Algonquin College projects awarded $720,000 from College and Community Innovation Program
Funding will support victim service research and Indigenization efforts at Pembroke Campus
OTTAWA (May 21) – Two applied research initiatives at Algonquin College have each received $360,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Innovation Program.
The innovative projects are: Victim Services and Vicarious Resilience, a collaboration to advance victim service research in Canada; and Mamiwi maadaadizi — "The Start of an Algonquin Journey," which will examine the best ways to Indigenize the education, services, and spaces at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus.
“I want to thank the Council for recognizing and investing in the dynamic and cutting-edge applied research taking place at Algonquin College," said Claude Brulé, President and CEO. “Our projects take the College’s values of caring, learning, integrity, and respect out of the classroom and into our communities. From improving public safety to working towards Truth and Reconciliation, our teams are making a difference.”
The Mamiwi maadaadizi project will advance Indigenization efforts at Pembroke Campus through collaboration with The Circle of Turtle Lodge, Pikwakanagan First Nation and the Health, Communities, and Environments Research Lab (HEC Lab) at Queen’s University. The team will identify best practices for embedding Indigenous Knowledge across Pembroke’s services and academic programming, and work towards Reconciliation for all students and community members. It will also examine how to better support Indigenous learner needs and develop learning interventions through a field school and Indigenous-led training.
“We are very excited to work with our Indigenous partners on this project that will advance our efforts to Indigenize our curriculum, services and physical spaces on campus,” said Keltie Jones, Dean, Pembroke Campus. “Through this collaboration we will be able to address Indigenous learner needs in a rural context, allowing us to truly operationalize our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Most importantly, this project provides our entire campus with a learning opportunity that aligns with our core values. This is our opportunity to truly embrace Reconciliation.”
The Victim Services and Vicarious Resilience project will develop a questionnaire for victim services providers across Canada – to review best practices, identify systemic barriers and additional training needs, and provide a much-needed update on national data. Their work will be shared with victim service organizations and incorporated into the Victimology graduate program curriculum at Algonquin College. The team will include employees and students from the Police and Public Safety Institute and the Office of Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with support from the Victim Justice Network and the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.
“Together with our community partners, applied research at Algonquin College is focused on improving our social environment – both on-and-off our campuses,” said Cristina Holguin-Pando, Director, Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. "This is an excellent opportunity for our learners to become leaders in their fields, tackling real-world problems with innovative approaches.”
Algonquin has a track record of success with NSERC's College and Community Innovation Program. Past funding recipients at the College include the Social Innovation Lab and the Data Analytics Centre.