Communications Plan
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Funding Summary Report Co-Chairs: Jerry White, Professor, Sociology and Marcia Steyaert, Community Relations Specialist Written by: Jo Ann Johnston, Community Relations Specialist April 2018 Canada 150 Executive Summary Western Celebrates Canada’s Sesquicentennial Two thousand and seventeen was a historic year for Canada – the 150th anniversary of Confederation, also known as the country’s sesquicentennial. A committee comprised of Western University staff, faculty and students ensured there were numerous ways for the Western community to celebrate through sponsored projects, scholarships, events, legacy pieces and creative campus initiatives. Western’s Canada 150 committee co-chairs were Jerry White, Professor, Sociology and Marcia Steyaert, Community Relations Specialist from the Department of Communications & Public Affairs. The Canada 150 committee included: Alcina Stoetzer; Todd Wieczorek; Ruth Harland; Robin Keirstead; Rachel Condie; Kristina Dubois; Amanda Myers; Catherine Elliot Shaw; Douglas Keddy; Jacquelyn Burkell; Christine Von Wistinghausen; Josh Morgan; Kara James; Kristina E Dubois; Lesley Mounteer; Monica Fazekas; Robert Wardhaugh and Jo Ann Johnston. The total budget for projects sponsored through Western’s Canada 150 fund was $178,500. The committee closed the year under budget with $44,000 of remaining funds. There is a surplus for three reasons: 1. The Sesqui event planned with the City of London to be held on Western’s campus, was canceled when the federal Government pulled funding. 2. Savings from several new legacy projects (see below for more information). 3. There was a contingency fund built into the budget that was not used. The Don Wright Faculty of Music and McIntosh Gallery received significant funding to hold numerous events and concerts, including Canada 150 original scores that commemorated this significant event throughout 2017. These included multiple choral concerts including a stand-out night where an Indigenous poet’s work was put to music and choirs numbering more than 130 voices sang the work to an overflow downtown audience. The McIntosh produced a book, had an Indigenous artist display and organized an event with General John de Chastelain. There were six projects financed through Western’s Canada 150 faculty/staff fund, including: 1. Department of History Centennial Celebrations Western's Department of History marked a century of research, teaching and service while the MA Public History Program celebrated thirty years of putting history to work in the world. The project’s greatest success was being able to communicate to faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, partners and the greater Western and London community about the value of Western’s History Department and promote the work of historians. The various initiatives will serve the department, its faculty and students, the university, and the wider community for years to come. 1 Canada 150 Executive Summary 2. Raising expectations and reconciling our history: Charting a new curriculum standpoint in Canada Educational historian Rebecca Coulter, Indigenous scholar Erica Neeganagwedgin and Kathy Hibbert, Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research in Curriculum as a Social Practice, “re-viewed” historical ‘turns' in an effort to begin the work of reconciling and rewriting our curricular history. The dialogue amongst the research team was one of the most valuable discussions that came out of the initiative. Amber White, a doctoral student studying indigenous practices, presented in Scotland. 3. A Solar Eclipse to Celebrate Canada’s 150 More than 7,000 members of the London and Western communities gathered on University College Hill to observe an historical solar eclipse. Volunteers handed out more than 3,000 pairs of eclipse glasses so people could see the event with their own eyes. The special Canada 150 exhibits in the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory highlighted contributions to astronomy by Canadian institutes, observatories and astronomers and detailed the history of solar eclipses in Canada since Confederation. They allowed visitors to step back in time in a 1967-era observatory control room. Western’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX), along with the London Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada with support from the London Heritage Council and the City of London, hosted the free and informative opportunity to observe the eclipse. 