Welcome to Vivacity YYC 2023! Vivacity is a civic innovation course rooted in community where students become active and engaged citizens. Our goal is to test and invest our creative energy in outcome driven solutions to local challenges. We work together with community partners on real projects that help our city become more vibrant, sustainable, and resilient.
Within the context of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, this year Vivacity will look at the pivotal role that newcomers play in engaging community, building social capital, and making a SMART city more human! Throughout the semester, students will have an opportunity to explore our city, its communities and how we might support newcomers as they relocate to Calgary!
Over the course of the term, students will explore the following challenge questions:
1. How might we mitigate the barriers and challenges immigrants and newcomers encounter when they relocate to Calgary?
2. How might we build awareness about the contributions of newcomers and immigrants to our city?
Our city is uniquely positioned at this time, in that it is increasingly recognized as a Living Lab as it supports the city’s innovation ecosystem. While a Living Lab supports increased economic diversification and innovation, it is the people who make the ‘lab environment’ real and impactful. It is in this context that we will explore newcomer and immigrant engagement by reimagining what a resilient future looks like for individuals new to our city.
Our amazing community partners!
Vivacity is made possible through the generous support of our community partners and this semester they include: The Calgary Public Library, The City of Calgary, Centre for Newcomers, Civic Tech YYC, IncluCity, BA Studio, Calgary Foundation, the Institute for Community Prosperity, Windmill Microlending, Immigrant Services Calgary and J5 Design! Special thanks to John Vardalos and the J5 team for opening up their design studio to our class each week!
Activation in our community
Winter Semester (January - April 2023)
Students from any post-secondary institution may register in this course [Civic Innovation SINV 4401] as an unclassified student at Mount Royal University. Notification of successful completion will be forwarded to the student’s home institution.
Throughout the semester, students will come together for 3 hours each Thursday afternoon with the lead instructor, Dr. Catherine Pearl, other faculty, course alumni, and community partners for learning, mentorship and coaching opportunities. This term the course is being delivered face to face from the offices of J5 Design Studio, in downtown Calgary!
Community Engagement
Opportunities for community engagement and experimentation will be held throughout the term. Should you wish to participate as a coach, mentor, knowledge expert or are simply interested in this very important subject, do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Pearl!
Final Showcase (March 23, 2023)
An end of term showcase will feature student presentations, along with the work they have curated throughout the semester. There will be opportunities for our community partners, stakeholders, community members and colleagues to explore learnings and observations emerging from this talented group of students.
We are thrilled to announce that Vivacity will be returning once again to the Calgary Public Library’s award winning downtown location! Details to follow!