Engagement

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Artwork by Chantal Gibson helps to challenge historic and systemic racism.

When Marion Walter celebrated her Staff Achievement Award on March 5, 2020, surrounded by friends and colleagues, she didn’t realize that her world would change dramatically a few days later. That was the last in-person event she attended before isolating at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ever since, she has been carrying on from her home in New Westminster with “three cats, two birds, one gecko and a very annoying adult son,” as her email signature reminds co-workers.

How would you feel if you came out of quarantine ready to finally enjoy a meal at your favourite restaurant, only to find that it has closed down? With up to 15 per cent of B.C. restaurants in danger of going out of business, according to the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, this could soon be a reality.

Nearly 300 3D printing enthusiasts have recently joined forces across Greater Vancouver to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, including SFU staff, students and alumni.

Five million confirmed cases. Three hundred thousand deaths. These are the global numbers for COVID-19. The numbers show how many people have passed away during the pandemic, but they don’t tell the stories of the lives that were lived. Coronavirus-enforced isolating has made it impossible to gather for funerals and to mourn together the passing of loved ones.

While most of us enjoy making the most of our lives, SFU’s 2020 Terry Fox Gold Medalist, Meta Vaughan, is grateful to just have a life.

Jo-Anne Ray joined SFU’s publishing program in 1995 as its first staff member, twenty-five years later she remains the program’s sole staff person.

While many courses teach students about film festivals, a new SFU course on this topic is the first in Canada to have students apply their classroom lessons in real time. As they learn about all aspects of organizing, curating and promoting film festivals, they’ll be applying this new knowledge to organize the second annual Skoden Indigenous Film Festival.

Eugene Suyu, co-founder and CEO of 3D printing firm Tinkerine, is a proud Simon Fraser University alumnus who is helping to fight COVID-19. The company has produced thousands of face shields, which guard against the transmission of the deadly novel coronavirus. “Since we have the ability, we should be using our strengths to benefit society and take some social responsibility,” says Suyu, who graduated from SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT).

SCA alumni and the Skoden Indigenous Film Festival co-founders share how the students are learning about reconciliation through planning the festival, and their journey with developing Skoden.