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History

In 2008, the Pan-Canadian Coalition on Community Based Research was launched by a group of Canadian universities, research networks, and community organizations at C2UExpo (Community-Campus Exposition) 2008 in Victoria, British Columbia. Fast forward to today, and CBRCanada is a national non-profit organization contributing to equitable, just, and sustainable communities within and beyond Canada. See CBRCanada's history below for more details.

2022

  • CBRCanada announced Lakehead University as the host of C2UExpo 2023 that will be taking place in person in Thunder Bay Ontario on June 5-8, 2023.
     

  • CBRCanada launched the Community-Based Research Certificate Course: Fundamentals and Excellence, a 9-week online course and the first of its' kind in Canada.
     

  • New board member appointed: Chantel Trudel (Carleton University)
     

  • The C2UExpo2022 Mini Gathering and Awards Gala held on June 1, 2022 brought together CBRCanada members in an online program with two main parts: a panel about entitled "community-based research at the crossroads: Equity, social justice, and change" and the CBRCanada Award celebration. 

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  • The Emerging Community-Based Researcher Award recipient was Melissa Tremblay and the Excellence in Community-Campus Research Partnership Award recipient was the Maskwacis Maternal, Child & Family Wellbeing for CommunityCampus Research Partnership.​

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  • The Winter and Spring Learning Series 2022 e-learning series was on the topic of "Community-Based Research and COVID-19: Addressing Widening Inequities and Amplifying Community-based Visions for Change" which included four webinars and live discussions (average of 80 registrants).
     

  • The Fall 2022 e-learning series is on the topic of "Celebrating Community-Based Research Excellence" and is showcasing three 2021/2022 CBRCanada Award recipients.

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  • CBRCanada facilitated a bi-monthly Community-of-Practice (second Friday every other month) to engage the network in meaningful discussions launched by a short guest talk and break-out discussions (210 members are currently registered).

 

  • CBRCanada offered tailored training in community-based research to the UofT Scarborough Urban Just Transitions Cluster.

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  • The e-Newsletter is published three times in 2022, and highlights upcoming CBRCanada events, new membership profiles, stories on community-based research, and multi-media resources.

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  • CBRCanada engaged in a quarterly dialogue with Pan-Canadian organizations coordinating efforts towards community-engagement and community-based research nationally.
     
  • Members of the Secretariat presented about the CBRCanada network at the Living Knowledge Conference in Groningen, The Netherlands.
     

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  • CBRCanada's social media presence expands to 1,355 Twitter followers and 864 LinkedIn followers
     

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  • CBRCanada membership grows to 33 post-secondary institutions, 9 institutes/umbrella organizations, 10 community organizations and 90 individual members.

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2021

  • New CBRCanada Board members appointed: Lanyan Chen (University of Nipissing), Shaun Hains (Saybrook University, Hains Consulting), and Renee Monchalin (University of Victoria)
     

  • The C2UExpo2021 Mini Gathering and Awards Gala brought together CBRCanada members in a two-hour online program with two main parts: a discussion panel about the future of community-based research in Canada and the CBRCanada Award celebration. Thanks to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Canada for sponsoring two of the awards. 

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  • The Emerging Community-Based Researcher Award recipient was Dr. Maryam Khan (15 nominations received), the Excellence in Community-Campus Research Partnership Award recipient was the Parent Advocacy Project Team (17 nominations received), and the Community-Based Research Leadership Award recipient was Dr. Budd Hall (nominated by the CBRCanada Board of Directors).​

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  • The Winter and Spring Learning Series on Decolonizing Community-Based Research included six webinars (237 registrants on average) followed by live discussions (70 registrations on average).

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  • Two communities of practice were launched, one on community-based research praxis for community-based researchers (third Friday of the month) and the other on promoting community-based research organizational culture for senior administrators (second Friday of the month).

 

  • The Community-Based Research Excellence Tool (CBRET) training has been adapted to an online workshop.

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  • The e-Newsletter is published three times in 2021, and highlights upcoming CBRCanada events, new membership profiles, stories on community-based research, and multi-media resources.

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  • CBRCanada engaged in a quarterly dialogue with Pan-Canadian organizations coordinating efforts towards community-engagement and community-based research nationally.

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  • CBRCanada's social media presence expands to 1,093 Twitter followers and 410 LinkedIn followers

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  • CBRCanada membership grows to 25 post-secondary institutions, 4 institutes/umbrella organizations, and 4 community organizations.

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2020

  • New CBRCanada board member appointed: Charlotte Loppie, Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy and the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Human & Social Development, University of Victoria. Welcome Charlotte!

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  • New website launch with expanded features in Summer 2020.

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  • Three e-Newsletters were published providing updates on the latest news, resources, and opportunities in Canadian-led community-based research. 

