From hosting inspiring speakers to supporting changemaking research, it’s been an extraordinary year at Royal Roads University.
(Be sure to read through until the end for a look back at the lighter side of life at Royal Roads.)
Changemaking at RRU
We’re Canada’s university for changemakers. Changemakers teach here, study here and share thought-provoking ideas at community-based events.
We hosted four Changemakers Speakers Series events in 2023, and were honoured to share ideas and space with Dr. Suzanne Simard, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon, The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould and Dr. Andrea A. Davis.
Two-minute highlights from Jody Wilson-Raybould inspiring talk on "True reconciliation" at the Changemakers Speakers Series.
This year, three changemakers received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa – the university’s highest honour — at Convocation ceremonies; Jody Thomas, Carey Newman and Andrea A. Davis. Canada’s Ambassador to Germany, and former Premier of British Columbia, John Horgan joined us in the volunteer role of Senior Fellow, Leadership Studies.
In 2023, Ashoka U reaffirmed RRU's status as a Changemaker Campus, a distinction we've proudly held since 2017. Recognized for unwavering commitment to changemaking and social innovation, RRU is one of just seven institutions in Canada bearing this title.
What does changemaking mean for Royal Roads staff, faculty and students? Listen to President Philip Steenkamp address grads at our Fall 2023 Convocation ceremonies.
Royal Roads University President Philip Steenkamp's address to the graduating class of Fall 2023.
Changemaking faculty research
Changemaking is part of our DNA. It’s what our researchers are made of, too.
Our faculty researchers studied everything from lab-grown protein to the importance of war memorials in humanity’s shared First World War history.
Robin S. Cox, director of Royal Roads’ Resilience by Design (RbD) Research lab, secured $1.5 million in government funding to help support youth programming for reconciliation and climate action. Rob Newell, Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainability, also has a key research focus on the topic of climate action. He’s part of a team looking at questions around the emerging field of cellular agriculture and he discussed the big issues around food production, climate change and the future of farming with President Philip Steenkamp. Watch more below.
From mealworm farming to cellular agriculture, Royal Roads University President Steenkamp speaks with Dr. Robert Newell about the big issues around food production, climate change and the future of farming.
Themes around equity, diversity and inclusion were present in a number of local research projects, including matthew heinz’s co-authored needs assessment, Aging with Dignity. The report identifies ongoing challenges and recommendations for improved care and services for 2SLGBTQI+ seniors in BC. Gabriola Island-based researcher Phillip Vannini released his new ethnographic film, Our Teacher, in 2023 before taking it on the road for the film festival circuit.
Internationally, Shelley Jones continued her focus on women's empowerment in Uganda, drawing from two decades of study, and Geoff Bird explored the Brooding Soldier monument in Belgium, commemorating its centenary through a poignant seven-minute short film.
Student and alumni achievement
Our students and alumni are passionate about what they do. They learn from each other, build communities and answer some of the world's toughest challenges.
Local knowledge and stories about the relationship between the people and polar bears of Churchill, MB are now a podcast and a thesis, thanks to MA Interdisciplinary Studies student Kt Miller.
RRU MA Intercultural and International Communication alum Hostion Ho creates spaces for the queer-Asian community to showcase, represent, make noise and take up space.
DSocSci candidate Shawna Yamkovy is helping create a digital dictionary to preserve her mother's ancestral language.
MA in Leadership alum Melissa Giles helps prevent renters from becoming homeless due to short-term financial troubles.
DSocSci grad Courtney Defriend wins Governor General’s Gold Medal for dissertation on belonging.
Climate action: Doing a world of good
Climate action is the foundation of our learning, teaching, research and action.
In 2023, we announced this slate of online courses available in partnership with the Climate Risk Institute as well as this codesigned climate action leadership program in the Philippines. We also hosted our inaugural Climate Week, offering a wide range of activities for students and the public to explore climate action. Our Bachelor of Business Administration students got in on the action, too, carrying out a campus waste-audit – the first to be completed by students – in an effort to reduce plastic waste on campus. And the new collaborative campus in central Langford hit a key milestone early in 2023, with a solid foundation of CarbonCure concrete being poured.
The Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University
It’s been a busy year at the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University. Founded in 2020, the institute is dedicated to addressing humanity’s interconnected crises by advancing high-leverage interventions. In 2023, the institute grew significantly, adding new researchers to its Polycrisis, Ultradeep Geothermal Energy, and Permafrost Carbon teams, as well as partnering with RRU’s Julie MacArthur on an Energy Systems Transformation project and RRU’s Jaigris Hodson on an anti-Polarization project.
Growing kindness (by the truckload)
Now in its second year, the Farm at RRU continues to grow (and grow and grow). The first harvest of 2023 was delivered to Our Place for the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Program. Soon a community fridge opened on campus, stocked with garden-grown fresh produce for anyone who needs it. This spring, the sunshine – and a generous $196,000 gift from TD Bank Group – helped continue to grow the Farm at RRU. Thanks to support from volunteers and donors, The Farm doubled crop production in 2023 from the year before and provided more than 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to community partners.
Giving Tuesday was a huge success, this year raising funds and food to support student health and wellness at Royal Roads. We were grateful to receive a literal truckload of non-perishables from Khalsa Aid Canada.
See their generosity in action.
Leading the conversation: RRU in the news
At RRU, we're not just making change; we're making waves — airwaves, to be precise. From radio to TV, to print and podcasts, our impactful efforts continue to catch the attention of local and national audiences.
Throughout 2023, the Cascade Institute’s research and researchers were frequently featured in the national and international media. Coverage included powerful The Globe and Mail op-eds urging action on global warming and geothermal energy, and an article in Vox by executive director Thomas Homer-Dixon analyzing why so much is going wrong at the same time.
President Philip Steenkamp penned three op-eds published in the Vancouver Sun on topics including transgender equality, opportunities for AI in education and our appetite for action when it comes to food security.
With topics ranging from misinformation to mental health, nine RRU faculty members and students published as many articles in the Conversation Canada – many of which were republished many times over in traditional media.
And while both bear and cougar sightings got plenty of play this year in local media, so too did stories of community innovation, like student Karly Nygaard-Petersen’s research on e-scooter uptake and our bountiful harvest from the Farm at RRU.
Celebrating our community, together
We celebrated a number of diverse events over the past year including Black History Month in February, where we celebrated the legacy, achievements and experiences of Black Canadians in our university community and beyond. In May, we honoured the contributions of people of Asian descent during Asian Heritage Month and we marked Pride 2023 with and in-person events throughout June and July.
Together with our partners, we were grateful to once again honour National Indigenous Peoples Month throughout June with a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on the Lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Students and staff had the opportunity to share their culture with the Royal Roads community through food, song, dance, fashion and more at our International Showcase – one of our most popular events of the year.
A side of laughter
And now…something nice. A few laughs, a lot of critters and one dramatic rescue. Joy can be a powerful antidote to the heaviness around us. Here are your funny and touching favourites from the last year.
A student heard a tiny peep down a campus drain…
Happy HOWL-oween!
Superheroes or not, our students and alum are truly out of this world. (Click the post below and check the comments).
Superheroes or not, our students and alum are truly out of this world. *Individual powers to fly through space may vary from student to student. (See comment!)
Posted by Royal Roads University on Wednesday, July 26, 2023
You better not be acting like you’re in a Wes Anderson movie on the Royal Roads campus.
Annual RRU Duck Race raises a “quacktastic” $1000 for the United Way
Two students ask President Steenkamp the big questions
Finally, students turned the tables on Dr. Philip Steenkamp to recognize his reappointment for a second term as RRU president. They interviewed him on his leadership and the lighter side of things with a speed round of questions.
Students Beerinder Singh and Paloma Paloma Quijano Flores turn the tables on Dr. Philip Steenkamp to recognize his reappointment for a second term as RRU president.
Find more highlights from the past year on our Royal Roads News page.