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 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that promote the work and research that advance the goals.

This section presents a selection of events held during 2021:

UVic Global Days: SDSN Action on Campus

This session, part of UVic’s Global Days event program, explored campus actions that students, staff, faculty and members of the community can take for the SDGs and shared work happening across Canada and the world in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) community. Learn more here.

CUI x Victoria: Vital Conversations for Our Shared Future

In October 2021 the Canadian Urban Institute, City of Victoria and Victoria Foundation hosted CUI x Victoria: Vital Conversations for Our Shared Future—three days of exploratory, in-person and virtual discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the region and centring voices that are often marginalized, including Indigenous, Black and people of colour, youth and newcomers to Canada. Read more about the event here. 

Sustainable Community: Virtual Workshop Series

UVic’s Graduate Student Society and the PAX Collectives hosted a three-part workshop series promoting the Sustainable Development Goals at UVic. The workshops integrated innovative learning strategies through an arts-based lens to engage participants and inspire them to concrete actions towards a sustainable campus. Read more here.

Sustainable development goals student challenge

In November 2021, students were invited to campus pop-ups to learn more about the UN SDGs and to find out how they could make an impact. The event also included a contest where teams and individuals were asked to submit 60 second videos describing their ideas for creative, action-oriented solutions to advance one or more of the 17 SDGs on campus or in the community. Read more here.

Creating resilient farms and farmers webinar

With some of the lowest paid farmers in Canada, and increasingly variable economic conditions, the mental health of farmers is a critical ingredient to successful and sustainable food systems in BC. UVic’s Ecogastronomy Research Group hosted a webinar for farmers to discuss mental health, soil quality economics, and farmer relationships and supply chains. Read more here.

Webinar on clean and reliable water

UVic’s Oliver Brandes and Jon O’Riordan were panellists on a webinar hosted by Creatively United for the Planet as part of the Climate and the Arts series. The speakers explained that water is becoming increasingly insecure and unreliable due to climate change and increased demand by a growing population. Although a global challenge, this webinar demonstrates the nature of this risk in Canada and how governments and communities are rising to the challenge. Watch the recording here.

Campus conversation: Living Lands and Indigenous Climate Solutions

In February 2021, UVic held a special online campus conversation on Indigenous approaches to climate solutions, sustainability and well-being. The event was an opportunity to learn what the living history of the lands and waters in and around UVic tell us about traditional land-use, colonial impacts and the interdependence we share with these systems. Read more about the event here.

The COP26 Debrief: The Fate of 1.5°C

In November 2021, members of the UVic delegation to COP26 in Glasgow shared their behind-the-scenes insights, highlights and lowlights as official observers of the world’s biggest negotiation on climate. At the webinar, the delegates discussed developments in their fields of interest - from oceans and energy, to the role of business and research - and what the outcome of COP26 means for the climate emergency going forward. Read more about the event here.

Escalating Wildfires: Adaptation and mitigation strategies for communities and forests

UVic’s Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) and the British Consulate-General in Vancouver hosted a webinar discussing innovative wildfire research and nature-based solutions. This event was held in October 2021 in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP26) in Glasgow. Watch the recording here.