THUNDER BAY – Lakehead University has been chosen to host the 2023 international Community-Campus-Exposition (C2UExpo) in-person from June 5 to 8, which plans to bring in people from across Turtle Island and internationally.
According to Community-Based Research Canada (CBRCanada), the Expo started as a response to the need for a platform to share experiences, strategies, and ideas about how communities and post-secondary institutions can champion social innovation and societal change, and to explore ways institutions of higher learning can examine their organizational structures and policies to foster the formation of authentic partnerships in support of community transformation.
“Over the years, the Expo has highlighted and explored creative strategies for strengthening communities and transforming institutions through community-based research, service-learning, knowledge mobilization, and other types of community-campus collaborations,” said Joanna Ochocka, co-chair, CBRCanada.
“We are thrilled that Lakehead University will host the C2UExpo in 2023.”
Lakehead University is currently in the process of consulting with community partners to finalize the title and overarching themes for the Expo and an international call for presentations will be released in November 2022.
“Previous C2UExpos have created much-needed space to provide support like sharing tools for building more equitable relationships and highlighting examples of meaningful partnership projects,” said Dr. Charles Levkoe, Associate Professor, Lake Superior Living Labs Network Lead and Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems at Lakehead University.
“With Northwestern Ontario hosting the 2023 C2UExpo, it will be a fantastic opportunity to build on our wonderful existing partnerships and enable Lakehead University to take a leadership role in the community.”
The event hopes to bring together community-based organizations, Indigenous groups, researchers and students from academic institutions, grassroots organizations, policy-makers, and knowledge mobilization experts from the region and beyond, to engage in meaningful interactions while developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of community-engaged research approaches and models.
“Through the C2UExpo we have a real opportunity to evoke core principles of Indigenous research, including relationality and transformation” said Dr. Lana Ray (Anishinaabe-kwe), associate professor, Indigenous Research Chair in Decolonial Futures and director of the Anishinaabe Kendaasiwin Institute.
“C2U can be a space where researchers and administrators engage in personal growth and build their own capacities to engage in research and design structures that acknowledge Indigenous peoples right to self-determination and align with Indigenous ways of knowing and being.”
Lakehead University is anticipating 400 attendees, including community champions, practitioners, community-based researchers, and community engagement professionals, who will convene face-to-face and share best practices around community-based research and community-campus engagement.
“We are extremely excited to showcase the exemplary community engaged research that is underway at Lakehead’s campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead University’s Vice-President of Research and Innovation.
Community organizations, researchers and students who are interested in learning more about C2UExpo or would like to contribute to this exciting event can contact Sheena Allard, C2UExpo coordinator at Lakehead's office of research services at c2uexpo@lakeheadu.ca.
