Publications mail agreement No. 40014024 A glance back as Cassels presidency winds down winds presidency Cassels as back A glance whether he was prepared was he to give upwhether Jamie had to Cassels really think about opportunity the thatEven came when I’d like to work at.” many admirers at UVic are very glad he did. many admirers did. he at glad UVic are very in November, president incoming when helping shape the education of every UVic education of the shape every helping through his law classes. He’d law classes. his through helping be teaching. presidentthe ofUniversity the of Victoria, up by what they were learning, but Cassels but Cassels were learning, they up by what also recognized that president, as recognized he’dalso be knocking was an invitation to become an invitation was to become knocking BY JODY PATERSON sive workplace, too, “the kind of place that kind of place sive “the too, workplace, andinclu- collaborative acollegial, shape passedstudent, who just ones not the To ensure andsupport safety campus When UVic firstprepared the2020/21 THE FUTURE UVic budgetupdate While some uncertainties remain,While someuncertainties we We appreciate madeacross theefforts SPEED READ SPEED will address thebudgetgapthisyear. Your significant investments have beenmade. students, andstaffinthis faculty remote strategies to address theanticipated and necessary investments.and necessary More info: bit.ly/20-budget campus tocampus implement mitigation unfortunately, layoff inthetemporary move forwardtogether. priority. We willprovide updates aswe believe that themeasures putinplace Provostand Vice-President ValerieKuehne redeployed. reduced operations and, oncampus budget to theanticipated reflect impacts budget, we could nothave predicted a Finance andOperations Gayle Gorrill: From Vice-President Academic and impacts. impacts. The pandemic resulted in learning andworking environment, health and safety remainhealth andsafety ourhighest of somestaff, thoughmany have been global pandemic. InJune, we revised the PLANNING FOR He loved seeing his lawHe students his seeing firedloved Cassels will end his term as president as term end his will Cassels So he said yes. And eight years on, his his And yes. years said on, eight he So

RING THE

weren’t things I imposed. They wereweren’t in the They Iimposed. things Kevin Hall takes the helm. It’s helm. Kevin Hall the takes of a time DNA of the university,” ofDNA the says. “Perhaps he President Academic and Provost, andon President andProvost, Academic my legacy has been helping the univer the helping my been has legacy roles ranging from ranging lawroles professor to Vice taught has who for Cassels, reflection its focus on students, with focus its enagagement strengths. authentic its into has helped the university the andtap helped has identify tion—was already well-established. These These alreadytion—was well-established. president as time that his hope but does up to president. and worked at UVic for almost 40 years in - like andreconcilia climatechange lenges community and work tackling global chal- community global tackling andwork sity own narrative its shape around these PRESIDENT’S “UVic’s research culture—along with NUMBER OF Cassels doesn’tCassels word like“legacy,” the AWARDED AWARDED MEMBERS FACULTY FACULTY SEE CASSELS PRESIDENCY P.2 3 A UVIC CHAIR

Victoria can bestow on afaculty member, Indigenous languages in Canada for more in Canada Indigenous languages In another time, Onowa McIvor Onowa In time, another would fed ­ from her mother,from her have in turn would who portant field field of researchportant havenow earned contributions herwork to languagescholarshipandfor Indigenous is theimpacts have learned the language of her ancestors ancestors of her language the have learned Onowa McIvor becomes thethird recipient oftheUVic President’s Chairfor highest academic honour the University the honour academic highest of prestigious the President’sher Chair, the than 20years. has generations. personal truth the That having oncommunities revitalizing culture. learned it from her parents, back through it parents, through from back her learned Indigenous languagesaslessonsinhope Indigenous BY JODY PATERSON McIvor’s im- to this contributions vital McIvor’s passion revival for the of - Jamie McIvor’s “Onowa Cassels. work is Indigenous language revitalization, and revitalization, Indigenous language munities is profound,” is munities says UVic President substantialmade to UVic contributions and ment to working with communities on communities with working to ment faculty who have achieved greatfaculty have distinction achieved who replacing Distinguished Professorships Distinguished replacing pursuit of excellence in research, teaching pursuit in research, teaching of excellence in research and research-inspired teaching; - in com language of impact revitalized the andchampion the community; wider the created was to recognize award, which the and community-university engagement. at UVic. She is the third to receive the person is at UVic. She “UVic has a longstanding commit alongstanding has “UVic LANDSCAPES OF OF LANDSCAPES INJUSTICE INJUSTICE - Department of Indigenous says Department Education, President’s Chair. some acknowledges She fact the work of- revi the fact Indigenous language inspiring anduplifting, are andwe for so is so much about the wisdom and efforts and efforts wisdom the much about so is her calibreher at UVic.” tunate to have a researcher and teacher oftunate to have aresearcher andteacher talization andIndigenoustalization culture overall of collective. the out one person for recognition, when in when for recognition, person out one way the with awardsdiscomfort single she’s honoured for the to have chosen been The University of Victoria's of The University PAGE 5 PAGE McIvor, professor in UVic’s anassociate community newspaper community ring.uvic.ca OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER SEE PRESIDENT’S CHAIR P.8 McIvor. Cassels.

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NIK WEST PHOTONIK WEST - around the ring One year after tragic bus accident

