Wednesday, June 26, 2024

First national study on 2SLGBTQ+ poverty launched during Pride Month

Every June, public institutions, civil society organizations, and leaders from many sectors share in celebrating Pride, positioning themselves as stewards of the hard-fought progress made in recognizing the human rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada. Despite this progress, Pride is not reducible to celebration. For 2SLGBTQ+ communities it is also a time of deep reflection, community mobilization, and an opportunity to draw attention to the socio-economic disparities affecting our collective well-being and our differing abilities to celebrate Pride. To address these issues directly, the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing Project is celebrating Pride by launching the first-ever national study aimed at addressing poverty among 2SLGBTQ+ communities. 

"We are thrilled to begin data collection for this study during the start of the summer Pride season," said Project Director Dr. Nick Mulé, a Professor in the School of Social Work cross appointed to the School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies and the Faculty of Health at York University. "The goals of our project reflect mounting and disturbing evidence that members of our community cannot take the time to celebrate, as some are deprived of basic necessities such as food and shelter. By amplifying their voices and examining the lived experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ people experiencing poverty in Canada, we will produce an evidence-based portrait of poverty designed to address systemic barriers and promote economic and social empowerment across our diverse communities." 

Recognizing the need for nationally representative data to inform policy, funding, and programming decisions in government, academia, and at the community level, the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada Project is dedicated to driving social and economic change in support of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. It has been awarded $2.5 million in research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to carry out this work. Through interviews, focus groups, and a nation-wide survey, the Study will gather critical information from all provinces and territories on various aspects of 2SLGBTQ+ poverty, including individual and household incomes, access to employment and social support, housing stability, food insecurity, access to healthcare, and experiences of discrimination. This addresses an important gap in current public data collection and will allow for reliable comparisons between 2SLGBTQ+ people and the general population.

Dr. Andrea Daley, Co-Chair of the Project’s Qualitative Research Team, and Professor in the School of Social Work, Renison University College, at the University of Waterloo, says “the interviews and focus groups, in combination with survey findings, will deepen our understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ poverty by foregrounding the unique perspectives and insights of diverse 2SLGBTQ+ people and how they experience different pathways to poverty.” 

Members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada who are 16 years or older are encouraged to contribute to this vital research effort by participating in the survey and can indicate their interest in participating in an interview and/or focus group during the survey process. The survey launched in Alberta on May 30, 2024, and will roll out across the country province-by-province, territory-by-territory throughout the summer. Participants can sign up to receive the link to the survey by visiting the survey website.

For more information about the national survey or ways to be involved in the work of the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in CanadaProject, visit the project website.

Q and A panel will explore CIHR project grant committee culture

A message from the Office of Research.

CIHR-eligible researchers from the University of Waterloo are invited to join experienced CIHR Project Grant review committee members in this interactive, virtual question and answer session. Panelists will share insights from their committee experiences and insider tips to give your application a competitive edge. Then all panelists will be available to answer audience questions. Advance questions are also welcome by emailing the UW CIHR team. The presentation will be recorded and posted to the CIHR Application Resources SharePoint site along with a summary of the question and answer period.

Exploring CIHR Project Grant Committee Culture: A Q&A panel with Reviewer Committee Members will take place on Wednesday, July 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.

The presenters are:

• Maud Gorbet (Biomedical Engineering 2)
• Ellen MacEachen (Population Health 2)
• Colleen Maxwell (Health Systems 2)
• Parsin Haji Reza (Medical Physics and Imaging)
• David Rose (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology; Previous University Delegate to CIHR)

Please email the UW CIHR team to register for the session.

IST staff member receives CUCCIO's Emerging Leader award

Mike Patterson and Lindsay Sill, Executive Director of the Canadian University Council of CIOs (CUCCIO).

A message from Gregory Smith, Chief Information Officer.

Each year, during the CANHEIT conference, the efforts and contributions of individuals, groups, or institutions from across Canada’s higher education IT community are recognized. Information Systems & Technology (IST) is proud to announce Mike Patterson, Manager, IT Security Operations, is the co-recipient of CUCCIO’s Emerging Leader award, which recognizes rising stars in Canadian Higher Education information technology, who demonstrate both technical expertise as well as growth in leadership capacity.

CUCCIO stands for the Canadian University Council of CIOs.

In late May 2023, IST were notified by law enforcement that a ransomware group was in the process of attempt to breaching UWaterloo's network. Mike's quick thinking and decisive action during this major incident ensured the situation was contained and no ransomware was deployed. His calm demeanour under pressure helped Waterloo achieve a swift recovery to our network and affected systems while inspiring trust within the University community. 

Mike plays a central role in developing Waterloo's ongoing cybersecurity strategy and spearheaded the successful rollout of a new Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tool, navigating internal discussions with a thoughtful leadership style. Mike actively participates in CUCCIO’s IT Security Leadership Development Program (ISLDP) and co-chairs the CUCCIO Special Interest Group (SIG) on Cybersecurity. A regular contributor to CanSSOC events, Mike is a champion for collaboration and information sharing within the cybersecurity community. Mike's dedication and leadership make him a valuable asset to Waterloo and Canada's cybersecurity landscape.

Congratulations to Mike on this well-deserved achievement.

Board of Governors meets today and other notes

The University of Waterloo's Board of Governors will be having its meeting today at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting was rescheduled after last week's meeting was postponed. The full agenda package is available on the Secretariat's website.

Food Truck Wednesdays continue in the Arts Quad with vendors from Conestoga College slinging up snacks.

Continuing Lecturer James Nugent is hosting a screening of the 2024 film Where the Olive Trees Weep tonight in RCH 301. Where the Olive Trees Weep "offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation," Dr. Nugent writes. "It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice."

The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.