Sustainability needs to
become a unifying story of hope,
a useful myth foretelling
the arrival of a new kind of human community.
- ChrisTurner, The Geography of Hope
The SLM 604 course provides “an
opportunity for learners to understand how to influence change towards sustainability
in communities and organizations.” As part of that course, the
Vancouver Learning Lab (VLL) is designed to provide learners with an
opportunity to experience the applied dimensions of course theories and
concepts. Through activities such as speakers and presentations, visits and
tours of social and other change-oriented enterprises, mapping exercises, group
discussions and debriefings, we examine diverse aspects of leisure in relation
to (positive, social, transformational) change, stakeholders, planning, innovation
and sustainability. Learners are provided with opportunities to synthesize
in-class learning and reading through experiential education activities and
presentations by Vancouver-based social innovators and changemakers. From December 9-11, 2015, 24 students and VLL
designer and faculty member, Dr. Suzanne de la Barre, travelled to Vancouver
from Nanaimo to explore course themes with diverse changemakers. We were
pleased also to have accompany us, two co-facilitators: The World Leisure Centre of Excellence at VIU,
Guest Scholar Dr. Betty Weiler, and
PhD student in Social Innovation, Fiona
Friesen.
Participating changemakers for
this years’ VLL include: YWCA Hotel
Vancouver (Arthur Mills), Mountain
Equipment Co-op (MEC) (Elyse Curley, Vanadis Oviedo and Khoi Chau), Roundhouse Community Centre (Cindy Chwelos
and Maria Lopes), Edible Canada
(Eric Pateman), Groundswell Grassroots Economic Alternatives
(Paola Qualizza and Emily Huynh), Skwachàys
Lodge and Aboriginal Art Gallery (Maggie Edwards and David Eddy), City of Vancouver (Non-Profit and Community
Capacity Building, Social Policy and Projects Division) (Annie Burkes), and
The Hive – Sweet Social Impact (Maya
Goodwill). Thanks also to Potluck Café and Catering and The
Post at 750. The MA SLM program greatly appreciates
your example of positive change, and thanks each and every one of you for your
support to our program and students, and for your willingness to share your
perspectives, vision, and experiences with us.
What do you get
when you cross a bunch of graduate students of leisure, change and innovation
with waiting time outside MEC head office in Vancouver? A spontaneous line
dance class, of course!!!!!
