Five things to see at Knowledge to Impact: Igniting Community Engagement

How do post-secondaries build genuine relationships with their cities and regions? On April 29, UCalgary presents a symposium on the concept of city building and our role in contributing to the resilience and social, economic and cultural development of Calgary.

The event is open to UCalgary and broader community members interested in community engagement, including community engaged research and experiential teaching and learning. Here’s what you can take in during the full day of activities:

1. Connect with your community

Representatives from Calgary Pride, Mustard Seed, Fig Tree Foundation, Calgary Economic Development, United Way of Calgary, YMCA Calgary and more will join UCalgary faculty, researchers and experts to discuss how we can build, nurture and leverage partnerships in the city. 

2. Learn about ii’ taa’poh’to’p

Michael Hart, vice-provost, Indigenous engagement, will present the morning keynote, outlining the goals and vision of ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy and Office of Indigenous Engagement. Hart will discuss the importance of consulting and engaging with communities in order to move institutional strategies forward in a good way.

3. Start a meaningful dialogue

Learn from a range of organizations and connect with your colleagues at panels hosted by Chancellor Deborah Yedlin and Ken Lima-Coelho, vice-president of community engagement at YMCA Calgary, facilitated roundtable discussions, and a community lightning round, which will tackle the opportunities and challenges associated with building sustainable community partnerships.

4. Hear from local leader Beth Gignac

Join United Way of Calgary and Area Chief Operating Officer Beth Gignac as she speaks about the past, present and future importance of partnerships between the non-profit sector and a research-intensive university.

5. Check out the City Building Design Lab

The symposium will take place downtown, at the Faculty of Environmental Design’s brand-new City Building Design Lab in the old central library, which will act as a community connector and catalyst for civic transformation. Current projects on display include The Fab Lab with a robotic arm and 3D printers, and the EVDS student year-end exhibition

Whether you work in the field of community outreach and engagement, or are interested in making new connections in Calgary, this free event will spark thoughtful approaches to city building and energize UCalgary’s role as an anchor institution in our city.