Site Visits
Accessibility Notes
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Shuttles (busses) are provided for all Site Visits, departing from and returning to Allard Hall, except for the Campus Tour.
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Buses do not have lifts or ramps
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C2UExpo staff and volunteers will guide participants on and off the bus and to site visit destinations, ensuring headcount numbers are correct,
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Portable Voice Amplifiers, microphones, and megaphones may be used by speakers and guides.
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You must register for site visits via the Whova App. You can find more information about how to download and use the app here.
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Site visits will continue as scheduled regardless of weather conditions.
Outdoor Site Visits: please be prepared to be outside for the duration of the site visit. Recommendations include: wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing sunglasses, a water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat. Be sure to dress for the weather.
Edmonton International Airport Visit
May 12th, 2025 1:45 - 2:45 PM
Site Visit Description
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is Canada’s largest airport by land size and uses its land holdings to strategically drive economic opportunities for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. With over 7,000 acres of land in our care, YEG’s Airport City Sustainability Campus is a living lab for innovation, including hydrogen and drone technology, supporting its advancements in transitioning to net-zero by 2050.
On this tour of YEG's Airport City Sustainability Campus you’ll learn how we are accelerating the development, testing, implementation, and commercialization of technology, in addition to gaining an understanding of we leverage real estate to support economic growth for the region, all while investing in long-term sustainability. YEG's Airport City Sustainability Campus propels new jobs, tourism, and economic diversification – and creates a destination in and around YEG, featuring entertainment, e-commerce, retail, hospitality, cargo/logistics, biopharma, light manufacturing, and many other industries.
YEG is Canada’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area, generating an economic output of over $5.3 billion and supporting over 23,500 jobs. YEG’s vision is to offer more flights to more places and continues to serve the Edmonton Region by connecting people and goods all around the world. In 2024, YEG welcomed 7.92 million passengers, showcasing our commitment to our region, and the role of Edmonton Airports goes beyond operating airports; we are a vital part of the fabric of the Edmonton region.
Diego Moreno
Manager, Hydrogen and Low Carbon Fuels
Diego Moreno holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, specializing in catalytic clean hydrogen production (patented). He brings over 14 years of experience in the downstream energy sector, with a background that spans engineering, business, and project development. He serves as Program Director for Infrastructure & Stationary Systems at the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub and as Manager of Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Fuels at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), leading strategic initiatives focused on hydrogen deployment. Diego’s previous experience includes roles as a Process and Development Engineer at HATCH, Suncor, and Ecopetrol, as well as academic appointments at the University of Calgary and several universities in Colombia.
Cyril Harry
Manager, Real Estate Development
Cyril joined Edmonton International Airport in June of 2023 as a Property Management Specialist and currently is in the role of Manager, Real Estate Development. He brings 11 years of prior property management and leasing experience from the public sector along with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta His day-to-day focus is on new development at YEG and delivering exceptional support and customer service to all tenants. Cyril thoroughly enjoys working at YEG, continuously learning about property management and real estate development in the unique industry of aviation.
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Bus tour only
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No stops and no access to bathrooms
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On-Bus sightseeing may cause motion sickness
Heart of the City Experience
May 12th, 2025 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Created in close partnership with social service agencies, arts organizations, and the City of Edmonton, Heart of the City offers an immersive experience that celebrates the vibrant spirit of collaboration, culture, and community in our city’s core. Participants will explore social support initiatives and the transformative role of public art in activism and urban renewal. This dynamic site visit invites reflection on the deep connections between houselessness, public spaces, and community relationships, while showcasing how strong partnerships can help build a more inclusive, resilient, and thriving downtown.
Guests can expect to engage in community outreach and visit key sites in Edmonton's downtown including:
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Walking and standing
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Primarily outdoors
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Public bathroom available at Kinistinaw park
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Walking destinations are ~5mins apart
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Uneven or cracked sidewalks
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Traffic sounds
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At Kinistinaw Park, guests can expect:
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Scents (smudge) – participation is optional
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Celebrating Chinatown
Presented by Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society
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May 12th, 2025 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Take a short bus trip to the oldest parts of Chinatown and then get off in Chinatown's commercial district where a walking food tour awaits you!
Discover the best of Edmonton's Chinatown's culinary treasures with our Mini Dragon Food Tour: Savoury Meets Sweet. This tour offers a delightful blend of the neighbourhood's most iconic flavours, giving you a taste of both the savoury and sweet sides of Chinatown. Learn about Chinatown while trying out mouthwatering dumplings and savory barbeque and delightful baked treats. These Dragon food tours have been voted as a finalist for the 2025 Edmonton Tourism Awards.
But the celebration doesn't end with the food! Step inside the CTC Storytelling Centre and be captivated by the exciting stories emerging from a community-engaged research project. Discover how the University of Alberta and the Chinatown community are collaborating to elevate the visitor experience, ensuring your visit is even more enriching.
