UVic Partner Days

Agenda

8:30am-9:00am 

Breakfast & Introductions
Sngequ House | Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ, Residence Precinct (RSN #254)

9:00am-9:15am

Territorial Acknowledgement
Terri Barnhard

9:15am-9:30am 

Welcome to UVic
Dr. Elizabeth Croft, Provost and Vice-President Academic

9-30am-10:30am 

Discussion: Of Faultlines and Bridges in a Polarised World. The Impact of Geo-political Issues on International Education

The focus of this session is on the role universities can and should play in building resilient connectivities in a fractured and fractious world. Recent shocks to the global landscape have brought to the fore geographic, political, economic, and social faultlines that threaten to dampen, if not derail, individual mobility (including students, staff, and faculty) and dilute the people-to-people connections that are integral for cross-cultural understanding, cross-country collaborations, and cross-regional development. The onus is on universities (international relations offices in particular) to be at the vanguard of a movement to reimagine, design, and implement bridges across these divides so as to be a critical catalyst in reversing this slide towards isolationism and insularism.  

Facilitated by Dr. A.R. Elango Elangovan, Associate Vice-President, Office of Global Engagement

10:30am-10:45am

Break

10:45am-11:45am

Session: Indigenous Engagement and International Opportunities at UVic

This session will offer an introduction to initiatives at UVic that align Indigenous engagement with international opportunities. Centred on work arising out of the university’s Indigenous Plan, it will cover the context of the work being done and share experiences and insights gained at both strategic and programmatic levels.

Facilitated by Dr. Rob Hancock, Associate Director Academic, Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement

11:45am-12:00pm 

Break

12:00pm- 1:00pm 

Lunch

1:15pm – 2:45pm 

Campus Tour

2:45pm - 3:00pm

Break

3:00pm – 4:00pm

Session: Sustainable Development Goals in international partnerships

Participants will explore how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can serve as a powerful framework for fostering meaningful international partnerships in higher education. Through active participation and collaborative discussions, participants will share best practices of how their institutional activities align with the SDGs. The session emphasizes practical tools and peer learning to inspire action and strengthen international partnerships for sustainable development. 

Facilitated by Dr. Nicole Bates-Eamer, Associate Director, CIFAL Victoria

4:00pm - 4:30pm

Walk to University Club

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Reception at University Club

6:30pm - 7:30pm

Victoria City Bus Tour

End of Program  

Optional excursions in and around Victoria

Whale Watching-
Experience the incredible marine life around Victoria with Eagle Wing tours. 

• Departure: 10:00 am on Sunday May 25, 2025 (arrival 30 minutes before departure)
• Duration: 3.5 -4 hours duration
• Address: 1 Dallas Rd, Victoria BC (map)
• Cost: $159 per person. We are pleased to offer a 50% discount to the first 15 guests who confirm their participation in whale watching with us. Additional participants will receive a 10% discount and be placed on a waitlist. If spots become available, waitlisted guests will be upgraded to the 50% discount in order of confirmation.
• Eagle Wing Tours is a locally owned and family-operated whale and wildlife watching company voted #1 since 2007 on TripAdvisor. Eagle Wing Tours is an active member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), a collective of whale watching and ecotourism businesses in the region dedicated to conservation, education and responsible whale and wildlife viewing. Learn more about the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

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Butchart Gardens-
Explore the world-famous gardens in full bloom

• The Butchart Gardens is a 121-year-old world famous 55-acre display garden. Created by Jennie Butchart, and still owned and operated by the family, The Butchart Gardens was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004 for its one hundredth birthday. The season of new life, spring at The Gardens, offers thousands of flowering bulbs, shrubs, and trees bursting forth.
• General opening hours: 9am to 5pm
• Cost: Adult ticket $39.50 (includes tax) - to be paid upon arrival at the Gardens
• Location: Located in Brentwood Bay (relatively close to the airport and ferry terminal).
• The Visitor Information Centre can hold luggage free of charge while you visit The Gardens.
• Join the UVic team for a group walk! Meet us at 10 AM in front of the Butchart Gardens Information Centre to enjoy the gardens together.

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Scenic Victoria walk along the water- 
Experiene Victoria like a local

• Grab a coffee or tea in Cook Street Village and enjoy a guided leisurely walk along Cook Street, the waterfront and through Beacon Hill Park, a typical Victoria activity we highly recommend.
• Join the UVic team in front of Moka House Coffee (345 Cook St, Victoria) at 10am.
• Duration: 1.5-2 hours

Nestled between the ocean and the forest with stunning mountain views, the University of Victoria enjoys an enviable location. Our campus is located on 402 acres of beautiful, park-like property, just 15 minutes from downtown Victoria and within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean, as well as many shops and restaurants. 

We have a limited selection of comfortable room choices available to suit various needs and budgets, including dormitory rooms, cluster units and apartments.

*Rates are per night, and are subject to applicable taxes (GST, PST, and MRDT). All rates are quoted in Canadian (CAD) Dollars. 

Please find details on the visitor accommodation website 

To book your accommodation, contact Residence Services at 1-250-721-8657 or email visitoraccommodation@uvic.ca.

We recommend the following hotels for your consideration:

Quality Inn Downtown Inner Harbour Victoria

Parkside Inn

Hotel Grand Pacific

Magnolia Hotel

For a complete overview of all hotel options in Victoria, please visit this link.

• Welcome event including refreshments
• Lunch
• Workshops
• Campus tour
• Networking reception
• Shuttle to downtown following the reception

• Airline ticket/ airport shuttle
• travel insurance
• accommodation
• personal expenses
• additional activities on Sunday, May 25th, 2025 

• • Taxi or Uber : a taxi or uber ride from Victoria International Airport to the University of Victoria will take around 25-30 minutes, with fares typically ranging from $50 to $60 CAD. 

     

    Yellow Cab of Victoria
    (250) 381-2222
    1-800-808-6881

    Accessible transportation services are available for passengers.  This includes passengers travelling with power wheelchairs or mobility scooters.  An advance reservation (of at least 1 hour) is recommended.

• Public Transit: BC Transit operates a bus route from the airport to downtown Victoria. The bus ride takes approximately 45 minutes, and it's an affordable choice for those looking to save on transportation costs. For the latest schedule information, please refer to the BC Transit web site or call +1 (250) 382-6161.  BC Transit Trip Planner (Applicable Route Numbers: 70, 72, 87 and 88) 
• Car Rentals: Rental car services are available at the airport, giving you the flexibility to explore the city and surrounding areas at your own pace.

• Taxi or Uber: A taxi or ride-share service from the ferry terminal to UVic takes around 40 minutes and costs approximately $50 to $60 CAD.
• Public Transit: BC Transit offers bus service from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria, with connections available to UVic. The bus ride takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour. For the latest schedule information, please refer to the BC Transit web site or call +1 (250) 382-6161.
• Car Rentals: If you prefer flexibility, rental cars are available at the Swartz Bay terminal for an easy drive to UVic and other parts of the city.