UVic events to support the UN SDGs
UVic is committed to providing educational opportunities and outreach activities for our local community and beyond that bring attention to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that promote the work and research that advance the goals.
On this site we present a small selection of the many events held during 2022 directly related to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals at UVic:
The University of Victoria and the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) established the first accredited CIFAL—International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders—on North America’s West Coast, CIFAL Victoria, a vehicle for driving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forward through multi-disciplinary training and through partnerships in our region and across the CIFAL global network.
During its first year of operations, CIFAL Victoria connected the region with the global community and supported international knowledge-sharing and partnerships in advancing the SDGs. From over 99 hours of training and dialogue in its first 20 events, the 1601 participants engaged in multisectoral dialogue with 25 partners across the globe.
A student-led initiative where members of the University of Victoria and local high schools embarked on a creative exploration and sharing of their experiences concerning life amidst climate change through dialogues, workshops, art exhibits and field excursions that revolve around several Sustainable Development Goals.
This Victoria Forum Panel brought together leaders from the CIFALs network, representatives of the United Nations and a moderator from the Senate of Canada to discuss the contributions of the CIFALs in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The K4C – Knowledge for Change Consortium, led by the UNESCO Chair for Community-based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, participated in the Higher Education Week 2022 held in Barcelona. The session stimulated a collective reflection about how HE teaching and research can creatively and effectively address SDGs through epistemic justice and inclusive practice, in diverse local contexts.
UVic President Kevin Hall hosted UVic’s local MLA and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin, and BC’s Attorney General and Minister of Housing to discuss housing within the Greater Victoria region.
This session offered climate action case studies (energy+emissions; technology+biodiversity; food+waste) and active participation in small group discussions to explore opportunities for Campus as a Living Lab projects within and across university campuses.
GameChangers is a new President’s Speakers Series launched in 2022, focussed on introducing our dynamic and innovative new researchers and leaders to the UVic community. The series display topics realted to how their innovative work is having an impact towards a more equitable and sustaianble world.
A visiting exhibition on loan to UVic’s Legacy Art Gallery, which explored designs on skin—including piercings and adornment—and their relationship to traditional clothing, rock art, jewelry, basketry and weaving to provide healing, protection and a sense of cultural knowledge and belonging.
Hosted by six international water institutions and universities, this forum brought together Members of Parliament across parties and Indigenous leaders with interest in water (High-Level Panel), as well as water experts from universities and civil society (Water Knowledge Panel)
Through sculpture, photography and stop-motion projection, artist Connie Michele Morey explored ecological displacement (a colonial separation from the earth as home) and its impact on labour and housing dislocation. Out of Place questions what it means to be at home with the body, community, and earth.
At this event, two short films were screened, calling the attention to the lack of safe drinking water on Indigenous reserves in Canada, and the obstacles that California is experiencing with depleting groundwater sources. Afterwards, three change-makers working to protect groundwater engaged in a conversation on hydrology, groundwater law and policy, and Indigenous health and well-being.
This webinar featured examples of Indigenous Knowledge being reflected in water monitoring tools, as the Trailmark app and tool kit of the guardians at T’Sou-ke Nation and the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA), linking water quality monitoring and decision-making.