Voting in the It is one year since the tragic a plaque about Emma and John, and of these on track for completion by the provincial election bus accident on Sept. 13, 2019 near situated in a specially designated area end of this year. All recommendations The provincial election will take Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. In a in Finnerty Gardens—will be installed related to travel and trip planning will place on Saturday, October 24, message to the UVic community at the this term as a place of remembrance be completed before field trips recom- 2020. According to the provisions start of term, President Jamie Cassels and reflection. mence to Bamfield. shared his profound sadness for the Due to COVID-19, the Bamfield of the British Columbia Election Act, deaths last year of Emma Machado and Progress on recommendations Marine Sciences Centre is not booking employees who work a normal day John Geerdes, two first-year biology Following the accident, the university field trips until at least April 2021. Last shift on that day may leave to vote students, and reflected on the difficult undertook a review by an external con- month, the BC government and Huu-ay- at 4 p.m., four hours prior to the aftermath of the accident for all students sultant with relevant expertise. aht First Nations announced they have polls closing at 8 p.m. unless other involved and their families. UVic released the subsequent re- partnered to make improvements to arrangements have been made. port publicly in June and also outlined Bamfield Road. More info: bit.ly/20-vote In remembrance important changes for UVic field trips UVic encourages students, faculty The university, in honour of the wishes of to Bamfield in response to the recom- and staff who, in thinking back to this Make time for self-care John and Emma’s families, is establish- mendations. time last year, also find they need sup- ing two scholarships in remembrance. The report identifies 43 recommen- port this term to contact the available Making time for self-care is The scholarship in Emma’s name has dations of varying complexity—all of services. important for your overall already been awarded this term to a which the university fully accepts and is Read September’s online article at health. Your employee and family UVic undergraduate student in the actively working to implement in their bit.ly/20-accident for details of how UVic assistance program (EFAP) can help. Department of Biology. The scholarship entirety. is remembering John and Emma, as well Look for upcoming webinars on in John’s name will be confirmed in the Three are complete, twenty recom- as progress on the recommendations topics like “Worry Less, Enjoy Life coming months. mendations are currently in progress and and a link to the government news re- More” and “Getting a Restful Sleep” A memorial bench—graced with 20 are in planning stages, with a number lease on the road improvements. through Learning Central. Full info: bit.ly/20-hr-learn Test drive online technologies Computer Help Desk staff can CASSELS remotely assist staff, faculty, PRESIDENCY instructors, departments and CONTINUED FROM P. 1 students test online collaboration platforms before events, meetings or classes. Online test drives are things, and for me its been a chance to live out my own values through available for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, my work.” Kaltura, Crowdmark and more. Spending the final months of his bit.ly/20-techdrive presidency in the grips of a global pandemic has brought unprecedented Abandoned bicycles challenges, with COVID complicating Since March 2020, Campus Security every facet of UVic operations. “It has staff have collected approximately turned the lives of our students, staff 100 bicycles from campus bike and faculty upside down,” says Cassels. But at the same time, he notes that racks. If your bike was left on there couldn’t be a more vivid example campus, you’ll need a description of the importance of life-long learning, of your bike or proof of ownership one of the tenets he most values. to retrieve it. Bicycles not claimed “Just think about how much we’ve by Oct. 31 will be recycled, donated all learned through this,” Cassels em- or disposed of through the UVic phasizes. “The pandemic has shown us Surplus Asset Disposal Program, the importance of higher education, of with any funds received going to having researchers ready to respond to In recognition of Jamie Cassels’ extraordinary contribution and nearly 40 years of service to UVic, student bursaries. Contact Campus the questions we need answers to, and the University Centre will be renamed the Jamie Cassels Centre. UVIC PHOTO SERVICES Security to claim your bike. students on pathways to adapt to a More info: uvic.ca/security changing future. It demonstrates that what really matters is not what you opportunity to get their hands dirty out his presidency. “You always hear ity building, and Indigenous law and know, but having the skills to go find in their field of knowledge.” him saying ‘Our greatest resource is governance. And throughout Cassels’ the answers. Education is the bridge COVID has complicated that effort, our people,’ and that’s never just a line career, the initiatives have been per- over the gap that we are currently he acknowledges. But the limitations for him. For staff, that’s so important.” sonal, too. looking across.” imposed by social distancing require- A half century ago, universities As dean of law, he helped launch In 2009, when he was Vice Presi- ments are also helping the university were elite institutions serving stu- the northern Akitsiraq law program dent Academic and Provost, Cas- understand where it most needs to dents who were overwhelmingly white for Inuit students. As provost, he sels’ commitment to UVic’s distinct step up to meet new challenges. and wealthy. Those days are happily played a key role in securing funding Vol. 46 No. 5 integration of research and teaching “What are the experiential learning and helped convene the group effort- THE over, says Cassels. A culture based on RING led to the creation of a program opportunities that really do require equity, diversity, inclusion and mutual that would become the LE,NONET of undergraduate research awards us to push back on COVID? How can respect is now the “foundation of ex- student support program, and saw The University of Victoria’s that were subsequently—and to his we safely deliver field schools and lab cellence” for any university. UVic’s Indigenous enrolment more community newspaper great surprise—named in his honor experiences? We’re asking those ques- Achieving that goal starts with than double to make-up six per cent of ring.uvic.ca as the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate tions,” says Cassels. making room for everyone’s voices, our overall student population. Printed using vegetable-based inks on Research Awards (JCURA). Cassels values any chance to he adds—even the ones that cause And during his time as president, 100% post-consumer recycled paper. The annual financial awards en- connect with students, whether it’s discomfort. UVic established the world’s first courage third- and fourth-year un- a casual chat on the number seven “I don’t believe that social change joint law program in Indigenous legal Next issue November 5, 2020 dergraduates to pursue innovative bus, or in more formal ways, such as can be accomplished just by con- orders and Canadian common law, as The Ring is published eight times a year by and original research to enhance interacting with student government demning or shutting out ideas,” says well as a university-wide Indigenous University Communications + Marketing. their learning, an experience that pre- or in consultations during the run-up Cassels. “University should be a place Plan and the Strategic Framework— Executive Director Bruce Kilpatrick, pares them for graduate studies or a to a new strategic plan. But honours that is on the cutting edge of social reaffirming the university’s commit- 250-721-7638, [email protected] research-related career. More than 100 events remain his favourite venue to change, but where you also can hear ment to act on the recommendations Editor Marc Christensen, students receive a JCURA every year. engage students. divergent views, and make mistakes. of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation 250-721-6022, [email protected] “Jamie has identified the strengths “The students are just on fire at We can change the world through Commission to enhance educational Production Marc Christensen of UVic and given them a structure to those events, and you get a sense of research and education, but that opportunities for Indigenous students. Display ads Bonnie Light, 250-388-5321, further themselves,” says Helga Thor- what they want, what they need, what requires an environment where mis- In a world coping with so many [email protected] son, a UVic professor in the Depart- they worry about,” says Cassels. “Every takes and failures are accepted and complex challenges, UVic’s long- Distribution Mandy Crocker, ment of Germanic and Slavic Studies. single one of the posters at the event treated as opportunities for dialogue standing commitment to leading 250-721-8587, [email protected] “JCURA is part of that. For faculty, he defines a problem that’s important and learning.” change and supporting lifelong learn- Material published in The Ring does not necessarily implemented the Strategic Frame- to all of us.” Long before reconciliation was a ing has never been more vital, says reflect official university policy. work Impact Fund, which is helping UVic staff also appreciate Cassels’ common topic, Cassels was a cham- Cassels. Material may be reprinted in whole or in part without permission, but with appropriate credit to The Ring. us come together across faculties with open way of engaging. Karissa Sovdi, pion for Indigenous education, sup- “We use the word ‘impact’ a lot at The Ring, PO Box 1700, University of Victoria, a common goal.” UVic’s human resources program and porting efforts that have dramatically UVic, because what we’re doing makes Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Cassels feels grateful to work at projects manager, has been struck increased the number of Indigenous a difference,” says Cassels. “We’re Tel: 250-721-7636 Fax: 250-721-8955 an institution that shares his com- by his genuine interest in everyone students and graduates at UVic and responding to what the world needs. Email: [email protected] mitment to building the continuity he meets. programs to empower Indigenous What I hope students take away from Printed in Canada by Black Press from the classroom to the world. He “He’s always professional and never communities. Those efforts are broad, my time as president is to have the cu- © 2020 University of Victoria appreciates that UVic’s diverse co-op pretentious. Humility is the word that including innovative programs in riosity and aptitude to keep on learn- Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40014024 education options, field schools and comes to mind for me,” says Sovdi, Indigenous languages, history and ing. It’s not what you know now, but lab experiences give students “the who has worked with Cassels through- culture, social and economic capac- being empowered to keep on learning.”

