigenous fisheries scientist, conservation biologist, and Nisga’a Nation member, Dr. Andrea Reid.
- Combatting Social Isolation During COVID-19As part of a new initiative, Connecting with Compassion, UBC faculty and students are looking to technology to help families stay connected with their loved ones and combat the social isolation being felt by seniors living in long-term care homes … Read more
- UBC Connects: “Prisons and the F-word: Has the time come for a fundamental rethink?”This talk will explore the notion of prison reform from Cameron’s perspective as South Africa’s inspecting judge of prisons.
- UBC Learning Exchange Marks 20 Years In The Downtown EastsideIn celebration of the centre’s 20th anniversary, the Learning Exchange spoke with six community and university partners on how they influence and are influenced by their connections with the Learning Exchange, the many ways they interact with the centre and … Read more
- UBC Community Celebrates Launch Of New Indigenous Strategic PlanUBC’s new Indigenous Strategic Plan is an important milestone in UBC’s commitment to truth and reconciliation.
- UBC Connects: “Our Existences Are Political”Join the conversation with James Makokis and Anthony Johnson, the first two-spirit Indigenous couple to win the Amazing Race Canada.
- Community-based Research In Action At The UBC Learning ExchangeThinking about a research project related to the Downtown Eastside? You might want to talk to Dr. Heather Holroyd.
- UBC Team Launches Art Initiative To Promote Mental Health Of Men In PrisonUBC school of nursing professor Helen Brown and her team deliver “art and reciprocity kits” to people disproportionately impacted by the Canadian criminal justice system
- Geering Up For A Changing WorldAs B.C. schools closed to in-person classes in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, a UBC Applied Science-based education organization worked quickly to bring its STEM-themed programs to online platforms for homebound kids and teens
- Together Against Racism And InjusticeRecent anti-Black and anti-Asian violence in communities across North America has focused our attention on the deeply rooted racism in Canada and globally. UBC itself is not immune to racism and injustice.
- Allard Law’s Indigenous Community Legal Clinic Goes VirtualLocated in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the ICLC provides free legal services to the Indigenous community throughout the province
- EVENT: Is It Time To Wave The Flag?Marking 50 years after the partial decriminaization of homosexuality in Canada.
- UBC embarks on Canada-wide initiative to assess community engagementAdriaan de Jager, UBC’s Associate Vice President, Government Relations and Community Engagement, talks about UBC’s role in the Canadian pilot for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification.
- 2019 CUES Fund Recipients AnnouncedIn December 2019, the Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) fund awarded a total of $500,000 to 20+ community organizations working with faculty, staff, and students at UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver. Projects are as diverse as they are important, from community-led … Read more
- Three insights from the President’s Roundtable on Non-Market Housing InnovationPresident Ono reflects on insights community leaders shared with UBC leadership at the last roundtable.Read more
- UBC Raises Musqueam Indian Band Flag Permanently At Vancouver CampusThe flag of the Musqueam Indian Band will be permanently raised on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus
- How can an obscure medieval play make a meaningful contribution to present-day Vancouver?A recent partnership, funded in part by CUES, between Bard on the Beach and researchers from UBC holds the answer.Read more
- Building Trust in CommunitiesCommunity engagement is about building trust between communities. This summer we sat down with Kate Hodgson and Kathleen Leahy to learn firsthand from their years of experience… Key Learnings There is a general and positive shift among researchers who are … Read more
- 2018 CUES Fund Recipients AnnouncedIn January 2018, not-for-profit community organizations and their UBC partners were invited to submit joint proposals for projects that exemplify the principles of ethical engagement: reciprocity, transparency, flexibility and openness, and respect for difference. An interdisciplinary community-university panel reviewed 101 … Read more
- Aboriginal Women’s Intervention Program Benefits Indigenous Women Experiencing ViolenceUBC nursing professor and her colleagues evaluate culturally safe intervention program for Indigenous women who have left abusive partners.
- SALA Students Address The Arbutus GreenwayEnvironmental design students share their ideas with City of Vancouver reviewers