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Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals Now Open!

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‘Place’ is rooted in our reciprocal relationships to the land and to one another. It extends beyond physical geography to encompass the cultural, ceremonial, historical and social meanings and practices of diverse groups of people. While ‘place’ can be divisive, it also has the power to unite people with differing perspectives. Whether in the physical or virtual world, ‘place’ carries cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. It is through learning in ‘place’ that connections and communities are built and thrive.

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You are invited to submit a proposal for the C2UExpo 2025: Partners in Place. This conference will bring together multiple perspectives on the significance of our deeply rooted connections to both the land and to each other. It is a call to reflect on our shared responsibility in fostering the health, vitality, and resilience of our communities. We are privileged to hold the 2025 conference at MacEwan University, which is located on Treaty 6 territory, in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton).

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A flagship conference of Community-Based Research Canada (CBRCanada), the C2UExpo brings together people from across sectors and disciplines to showcase how community-campus partnerships are addressing local and global challenges.

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As CBRCanada describes, the C2UExpo is more than a conference, it’s a movement. We are excited to bring the spirit of the C2UExpo to Alberta for the first time in its 25+ year history, helping to further energize and advance community-based research across our communities.

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We invite proposal submissions from researchers, students, and organizations across sectors (e.g., government, industry, non-profits), as well as unaffiliated collectives and individuals. Co-presentations by community and university or college partners are strongly encouraged. We are accepting submissions in a variety of formats and across all stages of development.

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If you are submitting a proposal about Indigenous research, topics, or issues, the lead presenter must identify as Indigenous.

Conference Streams

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Presenters will discuss emerging and established practices, theories, pedagogies, ethics, experiences, and approaches in each of the following thematic areas, or ‘streams’:

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Stream One: Community-Engaged Learning & Development

Teaching, learning, and educational development happen throughout people’s lives and in a variety of places, spaces, and relationships. How can cultivating meaningful connections to ‘place’ support educational growth? We welcome submissions that explore community-based learning opportunities across educational contexts. These contexts may include early childhood education, k-12, post-secondary education, Indigenous and land-based learning, cultural spaces, community programming, and any place where community-engaged learning happens. Approaches may also include arts-based learning, intergenerational learning, peer mentorship and reflective practice.

Stream Two: Community Wellness

Place extends through our physical, social, political, and cultural environments. It impacts our access to resources (e.g., healthcare, housing, and social services), as well as our sense of identity and belonging. How can meaningful connections to place strengthen community wellness and vitality for diverse groups of beings (including non-human beings) and how can community wellness impact the wellness of place? We welcome submissions in this stream that explore community wellness across a variety of topics including, but not limited to, healthcare, politics, literature, arts, environment, sciences, Indigenous practices, service delivery, housing/houselessness, urban wellness, mental health, social determinants of health, and sustainable development goals.

Stream Three: Social Innovation & Sustainability​

The most effective social innovations emerge from local contexts, shaped by specific needs, histories, and cultures. Understanding place is crucial for developing sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems, and solutions to systemic social problems such as poverty, equity and equality, climate, and environment. We welcome submissions for this stream that include topics such as inclusive entrepreneurship, economic reconciliation, technological innovations, social enterprise, and workforce development. Our work at the nexus of social innovation, sustainability, and place will uncover strategies that foster resilient and empowered communities.

Stream Four: Histories, Theories, and Approaches to Community-Based Research​​​

Community-Based Research emphasizes the importance of engaging with communities to co-create knowledge that is relevant to their lived experience. Historically situating Community-Based Research can illuminate a wide variety of creation narratives and methodological approaches. Narratives are emerging that make a single narrative of the history and practice of community-based research untenable. By grounding research, histories, and approaches in specific places, how can we add to the inclusiveness and development of Community-Based Research in our world? This stream invites reflection and knowledge sharing about the histories, theories, ethics, methodologies, outcomes, and impacts of community-based research with an emphasis toward the ongoing changes in community-based research. Examples of additional topics in this stream include Indigenous research, community-based research histories, research design, community-based research theory, research-creation and arts-based approaches, funding challenges/opportunities, knowledge mobilization, relationship development, power sharing, and community mobilization.