Page 2 The Ring October 2020 Orange Shirt Day 2020 at UVic around Online events included the ring a conversation between UVic Chancellor LEED Gold for District Energy Plant Shelagh Rogers and The university’s District Energy Phyllis Webstad, whose Plant (DEP) recently became the story sparked the drive ninth UVic building to earn LEED to recognize Orange Gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council. In addition Shirt Day. If you missed to being built using sustainable the virtual event, you construction practices, the DEP’s have until October 30 to efficient boilers fitted with new control systems, and ultra-efficient watch the online video. energy transfer stations across campus will lead to a minimum BY BARBARA TODD HAGER of 10 per cent in energy savings annually and a reduction in GHG’s This year, COVID-19 safety restric- by 6,500 tonnes. You can see the tions kept us from coming together in DEP in action in parking lot 6, near person to commemorate and honour 1800s to 1996, when the last school the Interfaith Chapel, and take a the healing journey of residential closed, and it’s estimated that close to self-guided tour of the interpretive school survivors and their families 6,000 died while attending residential panels outside the building. on September 30. An extraordinary schools. virtual Orange Shirt Day nevertheless One of the highlights of UVic’s on- bit.ly/20-DEP inspired UVic’s students, faculty, staff line event this year was a conversation and alumni living in every part of between UVic Chancellor Shelagh Rog- New mobile the world to reflect on how our edu- ers and Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose parking app cational systems can bring together childhood story about residential Indigenous and non-Indigenous Ca- school inspired the Orange Shirt Day You can now use a contactless nadians in the spirit of reconciliation. movement. app to pay for daily or weekly Orange Shirt Day is a national The event also included messages campus parking. Download the movement that takes place every year from Indigenous Elders and UVic com- free HonkMobile app from the on September 30. Since its inception, munity members, and a Lekwungen Top: Rogers and Webstad in conversation. Bottom: staff at the Legacy Gallery AppStore or Google Play, and pay for the event has inspired schools and drumming presentation. Downtown participate in the #OrangeShirtDayUVic social media campaign. parking directly from your phone. universities across Canada to develop Countless UVic faculty, staff and Drivers can also opt in to receive and implement curriculum and ac- students wore orange shirts on Sep- your support by making a contribu- knowledge, teachings, and support. a 15-minute reminder before their tivities that recognize the damaging tember 30, as a visual symbol of our tion to the Elders Engagement Fund, This fund will also support events and parking session is set to expire, and impacts on Indigenous peoples who awareness of the need for ongoing learning from activities such as faculty seminars, are given the option to add more were forced to attend the federally reconciliation—and shared photos one another. This initiative ensures classroom visits, elder honorariums time remotely. The ability to top ITOTELNEWTEL łTE: funded, church-run schools. Close to of themselves on social media using meaningful engagement and increases and meetings with community groups up via the Honk app eliminates the 150,000 Indigenous children and youth #OrangeShirtDayUVic. the opportunity for students, fac- and local First Nations communities. need to run out and feed the meter attended the schools from the mid- There’s also plenty of time to show ulty and staff to have access to Elders’ More: bit.ly/20-osd when classes or study sessions run UVic’s second annual report on Victoria Forum bridges divides late. More info: uvic.ca/parking Campus Cycling the Strategic Framework in wake of global pandemic Plan work begins at University Drive On May 29, 2018, after months of 2,000 students through the UVic In partnership with the Senate of consultation with more than 2,500 COVID-19 Emergency Bursary to Canada, the University of Victoria is Construction is kicking off on the members of the UVic community, the help with a variety of needs, from bringing together changemakers to first phase of the Campus Cycling Board of Governors approved A Stra- housing to technology for online help generate solutions to some of Plan implementation. A separated tegic Framework for the University learning. UVic researchers pivoted the world’s most divisive problems. bike lane and pedestrian pathway of Victoria: 2018–2023. It officially their efforts to create necessities On Nov. 13 and 14, a virtual forum will be installed at the University launched on Sept. 19, 2018. like face shields and hand sanitizer, will explore topics and issues on the Drive and Ring Road intersection The second annual Strategic while students, faculty and staff suc- theme of bridging divides in this time during October and November. Framework Implementation Report cessfully shifted to online learning, of COVID-19. The two-day event will Watch for safety signage and builds on the efforts of the first year, teaching and remote work. draw on emerging trends and lessons 2021 are jointly hosted by UVic and intermittent path closures. emphasizing new initiatives, and “While there is no question that learned through the biweekly webi- the Senate of Canada. bit.ly/20-cycling highlighting accomplishments over this past year has been unlike any nars which have taking place since The webinar sessions this season, the past year towards achieving the other, all that we have accomplished May and continue through October. supported by founding sponsors university’s shared vision and goals. together in the shadow of the COV- Three years ago, the inaugural TELUS and Vancity Credit Union, are Great BC ShakeOut This report also acts as a record of ID-19 crisis is truly remarkable,” says Victoria Forum in November 2017 available online and take a closer look Even during this time of COVID how the university community re- UVic President Jamie Cassels. brought together approximately 500 at complex issues—from systemic we all need to be prepared for sponded to the COVID-19 pandemic The report continues to honour participants representing different racism to the power of sport to heal other emergencies, including so far. UVic’s commitment to account- levels of governments, business, —by welcoming guests from around earthquakes. The annual Great BC The report highlights major in- ability and transparency. Guided by academia and civil society to take the world to discuss these topics ShakeOut earthquake drill takes stitutional initiatives—a new UVic the framework, UVic continues to stock of the state of diversity and and offer insights and solutions for place Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. Whether central website, the opening of the make progress on our vision to be inclusiveness in Canada on its 150th moving forward to make the world you’re in the classroom, at home or Student Wellness Centre and 24/7 the Canadian research university that anniversary, and to look to the future. a better place. mental health program, and the best integrates outstanding scholar- “We are honoured to have the Next year, the flagship Victoria in the office, take a few minutes to Health Sciences Initiative—and also ship, engaged learning and real-life Senate of Canada partner with us for Forum will be held in November become prepared. Visit tells the story of our dedication to involvement to contribute to a better the 2020 Victoria Forum,” says Saul under a broader theme and will in- uvic.ca/shakeout for resources and the highest standards of teaching, future for people and the planet. Klein, chair of the Victoria Forum clude a series of panels, plenaries and practice the Drop, Cover and Hold research and creative activity, and The Strategic Framework Im- and dean of UVic’s Gustavson School think-tank style sessions, all designed On procedure wherever you are. service during the pandemic. plementation Report 2019/20 is of Business. to create space for evidence-based More: uvic.ca/shakeout or More than $1.4 million in fund- available as a downloadable PDF at The Virtual Victoria Forum 2020 discussions. [email protected] ing was provided to approximately bit.ly/20-implement. (and webinars) and Victoria Forum More: victoriaforum.ca