Connect with the cultural heart of this land with a special opportunity to learn the art of sweet grass braiding with Cora Gladue, understanding its profound meaning. You'll also have the chance to create your own intricate Chinese knot bracelet with GEMS, a tangible memento to cherish your Chinatown adventure. This is our way of acknowledging and honouring that Chinatown resides on Indigenous land.
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to taste, learn, and connect with the vibrant spirit of Edmonton's Chinatown! Sign up for the Celebrating Chinatown Tour today and create lasting memories!
Photography provided by Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society
SPEAKER
Elizabeth Halpenny
A Professor at Canada's University of Alberta, Elizabeth Halpenny received a PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo in 2006. She currently teaches and conducts research in the areas of tourism, marketing, environmental psychology and protected areas management. Elizabeth’s research focuses on individuals’ interactions with nature environments, tourism experience, and environmental stewardship.
Current research projects include:
(a) the effect of mobile digital technologies on visitors’ experiences; (b) the impact of World Heritage designation and other park-related brands on travel decision making; (c) individuals’ attitudes towards and stewardship of natural areas; (d) factors shaping mobilization of protected areas-related knowledge; and (e) tourism-related social media conservations on climate change in Canada’s Rocky Mountain parks.
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Walking, standing, sitting
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Indoors and outdoors
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On-Bus sightseeing (25mins) may cause motion sickness
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Uneven or cracked sidewalks
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Food sensitives or allergies will be responsibility of the attendee
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Hand crafts such as knots and braiding
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Traffic sounds
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At CTC, guests can expect:
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Scents (smudge) – participation is optional
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Seating
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Edmonton Public Library -
Stanley A. Milner Library Visit
May 12th, 2025 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Visit Edmonton Public Library’s revitalized Stanley A. Milner Branch located in the heart of Edmonton’s downtown. During this visit, your EPL hosts will highlight community campus collaborations between Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton’s post-secondary institutions. Attendees will have the chance to interact with The Wall, a two storey, 40-feet-wide digital installation; visit PÎYÊSÎW WÂSKÂHIKAN (Thunderbird House), a dedicated Indigenous space for ceremony and gatherings; explore The Makerspace, a hub for all things making and creating; and taste some culinary creations in The Kitchen, a 2,100-square-feet state-of-the art teaching kitchen.
DESTINATIONS
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Walking, standing, sitting
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Indoors only
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Public bathroom available
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Hard floors
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Food sensitives or allergies will be responsibility of the attendee
MacEwan Campus Tour
May 12th, 2025 Group 1: 1:00 - 3:30 PM Group 2: 1:30 - 4:00 PM
A walking tour across MacEwan’s campus designed for conference participants to explore how MacEwan University fosters meaningful collaborations between students, faculty, and community partners to address
real-world challenges. Highlights include visits to innovative spaces where CBR projects come to life such as the Roundhouse, John and Maggie Mitchell Art Gallery, and kihêw waciston Indigenous Centre. This will draw participants into reflection about the role and responsibility of MacEwan University as a good neighbor.
Visit MacEwan highlights, such as:
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Walking and standing
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Minimal seating
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Indoors and outdoors
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Some tour stops are located in the basement and 2nd floor of the university, stairs and elevators are available
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Biobreak scheduled
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Gender-neutral and physically accessible bathrooms are available
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Construction and traffic sounds when on the Southside of MacEwan
Walking with Relatives:
Exploring the history of amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton)
May 12th, 2025 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Join Carla, Dwayne, and Etienna for a guided walk along the beautiful North Saskatchewan River as we explore some of Edmonton’s most iconic sites and hidden stories. Along the way, you’ll hear rich reflections on the city’s history and deepen your understanding of our shared responsibilities as treaty partners. This is a chance to move, listen, learn, and ask questions in community—come curious, and leave inspired (and a few steps healthier)!
Dwayne Donald
Dwayne Donald is a descendent of Norwegian, Metis, and amiskwaciwiyiniwak (Beaver Hills Cree) ancestors and works as a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. He is also a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair. His work focuses on ways in which Indigenous wisdom traditions can expand and enhance conventional understandings of curriculum and pedagogy.
Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty
Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty was born and raised in Grande Prairie Alberta. Her family is from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. Etienna is a certified teacher and has teaching experience in both First Nations community schools and in provincial schools. Etienna has completed her Master in Secondary Education at the University of Alberta and has a published thesis titled "Pihtikwe: Exploring Withness in Teacher Preparedness and Professional Development" She is currently a PhD student at the University of Alberta and enjoys researching topics such as Treaty Relationships, Indigenous Knowledge, Pedagogy and Place and Land-Based Education. Etienna works as an Assistant Professor in the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Curriculum Studies program at Macewan University.
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Entirely outdoors
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There is limited to no access to washrooms. There is an extensive amount of walking time however the terrain is low risk. Participants are reminded to wear appropriate walking attire and be dressed for the weather.
