CBRC Special Achievement Award

Summer 2017 CBRC NEWS

The CBRC Board was delighted to present the inaugural Special Achievement Award to Dr. Katherine Graham at C2UExpo17 in Vancouver. CBRC was conceived in 2008,

at a meeting chaired by Dr. Graham as part of CUExpo held in Victoria, British Columbia.

Two years later, the first official meeting of CBRC was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Dr. Graham agreed to serve as chair, a position she held until just last year. Under her leadership, CBRC matured from a concept to a national network that is internationally connected. Dr. Graham is Professor Emerita at Carleton University where she was former Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to the President and Provost. She has been a champion of community-university engagement and has a long and distinguished record of policy work in support of Indigenous issues.

An enthusiastic researcher and ever supportive colleague, Dr. Graham was the overwhelming choice of the CBRC board to be the first recipient of this Special Achievement Award. In presenting the award, Board chair, Dr. Martin Taylor, thanked Dr. Graham for championing community-based research, for her stewardship of CBRC, and for being a role model for all in the CBR community.

Photo above: Dr. Katherine Graham (front) receiving the CBRC Special Achievement Award with Dr. Joanna Ochocka (right) at C2UExpo 2017 in Vancouver, BC.

About Community-Based Research Canada (CBRC)

Community-Based Research Canada (CBRC) is a network that builds capacity for academia and the wider community to collaborate and use research as a tool to mobilize community participation and action. Founded in 2008, CBRC’s mission is to be a national champion and facilitator for collaborative community-based research and community-campus engagement in Canada.

Since 2008, CBRC has focused on leading and supporting research and policy papers, convening annual community-based research (CBR) gatherings, supporting CUExpo conferences, and developing an international community of CBR engaged leaders. CBRC also supported the development of the UNESCO Co-Chair in Social Responsibility in CBR and Higher Education (held between Canada and India).

In this Issue

Message from the Board Chair 2

Appointment of Four New Board Directors 3

News from the UNESCO Chair 3

C2UExpo2017: Another successful commu-

nity-campus conference supported by CBRC!

4

CBRC Secretariat Support Move 4

Links We Like from C2UExpo 4

CBRC Program Development Report 5

CBRC Members 2017-2018 5

CBRC Board of Directors 6

Page 2

“CBRC’s relationship with our Canadian universities is especially relevant as they continue to build singular and collective capacity to undertake community-university engagement initiatives and projects.”

Message from the Board Chair

CBRC News

I came away with two lasting impressions from the recent C2UExpo17 meetings hosted by Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver: 1) the vitality and impacts of community-university engagement initiatives in Canada; and 2) the importance of institutional leadership to sustain and grow the movement.

The first is described elsewhere in this newsletter, but I want to pause on the second to applaud SFU’s leadership, not only as demonstrated in its exemplary hosting of the meetings, but more broadly in its efforts in Vancouver and on the national scene in showing what visionary leadership, investment and partnerships can achieve. The active engagement of SFU’s President, Andrew Petter, was particularly striking – a clear case of leading by example.

These very positive impressions notwithstanding, C2UExpo17 reinforced an underlying question for Community-Based Research Canada (CBRC), namely the mission of community-based research (CBR) within the larger context of community-university engagement (CUE).

The intellectual and practical boundaries between the various elements– CUE, CBR, experiential learning, community action, and social change– are inevitably blurred and an integrated approach would seem to be a logical path forward for universities to follow. But, in so doing, distinctives can be lost and in particular the

importance of engaged research as the evidence base for wise decisions can be diluted and diminished. This is the context within which CBRC’s mission and goals need to be fashioned and implemented and its complementary role with other organizations understood. In this regard, CBRC’s relationship with our Canadian universities is especially relevant as they continue to build singular and collective capacity to undertake community-university engagement initiatives and projects.

Here, CBRC as a convenor, promoter, enabler and disseminator of best practice in CBR figures large. A prime example has been CBRC’s contribution to the development of indicators of excellence for community-based research which builds on the results of the National Summit which CBRC co-organized in late 2014 and was the basis for a workshop presented at the C2UExpo17 meetings.

In short, I believe CBRC is well positioned to grow in its role, contribution and impact as the national organization that supports and enables our universities (and post-secondary sector more broadly), to meet their aspirations in collaboration with community partners, to conduct research that addresses issues that matter, in ways that are relevant and timely, and that produces results which tangibly make a positive difference in the lives of those it’s our privilege to serve.

Photo above: Elder Margaret George of the Squamish First Nation (left) and President Andrew Petter of Simon Fraser University (right) at the C2UExpo 2017 Opening on May 2, 2017.