All UVic StAff

The Ring October 2020 Page 3 UVIC KNOWLEDGE Building energy efficiency

Machine learning helps “We’re putting better tools in place,” says researchers design Evins of his research. “Optimization for energy efficiency has been the buzzword since my PhD energy-efficient buildings years, but this new modelling approach allows that don’t yet exist for the more intuitive kind of process that archi- tects, engineers and developers use when they’re BY JODY PATERSON thinking about building design.” The result is a real-time tool that puts Governments and industry are looking to univer- machine-learning algorithms to work solving sity researchers for the tools to help them explore more important world issues than how to con- every aspect of building design through a lens of nect social media users to more cat videos, says energy efficiency. Evins with a smile. UVic civil engineering professor Ralph Evins The multi-disciplinary research is funded by is helping lead this important work. Evins and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research his team are tapping into machine learning to Council, the CANARIE Research Software Pro- create a modelling tool that can quickly calculate gram and consulting engineering firm WSP—one the energy efficiency of any possible design and of eight companies and 10 other entities helping how design choices interact with one another. review and steer the research. How much difference might bigger or smaller The tools being developed will help these windows make? Thicker insulation? A different partners to meet the stringent new BC Energy type of heating system? These are big questions Step Code, which incentivizes energy efficiency when designing for energy efficiency, and differ in new construction. Evins’ students bring a va- Evins at the new campus District Energy Plant. UVIC PHOTO SERVICES for every situation and location, which are also riety of backgrounds to the research, including factored into the model. extensive experience in the building industry mate change and achieve its binding emissions everything you want in a building,’ which is how Current computer simulations are impossibly that led them to join Evins in the search for better reduction commitments. optimization works. With surrogate modelling, slow, hampering the creative nature of the design building models. Machine learning involves putting computer it isn’t necessary to state the problem like that,” process. Evins’ industry-supported PhD research Evins believes the surrogate modelling can be algorithms to work finding patterns in massive notes Evins. gave him an appreciation for the private sector’s equally useful for exploring retrofits for existing quantities of data. It’s the driving force behind The data generated for Evins’ surrogate mod- pressing need for fast solutions. Computer simu- buildings. With big data sets now available to tech giants like Google, Amazon and Netflix, but elling tools is revealing information that no one lations that take an hour or more to run are not a researchers, including anonymized data from has many more applications beyond shaping has seen before. The work is bringing unprec- good fit for a professional needing to quickly test 80,000 households with ecobee smart thermo- our shopping and surfing habits. Evins’ sur- edented insight into the intricate relationship a multitude of design elements and materials to stats, the models can be used to explore when rogate modelling work uses machine learning between individual design elements and how see how energy efficiency is affected. it makes more sense to retrofit a building than to understand building energy performance so that interplay affects energy efficiency. Evins’ team has developed “surrogate” model- to replace it. that design professionals can quickly and easily Surrogate modelling is multi-disciplinary. ling that acts as a substitute for the more detailed The modelling also helps industry prepare assess different design elements. Evins’ team features researchers with back- computer models of physics-based processes for a changing future. Evins works with another Energy “optimization” has been a hot topic for grounds in mathematics, physics, computer that take much longer to run. Instead of long UVic entity, the Pacific Climate Impacts Consor- university researchers for more than a decade, science, architecture and engineering. hours of waiting for computer calculations on tium, to incorporate future climate modelling but has had little traction in industry. Surrogate Evins’ background is in fluid dynamics, which myriad potential design elements, people using into the important work of designing buildings modelling provides an opportunity for build- could prove useful as his research team expands Evins’ model will be able to quickly and easily for new climate realities. Surrogate modelling ing designers to achieve optimal designs while its surrogate modelling work to encompass how explore the trade-offs and interactions between tools for increased energy efficiency are critical working in their usual intuitive way. “It’s very air flow in and around buildings affects energy design choices and performance metrics. components in helping Canada prepare for cli- hard to sit down with someone and say, ‘List efficiency. Q & A with Sarah Hunt / Tłaliłila’ogwa UVic Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Political Ecology Sarah Hunt / Tłaliłila’ogwa, a member two-spirit people being murdered. In but as living beings, or in some cases of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation from recent years, I’ve kept this focus but as expressions of the same spirit that the northern part of Vancouver Is- deepened my engagement specifically animates who we are as peoples. So land, grew up locally on the Songhees with Indigenous nations on the coast, the research I’ll be doing will centre reserve in Lekwungen territories. Hunt so returning back to UVic and to the these teachings in order to understand competed her undergraduate degree island lets me really immerse myself what this means for achieving justice at UVic, and PhD at Simon Fraser Uni- in these coastal communities. for our people, on our terms. versity, before moving on to serve as a Can you tell us more about your How is justice for our lands and professor at UBC for five years. She is a research chair? waters interwoven with justice for Canada Research Chair in Indigenous In May, I started a faculty position young people in our communities? Political Ecology in UVic’s School of in Environmental Studies, as Canada How do we think of ending violence Environmental Studies, a prestigious Research Chair in Indigenous Politi- against women, when we understand professor position given to Canada’s cal Ecology. These research chairs are women’s lives to be inseparable from best and brightest scholars. Here she awarded to scholars who are doing our ancestral obligations to ocean sits down with The Ring to discuss her innovative and potentially trans- life? These are big questions, and I’m Hunt. UVIC PHOTO SERVICES research, her return home, and what formative work in their field. As an really excited to have this opportunity it’s like to be a role model for the huge Indigenous woman, I feel especially to immerse myself more in research much of my own activism started here What do you hope your research number of Indigenous students who honored because very few CRCs in that allows me to practice my culture, when I was an undergrad involved will achieve? are changing the way academia works Canada have been awarded to Indig- learn my language, and connect more with the Native Students Union. On a personal level, I hope that this across the country. enous scholars. Currently Indigenous deeply with people and places that my What does it mean to be a role research on coastal justice will allow In addition to being a profes- People represent less than two per ancestors have always known. model? me to learn my Kwak’wala language sor, you’re also a UVic alum. What cent of all CRCs in Canada. How will you connect with Indig- Primarily, being a role model and to spend time in Kwakwaka’wakw brought you back to the island? In this new role, I will be taking enous students? means walking the talk. By this I mean territories where my ancestors have al- Since completing my undergrad up questions of justice from within As an Indigenous prof, I take my that it’s not enough for scholars to talk ways cultivated a sense of themselves at UVic, I’ve spent over two decades the perspectives of Indigenous Peo- responsibility to Indigenous students about social change or to write about by knowing intimately the ocean, the collaborating with Indigenous com- ple from the island nations—the very seriously. When I started my questions of justice —we need to put shorelines and lands that sustain who munities across Turtle Island. After Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and undergrad at UVic in the 1990s, I our bodies on the line and immerse we are as a people. working as a professor at UBC for the Kwakwaka’wakw. Our nations have only knew of one Indigenous faculty ourselves in the struggles our work is On a larger level, I hope to create past five years, I was eager to come always lived beside one another, and member here—Lorna Williams in the concerned with. space for us to change the way justice back home to the island so I can work have worked in relationship while Faculty of Education. Since then, the For me, this means showing up is talked about for Indigenous People, more closely with island communities. making decisions about our waters landscape for Indigenous faculty and and actively supporting community both within our own communities What questions have you taken and lands, fish and trees, and wellbe- students has drastically changed. But events related to struggles over land, and in environmental movements, up in your research with Indigenous ing of our families. universities can still be a daunting as well as over murdered and missing conversations on climate change, communities? Over the next five years, I will be place, and often a hostile place, for women and 2SQ people. It also means water governance and land rights. I Most of my research has focused on undertaking research in collaboration Indigenous students, community and working in solidarity with struggles for hope the research will reveal tools and various kinds of violence—systemic with people from the island nations to faculty. I try to make my classrooms racial justice, like Black Lives Matter, resources for coastal people to deepen violence, interpersonal and gendered look more closely at how we under- places where Indigenous students are as well as housing justice, harm reduc- our expressions of self-determination violence, and environmental violence. stand justice from within our cultur- seen and heard, and where their re- tion and many other pressing issues both in everyday ways and in the gov- This work has exposed the problems ally specific teachings and practices. alities are centred. I work closely with of inequality that our communities ernance of our territories, and take within Canadian systems of law and Within many of our teachings, we as Indigenous grad students to support are facing. I come to this work as an significant steps to make a more just governance, and the struggles we still coastal people understand our lives to them in designing graduate research activist first, and a scholar second, and future for our next generations. Ulti- have in trying to achieve justice for In- be deeply interwoven with the wellbe- that addresses the needs of their own I want to show young people that you mately, I hope to lessen the violence digenous People—whether in relation ing of the ocean, lands, plants, fish, communities. I’m also committed don’t have to leave your activism or Indigenous People face, by engaging to questions of land title, environmen- animals and spirit world that exist to supporting Indigenous student your culture behind in order to suc- in the resurgence of coastal philoso- tal decision making, child welfare, or within our territories. leadership, and believe in the power ceed in your education. It’s not easy, phies and practices of justice with the crisis of gendered violence that has We don’t view these as resources of student resistance movements in but it is possible, to bring your whole one another, our waters and lands, resulted in thousands of women and or environments separate from us, transforming colonial institutions— self to a job like this. neighbors and kin.