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Guests can expect:
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Scents (smudge) – participation is optional
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Edmonton's Ukrainian Memories, Murals & Monuments
May 12th, 2025 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Join MacEwan sociologist Jeff Stepnisky and Edmonton visual artist Theodora Harasymiw for a bus and walking tour of downtown Edmonton. Taking advantage of MacEwan’s location in ward O’day’min, we explore architecture, art, and historical sites that highlight the Ukrainian contribution to the fabric of downtown Edmonton. This tour brings attention to the beauty of Edmonton, its rich history, and the value of place-based university-community collaboration.
Dr. Jeff Stepnisky
Dr. Jeff Stepnisky is an associate professor of sociology and Kule Chair of Ukrainian Community and International Development. He studies sociological theory, selfhood, space and identity and has conducted research on the relationship between self-understanding and antidepressant medications, identity and space, and collective memory.
Theodora Harasymiw
Theodora Harasymiw is a Visual Artist and Art Educator working in Edmonton, Canada. In addition to working in her studio, she has been working as an Artist in Residence since 1997. For the last 10 years she has been working mainly in the medium of mosaic, but painting is the medium she was originally trained in. “Having the two mediums to work between has been wonderful because they're so vastly different and offer different perspectives on how to create” says Theodora.
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Walking short distances and standing
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Primarily outdoors
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Uneven ground (grass, pavement, concrete)
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Shuttle to transport everyone to various destinations
Animating Archives Through Arts-Based Research
We invite conference participants to join us for a site visit at the City of Edmonton Archives to witness the artistic expression of 3 artists and one documentarian from the Asian diaspora. Using unique cultural disciplines, each artist will create a place-making narrative using a collaborative arts-based research methodology that utilizes archival materials in the city of Edmonton.
Jia Jia Yong
Jia Jia Yong is a musician and composer based in Edmonton, Alberta. She studied with Keri Zwicker at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music where she completed the Royal Conservatory of Music level 8 in harp. She has been active as a freelance musician since 2006, performing at special events in the Edmonton area. She also performs and collaborates with other musicians and artists, working with local artists such as soprano Dawn Bailey and cellist Christine Hanson. Jia Jia received her Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. For the past ten years, she has worked in archives in Edmonton and area, including the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Archives, Musée Héritage Museum Archives, and the Franciscans of Canada Archives. In 2023, she joined the City of Edmonton Archives as the community archivist, where she supports the preservation of the documentary heritage of cultural communities and communities of interest.
Jeannine Kroening
Jeannine Naboye Kroening (she/her) is a Filipina-Canadian emerging artist and arts administrator. She holds a Theatre Arts diploma with MacEwan University, and is completing a BA in Drama at the University of Alberta with a minor in Arts and Cultural Management with MacEwan University. For over 15 years, she has dedicated most of her life with a Filipino folk dance organization called the Karilagan Dance Society as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Karilagan has given her the community to learn about her roots and culture through dance. She has been so fortunate to travel around the world with Karilagan performing and competing in places such as the Philippines, Italy, Spain and Hawaii. As an emerging artist in this industry, she strives to create safe spaces for collaboration for underrepresented voices through performance and storytelling. She hopes to elevate Filipino storytelling and share the culture through folk dance and movement. Recents: Theatre Prospero's Artist Residency and New Works Festival's In-Development Director Mentorship.
Soni Dasmohapatra
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Soni Dasmohapatra’s childhood was filled with exploring dance, music, and cultural connections to her ancestral roots in India. She has continued nurturing this interest throughout her life. She is a trained Kathak dancer and Hindustani singer. Soni is currently a doctoral candidate at Royal Roads University in Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and a certificate in Gender Studies and Human Rights from Oxford University. She brings a unique blend of academic prowess and real-world experience, and she’s a strong believer in investing in lifelong learning for growth and reflection. In 2023, Soni joined MacEwan University as an assistant professor in the Arts and Cultural Management department located in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications. Her current research focuses on leadership, organizational change, and embodiment in the performing arts sector. She is interested in documenting racialized people’s narratives, inspired by her own lived experiences in the Canadian arts, culture, and heritage ecosystem.
Jordon Hon
Jordon Hon 韓寶軒 (he/him) is a visual artist and curator born and raised in amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton with Hong Kong Cantonese roots. He uses a camera to document his life and urban spaces while also curating local art experiences to bring people together. Photography is a practice that grounds him, connects him to his community, and gives him a way to explore who he is. Jordon believes in the power of photography to shed light on truths, archive moments in time, and spark radical imagination for social good.
May 12th, 2025 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM | 10440 108 Ave NW
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Indoors only, seating provided.
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The Governor’s room is located on the second floor of the building, stairs and a small elevator are available.
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Extra-wide mobility aids may not fit through narrow doorways.
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Sloped threshold to Governor’s room
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Gendered bathrooms are available outside of performance space
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During performances, guests can expect:
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Sudden loud sounds (drumming)
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Dim lights
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Scents (incense)
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