Photo above: Dr. Martin Taylor, Board Chair, CBRC

Appointment of Four New CBRC Directors

At the CBRC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Montreal in December, 2016, the Board was pleased to approve the appointment of four new directors to serve as Directors of CBRC.

Page 3

CBRC News

The UNESCO Chair has just finished a week-long set of activities associated with the International Transformative Confluence at the Source of the Nile, May 18-25, 2017 in Jinja and Walusi Hills, Uganda. The Confluence, organised

News from the UNESCO Chair

Photo above: Wangoola Wangoola Ndawula (left), Jajja Ntambi (centre) and UNESCO Chair—Dr. Budd Hall (right) at the Ceremonies launching Tondism and installing the new Spiritual Leader, Saasa Kabona Jumba Aligaweza in May 2017.

by our close partners, the Mpambo Afrikan Multiversity with support from VIDEA in Victoria, British Columbia and Inclusion Press in Toronto, Ontario brought together 50 Mother Tongues scholars from Uganda, Indigenous knowledge keepers from Turtle Island, and other allies and supporters.

The purpose of the event was to create a space for sharing deep aspects of Indigenous knowledge with each other with the intention of opening a new era, a great turning towards respecting the deep spiritual knowledge systems of the land-based peoples of the world.

The event culminated with several day of ceremonies in the sacred site of the Walusi Hills which marked the rebirth of Tondism, the foundational ideas of African spirituality and the installation of the Saaba Kabona Jumba Aligaweza as the spiritual leader of Tondism. These events are the culmination of 20-years of work lead by Mpambo on revitalizing and respecting African Indigenous knowledge systems.

Drs. Budd Hall and Rajesh Tandon participated in the World Conference on Action Research and Knowledge Democracy, Cartagena, Colombia, June 11-17, on the 40

th anniversary of the first international conference on

participatory action research led by the late pioneering scholar-activist Orlando Fals Borda.

Tanis Dagert

Vancouver Island University

Community Liaison,

Scholarship, Research and

Creative Activity

Dr. Monica Mulrennan

Concordia University

Associate Professor and Chair,

Department of Geography,

Planning and Environment

Dr. Kathy Sanford

University of Victoria

Professor, Faculty of Education

Dr. Karen Schwartz

Carleton University

Associate Dean of Research

and Graduate Affairs, Faculty

of Public Affairs; and

Associate Professor in the

School of Social Work

Page 4

CBRC News

The C2UExpo2017 (Community-Campus-University Exposition) held in May in Surrey and Vancouver was a great success. The expo was hosted by Simon Fraser University (SFU), and gathered over 500 people from Canada and across the globe. Participants shared their experiences of community-campus partnerships and discussed ideas and innovations on how to move these partnerships forward. The conference provided a full range of excellent sessions, art

C2UExpo2017: Another successful community-campus conference supported by CBRC!

Photo above: The First Gathering and Opening Reception at C2UExpo 2017 as interpreted by Sam Bradd, graphic facilitator. Photo credit: Budd Hall.

engagements, and creative entertainment, all grounded in a message that acknowledges Indigenous reconciliation. CBRC played a significant role at the event, bringing a word of welcome at the opening reception, leading a pre-conference workshop, having CBRC information booth and presenting the first-ever Special Achievement Award. CBRC also supported the planning of the conference by chairing the International Advisory Committee. Since its origins in 2003 at the University of Saskatchewan, C2UExpo is the Canadian-led international conference providing leadership and space for both academics and communities to engage in showcasing community-campus partnerships that address local and global societal problems. This year’s conference marks the 7

th of these Canadian-

organized spaces, where knowledge workers in communities, colleges and universities unite to share their excitement, challenges, hopes and dreams. CBRC supports the C2UExpo movement between annual conference through facilitating the process of site selection and supporting local organizers. There is still time to submit a proposal to host C2UExpo2019! Click here for more information.

CBRC Secretariat Support Move

CBRC will be moving its secretariat to Waterloo, Ontario, starting September 2017. After a year of excellent secretariat support through the Office of Community-University Engagement (OCUE) at the University of Victoria, the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) at the University of Waterloo, will be becoming the new home for the administrative functions of CBRC. We would like to extend warm thanks to Dr. Norah McRae, Director of OCUE and her staff members, for their professional and effective service over the past year.

CCBR is a non-profit organization affiliated with St. Paul’s University College at the University of Waterloo and a pioneer of community-based research in Canada. Founded in 1982, CCBR has conducted over 400 research and knowledge mobilization projects, founded the Community Research Ethics Office, and has been promoting community-based research nationally and internationally. CCBR was a founding member of CBRC, and has actively provided various program services for CBRC since its inception.

