arc: A Centre for Art, Research & Community is dedicated to youth-led community-engaged action research that disseminates knowledge through the arts.
Relationship building is the core to community-engaged research.
Staff
Director: Dr. Amanda Wager, Canada Research Chair in Community-Engaged Research
Research Centre Coordinator: Ann Woodward
For further information, please contact Ann Woodward at Ann.woodward@viu.ca
About Us
Dr. Amanda Wager and her interdisciplinary research constellation team is composed of graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of Education, Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies, Community Planning and Global Studies.
Research Constellation
- Our community-engaged research collaboration has consisted of many diverse voices:
- Dr. Tehmina Khwaja: Post Doctoral Fellow, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Chelsea Thomas: Doctoral Candidate, Education, University of Victoria
- Noreen McHale: Graduate Student, Education
- Adriana Flores Elias: Graduate Student, Education
- Melissa Lyon: Graduate Student, Education
- Cuong Nguyen: Graduate Student, Education
- Rane Love: Undergraduate Student, Education
- Shelby Brown: Graduate Student, Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies
- Fred Speck: Undergraduate Student, Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies
- Laura Clark: Graduate Student, Community Planning
- Alex Harte: Graduate Student, Community Planning
- Hossam AbouAli: Undergraduate Student, Global Studies
As relationship building is the core to community-engaged research, Dr. Wager and her research team initiated the important work of becoming familiar with the VIU community and developing relationships with local young people. The arc collaborates with like-minded community groups and organizations ranging from Nanaimo to the Comox Valley. In addition to local community building, the arc works with community-engaged researchers at Simon Fraser, Emily Carr and Thompson Rivers Universities. A community of practice has also developed surrounding the topic of equity, diversity and inclusion in higher education across Canada.
Recent Projects
Youth Language Warriors: Reclaiming Hul'qumi'num through Intergenerational Relationships and the Arts
Principal Investigator: Dr. Amanda Claudia Wager, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Partnerships: Tsawalk Learning Centre, Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, Spotted Fawn Productions
Sponsorship: Vancouver Foundation Convene Grant & ArtStarts Grant
Land as Life: Learning from Indigenous Knowledge-Keepers
Principal Investigator: Dr. Amanda Claudia Wager, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Co-Investigator: Dr. Georgina Martin, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Sponsorship: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Watch the Land as Life Video
EDI Ideation Symposium: Catalyzing Ideas for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Action
Principal Investigator: Dr. Amanda Claudia Wager, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Co-Investigators: Tehmina Khwaja Vancouver Island University, Nicole L. Vaugeois Vancouver Island University, Dr.Denise Green Ryerson University, Asma Sayed Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Michael S. Quinn Mount Royal University, Pamela Hawranik Athabasca University,
Sponsorship: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Institutional Connection Grant\
Learn more about the EDI Ideation Symposium
Walk with Me: Cultural Mapping the Opioid Crisis in Kamloops and Comox Valley, BC
Drs. Will Garrett-Petts & Sharon Karsten, Co-Principal Investigators, Thompson Rivers University and Vancouver Island University, CA
Sponsorship: Vancouver Foundation Participatory Action Research Investigate Project, British Columbia Arts Council & Leon and Thea Koerner Award
Learn more about Walk with Me
Comox Valley Unhoused Society
Board Member President & Grant Writer: Dr. Amanda Claudia Wager, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC
Learn more about the Comox Valley Unhoused Society