Page 4 The Ring October 2020 The untold stories of disposessed Japanese Canadians

BY TARA SHARPE & PHILIP COX It is the culmination of six years of award-winning research by Land- Kaoru Atagi watched his scapes of Injustice, the multimillion- father, Tsunematsu, fish in dollar research and public history the summers and build boats in the project begun in 2014. One of the larg- winters. The Atagi Boatworks opened est humanities-based research pro- in 1905 and Kaoru had thought one jects in Canada today, Landscapes of day it would be his. Teiji Morishita Injustice is based at UVic’s Centre for and his family owned a store in Van- Asia-Pacific Initiatives and involves 15 couver; its motto was “thin profit, other partner institutions including thick trust.” When King George VI four other universities, two govern- and Queen Elizabeth visited Victoria ment agencies, four major Japanese in 1939, they were served Murakami Canadian organizations, one provin- strawberries from the Salt Spring cial and one federal museum, and Island farm cleared by Keiko Mary three historical societies and learning Murakami’s father. associations, as well as researchers in These are some of the untold two faculties (humanities and social stories of more than 22,000 Japanese sciences) at UVic. Canadians who experienced profound Also unveiled last month was a loss in the 1940s following their new website (loi.uvic.ca/narrative) permanent displacement and total that complements the exhibition and liquidation of their property. This fall, presents the findings of Landscapes of the Landscapes of Injustice project— Injustice in an accessible, compelling launched six years ago and led by the narrative format. University of Victoria—unveiled a “Broken Promises” involved a col- new national exhibition on the lesser- laborative approach to learning and known aspects of Japanese Canadian teaching a history of injustice that internment in the 20th century. enables those with lived experiences “Broken Promises,” which opened to tell their own stories in a way that last month at the Nikkei National Mu- speaks to a broader, collective history. seum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby, The process was grounded by commu- frames the truth about the disposses- nity-based knowledge and priorities. sion of Japanese Canadians through And the community engagement the personal histories of seven fami- continues: the exhibition’s launch, lies who lost their homes, personal live-streamed Sept. 26, has already property and livelihoods—along with been viewed more than 4,000 times. their civil and human rights—despite Visit bit.ly/20-untold to learn more government guarantees of protection. about the families featured in the new The dispossession and multi-gen- exhibition, to view archival photos and erational trauma are a direct result of find out more about this multi-year a sustained federal campaign initiated project and, for those who cannot visit by the Canadian government eight the exhibition in person, a virtual tour decades ago. will be available in the near future. “This exhibition launches in the The exhibition opened to the public midst of long overdue conversations Sept. 29 and runs till April 2021, ahead about racism in Canada,” says project of a national tour which is scheduled director Jordan Stanger-Ross (his- to start in Toronto in May 2021, fol- tory). “It is a time for excavating how lowed by Victoria in early 2022, with our present realities are shaped by dates in Halifax and other regional past inequalities.” locations yet to be announced. Using a wealth of previously un- The project is supported by a released photographs, personal in- $2.5-million grant from the Social terviews, official documentation Sciences and Humanities Research and letters of outrage and protest to Council and $3 million in matching CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Murakami Family in BC’s Interior (image courtesy of Salt Spring Island Archives). Store closed after forced relocation of Japanese explore this disturbing past, “Broken contributions from institutional Canadians (Jack Lindsay, City of Vancouver Archives). A registration certificate, numbered 10333, issued to Hiroshi Okuda in June 1941 (image courtesy Promises” invites the public to grap- partners. The exhibition received an of Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre). Atagi Boat Works (image courtesy of UBC Rare Books and Special Collections). All photos featured in ple with the complicated legacies of additional grant of $285,000 from “Broken Promises” exhibit. racism in Canada. Canadian Heritage. What did ancient wool dogs eat? Mostly fish that people fed them.

analysis of domestic dog remains their own,” he adds. Anthropology dating back 3,000 years including an The study’s co-authors say that undergraduate ancient breed of ‘woolly dog’ on Keith such perspective allows us to better Island (Kakmakimilh), an ancient understand human–dog relationships, Dylan Hillis’ work Tseshaht settlement in the Broken animal husbandry practices and the in collaborative Group Islands. For UVic student and cultural and economic significance coastal community lead author Dylan Hillis, the analysis that these dogs had in Tseshaht Ter- of ancient dog remains was the cor- ritory and beyond. research confirms nerstone of his undergrad honours Denis St. Claire is an adopted Tse- Indigenous knowledge research and NSERC undergraduate shaht member and project co-director research award. who has worked in partnership with of dogs’ diet. In a newly published paper in Sci- the Tseshaht First Nation since the entific Reports, Hillis and co-authors early ‘70s. He has been instrumental in BY ANNE MACLAURIN including UVic professors Iain McK- connecting scholars, students, and In- echnie and Chris Darimont provide digenous youth with Tseshaht history Hillis preparing collagen samples at the UBC musuem of Anthropology. PHOTO: ERIC GUIRY Along Vancouver Island’s west coast, the first specific estimate of ancient through archaeology to develop scien- the traditional territories of the Tse- dog diets on the BC coast using zoo- tific capacity to confirm and expand with St. Claire for over 15 years in western Vancouver Island and for sites shaht First Nation span the Broken archaeological data as well as a stable what is often common knowledge Tseshaht territory. McKechnie and his where skeletal measurements were Group Islands, with thousands of isotope modelling approach which amongst Indigenous people. colleagues who study dogs recently taken, small sized ‘woolly’ dogs were years of pre-colonial history. uses statistical estimates to distin- “New tools and techniques can published a second related paper, proportionally more abundant than For the past few summers the guish from potential food sources. be useful to expand and refine our “Domestic Dogs and Wild Canids of the larger ‘village’ dogs,” he adds. Tseshaht First Nation has generously “Our research indicates that Tse- collective knowledge about a place,” Northwest Coast of North America.” For Hillis the time spent with collaborated with UVic archaeologist shaht dogs were eating and possibly says St. Claire. This study looks more broadly at Tseshaht community members dur- Iain McKechnie, co-director Denis St. being fed significant amounts of He explains that a value of this domestic dog husbandry across the ing the fieldwork on Keith Island Claire, Parks Canada, the Bamfield marine fish—specifically, anchovy, study is how the Tseshaht and other Northwest Coast and reveals that (Kakmakimilh) was a highlight of Marine Sciences Centre and Hakai herring and salmon, amounting to First Nations relied on the wool dog southern BC a was a hotspot for do- his UVic education. Using scientific Institute to bring UVic students into approximately half of the food they for its thick hair that was used for mestic dogs. methods to corroborate and extend the field. Tseshaht First Nation com- consumed throughout their lives,” textiles, such as, blankets and other “Domestic dogs appear to be a sub- Indigenous knowledge is something munity members including project says Hillis. regalia. The wool was considered a stantial and enduring part of village he is continuing in his graduate pro- members Wanda Robinson and “We were able to provide direct and status symbol and was worn by high life in coastal Indigenous communi- gram. McKechnie and St. Claire and Cole Gomez-Leishman as well as detailed evidence for the consump- ranking individuals. The importance ties over the past 5,000 years but were their future field school students are the Tseshaht Beach Keepers played a tion of marine resources by dogs and of the wool dog, however, lessened especially prominent in areas histori- grateful for the ongoing collaboration significant role in sharing culture and humans of Tseshaht territory,” Hillis with the arrival of a cheaper, more cally associated with the use of small with Tseshaht First Nation and Parks knowledge with the students. adds. “Obviously, the role that humans plentiful supply of sheep’s wool and white dogs for wool,” says McKechnie. Canada and the many other First An exciting outcome of this col- took was substantial since dogs were other imported textiles. “Dogs are especially prominent Nations who support archaeological laboration has been the isotopic not catching these fast-moving fish on McKechnie has been working in sites around the Salish Sea and research in their territories.