What happened at C2U-Expo? Check out the social media page.

Ryan McMahon (keynote), produced a documentary that will be aired on the CBC called Colonization Road.

Shane Koyczan (keynote) inspired us— check out some of his spoken word videos on YouTube.

Mark Kingswell (keynote) said that, “the university’s most important role is to be a discursive voice challenging the capitalist corporate hegemony.” Check out some of his posts on the Walrus.

The ‘Living Knowledge Network’ in the EU got us thinking. It’s a science shop that promotes an open dialogue and debate between science and civil society.

Links We Like from C2UExpo

CBRC Program Development Report

Page 5

CBRC News

In the fall of 2016, at the request of the CBRC Board of Directors, Maeve Lydon conducted an extensive interview and focus group study of CBRC members, stakeholders and key informants to guide future program development. Study participants expressed overall support for the vision and mission of CBRC, viewing CBRC as an organization uniquely situated and relevant in Canada to support community-based action research for societal well-being and to enable institutional transformation and policy change. The final report identified three main recommendations: 1. Program Development: Develop a CBRC

Capacity Building program including CBRC sponsored Institutes in regional centres, the creation of on-line training and resources, and the development of a Graduate Student Internship Program.

2. National Membership and Movement Building:

Be a leader and convenor in the creation of a national community-campus engagement network and action plan with key partners, networks and funders. Build on the C2UExpo 2017 Conference in May 2017 as a key opportunity for convening and promoting national action. Support and build members and services within and between community and campuses and via the piloting of regional CBRC hubs.

3. Communications Planning: Develop a

communications plan and strategy that includes social media functions and a simple searchable CBRC Directory (building on the Engaged Practice Learning Exchange) and map.

The report summary is available at: communityresearchcanada.ca/resources

CBRC Members 2017/18 CBRC has moved to a standard membership year running April 1—March 31. The following are our organizational and institutional members at the end of quarter one 2017/18. We look forward to more members joining throughout the year. Please spread the word about the benefits of CBRC! Community and government organizations - Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research - Cowichan Intercultural Society Departments within an academic institution - Community Service Learning, University of Alberta Academic Institutions—Colleges and Universities - Brandon University - Carleton University - Concordia University - Lakehead University - North Island College - Ryerson University - Simon Fraser University - Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) - University of British Columbia - University of Victoria - University of Waterloo - Vancouver Island University - York University

Our vision: To be a vibrant society in Canada enabled by community-based research that addresses major societal challenges.

Our mission: To be a national champion and facilitator for community-based research and campus-community engagement in Canada.

Our strategic plan: CBRC has a four-year strategic plan spanning 2014-2018. To see the plan visit: communityresearchcanada.ca/mission

CBRC Mission and Vision

CBRC Contact Information

CBRC Secretariat Support: Office of Community-University Engagement, University of Victoria

Office hours: CBRC Secretariat Support operates on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00-5:30 PM (PST). Responses to email inquiries and membership registration may take up to 3-5 business days.

Email: info@communityresearchcanada.ca

Mailing Address:

Community-Based Research Canada c/o Office of Community-University Engagement University of Victoria PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada

Chair

Dr. Martin Taylor—Professor Emeritus, University of

Victoria

Co-Vice Chairs

Dr. Joanna Ochocka— Director, Centre for Community

Based Research, Kitchener

Marcel Simoneau—Directeur, service conseil en

technologies et environnements numériques, Directeur

intérimaire, Service aux collectivités, Bureau de la vice-

rectrice à la recherche et à la création, Université du

Québec à Montréal

Members of the Board

Dr. Leslie Brown (Treasurer)—University of Victoria

Jody Butler Walker—Executive Director, Arctic

Institute of Community-Based Research

Tanis Dagert—Community Liaison Officer, Vancouver

Island University

Dr. Warren Dodd—University of Guelph

Dr. Budd Hall—UNESCO Co-Chair in Community-

Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher

Education, University of Victoria

Dr. Monica Mulrennan—Associate Professor and

Department Chair, Department of Geography, Planning

and Environment, Concordia University

Dr. Kathy Sanford—Professor, Faculty of Education,

University of Victoria

Kendra Schnarr (Recording Secretary)—Research

Project Assistant, Community Engaged Scholarship

Institute, University of Guelph

Dr. Karen Schwartz—Associate Dean, Research and

Graduate Affairs, Faculty of Public Affairs and

Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Carleton

University

Thank-you

The CBRC Board thanks the following organizations for

ongoing support:

Université du Québec à Montréal—for ongoing

translation support

Community Engaged Scholarship Institute

(CESI), University of Guelph—for general

support to the board

Organizational News

CBRC Board of Directors 2017/18