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  • Live Online Discussions were held on the themes, 1) Exploring challenges in conducting community-based research at a distance and 2) Community-Based Research with Racialized Communities.

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  • Spring Webinar Series on Patient-Oriented Research.

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  • Fall Webinar Series on Community-Based Research with Racialized Communities.

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  • Winter Webinar Series on Institutional Structures for Community-Based Research.

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  • The Community-Campus-Exposition (C2UExpo2020) scheduled for May in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario was cancelled due to the global pandemic. Thank-you Algoma University for all your efforts organizing this event.​

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  • CBRC changed its acronym to CBRCanada to reflect a growing national network.

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  • CBRCanada membership grows to 23 post-secondary institutions, 4 umbrella organizations, 3 community organizations, and 2 associations/centres.

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2019

  • Stephen Dooley becomes Board Co-Chair alongside Joanna Ochocka

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  • CBRCanada appointed three new board members: Crystal Tremblay, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Dave Heidebrecht, Manager, Office of Community Engagement, McMaster University and Steven Hermans, Partnership Development Officer to the Vice-President Research and Innovation, University of Toronto

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  • The CBRCanada Annual Planning Meeting was held in-person in Ottawa on April 26.

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  • Three CBRET workshops were held in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Toronto with a total of 67 people. Read about the workshops here.
     

  • A new structure for CBRC board of directors was suggested Four sub-committees were created at the The committees are: strategic planning, program, member recruitment and communication, and C2UExpo.

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  • The Spring/Summer Webinar Series engaged the network on How community-based research Theory is Put into Practice

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  • CBRC membership grew to 17 universities, 3 colleges, 3 research institutes, and 3 community organizations
     

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2018

  • The CBRCanada launched two new programs: 1) the CBR National Mapping initiative to map all community-based research leaders across Canada and 2) monthly webinar series
     

  • CBRCanada appointed 4 new board members: Michele Peterson-Badali at the University of Toronto, Catherine Graham at the National Association of Friendship Centres, Ken Carter at Memorial University, and Stephen Dooley at Simon Fraser University
     

  • The first Community-Based Research Excellence Tool (CBRET) workshop launched in Spring 2018 in Waterloo, Ontario. The second CBRET workshop took place in Fall 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario.  The workshop report is here.
     

  • In the fall, CBRCanada changed its governance structure from one Board Chair to two. Joanna Ochocka and Martin Taylor are the Co-Chairs.
     

  • Several CBRCanada Members attended Engage 2018, hosted by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) in Scotland.
     

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2017

  • C2UExpo2017: For the Common Good takes place at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and Surrey, British Columbia, gathering 500 people from Canada and across the globe
     

  • The inaugural CBR Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Katherine Graham at C2UExpo17 in Vancouver
     

  • 4 new CBRCanada Board Members are appointed: Tanis Dagert at Vancouver Island University, Dr. Kathy Sanford at the University of Victoria, Dr. Monica Mulrennan at Concordia University, Dr. Karen Schwartz at Carleton University
     

  • The CBRC Program Development Report is released, based on a fall 2016 survey of CBRC members, stakeholders and key informants. The report identified three recommendations: 1) to develop a CBRC Capacity Building program, 2) to be a leader and convenor in the creation of a national community-campus engagement network and action plan with key partners, networks and funders, and 3) to develop a communications plan and strategy that includes social media functions and a simple searchable CBRC Directory and map
     

  • CBRCanada Board members, Drs. Martin Taylor and Joanna Ochocka presented about community-based research and Social Development Goals at the UNESCO Knowledge for Change Consortium organized in Ottawa. This panel discussion gathered about 60 academic senior administrators and funders and was chaired by Dr. Budd Hall, UNESCO Co-Chair in Community Based Research and Higher Education.

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  • The Engaging Communities Through Research Capacity Building event was held on November 24-25, 2017 in Waterloo, Ontario, equipping faith-based campuses from across Canada and their constituent partners to collaborate on community-based research.
     

  • CBRCanada Secretariat moves to the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) in Waterloo, Ontario.
     

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2016

  • CBRCanada became incorporated into a national non-profit organization with the Secretariat located at the Office of Community University Engagement at the University of Victoria.
     

  • CBRCanada’s inaugural Board Members were Martin Taylor (Chair) at the University of Victoria, Joanna Ochocka (Co Vice-Chair) at the Centre for Community Based Research, Marcel Simoneau (Co Vice-Chair) at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Geri Briggs at Carleton University, Leslie Brown at the University of Victoria, Jody Butler Walker at the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research (AICBR), Warren Dodd at the University of Guelph, Katherine Graham at Carleton University, Budd Hall the UNESCO Chair in CBR, Linda Hawkins at the University of Guelph
     

  • CBRCanada transitioned to a membership-based organization and started to generate funds from membership fees
     

  • CBRCanada hosted 5 webinars in a Winter Webinar Series on topics related to the theme of Mobilizing the Power of Community-Campus Engagement and Research Partnerships
     

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2015

  • CBRCanada Fall Survey Report released.
     

