Don’t let her quiet demeanour fool you; a self-proclaimed “collaborator at heart”, Halimah Basrael loves to engage in dialogue and form partnerships, both of which attracted her to the Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue. Born in Singapore, Halimah moved to Vancouver 7 years ago, during which she did much of her “growing up”. In fact, she would not be the person she is today had it not been for the opportunity to immerse in Vancouver’s socially progressive environment. She cares deeply about the immigrant and minority populations of Vancouver and has found that the city’s unique cultural diversity has taught her the true essence of respecting different traditions and values.

Currently working towards a double degree in Communications and English, Halimah is excited for what life has in store for her after concluding her undergraduate studies with the semester in dialogue. She hopes to find a career in knowledge dissemination aimed at improving the lives and health of minority groups in Canada. She would also like to revisit the countries she travelled to as a child in order to truly appreciate their native cultures. When not in school, Halimah stays true to her collaborative spirit by engaging in team sports including field hockey and netball.

When people speak of the inspired and the driven, they are speaking of people, like Lee Brain. The Psych major from Prince Rupert spent his youth playing on computers and summers counselling at camp. It was no surprise Lee went into the Tech 1 computer program and later on to the Department of Psychology at SFU. Despite his desire to jet set and sail the seven seas, Lee felt there were more pressing issues that deserved his attention. Not one to shy from a challenge, Lee got involved in the environmental movement and community development, bringing to the table his excellent skill set and a powerful and sincere desire to improve the world around him. Lee enrolled in the L.E.A.D and Sustainable Community Development programs, co-chairing the student union of the latter and working to resurrect the student organization Sustainable SFU. Not immune to the realities of the real world, Lee fused his passion for sustainable progress, with the previously unappealing need to earn a living and in collaboration with his step-father, created HS Publishing. Here he put his computer programming skills to good use, creating www.envirohub.net , a site dedicated to helping everyday people retrofit their home with solar panel technology. Ecologically friendly and socially responsible, at 23, this man is poised to be a leader in the green economy.

For the time being though, Lee has put aside his extracurricular activities to focus on his semester in dialogue. While his peers struggle to cope with the hectic, break-neck speed of the program, Lee will relax, and enjoy dedicating himself to a single worthy endeavour. This is a man to look out for in the future.

Maryam Dashti may be uncertain of what the future holds for her, but her high energy and enthusiastic personality tells you that she won’t settle for any other than the exciting and challenging. Her penchant for trying new extreme activities such as sky-diving, scuba-diving and bungee-jumping as a way to constantly push her physical and psychological boundaries clearly reflects her zest for leading an adventurous life. Although she is always thinking of new ways to fall from great heights, Maryam’s spirit is very much a grounded one. She loves Vancouver for its diversity, and enjoys interacting with people from different cultural groups. The smile, she believes, should be the common language of Vancouverites. Maryam will also charm you with her reflective side when she talks about her favourite city, Shiraz – a historical city in Iran which she used to visit as a child.

Currently, Maryam majors in International Studies and minors in Biology at SFU. The highlight of her undergraduate career includes spending two months in Uganda doing HIV/AIDS research; an experience during which she learned how to juggle the various aspects of community-focused work. Initially attracted to the semester in dialogue’s creative learning approach, she now looks forward to connecting with and working alongside those with similar goals.

Devon Field relates to people, is diplomatic and humble, and hopes to one day have a garden. An Errington, Vancouver Island boy, Devon likes to find hidden places in the city where he can sit and enjoy nature in his urban surroundings. He is searching for meaningful local collaborations in which he can affect change for the better such as walkable localized communities. With a two year old son, Devon has plenty of motivation to work towards creating and maintaining healthy and livable communities. He is currently doing his undergrad in Humanities along with a certificate in Religious Studies in which he ponders the human endeavor to place itself in a broader universal context. He spent 9 months in Ireland working and travelling, and in 2009 he hopes to go to Prague for a field school with the Humanities department.

