Office of Community Engagement

Community engagement is an inclusive approach to teaching, research, and scholarship.

By bringing the community and university together to share knowledge, wisdom, and resources, we:
• strengthen how we learn,
• deepen what we know,
• and have more impact on issues that matter.

Tell me more!

Community engagement involves relationships that reflect certain values and principles:

SFU's Office of Community Engagement:

Supporting people. Supporting partnerships. Strengthening rigorous community engagement.

About SFU's Office of Community Engagement

The purpose of our office is to advance the practice of community engagement at SFU, across Canada, and beyond. From small programs to international partnerships, we look for ways to help students, faculty, and staff work respectfully and fairly with community partners to advance education, strengthen knowledge, and have meaningful impact on issues that matter.

One of our primary responsibilities is to steward SFU's Strategic Community Engagement Plan, ensuring that it enables community engagement characterized by scholarly rigor and deep attention to reciprocity and equity.

But that's not all we do.
Explore our work, get to know us, and if you have any questions, please get in touch!

Updates from our programs:

SFU Student-Community Engagement Competition (SCEC)

**Up to $30,000 is available to fund SFU students who want to work with community partners to drive meaningful, lasting impact. Registration now open!**

Sept 18 | Working WITH community takes heart and resources. YOU have the heart. The SFU Student Community Engagement Competition can help with the resources. Up to $30,000 is available to support SFU students who want to work with community partners to create meaningful, lasting impact. Every amazing journey starts with a first step – take yours today!

Submit your idea now

Food Security

Pantry Reopens

Sept 5 | We are open every Wednesday (except statutory holidays) starting Sept 11th, from 12:30pm - 3:00pm. Read more information about it here. To stay updated with the latest news from the Food Pantry check our Instagram @foodcommunitysfu.

Volunteers needed! SFU’s Office of Community Engagement has been working with Burnaby organizations and community members to create programs to address food insecurity at SFU because food is pivotal to building culture, good health, and a sense of belonging. Come be a part of the work!

Apply to volunteer

SFU Surrey–TD Community Engagement Centre (TDCEC)

Fall programs are running at the SFU Surrey TD–CEC — volunteers welcome!

Come volunteer with us! We collaborate with people and organizations in Surrey to co-create programming, share resources, and take action on key challenges. Our initiatives focus on education, mentorship, connection and skill development, primarily reaching children, youth and newcomers to Canada.

Show me the current opportunities!

SFU's Community Engagement Initiative (CEI)

Congratulations to this year's funded projects!

June 10 | We received 47 proposals this year, the overall quality of which continues to demonstrate SFU’s deep commitment to partnering well with communities. Thank you to everyone who applied—you can see all CEI-funded projects on our funded proposals page.

Check out the 2024 funded proposals

Connect Fest

That's a wrap for Connect Fest!

May 9 | Wow! What an incredible five days it has been! We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to every event host, venue, partner, volunteer, and guest who contributed to the festival this year. It is only possible to make this event happen because of the dedication of all those involved. Thank you so much!

See our festival highlights now!

Warren Gill Award for Community Impact (WGACI)

Nicholas Blomley wins the 2023 Warren Gill Award for Community Impact!

Feb 16 | The Warren Gill Award is presented annually to an SFU staff or faculty member who has dedicated a lifetime of work to exemplary community-engagement and who has built significant partnerships between the university and the community. Nick was a friend and colleague of fellow SFU geographer, Warren Gill. He has spent the last three decades engaged in research and advocacy related to local issues, particularly those concerning marginalization, exclusion, and poverty.