- What is Community Engagement?
- About us
- Past Initiatives
- COVID-19 Community Resilience Network
- Network reflections and recaps
- February 3-5, 2021 – Presenting at the 2021 International University Social Responsibility (USR) Summit
- December 2nd - SFU’s role in transformational change
- November 25 - Addressing the issue of women academics falling behind
- November 18 – the colonial nature of current systems of research and evaluation
- November 4 - Precarious instructors in the post-pandemic academy
- October 28 – A conversation with Happy City about building back "Main Street"
- October 14 – What's at stake in BC's upcoming election? A conversation with Frances Bula
- October 7 – Hosted dialogues
- September 30 – Radical inclusion with Ele Chenier
- September 23 – Hosted dialogues
- September 16 – Antifragility and resilience
- Community-university response to COVID-19
- Network reflections and recaps
- Canadian Pilot Cohort of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
- COVID-19 Community Resilience Network
- Grants
- Stories
- Food Security
- Warren Gill Award
- Subscribe
Office of Community Engagement Programs
SFU’s Office of Community Engagement develops and runs programming to advance community engagement at SFU. Our current and past initiatives are listed below. Learn more about how we work by checking out our strategic priorities, or click here to meet our team.
SFU's Community Engagement Initiative
Annual grants of up to $10,000 to nurture community-engaged scholarship and impact
The CEI has awarded over $1 million in funding and supported over 200 community-engaged projects developed with community partners that have expanded knowledge, catalyzed impact, and advanced Truth & Reconciliation, equity, and justice. Each year, the quality of proposals increases and is a testament to the courage and creativity of SFU faculty and staff. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 1,2,3,4,5
SFU Strategic Priorities: Uphold Truth & Reconciliation; Engage in Global Challenges; Make a difference for BC; Transform the SFU experience
Warren Gill Award for Community Impact
HONOURING AND CELEBRATING LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
The Warren Gill Award for Community Impact is an annual award given to SFU staff or faculty who have demonstrated lifetime commitment to working with community partners in order to transform and strengthen our approaches to research, education, and community action. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 1,2,5
SFU Strategic Priorities: Transform the SFU experience
Student Community Engagement Competition
An annual funding program for students interested in developing and implementing meaningful projects with community partners.
The SFU Student-Community Engagement Competition offers an opportunity for students to learn how to work in equitable partnership with individuals and organizations in the community. Since 2014, over $170,000 has been awarded to more than 65 community engagement projects tackling challenges like food justice, reconciliation, social connection, newcomer inclusion, racism, the toxic drug crisis, and more. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 1,3,4,5
SFU Strategic Priorities: Uphold Truth & Reconciliation; Engage in Global Challenges; Make a difference for BC; Transform the SFU experience
Food Security
Harnessing the power of partnership to address food insecurity at SFU.
Food is pivotal to building culture, good health, and a sense of belonging. That’s why SFU’s Office of Community Engagement has been working with Burnaby organizations and community members to create programs like the SFU Food Pantry and Community Free Fridge to address food insecurity at SFU. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 3,4
SFU Strategic Priorities: Make a difference for BC; Transform the SFU experience
SFU Surrey–TD Community Engagement Centre
Hey Students! Making a difference in the community also makes a difference in you.
We collaborate with people and organizations in Surrey to co-create programming, share resources, and take action on key challenges. Our initiatives focus on education, mentorship, connection, and skill development, primarily reaching children, youth, and newcomers to Canada. Our programs have employed over 2000 SFU student volunteers in partnerships with over 100 organizations. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 3,4,5
SFU Strategic Priorities: Uphold Truth & Reconciliation; Engage in Global Challenges; Make a difference for BC; Transform the SFU experience
Connect Fest
A FESTIVAL BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
Co-presented by Simon Fraser University and the City of Burnaby, in participation with many local Burnaby organizations, Connect Fest is a week-long series of free events, featuring performances, lectures, discussions, tours, and more, all designed to inform, engage, and spark creative conversations among Burnaby’s vibrant and diverse audiences. Learn more →
Office Strategic Priorities: 3,4,5
SFU Strategic Priorities: Uphold Truth & Reconciliation; Make a difference for BC;
Past initiatives
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Between 2019 and 2021, SFU helped convene fifteen other Canadian post-secondary institutions to consider what would be necessary to bring the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement to Canada. In June 2021, the pilot concluded with unanimous assent to found a Canadian Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
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The COVID-19 Community Resilience Network was a part of SFU’s broad and dynamic response to the pandemic. Forged from a set of principles to guide our action, the network’s approach emphasized working with and within communities. It was an invitation to “walk the talk” of equitable collaboration, and to mobilize urgent action to help make our neighbourhoods and community systems more resilient.