The Ring October 2020 Page 5 UVIC KNOWLEDGE Raising Draco Digital app helps families in-person intervention to manage childhood obesity? That’s the question we want to answer,” increase physical activity and says Liu. Some 30 per cent of Canadian children healthy eating and youth in the age range targeted by the project are overweight or obese. BY JODY PATERSON Participants using the Draco app are encour- aged to take Draco for walks and give him nutri- At the intersection of health promotion, eHealth tional foods, all of which keep Draco healthy. The and psychology, a wee virtual dragon named broader goal is to help Draco find his way home, Draco is in tryouts as a new tool in addressing and along the way, increase the physical activity childhood obesity in British Columbia. and eating habits of the dragon’s young owners. University of Victoria researcher Sam Liu is All participants are given a wearable device that piloting a smartphone app aimed at motivating collects data on their activity. families and their preteen children to increase “Based on our user feedback, I was encour- their physical activity and eat nutritionally. aged to see how many kids do engage with Draco. Draco is the star of that pilot. Liu, a professor They are excited to do exercises, such as jumping in UVic’s School of Exercise Science, Physical jacks, with Draco,” says Liu. and Health Education, describes Draco as “kind Any intervention aimed at changing health of like a Tamagotchi inspired exercise buddy,” behaviours must be fun and have buy-in from referring to the wildly popular digital pets of those being targeted, says Liu. “Sometimes with 20 years ago. technology, when you build it, they don’t come.” Draco ups the Tamagotchi game by strategi- An initiative has to resonate with people and Liu with a youth participant during a demonstration of the Draco app. UVIC PHOTO SERVICES cally encouraging young caregivers and their be adaptable to their lifestyles, says Liu. Efforts families into physical activity and healthy eating have to be tailored right down to the individual the importance of parent messaging as vital in tion, University of Victoria and BC provincial as a means to keep their new pet happy. Draco user to motivate them to stick with something. influencing their children’s behaviours. government in Victoria, Burnaby, Kelowna, is one of the digital health tools developed to be Liu drew on his postdoctoral work in data Other funders of Liu’s work include BC’s Campbell River, Penticton, Chilliwack, Prince piloted with the Generation Health program—a science and behaviour science in tailoring the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, George, Coquitlam and Surrey. Liu is collaborat- family-based community program to support digital health programs that he has developed. the Childhood Obesity Foundation, Mitacs and ing with UVic researchers PJ Naylor and Ryan making family changes to healthy behaviours He had confirmed in earlier research that individ- SSHRC. Rhodes. across BC. uals’ social media data may be used as another Obesity rates among Canadian children and Changing children’s behaviour simply isn’t Liu’s Digital Health Lab research caught the data source to understand exercise behaviour— youth have been on the rise for 40 years. Obesity possible without their parents’ buy-in, says Liu. eye of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, an insight that may be used to translate into a in childhood is a predictor of obesity in adult- Both Draco and Generation Health strive to get which recently awarded UVic researchers nearly more customizable exercise app to help users hood, and a risk for physical health problems the whole family motivated to eat well, be active $500,000 to evaluate the Generation Health feel even more motivated. ranging from heart disease and Type II diabetes and participate in the learning. program and continue exploring how to lever- Liu’s previous research into healthy levels of to sleep apnea, asthma, and bone and joint Liu asks his students to approach their work age digital technology to promote health and smartphone use among children has informed problems. “with the mentality of a startup—agile, flexible well-being. his team’s latest project. That research identified The Generation Health project is delivered in and fast.” That means embracing failure as “the “How do we merge digital technology with healthy smartphone use patterns and confirmed partnership with the Childhood Obesity Founda- way we learn.”

Student support in a time of uncertainty

BY DOROTHY EGGENBERGER student visa. So she reached out to at UVic since 1970, and is now one of UVic for help. the largest on-campus English schools Begüm Eryılmaz moved to Victoria a “The English Language Centre in Canada. And their students—each year ago to enroll in UVic’s Continuing and Continuous Studies teams were uncertain and vulnerable in their own Studies diploma program in business tremendously supportive,” she recalls. way—needed timely help to change administration. She was no stranger to “They did whatever was necessary to direction. living abroad; as an entrepreneur, she’s protect my rights, and even gave me The small team of eight ELC staff experienced operating across borders. information about the scholarships had confidence and trust in each Eryılmaz studied architecture I could receive, in case I needed any other, having worked together for a in Turkey—where she grew up–and financial support during this period. long time—some for over 20 years. So landscape design in Germany. She Knowing that I could get financial even facing a shifting mass of circum- combined the two fields in 2008 when support and also the support of the stances—a patchwork of new travel she founded her own firm, BGM De- team was priceless.” restrictions, evolving rules for campus sign. The international company has Eryılmaz is now back in Victoria gatherings to share information, and completed major projects with leading with her student visa and on track to the overall looming uncertainty of architectural firms in Italy, England, complete her program. how much COVID-19 would turn the Eryılmaz Libya, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. world upside-down—they adapted Eryılmaz was traveling for work English Language Centre adapts by focusing on their principal shared basis, helping each student with their always with me on the other end of the amidst her studies when the COV- Eryılmaz was just one of more than priority: supporting the needs of the unique situation and often coordinat- phone and mail every minute.” ID-19 pandemic reached Canada. “I 300 international students at UVic students. ing with parents overseas, homestay Six months into the pandemic, was stuck in Istanbul during the pan- this March. The team at the English “Our goal is to help the student families, visa agents, and airlines. ELC continues to develop and deliver demic. My business trip combined with Language Centre—part of Continu- and everyone buys into that. So we “I would like to express my sincere online programs. Their new student- the pandemic and my flu turned into ing Studies—had a lot of questions help each other the same way. No one thanks to the whole team, especially centred, innovative suite of online a complete nightmare,” says Eryılmaz. about how to best support their is left alone with a student they can’t Katie McDonald (Admissions & Immi- English programs combine real-time Doctors hesitated to clear Eryılmaz students’ needs when the COVID-19 help,” says Stefan Grbavec, Director of gration Assistant) and Jolene Kendzel lessons with expert instructors, class for travel, but she also had to return pandemic hit Canada. The centre has Finance and Student Services. (Business & Management Program chats, interactive activities and as- to Canada immediately to keep her offered intensive English programs The team worked on a case-by-case Assistant),” says Eryılmaz, “They were signments. Visit uvic.ca/elc for details.