Paige Frewer is a 4th year Environmental Science student at SFU, pursuing the stream of Biology. She grew up in South Delta and now resides in the West End of Downtown. Throughout her education, from elementary school to present-day, Paige has struggled between her interest in science and her passion for the arts. Her best subjects in high school were English, Painting, and Physics; choosing a field for formal study at a post-secondary institution was not an easy process. Since opting for the Faculty of Science, she has longed to hone and incorporate her right-brain skills into her studies and projects. Paige found this semester’s Dialogue topic "Designing the Future" to be an excellent opportunity to practice and apply both her creative and analytical modes of thinking.

Some of Paige’s specific interests relate to the relationship between consumer demand and industry output, problem-solving via lobbying versus grassroots campaigning, and the impacts of food choices on global ecology.

Paige also has a passion for foreign cultures; she’s traveled France, China, Mexico, and Nicaragua, and is eager to add to that list. She’s also keenly interested in visual and performance art. She adores Vancouver, and is eager to observe, analyze, and participate in what she considers to be a pivotal and potentially tumultuous stage of its evolution.

In 2001 Sarah Herring put aside her childhood dreams of becoming a ballerina and left her hometown of Fort Nelson in a big yellow school bus to seek out new and interesting communities to be a part of. After wandering the Earth in such far reaching locations as South Africa and Vancouver Island she has settled for the moment in sunny East Vancouver. Here, Sarah hopes to be part of building a community of un-likeminded people united by openness and perhaps also by a passion for tea. Sarah currently volunteers with Fair Vote SFU and the SFU Pocket Market, and sits as Forum Representative with the Sustainable Community Development Student Union. She is endlessly enthusiastic about always finding ways to help those around her realize themselves to the fullest of their potential. In particular she would like to work with women and children in the area she lives. Sarah may one day be a teacher or open a sustainably run bed and breakfast on Vancouver Island, but for the moment she can be found finishing her psychology degree at Simon Fraser University, delighting in delightful foods, dancing, and probably drinking tea.

Sean MacLaren is a warm hearted man with two beautiful daughters, Anastasia (4) and Christina (11). Born and raised in Vancouver, Sean has always had an appreciation of nature and global political issues. Since Sean is interested in knowledge acquisition, and fascinated in a plethora of different topics and issues, he spent his 20s gaining a breadth of experience, acquiring a range of different skills and abilities along the way. After managing a nightclub in Tokyo, Japan (his “studio 54 days”), reading blue prints in the construction industry, and owning his own restaurant, Sean is definitely one of those men that “gets the job done.” Currently managing his own company (Event Horizon Communications) working for the CBC as an event manager, Sean is an active proponent of fair media and is deeply interested in how information is transferred and people’s perceptions of the world are formed. After living on the wild side for awhile, Sean has fully engaged himself in his community and the greater challenge of helping to save our planet. Undertaking a joint major in Geography and Political Science, in addition to a minor in Dialogue, Sean aspires to get into government in the future. Strong, passionate and determined, Sean is going to manifest major positive ripples in the world that will last for eternity.

Hailing from the Russian part of Ukraine, Pavlo Marchenko’s European roots help to add an international perspective to the spring Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue. Pavlo moved permanently to Canada at the age of ten, yet visited his home country often throughout the subsequent years. Attending middle and high school in Surrey, Pavlo spent the first two years of his undergraduate degree studying sociology at Kwantlen University, then transferred to SFU to the new International Studies program. During his time at SFU, Pavlo has also attended a Humanities Field School in the Czech Republic. His time in Prague piqued his interest in seeing city functions as those of a living organism, which inspired him to participate in the Designing the Future Dialogue topic. Pavlo speaks four (soon to be five) languages: Russian, Ukranian, English, Czech, and some Spanish. He hopes to one day escape Vancouver to somewhere warm and Spanish-speaking, and to help make the world a better place. He has a secret passion for Craigslist, and when not online or at school, can be found at the gym.

