Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
By actively fostering partnerships and collaborations at the local, national and global levels, ³Ô¹ÏÍø demonstrates its commitment to SDG 17. These partnerships are instrumental in addressing complex global challenges and working toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
The work that ³Ô¹ÏÍø completed in 2024 to advance SDG 17.
³Ô¹ÏÍø won gold at the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards, chosen as the top submission from Canada and the U.S. across all 18 categories. ³Ô¹ÏÍø was recognized for providing impactful experiential learning opportunities as part of its long-time research partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), which sees students work alongside community partners to tackle the effects of climate change on northern ecosystems and well-being.
Alison Blay-Palmer, the UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, has been selected to lead the drafting committee for the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The panel will present a report on building resilient food systems at the 53rd plenary session of the CFS in October 2025.
Together with educators, regional innovation laboratories and principals’ associations, a team of researchers from ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Faculty of Education is using generative AI to develop a chatbot that supports principals in their decision-making. PrincipalBot provides quick access to important information, such as school board policies, human rights legislation and community resources, that principals can call upon when needed.
While attending ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Brantford Community Safety Search Conference in November 2023, Dave Wiedrick was struck by a statistic shared by ³Ô¹ÏÍø researcher Tarah Hodgkinson. In her assessment of Brantford police activity, Hodgkinson found that 85 per cent of police calls were not related to crime. Most calls were reporting social disorder, such as mental health crises, largely made visible and exacerbated by homelessness.
Before joining the City of Brantford as director of bylaw compliance and security, Wiedrick spent many years working as a police officer. Hodgkinson’s data confirmed what he had long suspected: there must be a better way to address social disorder than by using valuable police resources, and perhaps helping people off the street was the first step. Wiedrick brainstormed ideas with community stakeholders at the conference, including social workers and downtown business owners, and left inspired to make a change.
Ciann Wilson, an associate professor of Psychology at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, has been named the Canada Research Chair in Community-Based Research, Ethics and Well-being in recognition of her impactful research with and alongside equity-deserving communities. The Canada Research Chair Program is also honouring Wilson with its prestigious Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity.
³Ô¹ÏÍø research centres advancing SDG 17.
The is a university-wide research centre with active members across multiple faculties involved in Afrocentric research projects. TISCA’s vision is to provide scholars specializing in Africa with a platform and voice to produce and share timely interdisciplinary knowledge and discourse about issues affecting contemporary Continental Africa and its diaspora. TISCA’s mission is to promote global awareness and excellence in knowledge development on issues in contemporary Africa and the African diaspora in Canada and beyond.
The (IMRC) serves as a node of excellence in scholarship and research, social and cultural debate, and policy formulation pertaining to international migration. The IMRC's mission is to create platforms for debate, research, policy analysis, community engagement and proposal development related to international migration and mobility at global, national, regional and local scales.
The United Nations Development Program provides a framework for defining “human security” as a freedom from fear, want, poverty and despair, and the work of the (CRSP) both engages and extends this definition. The centre does so by thinking through global and state-level practices of security and securitization that uphold structural forms of power and which, somewhat paradoxically, leave particular populations vulnerable. CRSP takes this tension as the heart of its work and the place through which a more fulsome and productive notion of security may be generated.
The is a multidisciplinary, collaborative undertaking among research faculty in the Faculty of Arts, the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Science. The focus of the institute is on research in three interconnected water-related disciplines:
The was established in 1987. Initially focused on arctic and mountain glaciology and hydrology, the scope has broadened to cold regions (mountain and northern) research consulting on topics such as hydrology, climatology, glaciology, resource management, parks planning and biogeochemistry.
The (LCSFS) connects researchers and community partners engaged in sustainable food systems change. It creates opportunities for citizens, practitioners, policy-makers, private enterprise and academics to work together to imagine and foster food systems that are fair, healthy, ecologically regenerative, culturally appropriate, prosperous and inclusive. Using food as a lever for positive change, the LCSFS enables meaningful collaboration among people across institutions, sectors and disciplines to support community-driven research, innovative knowledge sharing, and the development of community resources and sustainable food system policy.
The facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.
The (VERiS) is an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research centre striving to be a catalyst and nexus for the transition toward strong cultures of sustainability. The centre understands cultures of sustainability “as characterized by shared values, symbols, rituals and practices grounded in sustainability principles leading to individual and societal choices that promote environmental protection, social justice and well-being, and a supportive economy." A culture of sustainability may exist within an organization, a building with multiple organizations or a community.
The (LCSC) focuses on the interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and comparative study of the Canadian experience. LCSC has three objectives:
In pursuit of this mission, LCSC recognizes there are expansive, evolving, and contested interpretations of Canada.
The brings together ³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty, staff and students, as well as researchers and partners from external community organizations with backgrounds in education, psychology, kinesiology, music, health studies, biology, languages and literatures, history, social work, youth and children’s studies, global studies and more. The centre aspires to support research and research-related activities in education. A salient feature of CLRiE is its focus on interdisciplinarity, encouraging the development of thoughtful, balanced and creative approaches to educational research in a changing world.
The is an interdisciplinary community development and research centre guided by multiple social determinants of health. The centre acts as an incubator for students committed to community-based scholarship and development in the field of health and well-being. The centre welcomes master’s and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, from a variety of academic disciplines to work within any of its communities of practice. Research priorities include women and gender, global health and development, Francophone issues, Indigenous health and wellness, environmental issues, community economic development and social innovation.
The is an interdisciplinary research centre located in ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Faculty of Science. The centre's work is focused on developing community partnerships and producing research, learning and action that advances community well-being and social justice. CCRLA facilitates community-based research by brokering linkages between community partners and ³Ô¹ÏÍø student and faculty researchers. CCRLA provides an activity centre for social policy development and community action. The defining feature of the centre is its commitment to collaborative processes between university, community, industry and policy partners that honour the unique wisdom and skills of the non-academic community.
Launched in 2012, the (WinS) is proud to champion women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The centre is building an inclusive scientific community through research, action and communication. Its ultimate goal is to make the centre redundant.
The (LCMC) was formed with a mission of connecting ³Ô¹ÏÍø to the wider Waterloo Region community through musical activities, community research and collaboration. The LCMC lives out this mission through research, symposia, publishing, projects, partnerships and concerts. Using music as a conduit, it works to connect community, collaborate with music-makers, and contribute to the vitality of music and people.
³Ô¹ÏÍø initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 17.
The university hosts a variety of conferences, panels and events that bring together individuals from a range of sectors to discuss the SDGs. Examples include:
³Ô¹ÏÍø is committed to fostering a university culture where gender-based and sexual violence is not tolerated and survivors are believed and supported with compassion, dignity and respect. Between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10, 2023, ³Ô¹ÏÍø hosted programming in support of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that calls for action against harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender and challenges gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Gender-based violence disproportionately impacts women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender and non-binary people, but men can also be impacted. Events included:
Properly addressing Canada’s housing crisis requires holistic, community-centered solutions and engagement from all levels of government. That was the message a panel of ³Ô¹ÏÍø women shared with over 100 attendees during the seventh annual International Women’s Day luncheon, hosted by the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association and International Women’s Forum Waterloo Chapter.
³Ô¹ÏÍø hosted three amazing speakers for the second installment of the . Alumni Dolf DeJong (Toronto Zoo), Samantha Tremmel Lamb (Conestoga College) and Faye Wood (AET Group) discussed their insights and experiences working in sustainability.
Following the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit last year, we are farther than ever from our sustainability goals. ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Centre for Sustainable Food Systems hosted a webinar with a panel of experts including Robert McLeman (³Ô¹ÏÍø), Alison Blay-Palmer (³Ô¹ÏÍø), Miriam Medel Garcia (Food Systems, Nutrition and Agroecology, Society for International Development), and Magdalena Ackermann (Global Policy Advocacy and Regional Cooperation for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). The panel reflected on the intersections of food security, climate change, migration, desertification and land rights to address key directions about the future of people and the planet.
