The Evolution and Impacts of the CUExpo Movement

Part of a Panel PresentationCUExpo 2013Jim Randall

Coordinator, MA Island StudiesUniversity of Prince Edward Island

902-620-5013jarandall@upei.ca

Outline• Inspiration for this Session and my

Connection to CUExpo• Motivations for the 1st CUExpo - Saskatoon

2003• A Brief Summary of ‘the Facts’ of the CUExpo

2003• Novel Features• Reflections on Impacts and Outcomes

Background and Purpose of Panel Session• CUExpo 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of Community-

University Expos (Saskatoon – 2003; Winnipeg – 2005; Victoria – 2008; Waterloo – 2011)

• Time to reflect on the history, the impressions and the impacts of these events

• From the perspective of those involved in organizing the previous four CUExpos

• In my case; I was Co-Chair of first CUExpo Saskatoon (with supporting cast, including Community Co-Chair Kate Waygood, City of Saskatoon Councilor)

• Also University (of Saskatchewan) Co-Director of Community-University Institute for Social Research (a 1999-2000 SSHRC CURA)

Motivations for CUExpo 2003: My Recollections • Commitment as part of our SSHRC-CURA grant• Canada lagging in large-scale, funded community-university

partnership opportunities and research• In USA, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, LOKA

Institute, Community Outreach Partnerships Centers (HUD)• In Europe, Science Shops

• By 2002, 37 SSHRC-CURAs and 19 CIHR Community Alliance for Health Research (CAHR) grants

• Therefore, a pent up demand in Canada to share partnership experiences and outcomes

• Also, introduce: 1) Saskatoon community organizations to people at the event and 2) national community to partnership work being undertaken in Saskatoon

A Brief Summary of the “Facts”: CUExpo 2003

• Uncertain of expected attendance; no precedent in Canada

• Approximately 350 registered (difficult to estimate)

• 62 papers; 29 posters/roundtables/panels; 9 workshops; 9 keynotes/plenaries

• Of 338 listed in program, 59% (199) from Post-Secondary, 24% (81) from NGO/CBOs, 12.7% (43) from Govt./Public Sector, 4.4% (15) from Private sector

Novel Features of the CUExpo 2003

• Should NOT be a typical academic conference; therefore CUExpo, not CU Conference

• Variety in forms of interaction: papers, posters, BUT ALSO workshops, panels, roundtables, plenaries

• More break time (30 minutes) between sessions for informal gatherings

• Site/Field visits to NGOs/CBOs (project partners) at no additional cost to participants; from my background in geography;

• Majority of plenary speakers drawn from outside universities; e.g., Ovide Mercrede, Judy Rebick, Stephen Lewis, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Penelope Rowe

Reflections on Impacts and Outcomes• Comments provided to me by Kate Waygood (Community Co-Chair) re the

impact on the Saskatoon community: Building trust among sectors: non-profits, local government, business,

judiciary, university “At a time of economic uncertainties, growing needs from almost every

sector of our community, but especially those less fortunate, it seems everyone was willing to reach out beyond their comfort zone and “risk” new ventures and new partnerships. We were bringing together folks who had never spoken to each other and we worked to open their minds to new ways of problem solving. ”

• Forged friendships nationally that still exist• Four subsequent CUExpos represent an outcome (humbling)• The research discussed, the professional and personal links forged, difficult

to measure• From MA thesis by Janet Dunnett, U of Victoria (2004), “CUExpo was a

milestone in the development of Community-University linkages in Canada.”

Declaration Passed at the end of the CUExpo 2003“The CUExpo conference, held in Saskatoon May 8th – 10th, 2003, assembled over 350 individuals from across Canada and elsewhere who are involved in community-based research. This research is conducted in partnership with universities, community-based groups, government and the private sector throughout Canada. We’re extremely impressed with, surprised and humbled by the variety, depth, value and the extraordinary dynamism of community-based research in Canada.

We, therefore , declare our collective desire to pursue building this movement for the betterment of society. We will devote our energies to shaping Canadian society, through community-based research, in ways that sustain and improve the quality-of-life and standard of living of Canadians.

To really succeed, however, we need a much more profound engagement among universities, community-based organizations, governments, and the private sector. Foundations, municipal and provincial governments, as well as the federal government through its granting Councils have to contribute, even more so than they have in the past, to achieve these goals.”

•Approved unanimously at the concluding plenary of the CUExpo in Saskatoon•The ‘untold story’ to this Declaration