Twenty-three years ago on 30 March a bright and beautiful baby girl was borne to Mister and Missus McRae in New Westminster.  They soon took her home to their first of four abodes in Surrey.  The next year in house number two, the McRae’s welcomed another baby girl to the family. The family moved two more times before settling into their current home in Fleetwood. The eldest of the two girls was named Jennifer McRae, and as she grew older, her genuine need for learning persisted with a growing tenacity: she found that there were bigger and greater things in the world that she needs to explore and change in her lifetime. In her search for knowledge and connections she is currently pursuing a degree in Human Geography and is thinking of completing a minor in Dialogue.

The Semester in Dialogue drew this inquiring mind in as the non-traditional teaching style and the chance to make personal change continually inspires a positive out-look within her. The one thing that she hopes to change in humanity is the apathy people show to each other and the ever looming environmental crisis we are facing. As Jenn sits under her favourite arbutus tree, with a crime/romance novel in hand, she wistfully dreams of her Utopia, an eco-city, the perfect blend of nature and city, and travels to South East Asia.

James McNish is a 22 year old Political Science student at Simon Fraser University. James, being from the small town of Prince Rupert in Northern BC, chose SFU for two reasons; to be near family and live in a bigger city. James feels living in Vancouver is much different then his small town of a mere 10,000 people but doesn't feel overwhelmed or out of place in the least sense. Aside from the occasional strategic board game like Risk or Diplomacy, James also stays physically active by training to run a marathon in the beginning of May. When James is not training for his marathon, he takes a great interest in politics and follows elections and elected officials quite closely. As well, being a young single male living alone, cooking has been quite the foe and as of late, James has been learning the best ways in which to attack this adversary. Lastly, James is participating in SFU's Semester in Dialogue because he shares a similar interest in sustainability and our future generations. James recently joined the Board of Directors for Sustainable SFU where they continually adapt and improve the Burnaby campus to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Although James feels as if he is just starting in the field, he is eager to learn more, and how to implement change within himself and then hopefully society as well.

Joni Morris, a gem of a student, whose multitude of interests and experiences make her shine in and out of the class. Growing up in Revelstoke, Joni's keen sense of inquiry led to her participate in Encounters With Canada, where she learned about Canadian institutions, further developed her leadership skills, and met accomplished Canadians. When it came to choosing a university, Joni decided on SFU and enrolled in communications. Her active role at our university involves participation in various clubs, such as the SFU NDP club and Free the Children SFU, on top of working as a community advisor. Recently, Joni went on an exchange to Australia where she caught the travel bug which she hopes to cure with much more travel. Joni's interest in dialogue goes far back to when she participated in various summer camps which left a long lasting appreciation for how much of an effect dialogue can have on people. And although she has great plans to change the world, Joni says she will not forget small enjoyments, like Tim Tams cookies - which happen to be her favorite.

David Northgraves is a 4th year Human Geography major, born and raised in Port Coquitlam, BC. Early in life, David's interest in urban systems manifested as a keenness for the popular civilization-simulating computer game SimCity; he would later pursue the field at an academic level, with a particular passion for maps and city planning. He recently applied some of his acquired skills in a co-op term with the Ministry of Agriculture.

David heard about the Semester in Dialogue program through friends and fellow students, and was thrilled to discover the Spring 2009 topic to be "Designing the Future", as it seemed to pertain perfectly to his vision of the role he hopes to play in the sustainable development movement of our time.

David's drive and motivation for learning about the world have kept him diligently at his studies for four straight years, which began as soon as he graduated from high school. As such, however, he hasn't yet experienced the opportunity to travel, which is an important goal of his for the future. Among the many destinations he has in mind are Australia and Europe.

One of David's favourite books is The Death and Life of Great American Cities; he feels that it well represents his own views on modern civilization. David's dream is to help create cities that are clean, safe, and sustainable for all.

Being the oldest of 6 kids, John Pringle has been a leader since his childhood. He grew up in Alberta, before his family made their way to the west coast when he was 6, he has been here ever since.  Initially, his post-secondary career began at Kwantlen studying Criminology, a choice which after two years he reconsidered. John transferred instead, in 2007, to Simon Fraser University where he decided that a degree in Poli-Sci would be more suitable to his interests.