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Page 6 The Ring October 2020 Science Venture’s summer online a smashing success BY ANNE TOLSON feedback from parents, the kids had a great time, and I think it’s safe to say that we now feel very As they catch their breath and look back over capable and confident about delivering hands-on the last few months, leaders of UVic’s Science STEM experiences for youth in a virtual setting.” Venture are astonished at how successfully their The goal was to inspire and prepare campers team was able to transition its hugely popular to participate in specific activities at home, im- youth summer camps to a virtual format. mediately after each online session, said Taylor This summer, Science Venture ran 55 week- Reynolds, acting manager of programs. For long camps for more than 1,600 young people— example, after a session of Exploring the Great close to the same as last year’s total—at no cost Outdoors, younger campers were asked to go to families. outside to create a home for earthworms, while Science Venture provides high-quality, year- older campers were challenged with tracking the round programming in science, technology, presence and behaviour of different animals in engineering and math (STEM) to thousands of geographical areas of study. children and youth on Vancouver Island each “We were basically getting them stoked on year, with summer camps, clubs and workshops STEM and providing them with hands-on out- that are known for their strong emphasis on door activities that they could do themselves at hands-on, in-person learning. home,” said Reynolds. “Our big goal was to create “On March 12, we suspended our program- something that didn’t demand a lot of screen ming and it was hard to imagine then how our time and to sow the seeds of exploration and summer would end up. I had a lot of apprehen- inquiry in them.” sion,” recalls David Jackson, acting director of The group undertook many other activities, Science Venture, which is supported by UVic’s including: providing virtual homework Faculties of Engineering, Science and Education. clubs for grades 4 to 12 in May; sending pre- As educational institutions moved primarily filmed workshops to 63 classroomsSTEM across The Shehzad Hussaini family, long-time participants in Science Venture, were delighted to discover online, Science Venture did the same. Staff and the region; offering special coding camps for that this summer’s online camps encouraged participation by parents. PHOTO: TAYLOR REYNOLDS camp leaders—who numbered 15 this summer girls; andSTEM holding five remote camps in part- instead of the usual 40—worked quickly to rear- nership with Indigenous partners. (A separate Jobs, which funded some of the camp leader a robust and an interesting science curriculum, range summer camp formats, adapt content, story about Science Venture’s Uu-a-thluk sum- positions held by UVic students as part of co-ops. the instructors were engaging and encouraged rewrite job descriptions and hold a trial session mer camps for the Nuu-chah-nulth nation is at Jackson and Reynolds agree there are many student participation and active learning,” said in April and May. bit.ly/20-STEM.) organizations and individuals that helped make one parent, whose two children participated Every week starting in mid-June, the camps Remarkably, Science Venture was able to Science Venture a success this summer, and some in several camps. “The Science Venture online focused on a different theme, including exploring provide its 2020 summer programming at no of their highest praise is for parents. classes opened up my children’s eyes to different the great outdoors; comics, cartoons and coding; cost to families. “Parents played such a vital role this sum- science topics and jobs in this field.” oceanography; and kinesiology and nutrition. A large part of the funding came from Actua, a mer—the camps this year involved families This fall, Science Venture continues to offer Campers were organized by age into groups of national charity that prepares youth to be leaders like never before,” said Reynolds. For example, many online clubs and activities, most with a 24, with each group meeting online daily for 30 by engaging them in STEM experiences. Actua many younger children needed help logging onto registration fee. The group, which began operat- to 90 minutes, depending on the cohort’s age. provides training, resources and support to its Zoom, some kids needed guidance with activities ing in 1991, looks forward to being able to phase “As time went on, I was struck with how many members, which are located at universities and sometimes parents had to pick up and return in in-person delivery—when the time is right, overwhelmingly successful our staff were in what and colleges across Canada. equipment loaned by the program. in consultation with UVic and based on govern- they accomplished,” said Jackson. “We got great Other funding came from Canada Summer “The Science Venture camps not only offered ment regulations.

PHILANTHROPY Lifetime of giving culminates in an endowed chair Over the course of her life, mathema- lifelong friend. “In addition to sup- “Betty was unique, feisty, funny and tician Betty Kennedy contributed to porting and empowering generations kind,” says Rob Lipson. “She lived her UVic and the community in so many of mathematicians and statisticians, life on her own terms. A true original.” ways that to a non-mathematician her leadership played a pivotal role in She and her husband spent most they may seem countless. And with starting the university’s much lauded of their time at their Galiano cottage, the same generosity that character- co-op program.” where she was able to more fully ized her life, in her passing Kennedy Kennedy was also an instrumental nurture her garden. At the same time, bestowed UVic with a $3.6-million gift. leader in the early development of Kennedy remained deeply involved Through this gift in her will, Ken- UVic and was pivotal in the founding with UVic—particularly as a loyal nedy has created a $3-million en- of the schools of nursing, social work, friend and supporter of Finnerty Gar- dowed chair in mathematical biology, and health and information science. dens, as an organizer of the univer- allowing the Faculty of Science to “Betty remained a confidante of many sity’s annual plant sale. further develop an expertise in this of UVic’s presidents over the years,” It was at her property on Galiano critical intersection of subjects. The says Rob Lipson, former dean of sci- where she started more closely con- remaining $600,000 will be added to ence, who developed a longstanding sidering the interactions between the the existing Betty and Gilbert Kennedy friendship with Kennedy over the subjects of mathematics and statistics Kennedy celebrates her retirement in 1985. UVIC COMMUNICATIONS, COURTESY OF UVIC ARCHIVES. entrance scholarships in engineering, course of his nine-year tenure. and biology, conversing with her life- law, math and music, which when Her contribution to university long friend van den Driessche. of a small but prolific research team provide an anchor to mathematical asked, she said she endowed because, governance was recognized through “At the intersection of mathematics working in this area, and the univer- biology at UVic,” says Peter Loock, “I love music, I taught mathematics, my an honorary doctorate in 1988, and and biology is a critical area of study sity recently created a joint math- the dean of science. “Betty Kennedy husband was a lawyer and my father her many years of teaching were hon- that allows us to better understand ematics and biology degree option contributed so much to the university was an engineer.” oured through the 2018 renaming of the impact of climate change, pest in response to student interest. The over the course of her life, transform- Any additional funds that are the Betty and Gilbert Kennedy Math control and economics,” says van den impact of these researchers has been ing the lives of those whom she taught, received from the gift will go towards and Stats Assistance Centre, where Driessche. “But perhaps none of these particularly evident over the course of worked with and mentored. With this creating endowed graduate scholar- undergraduate students receive sup- applications is so prominent these the COVID-19 pandemic, working to endowed chair, her contributions will ships within the Department of Math- port for coursework. days as that this area allows us to understand how the disease spreads be felt well beyond our community, ematics and Statistics, and support After retiring in 1983, Kennedy understand pandemics.” and estimate hidden cases. creating a truly global impact on the existing awards created by Kennedy. served with numerous community van den Driessche is at the centre “An endowed chair in this area will scientific community.” Kennedy may be best known for groups including the Friends of the her contributions as a teacher to hun- Royal BC Museum, the Family and dreds of mathematics and statistics Children’s Services, the CRD Hospital students, first at UBC before coming and Health Planning Commission, the COMFORTABLE Solguard Financial to UVic where she taught for nearly Victoria Rhododendron Society and PROFESSIONAL three decades. “She was a keen mentor several others. 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The Ring October 2020 Page 7 UVIC KNOWLEDGE Uncovering hidden COVID-19 cases Better estimate of true cases Through a series of interconnected projects, the research aims to evaluate the risk of future can help fight new outbreaks COVID-19 waves and investigate strategies for the early detections of such waves. BY VIMALA JEEVANANDAM “The suite of tools the team is creating will support decision-making for the province over With detected cases of COVID-19 relatively the course of the pandemic,” says Cowen. “The low on Vancouver Island and the province of tools can be tailored by analysts, planners and BC lauded internationally for its comparative leaders for use across a variety of organizations success in handling the global pandemic, it’s no at the local and regional levels, and extrapolated surprise some residents see a reason to celebrate. for use in different jurisdictions.” But British Columbians have been warned Drawing from data gathered by Island Health that celebrations, and especially large in-person and other government bodies, Cowen’s project gatherings, continue to be discouraged. While uses statistical methods borrowed from wild- the province has gradually re-opened in recent life ecology to measure the number of hidden months, much uncertainty remains given the COVID-19 cases. Her team will be comparing unpredictable ebb and flow of new cases. This information from COVID-19 lab tests to hos- uncertainty is partly due to the unknown number pital admission data, looking for the amount of of hidden cases. overlap between these lists to estimate the total “For each case of COVID-19 that we can see number of cases that are going undetected. and count, there are a number of undetected Meanwhile UVic mathematical modeller cases out in our communities,” says Laura Cow- Junling Ma and Island Health clinical research- Cowen on campus, August 2020. PHOTO: UVIC PHOTO SERVICES en, a University of Victoria statistician. “These ers are developing and refining tools based on unreported cases can kindle new outbreaks as we Cowen’s findings. infection at Island Health healthcare or service Cowen’s expertise is in studying animal continue to re-open. We need to be able to esti- Ma is using mathematical modelling to bet- locations may inadvertently be transmitted to demographics, and the methods that she is mate the true number of cases to understand the ter understand the characteristics of outbreaks vulnerable populations, such as seniors or those adapting are ones she most often applies in scope and help tell the full story of the pandemic.” as the province continues to restart and rules experiencing homelessness. fisheries research to measure population size. Asymptomatic patients, limitations on test- are relaxed. He is building models that focus Mathematical biology is a burgeoning inter- “In studying wildlife and COVID-19, you are ing, and misreporting of symptoms, among on scenarios where people are in close contact, disciplinary field that can support researchers looking at a smaller subset of a population to other factors, mean that unknown COVID-19 such as within households and in long-term and policymakers in making informed decisions. better understand what is going on in a much cases are going uncounted. Scientists, includ- care facilities. UVic has a small but prolific research team inter- larger group,” says she says. ing mathematical modellers, need to be able to “Looking at these close contact situations will ested in this area of study, and recently created As part of collaborations to better understand estimate the detection rate so as to evaluate the allow us to evaluate testing strategies that can a joint mathematics and biology degree option at-risk groups during the pandemic, Cowen is risk of future waves and the impact of re-opening. effectively and quickly identify outbreaks and in response to student interest. currently using modelling methods to estimate In research funded by the Michael Smith potential future waves,” says Ma. The collaborative research project combines the homeless population of Vancouver Island, Foundation for Health Research, and in partner- To create targeted prevention strategies, the UVic’s top ranking mathematical research with and has previously applied related methodolo- ship with Victoria Hospitals Foundation and the research team is also working on enhancing an Island Health and Victoria Hospitals Founda- gies to estimate the population size and needle Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute, Cowen is existing Island Health tracing tool. The enhanced tion’s health service delivery expertise and data sharing behaviour of people who use injection leading work to uncover this mystery. tool will help identify locations where COVID-19 records. drugs in Victoria.

