2013-2014 Projects Funded

Student-led Events and Projects we funded in the 2013-14 year include:

Fall 2013

University of Alberta Hide & Seek Club

This club hosts bi-weekly games of hide and seek, taking place in various buildings all over the University campus. Students, faculty and Alumni are welcome to participate. Numbers range from 20 to 100 per game, and they hope to break the world record for largest game of hide and seek (1240 people) by April 2015. Their goal is to bring together University of Alberta students, faculty and alumni through play, as it is a game that everyone, whether they be Edmonton born or an international student, knew and loved as a child.

Canadian University Press

The Canadian University Press (CUP) hosted its 76th national conference in Edmonton on January 8-12, uniting approximately 400 young journalists from university and college campuses across the country to discuss the future of journalism and media. This is the largest student journalism conference in North America, and this year's theme was MASH UP, a nod to the union of journalism and entrepreneurship.

In partnering with CUP for NASH 76, the Alumni Association had access to more than 400 motivated student journalists currently running newsrooms across the country; individuals who will, one day, be leading the industry. This sponsorship gave us the opportunity to connect with them as they start their careers.

Winter 2014

(con)centricity

(con)centricity is the theme for the 3rd Annual Engineering Art Show, a community-run show accepting pieces from engineering students, professionals, and expatriates. The show consists of embedded gallery space showcasing the artworks in the engineering buildings on the University of Alberta campus. There will also be a closing reception Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Faculty Club where the art will be on display, accompanied by live performances.

Aboriginal Students Council

The U of A's Aboriginal Students Council presented a panel discussion("Deconstructing Urban Aboriginal Homelessness: A Panel on Colonialism, Structural Violence, and Indigeneity"), featuring leading U of A researchers and alumni, on the role colonialism, racism, health and systemic violence play in contributing to Indigenous homelessness. In linking this social issue with ongoing land exploitation and cultural suppression, the panel will attempt to shed light on the various structures and factors that contribute to this form of colonial oppression, while envisioning meaningful change.

Art & Design Graduate Students' Association

The Art and Design Graduate Student Association hosted a three-day interdisciplinary symposium (Performative Ecologies: Thinking through Research Practices), exploring the interactions between humans as social actors, and their environment and world. An art exhibition at the DC3 Gallery followed. Dr. Caitlin Fisher was the keynote speaker and Paul Couillard the visiting artist.

Chemical and Materials Engineering Graduate Students' Association

Graduate Student Mixer welcomes graduate students and faculty members from all departments in the university followed by a small talk from the engineering industry. There were food and games to initiate better interaction between students as well as faculty members from various departments. The event was held in ETLC solarium on March 7, 2014.

Make Poverty History

The Thrival Festival is slated for May 10, 2014. This event aims to bring together people from all income levels, giving students the opportunity to get to know and participate in parts of their Edmonton community they may not otherwise see on campus.

Nutrition 440 Symposium

The senior nutrition students from the Faculty of ALES welcome students, staff and alumni from all faculties to attend the Ninth Annual Nutrition Symposium. "Food for Thought" bases the theme of this year's symposium of nutrition and mental health. The event plans to feature renowned researchers recognize current advances made in the area of mental health research. In addition, the symposium is a chance for fourth-year students in nutrition to showcase the research that they have done over the past year, with the annual Research Poster Session. This event aims to emphasize the importance of conducting undergraduate research as well as promote research opportunities available to undergraduate students at the University of Alberta.

On the Move

The goal of this project is to increase opportunities for short bursts of physical activity during the day by making changes to the aesthetics of the stairwells across campus. Increasing levels of physical activity are associated with lessening the burden of over 25 diseases including cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and osteoporosis. Creating opportunities for physical activity by optimizing resources in the environment - stairs - is a practical way of exploring changes to the environment which may lead to a decrease in chronic disease over time. The aim is to make it easy for students and staff to make healthy choices and decisions, thus building a healthier campus.

Lessons learned from the stair campaign in the General Services Building will serve as a way to inform the development of a campus wide stair campaign. Organizers are interested in expanding upon what they have already accomplished into other buildings identified for a maintenance upgrade and/or are located in high traffic areas where students and staff are making a choice between the stairs and the elevator. Currently, they are expecting to launch the campus wide stair campaign in September 2014 under the umbrella of the U of A On the Move. The buildings we would like to expand to are: Cameron Library, Education and the Central Academic Building (CAB). Funding requested from the Alumni Student Council will be used to purchase materials needed to transform the aesthetics of the stairwells and elevator doors.

University of Alberta Compliments

University of Alberta Compliments is a social project aimed to strengthen the campus community with a focus on promoting the mental health of our students. Their aim is to help create a positive campus environment where people take the extra mile to share their appreciation for others - whether to a friend, professor, staff, or fellow stranger. They hope to achieve their goal by distributing printed compliments, making anonymous care packages during exams, and starting several "Pay It Forward" style events. Their initiative extends to creating several inspirational and heart-warming videos, including one of all the "Unsung Heroes" on campus, documenting their contributions to campus community. With the additional funding provided by the Alumni Association, they hope to expand their activities to reach the immense University of Alberta campus, while raising awareness about the importance of community spirit and mental health.

University of Alberta Debate Society

The McGoun Cup, or the Western Canadian Parliamentary Debate Championship, is an annual Canadian Parliamentary debate tournament held in western Canada that rotates host institutions annually. The McGoun Cup will provide an opportunity for students to engage in the highest quality of debate in Western Canada. In hosting this tournament, the University of Alberta Debate Society enables University of Alberta students to engage in debate both inexpensively and accessibly (most tournaments require travel and are consequently expensive to attend). This tournament also provides University of Alberta students with the opportunity to befriend and network with individuals and alumni from universities across western Canada.

The University of Alberta Debate Society maintains strong relationships with its alumni. Alumni have been invited to attend the tournament to judge rounds and are invited to attend all tournament activities free of charge. Organizers will also ask more experiences alumni to have an active hand in examining motions set for the tournament (drawing on their wealth of experience).

CommuniTEA Infusion Project

The CommuniTEA Infusion experience is essentially a mobile café/tea house that comes to a neighbourhood street and creates a town square where people can come together, get to know each other better and strengthen connections. On May 18 2010 CommuniTEA Infusion mobile town square was successfully launched with media coverage and support from the City of Edmonton. Since 2010 the CommuniTEA Infusion project has helped strengthen community through hosting over 125 events throughout Edmonton. The project partnered with the City Neighbourhood Revitalization project and built social capital in the McCauley, McDougal and Queen Mary Park neighbourhoods for many events. CommuniTEA Infusion continues a close connection with the city in supporting revitalization initiatives. Please check out the short mini documentary about the project.

Our Minds, Our Stories

The CMHA Student Group at the University of Alberta presented "Our Minds, Our Stories"- a mental health symposium led by students - on February 27th in Convocation Hall. This event featured mental health related stories from students, faculty members, healthcare professionals, and community members, and had roughly 200 attendees.