Global Role
British Columbia has developed a reputation for taking a lead role in creating dialogues of global significance or uniqueness. Current examples of innovative dialogue with a global perspective with a prominent Simon Fraser University presence are:
Citizen's Assembly on Electoral Reform
A non-partisan group of 160 randomly selected members from across BC, between ages 19 and 78, are reviewing the dynamics of electoral systems and alternative electoral models around the world led by SFU's president emeritus.
Roundtable Dialogue with the Dalai Lama: Balancing Educating the Heart and Educating the Mind
SFU and UBC brought together in dialogue His Holiness the Dalai Lama, fellow Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Shirin Ebadi, Rabbi Schacter Shalomi and First Nation Educator Dr. Jo-ann Archibald with moderator Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham to discuss Balancing Educating the Heart with Educating the Mind. Themes of sustainability and community building were discussed.
The Earth Symposium: Social Activism through the Arts
In partnership with SFU, artistic producer Judith Marcuse brought together delegates from around the planet for the first global conference on the arts as a tool for social activism.
Creative Conflict Management in Health Care
The Dialogue Group at SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue convened an international dialogue among health care leaders and dispute resolution specialists that inquired into the roots of conflict in health care and highlighted models and approaches for change.
Dialogue Within BC
The landscape of dialogue in BC has changed. In the past decade broadly based frameworks were created that provided time and space for dialogue amongst thought-leaders and policy-makers in the province. And while there are numerous sectoral dialogues with specific mandates, there are no broad-based multisectoral dialogues.
- The Economic Forecast Council provides economic advice and forecasts to the Provincial Ministry of Finance
- BC Environmental Assessment Act Stakeholder's group focuses on environmental assessment issues
- Two bodies operating under the Ministry of Education focus on skill training issues and proposals for new degree programs
- The Worker's Compensation Board has a cross-sectoral working committee
- The Premier's Tech Council, with tech industry partners and leaders, focuses on expanding and marketing the province's high tech base
- The BC Progress Board, which advises the Premier, is primarily concerned with benchmarking but also has a wider advisory role
- The Cultural Sector Human Resources
- Development Council is federally funded to define cultural sectoral make-up and strategies for growth. The council plans a series of dialogues across the province during summer and early fall 2004.
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