PRESIDENT’S CHAIR CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Indigenous languages finding a way forward during COVID

BY LAUREN FROST began to create digital resources in “It’s difficult for us, being asked to their own languages to teach com- put our names forward for something,” In the face of a global pandemic, munity members about the new she says. “I know my students feel that language revitalization continues virus as well as how to protect them- discomfort, too, but they’re also going to thrive in Indigenous communi- selves,” says McIvor. People also to need to put their names forward, for ties across Canada and the world, learned how to read public health scholarships and other opportunities.” according to new research by In- warnings in their own languages, “I tell them that when you put your digenous education scholar, Onowa learned the words for COVID-19 name forward, you bring attention to McIvor. symptoms, and shared them on the issue you care about. You draw In June, McIvor received COV- social media. the light to it. That’s a powerful thing. A Cree-language COVID symptom checklist, as used by Alberta Health Services. ID-19 Emergency Research Funding This shift to virtual language If I can be of service in bringing Indig- from the Faculty of Education to learning may also have lasting enous language revitalization to more Shifting the narrative Languages Act. The act envisages a conduct a short-term study of the benefits for language revitalization people’s attention by putting myself McIvor recalls that in her early years collaborative partnership with Indig- effects ofCOVID-19 on Indigenous work. Their study shows greater ac- forward, then that’s OK.” of study, the public discourse around enous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, language revitalization work. cessibility to new online classes from Indigenous languages was mostly maintain and strengthen Indigenous Over the summer, a small re- those who were previously unable to One mind, one people around mourning for what was be- languages in Canada. search team sought to understand participate in face-to-face learning McIvor’s multifaceted work to re- ing lost. Media coverage at that time how language teachers and learners due to geographic location. vive Indigenous languages has taken tended to be limited to occasional Spirit of collaboration responded to the pandemic through many forms, from researching adult stories marking the death of an elder A collaborative partnership on all use of an online survey and analysis Finding the way forward, language learning programs in Indig- who had been the last sole speaker of fronts will be essential to success, says of language revitalization social me- together enous communities to co-creating an a particular language. “The narrative McIvor. Language revitalization has to dia pages. Early findings show that From McIvor’s perspective, collabo- open-source language assessment tool. in the 1990s was all about dying lan- be led by Indigenous peoples, “but we many communities have success- ration across national and global She currently co-leads a $2.5 mil- guages,” she says. can’t do it alone.” fully adapted in ways that allowed Indigenous communities has always lion national project to support and These days, the work comes from a “We didn’t get into this on our own, for the continuation of language been at the heart of the Indigenous expand language revitalization efforts much more hopeful perspective. and we won’t get out of it on our own, revitalization. The study also illus- language revitalization movement, across Canada. / _ _ —“one “We’re looking at where language either,” she says. “We need people with trates the vital role that language is and the sharing of knowledge and mind, one people” in the revitalization is working,” McIvor says, skills to lend to this work. We need playing in keeping communities safe experience will continue to play a language—is a SSHRCNETOLN-fundedEW col- “and the impact it’s having on people’s funding. We absolutely need allies.” and informed during a time of crisis. large role in sustaining the move- laboration with nine IndigenousSENĆOŦEN lives. We’re not ignoring the concerns The COVID pandemic is having its McIvor discussed these findings as ment during the pandemic. The partners in six provinces. about language speakers passing on, own surprising impact on language part of a Sept. 23 panel focused on team’s research will be used to “This work is very near and dear because that’s still happening. But revitalization, as McIvor and her accelerating community resilience develop resources that draw on the to my heart, very personal. That’s the even when it does, you can still look research team discovered in a short during the pandemic. solutions and innovations of diverse case for virtually everyone who works at the legacy of the person, the young study this summer. Indigenous language revitalization in Indigenous language revitalization,” people they connected to and influ- Switching to online platforms Virtual language learning communities. These resources will says McIvor, who is maskiko-nehiyaw ence they had before they died. It really wasn’t easy for language learning ac- “The pandemic crisis that hit in then be shared on an open-access (Swampy Cree) and Scottish-Canadian. is a pedagogy of hope.” tivities that were almost always done March of 2020 had the potential to website for Indigenous communities, All Canadians benefit from the A growing government commit- in person, says McIvor. But at the same silence language work and reduce it organizations, and individuals seek- continuation and celebration of Indig- ment to language revitalization is time, that switch brought in more to non-critical activity, once again,” ing to continue their language work enous languages as the country works evident at both the federal and pro- learners from distant locations who McIvor says. “But, what Indigenous during the pandemic and beyond. to reconcile its difficult and troubled vincial levels, adds McIvor. In 2018, the were suddenly able to access language Peoples do and have always done in “Using these available tools, plat- history with Indigenous peoples, BC government allocated $50 million classes for the first time. the face of danger and adversity—ex- forms, and opportunities, the work McIvor adds. over three years to help revitalize As the pandemic shook people into ercise collective strength and agility.” can safely propel forward and not “Indigenous languages are filled Indigenous languages, a significant taking stock of what mattered most According to the team’s survey, allow the precious language work with beauty, like great works of art, jump in spending over the $1 million in their lives, many reached to their when the pandemic put a pause on to fall away in this time of crisis,” and hold much wisdom through a year that had been typical to that culture to ground themselves. She face-to-face language revitalization says McIvor. “Indigenous commu- philosophical views, cultural values point, she says. adds, “What we have noticed is more work, nearly 60 per cent shifted their nities’ responses to the pandemic and ways of living.” Since 2016, the federal government people turning to our languages in this work online. show that, just like the water, our has increased its spending as well, and time of crisis. There is comfort there.” “Indigenous communities quickly languages always find a way forward.” last year introduced the Indigenous

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