Bringing together diverse leaders in the housing policy sector, LISPOP (³Ô¹ÏÍø Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy) hosted its 2nd annual . The day-long event was held on Oct. 20, 2023. The keynote panel brought together Prentiss Dantzler (University of Toronto), Heather Rollwagen (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Sean Simpson (Ipsos Public Affairs) to explore how public opinion shapes the possibilities for meaningful policy action on housing. Additional speakers included academics, community members, and other policy stakeholders from Waterloo Region and beyond.
³Ô¹ÏÍø maintains strategic alliances with global institutions to advance the SDGs. By engaging in international partnerships, ³Ô¹ÏÍø not only enhances its academic and research capabilities but also contributes significantly to global efforts to build a more sustainable and equitable world. Examples of our international collaborations focused on gathering data to advance the SDGs include:
³Ô¹ÏÍø is engaging in international collaborations to help develop and implement best practises for advancing the SDGs.
³Ô¹ÏÍø collaborates with a number of NGOs to support the advancement of the SDGs. These include:
³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers collaborate with numerous NGOs. As one example, ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s (CCRLA) is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on developing community partnerships, including with NGOs, and producing research, learning and action that advances community well-being and social justice. CCRLA facilitates community-based research by brokering linkages between community partners and ³Ô¹ÏÍø students and faculty researchers. CCRLA provides an activity centre for community-focused and engaged research, social policy development and community action. The defining feature of the centre is its commitment to collaborative processes between university, community, industry and policy partners that honour the unique wisdom and skills of the non-academic community. CCRLA's community partners include Lutherwood, Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Sustainable Waterloo Region, Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada, and the David Suzuki Foundation.
As the regional health and wellness coordinator for Dehcho First Nations, located in the Northwest Territories, Kristen Tanche has sought to create culturally relevant resources to help inform local health care. She believes that wellness is inherently connected to language, culture, land, family and physical health, and that those values should be reflected in the health-care options available to the Dehcho Dene people.
To assist in her efforts, Tanche partnered with ³Ô¹ÏÍø Professor Melody Morton Ninomiya, the Canada Research Chair in Community-Driven Knowledge Mobilization and Pathways to Wellness. Her research team synthesized 20 years of reports, meeting summaries and other existing documents, and chronicled Dehcho Dene concepts and indicators of health and wellness. They highlighted six interconnected priorities for the Dehcho First Nations to achieve wellness and healing, including on-the-land activities, language revitalization, and a strong focus on Elders and youth.
Their overarching finding was that, historically, the Dehcho’s belief system is rooted in Dene Ahthít’e, which means the ongoing relationship between Dene and the land. Being “healthy” means returning the mind, body, spirit and emotion to balance in the natural environment. This has become increasingly difficult in the context of colonialism, as the Dene struggle to live in accordance with their values and principles while being able to participate in the mainstream economy.
As part of ³Ô¹ÏÍø's participation in the , ³Ô¹ÏÍø has developed a student Sustainability Literacy Assessment (SLA). Students are asked questions that pertain to campus involvement, sustainability expertise and understanding, and personal opinions. Example questions include:
A representative sample for ³Ô¹ÏÍø's SLA is reached through distributing the survey to students registered in multiple courses at ³Ô¹ÏÍø with no relation to sustainability. The results are used to inform ³Ô¹ÏÍø's initiatives and programs in support of the SDGs.
³Ô¹ÏÍø is committed to providing meaningful sustainability education to all its students. This is affirmed in Goal 9 of the Sustainability Action Plan. ³Ô¹ÏÍø offers 434 sustainability-focused and related courses spanning all departments and Faculties. This means that every student receiving a degree from the institution is required to receive sustainability education during their time at ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Additionally, ³Ô¹ÏÍø offers a range of full degrees that advance one or more of the SDGS. Examples include degrees in Applied Health Sciences, Politics, Archaeology, Environmental Sciences, Global Governance, Human Rights, Law and Society, Public Safety, Social Work, Women and Gender Studies, among many others. Sustainability courses can be taken as part of a degree requirement and/or as electives. Courses include:
Discover how ³Ô¹ÏÍø is contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets.