4. Science Through the Lens of Indigenous Sky Lore This project explored past and present local Indigenous sky lore, drawing on the expertise of Tom Deer, from Six Nations Polytechnic, and David Moses, from Six Nations Legacy Consortium and The DAM Studio, along with the support of Western’s Indigenous Services. This project team created live presentations, adaptable for different audiences: university students, current and prospective; students from Six Nations schools; and the general public. The presentations were showcased during Indigenous Awareness Week, at recruitment events such as Western’s Mini University and Indigenous academic courses. They contribute to a series of presentations devoted to local First Nations sky lore. 5. Sir John A Macdonald and Elementary Mathematics Sir John A. Macdonald’s mathematics school notebook, written in 1827 when he was 12, is held by Library and Archives Canada. Western’s Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences created a website with the contents of the notebook. 6. Celebrating 150 Years of Canada in the World: A Student Art Competition Western International and McIntosh Gallery invited proposals from Western students for a work of public art on the theme of "150 Years of Canada in the World," reflecting the theme of Canada’s role over the past 150 years on the international stage. The winning piece titled "Cross-Border Transgression-Connection," is a sustainable, living work of art by Paul Chartrand, MFA'17. The piece will be installed for two years as a feature on the vertical stone wall on the east side of the International and Graduate Affairs Atrium. Paul received a prize of $2,500 for his outstanding submission. It was unveiled at an International Week event on November 15, 2017. 2 Canada 150 Executive Summary The Canada 150 Scholarships were created and awarded in 2017. These scholarships illustrate Western’s commitment to access and inclusion for Indigenous students. A total of $30,000 was awarded in 2017 which included $15,000 in January and $15,000 in September. Ten Indigenous students received $3,000 each with the majority going to Indigenous women with children targeting need. There were numerous other funded and non-funded events and initiatives tied to Canada 150 celebrations. The most notable include: Canada 150 time capsule – A legacy project commissioned by Western’s Canada 150 committee, engineering student Ethan Kellough created and designed a one-of-a-kind time capsule. Students, faculty, alumni and staff contributed content. The time capsule is now on permanent display in the D.B. Weldon Library and will be opened and its contents revealed during Canada’s bicentennial in 2067. Canada 150 campus banners – Western invested in permanent new hardware for light stands across campus. Canada 150 banners hung proudly throughout 2017. In 2018, the hardware was put to good use and new Western banners were displayed. This is another legacy project. Coinciding milestone celebrations – McIntosh Gallery celebrated its 75th anniversary, the Department of Visual Arts celebrated its 50th and Western’s French Immersion School marked its 85th year and the History department celebrated 100 years. Tulips and 150 maple trees – Landscape Services planted red and white tulips throughout the campus in 2017 as well as 150 maple trees in recognition of Canada’s 150. Students and members of the public were also invited on campus to attend a series of workshops on Indigenous music-making, led by elders from the local aboriginal communities. President’s Distinguished Lecture (Governor General): Western University is pleased to be host to His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada - As Western joins with all Canada to celebrate the nation’s 150th birthday this year, the Governor General has been calling upon Canadians to mark our collective milestone by building smarter and more caring communities: places where learning, innovation, philanthropy and family can thrive. Research Plaques A way the university is honouring the rich history of research excellence across disciplines at Western. Centennial Year Image Digitization Project As part of a signature Canada 150 project undertaken by Western Libraries and Western Archives, a key selection of the 1967 images have been digitized and are being made available to the general public, online at historypin.org. 3 Canada 150 Appendix 1 FUNDING SUMMARIES AND EVENTS Project: Western University events and initiatives tied to Canada’s 150 sesquicentennial celebrations Date: Januray 2017 – December 2017 Canada 150 Committee: Co-chairs – Jerry White and Marcia Steyaert Alcina Stoetzer; Todd Wieczorek; Ruth Harland; Robin Keirstead; Rachel Condie; Kristina Dubois; Amanda Myers; Catherine Elliot Shaw; Douglas Keddy; Jacquelyn Burkell; Christine Von Wistinghausen; Josh Morgan; Kara James; Kristina E Dubois; Lesley Mounteer; Monica S Fazekas; Robert Wardhaugh; Jo Ann Johnston Budget: $168,500 Projects funded through Western’s Canada 150 Faculty/Staff Fund: Department of History’s