NEWS & EVENTS

June 8, 2023

Simon Fraser University respectfully acknowledges the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories our three campuses reside.

UNIVERSITY NEWS

MECS DIRECTOR WINS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

No event is too big or too small for Meeting, Event and Conference Services director, Lynda Hewitt. Examples of Hewitt's impact, hard work and tenacity are abundant. As she prepares to retire this month, the award caps off her amazing and incomparable career at SFU during the 25-plus years.

FAREWELL LYNDA

As the SFU community celebrates the graduation of our students, we are sharing stories from various faculties:

NIMRIT BASRA LEADS SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

Basra is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts consisting of an English major (honours), an extended minor in gender, sexuality and women’s studies, a minor in criminology and a legal studies certificate. She is also the winner of the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy, and Reconciliation. Basra’s focus on social justice extended beyond discussing and researching those issues in the classroom.

THE FIRST-OF-ITS KIND COHORT GRADUATES

SFU's School of Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) offers an interdisciplinary program which has helped train the next leaders in renewable and clean energy. SEE introduces students to policies, effective communication and how they can help decision makers create and implement new policies for a greener future.

THE POWER OF ECONOMETRICS

This economics graduate is one of ten graduate students being recognized with the SFU Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medal. Xiaolin Sun’s PhD thesis focused on developing new econometric methods to analyze data to better understand the effectiveness of social programs.

ALUMNUS HONOURS HER MÉTIS IDENTITY

Logan Burd joined the Master of Public Health (MPH) program for its strong emphasis on social justice and social determinants of health and equity. Burd is the first Métis person in her family to obtain a post-secondary degree.

RESEARCHING EARLY MODERN POLITICAL IDENTITIES IN EURASIA

Dr. Ferenc Csirkés is an expert on linguistic, religious and political identities in early modern Eurasia. As the 2022-23 Jack and Nancy Farley Distinguished Visiting Scholar at The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), he explains how his research can resonate in modern-day British Columbia.

RESOURCES + OPERATIONAL UPDATES

POWERING CLIMATE ACTION THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

As the top university in the world for impact on sustainable cities and communities, SFU understands the importance of engaging our communities through partnerships, dialogue and outreach—both locally and globally. See how SFU is leading this vital work and learn how SFU faculty and students can take part by applying to join our delegation to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Dubai, UAE this November.

MAY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UPDATES

Last month SFU was actively bargaining with SFUFA and TSSU, tabling monetary proposals aligned with PSEC's Shared Recovery Mandate. SFU's bargaining team is committed to bargaining collaboratively to meet the core interests of all parties and uphold the sustainable and best interests for the entire SFU community. Learn more about the bargaining status of each of SFU's unions and professional associations in the May Collective Bargaining Update.

AIR QUALITY ADVISORY ISSUED FOR METRO VANCOUVER

Metro Vancouver has issued an air quality advisory as wildfire smoke drifts in to the region from wildfires burning in BC. Due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone, the regional district says it is expected to remain in effect until a change in weather. On campus? There are ways to stay safe by staying indoors.

RICK HANSEN FOUNDATION BUILDING ASSESSMENTS JUNE 12 - 16

Next week you may notice some Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Program members at SFU's Burnaby campus. In 2019, 12 buildings on campus were assessed and certified as exceeding accessibility requirements. This year, 15 more buildings will be assessed which could potentially increase our campus core buildings to 92 per cent accessible according to the Foundation’s assessment criteria. The certification and analysis per building by Rick Hansen Foundation demonstrates the university’s commitment in creating an inclusive, supportive and affirming community where all thrive. Contact meghan_di_bello@sfu.ca for more information.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: RESEARCH COMPUTING SUMMER SCHOOL

Sign up now for a week of interactive, in-person courses on everything from Linux command line to PyTorch. This program is open to all academic researchers at SFU, UBC, BCIT and other local post-secondary institutions. Researchers of all levels (faculty, staff, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students) are welcome. Registration closes Tuesday, June 13.

FEATURE EVENTS

ADVANCING TWO-SPIRIT AND INDIGENOUS INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE

June 14 | Hosted by Pride at Work Canada

In honour of National Indigenous People’s History Month, an expert presenter will provide valuable insights into the experiences of Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBQTIA+ employees and jobseekers in accessing and retaining affirming employment, and share best practices for hiring and retaining 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous talent. Through this webinar, attendees will gain the knowledge and tools needed to create a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture for 2SLGBTIQA+ Indigenous employees.

IT'S TIME TO START READING AGAIN

June 14 | Hosted by SFU United Way Team

Get ready for your summer reading with books you want to read, have always meant to read, feel that you should read, absolutely must read, or didn't even know existed. SFU's United Way campaign includes a book sale next Wednesday at the AQ North Concourse from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. All proceeds support the United Way of British Columbia. Cash, debit and credit cards are accepted.

PERSPECTIVES ON BLENDED LEARNING & TEACHING: A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH SFU INSTRUCTORS AND THEIR STUDENTS

June 14 | Hosted by Centre for Educational Excellence

What does learning and teaching in a blended course look like? Hear instructors and their students share their experience navigating an environment that combines both online and in-person learning and gain strategies that you can apply to designing and teaching your own blended courses.