The Offices of the Vice-President Research & Innovation and Research Services at Lakehead University hosted the Community-College-University Exposition (C2U Expo) which is Canada's leading conference on community-based research and community-campus engagement. Supported by Community-based Research Canada (CBRCanada), the conference brought together roughly 400 community-based organizations, Indigenous groups, researchers and students from academic institutions, grass-root organizations, policy-makers, and knowledge mobilization experts from Thunder Bay, the region and beyond. Held from June 5-8, 2023 in Thunder Bay, for the very first time in a small university and in a small community; the conference brought new perspectives on the unique challenges of universities and communities in northern rural contexts.  Funding from the Research Support Fund (RSF) played a vital role in making the conference a success.

Community-based research has proven time and again to be a powerful catalyst for positive social, health and environmental change. This was aptly reflected in the conference theme - Connected Communities. Collective Change which was supported by five streams covering various aspects of community-based research. 150 presentations through 55 orals, panels, plenaries, films and videos were highlighted through various streams: Stream 1 deliberated on Indigenous data sovereignty; Stream 2 emphasized on building strong and adaptable communities; Stream 3 showcased future leaders through community-engaged learning and integrated learning; and Stream 4 explored community-campus partnership models and the role of institutions. Finally, Stream 5 offered an open creative space to include related topics. The sessions shared collective knowledge, experiences, and best practices with an opportunity to learn from one another, to engage in meaningful dialogues, and to forge new partnerships.

Keynote and plenary speakers of international fame included Professor Maui Hudson from University of Waikato, New Zealand, Dr. Eve Tuck from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Liz Weaver from Tamarack Institute, and Norbert Steinhaus, from the Wissenschaftsladen Bonn (Wila Bonn – Bonn Science Shop).

Lakehead, through its deep belief in community-based research, addresses complex challenges on social inequities, environmental sustainability, healthcare disparities, or economic development. The conference served as a testament to Lakehead University’s commitment to fostering a strong relationship between the University and the communities it serves. As part of the conference’s on-site community showcases, the delegates visited some exceptional grassroots community-based research projects, where discussions revolved around community engagement in the research process, harnessing collective wisdom, local expertise, and lived experiences for impactful and sustainable outcomes.

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Corporation estimated that the conference potentially generated approximately $500,000 in revenue to the area through accommodations, meals, and shopping opportunities. In addition to the economic benefits, the 2023 C2U Expo conference was a great way for researchers to engage in meaningful interactions while developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of community-engaged research approaches and models. For more information: C2UExpo, visit ec.lakeheadu.ca/c2uexpo/welcome and here.

Funding from the RSF was instrumental in making C2U Expo 2023 a success through its support of the salaries of Lakehead University research and innovation personnel who devoted countless hours to both planning and executing the event.  While Lakehead University did use an outside conference planner to help with organization, the vast majority of the planning and execution was undertaken by the staff in the Office of Research Services. The RSF assisted with supporting the salary costs for these staff.

In 2022/23, Lakehead University received more than $2 million in assistance from the Research Support Fund to support the indirect costs of research, which includes costs for supporting the management of intellectual property, research and administration, ethics and regulatory compliance, research resources, research facilities, and research security.