Presentation Formats​

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Creative Practice:​

Artists, artist-researchers, and art-based practitioners present original creative projects or artistic works. This format showcases various forms of creative expression, such as visual arts, performing arts, literary works, multimedia projects, film, video, design innovations, and activities that are arts-integrated. Research-creation works may be included that will have separate presentations on research design, methods, impacts etc. Or artist-talks can be scheduled with the works outside of the presentation structure of the conference.

Organize a Panel:​

Those who wish to organize a panel must submit an abstract with the names of the facilitator and each speaker identified. The panel must include a summary with information about the broad theme or question that will guide the discussion, as well as a summary of each presentation and short bio of each presenter.

Roundtable Discussion:​

Here, a small group of experts, researchers, practitioners, and/or community members participate in an open, interactive discussion on a specific topic or issue. This format provides an informal setting for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, debating perspectives, and encourages active engagement and dialogue.

Presentation:​

Presentations will be 15 minutes followed by a question-and-answer period. This is a structured way to present academic papers, ideas in development, assessments/evaluations, innovations, and/or challenges and lessons learned from a community-based research project and community-university partnerships and collaborations. Presentations will be grouped together in the programme in a panel format. This is a format where 3-5 experts (e.g., researchers, practitioners, or those with lived experience) discuss a particular topic, subject, or issue. Each panelist can deliver a brief presentation, sharing their insights, perspectives, experiences, or research findings related to the topic, followed by a moderated dynamic, in-depth discussion and a question-and-answer period with the audience. Visual aids such as slides can be used to support the discussion. If the presentation is for an academic paper, the presenter can choose to share their paper with the panel chair for feedback before the session.

Poster Presentation:​

This is a presentation that summarizes findings, projects, and/or innovative ideas in a visually appealing printed poster with text, tables, graphs, and pictures, etc. At the C2UExpo, authors/researchers will stand by their poster on display and conference attendees will view the poster and interact with the author/researcher who can answer questions and explain their work in more detail. Presenters will create and print their own posters.

Workshop:​

This is an interactive session led by one or more knowledgeable facilitators and is designed to engage participants in hands-on activities, discussions, and collaborative learning on a specific topic. These sessions provide attendees with the opportunity to participate in an immersive activity, develop new skills and techniques, explore innovative methods, apply theoretical knowledge, and/or engage in collective problem solving.

Blue Surface

Guidelines for Submission

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Presentation proposals are due no later than December 2nd at 11:59pm (MDT) Submissions will be reviewed in early 2025 and applicants can expect to be notified by the end of January 2025.

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Please align your proposal with the conference theme, sections, and formats. The Programming Committee will try to accommodate all presentations according to the presenters’ stated preferences.

Checklist​

Proposals must include the following information at the time of submission (please use 12 pt font):

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  • Name(s), contact, affiliation(s), and whether you may require childcare

  • Co-author's/collaborator(s) name, contact, and affiliation(s) - if applicable

  • Your preferred format of presentation (you may select more than one)

  • Title of the proposal

  • Preferred stream for presentation

  • Proposal summary (225 words or less) that includes significance and impact of the project to the community and/or to academics, policy-makers, others; methodology (e.g., research design, data collection and analysis procedures, training modules for "workshop" submission); findings/results; implications for research and/or practice.

Summary Review Process​

Preference will be given to the presentations that include at least one community member in the team. We also encourage the participation of student researchers, youth and participants with lived experiences.

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The following criteria for proposal acceptance will be used:

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  1. Completion of all submission requirements;

  2. Relevance to the conference theme and goals;

  3. Research statement clearly stated;

  4. Clarity and organization of written proposal summary.​

Submission

To submit proposals, click on the Proposal Submission Form link below. You may also download a standalone .pdf version of the guidelines. If you have any questions about the Call for Proposals or C2UExpo, please email: c2uexpo2025@macewan.ca

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