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Celebrating a Legacy: The Impact of Dr. Diane Dagenais on Education and Beyond

March 27, 2023

Dr. Diane Dagenais, a recently retired professor from the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University, had spent her career making a difference in the lives of her students and colleagues. On March 11, more than 40 people gathered to pay tribute to her, reflecting on her impact and legacy in the field of education.

The Symposium Plurilingualisms, Pluriliteracies, and Sociomaterialities: Between Research and Practice was a fitting celebration of Dagenais' work, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community members who had all been touched by her teachings.

Dagenais spoke about her time at SFU, expressing gratitude for the stimulating and interesting colleagues and students she had worked with. She acknowledged the values of equity and diversity that had enriched her experiences and career.

Her colleagues and students, in turn, spoke about how she had inspired and influenced them, not only in terms of their academic pursuits but also in terms of their way of being, ontology, and ethics. They shared how she had led them to rethink the way they worked with people and not about people, changing their research and practice for the better.

Throughout her career, Dagenais served as a model researcher and educator, embodying qualities of humanity, sensitivity, passion, and honesty. Her fight against injustice, for equality, for true dialogue, and for living together had been a guiding force for her and her colleagues.

As the event concluded, it was established that Dagenais' impact would be felt for years to come. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of educators, researchers, and community members to work towards a better, more equitable world.

Learn more about Dagenais’ incredible career and ongoing impact here.

Dr. Cécile Bullock
Associate Professor

"Diane led me to rethink the way I thought about working with people and not about people. She changed my life, my research, and my practice because I now hope that when I do my research, I do it with people and not about people. Throughout her career, Diane has led, and continues to lead, a fight against injustice, for equality, for a true dialogue, for living together."

Dr. Magali Forte
Faculty Associate

"Diane has inspired us, influenced us, not only in terms of the ideas, knowledge, and epistemology that we have been fortunate enough to explore and acquire through her, but also in terms of our way of being, ontology, and ethics."

"Throughout her career, Diane has been and continues to be a beautiful model as a researcher, as an educator, as a deeply human, sensitive, passionate, and honest person."