In John's eyes, a degree in Criminology would keep him tied down to a set location, which is the LAST thing that he wants. His dreams of finding a career that enables him to travel worldwide began when he traveled to Ecuador and Italy. In the meantime John bides his time working a unique career at a crematorium and prides himself in his knowledge of current issues, something that is fueled by his "addiction to the news".

If he had the opportunity to let go of his responsibilities for a day, there is nothing he would rather do then go for a long hike and bike ride throughout the scenic lower mainland, followed up by a solid session of reading an action or spy thriller.

Deanna Rogers is a perceptive and creative young woman, and a great contribution to the spring Semester in Dialogue. Deanna was raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. After briefly studying public relations, she took a break from institutional learning to discover her cultural roots and work in Ireland and Scotland, while also traveling through Europe. Upon her return to Canada, Deanna decided to continue her education, and found her passion at SFU’s Anthropology department. In her studies, Deanna seeks to bridge the gap between academia and community, and to apply her knowledge on a practical level. As such, Deanna views the Undergraduate Semester as a perfect fit for her goals. When she’s not volunteering at SFU, Deanna loves to shoot photography.

Chris Snow is an entrepreneur and a man of action. Whether it be snowboarding, dirt biking, water skiing, cars, cars or more cars, Chris has a thirst for adventure and speed. Chris is slightly passionate about those four wheeled inventions and hopes to be able to have the luxury and choice of owning a high-speed electric sports car. When not under a hood or working at Cyprus Mountain, he uses his energy to complete his third year of business and finance at Simon Fraser University. Away from school Chris has been a leader to his family and friends from a young age and now confidently brings his leadership skills to the Semester in Dialogue program. Chris understands the vital role that businesses need to play to change our society and is an advocate of corporate responsibility. He looks forward to implement his skills and values, learned both from his experiences operating businesses and his time at SFU, to the business community at large.

Julien Thomas is native to the city of Vancouver. Though his roots remain here, he has been a world traveler since he was a child and has been armed with a backpack since the age of five. His mother’s sense of adventure and modest idea of travel taught him from an early age how to do more with less. These eager and innovative tendencies have translated into many aspects of Julien’s life. He has completed his first year in contemporary music at Vancouver Community College, but since has retired his saxophone into a hobby rather then a profession. He soon after started the Peace and Conflict Studies program at Langara College where he became an active member in the Student Union, concentrating his efforts on environmental concerns. Julien was drawn to Simon Fraser because of the Semester in Dialogue program and is excited at exploring their International Studies Department. He hopes to refine his communication skills and once again learn how to do more with less. 

Alex Wingert, 20 years old, grew up in the growing community of Maple Ridge. As a child, he spent his recreational time playing soccer and baseball, which carried on after high school. Unfortunately, his 11 year run ended abruptly due to injuries. However, this has not stopped him, as he is planning on running in a half marathon.

Currently, Alex is in his third year at Simon Fraser, and is majoring in Communications. After graduation, he hopes to become a public affairs officer.

In his free time, Alex chooses to relax and broaden his mind with readings like 'Time Magazine' and sports biographies/autobiographies to see how athletes started and got to their professional status.

 In 2008, for a real escape, he backpacked through Europe for three months, spending a couple weeks island hopping in Greece, and with family in Italy. Alex has a dream of backpacking again anywhere, and to visit Egypt.

Ria Wisniewski may be 5’1” but don’t underestimate this fiery female. At a quarter century she has already travelled almost all of Europe and resided for extended periods in both Tokyo and Geneva. She is a multi-lingual wonder, speaking a grand total of 6 languages, which may have evolved out of her need to communicate through spoken word: there is not an issue or controversy she will shy from, and she often finds herself actively seeking thought provoking conversation. When voicing her opinion fails her, Ria communicates through the Arts, being passionately involved in everything from dance to drawing, painting and musical theatre.

As a global citizen, Ria finds herself passionately concerned with animal rights, collective social responsibility (versus individualism) as well as transit and life long education. When asked what she sees for her future, Ria responds cautiously, questioning if the future she wants will be possible when she gets there. It is with these passions and questions in mind that Ria embarks on her Semester in Dialogue experience, hoping to help mitigate the changes that she feels will be essential for the collective future of humanity.