  • CUExpo 2015 took place in Ottawa at Carleton University. CBRC facilitated two preconference workshops and helped to organized the conference of around 300 people.

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  • Submitted application for SSHRCC Partnership Grant, "Pursuing Excellence in Community-Based Research: National Partnership for Research and Action" to establish 6-8 regional hubs of Excellence across Canada, each pursuing cross-sectorial CBR projects to solve societal problems. The application was led by Joanna Ochocka with 105 partners from a variety of organizations, universities, local governments and businesses, 

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2014

  • Thirteen Canadian universities become CBRC Canada institutional members.
     

  • CBRCanada 2014-2017 Strategic Plan is completed and launched.
     

  • CBRCanada Sponsors CUVic Conference and Engaged Practice Day at the University of Victoria in May 2014.
     

  • CBRCanada supports a two-day National Summit titled, "Pursuing Excellence in Collaborative Community-Campus Research" on November 3-4, 2014. The Summit was led by Joanna Ochocka at the Centre for Community Based Research and sponsored by a SSHRC connection grant. 60 researchers and SHHRCC and university administrators participated in the summit.

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  • CBRCanada conducts fall surveys to prioritize activities focused on member’s priorities for CBRC Communications and Services.
     

  • CBRCanada supports the Engaged Practice Learning Exchange and presents at the Engage Conference in Bristol in December 2014.
     

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2013

  • CBRCanada supports the launch of UNESCO’s Co-Chair for Higher Education and Social Responsibility for Community Based Research, which is shared between Canada and India from 2013 to 2018.
     

  • The United Kingdom’s National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement visits Canada. CBRC facilitates their meetings with key academic and voluntary sector funders, the development of a Global Collaboration Framework and the creation of a UK-Canada pilot project.
     

  • The Institute for Community University Engagement at UVic, which stemmed from the Office for Community-Based Research, becomes the new Secretariat for CBRCanada.
     

  • Global University Networks for Innovation (GUNI) develops a partnership with CBRC.
     

  • CBRCanada supported and helped to organize CUExpo 2013 in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland.
     

  • In a fall meeting in Montreal, CBRC creates their 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and Membership Outreach Plan focused on the Canadian Universities Plan.
     

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2012

  • A delegation from CBRCanada is represented at the Living Knowledge Network conference in Bonn, Germany.
     

  • CBRCanada’s Steering Committee engaged in strategic planning and organizational renewal.
     

  • CBRCanada’s membership reaches 300.

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  • Submitted application for SSHRCC Partnership Grant, "Engaging Communities in Research: A Partnership to Strengthen the 'C' in C-U Research" led by Joanna Ochocka and 17 partners (all CBR Canada members)

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2011

  • CUExpo 2011 is held in Waterloo. The organizers were the Centre for Community Based Research along with University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.  Almost 600 people attended. The steering committee for the conference included 30+ representatives of organizations in Waterloo Region.
     

  • CBRCanada is invited to take part in the Campus Community Collaboration Initiative supported by the Governor General of Canada. Other organizations contributing to the initiative include CCPH, CACSL, Research Impact, United Way of Canada, Imagine Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and SSHRCC.

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2010

  • In June, CBRCanada partners with Community Campus Partnership for Health and the Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning to hold a National Knowledge Commons Summit in Montreal.
     

  • CBRCanada develops a grant submission to develop national centres for excellence. While the grant was denied, CBRC was proud to have 33 university and community bodies sign on to the application.
     

  • CBRC’anada's membership reaches 200.

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2009

  • The CBRCanada Symposium “From Recession to Renewal: The Vital Contribution of Community-Based Research” was held in May. The event featured a special keynote on Aboriginal CBR and Knowledge in Canada given by Lorna Williams, who was the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Learning.
     

  • CBRCanada-GACER produced a brief on CBR, Community Engaged Scholarship and Social Responsibility of Higher Education. The brief was presented in July at UNESCO’s World Conference on Higher Education in Paris.
     

  • Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC) and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) funded Canadian and global best practice and funding model reports.

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2008

  • The Pan-Canadian Coalition for Community Based Research, the precursor to CBRCanada, was founded at CUExpo in 2008.
     

  • The Office of Community Based Research at the University of Victoria became the Pan-Canadian Coalition secretariat with Carleton University and the Université du Québec à Montréal as core partners.
     

  • Founding Steering Committee members and partners included Centre for Community Based Research, Community Campus Partnerships for Health, the United Way, the Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning, and the Canadian Community Economic Development Network.
     

  • A hundred people signed up to become CBRCanada’s first members.

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