Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change
17th Annual Research Symposium
Save the Date: March 4 & 5, 2026
Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change
17th Annual Faculty of Social Work Research Symposium | March 4 & 5
Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change
For the first time in its history, the Faculty of Social Work’s Annual Research Symposium is taking an explicitly global lens this year. The theme of the faculty's 17th Annual Research Symposium is Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change, which speaks to a central idea reshaping contemporary social work: today’s most pressing challenges do not stop at borders, but require locally relevant solutions.
As Dr. Christine Walsh, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships and chair of the symposium, notes, “displacement, climate impacts, global conflict, and widening inequality are interconnected realities and require responses that are ethical, relational and grounded in the knowledge of those most affected.”
Global to Local: Collaborating with Communities to Create Change - Virtual Symposium
About the video
This recording features the online portion of the Faculty of Social Work’s 17th Annual Research Symposium. The virtual program brings together researchers, practitioners, students, and community partners to explore how collaboration across global and local contexts can support meaningful social change
Program
Welcome, Opening and Blessing
Faculty leadership and Elder Kerrie Moore
Global Social Work Keynote Address
Dr. Linda Kreitzer, Professor Emeritus
Moderator: Jill Hoselton
Panel: Global Social Work Research
Dr. Christine Walsh
Dr. Ajwang’ Warria
Dr. Monica Sesma-Vasquez
Dr. Julie Drolet
Moderator: Dr. Aamir Jamal
Virtual Poster Session
Moderated by Dr. Dora Tam
Online Event
March 4, 2026
8:30 a.m. - noon
Register to receive Zoom link! The online portion of our research symposium will feature the keynote address and panel discussions.
Calgary Event
March 4, 2026
12:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Calgary Campus: 7th floor MacKimmie Tower
View research posters and engage with our Calgary faculty, students and community members. Light lunch and beverages served. (Free event)
Calgary Event
March 4, 2026
5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Calgary Campus: The Collision Space, Hunter Student Commons (HNSC) 4th Floor University of Calgary, 460 Campus Lane NW, Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4
Local communities play a vital role in fostering vibrant, inclusive communities through partnerships with a range of organizations. This evening symposium will bring together researchers, and non-profit leaders to reflect on the importance of collaboration in building communities where people can live, work, play, and grow. The event will feature a formal presentation, a moderated panel discussion, and an interactive question-and-answer session, inviting participants to share insights and experiences. (Free event)
To join the waitlist, please contact: fswpd@ucalgary.ca
Edmonton Event
March 5, 2026
4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Edmonton campus: 3rd floor Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue.
View research posters and engage with our Edmonton faculty, students and community members as they present research. At 6:30 pm, a panel of community and faculty experts will discuss: “From Global Movements to Local Voices: Advancing Social Justice with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities”. Light dinner will be served. (Free event.)
March 4, 2026
Online Panel Discussions
8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Welcome / Opening / Blessing (faculty leadership & Elder Kerrie Moore)
The online portion of our research symposium will feature the keynote address and panel discussions.
8:45 - 9:45 a.m. Virtual Global Social Work Keynote Address: Professor Emeritus. Dr. Linda Kreitzer with moderator Jill Hoselton
9:45 a.m. Break
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Virtual Panel Presentation Global Social Work Research: Dr. Christine Walsh, Dr. Ajwang’ Warria, Dr. Monica Sesma-Vasquez, Dr. Julie Drolet with moderator Dr. Aamir Jamal
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Virtual Posters, moderated by Dr. Dora Tam
12:00 p.m. (Noon) Online event closing /Transition to Calgary on-campus afternoon event (Elder Kerrie Moore)
Calgary Afternoon On-Campus Event (7th floor MacKimmie Tower, Calgary Campus)
12:30 p.m. Intro and welcome (Dr. Christine Walsh and Dr. David Nicholas)
12:35 p.m. Complimentary light lunch from Ethnicity Catering and networking
1:00 p.m. Poster presentations begin
2:00 p.m. A Life of Thoughtful Disruption: A Conversation with Dr. Mary Valentich (Dr.Mary Valentich, Lemlem Haile, Carla Bertsch, facilitated by Dr. Liza Lorenzetti)
3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Panel on Social Justice (Dr. Kate Maurer, Dr. Angelique Jenney, Lana Wells,MSW, facilitated by Dr. Beth Archer-Kuhn)
4:15 p.m. Concluding remarks (Dr. Christine Walsh and Dr. David Nicholas)
Calgary Community, Evening Event (Hunter Hub Collision Space, 4th floor, Hunter Student Commons, Calgary Campus)
5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Local communities play a vital role in fostering vibrant, inclusive communities through partnerships with a range of organizations. This evening symposium will bring together researchers, non-profit leaders, and community partners to reflect on the importance of collaboration in building communities where people can live, work, play, and grow. The event will feature a formal presentation, a moderated panel discussion, and an interactive question-and-answer session, inviting participants to share insights and experiences. (Free event)
March 5, 2026
Edmonton Campus Event (Edmonton campus: 3rd floor Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue.)
4:30 p.m. Poster presentations begin. View research posters and engage with our Edmonton faculty, students and community members as they present research.
6:30 p.m. Panel discussion “From Global Movements to Local Voices: Advancing Social Justice with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities” featuring a panel of community and faculty experts Light dinner will be served.
8:30 p.m. Event ends