Featured – Page 9 – Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub

Tea Dance and Queeraoke brings Pride to UFV

October 7, 2026July 3, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Photo of a group of people crowded onto an ourdoor stage, singing karaoke. Some hold rainbow flags or are wearing rainbow garlands

To end Pride month the right way, CHASI and friends hosted a Tea Dance and Queeraoke event on June 28. The event also served as a purposeful conclusion to our flag display and a next step towards a permanent Pride installation on campus. CHASI would like to extend a massive thank you to our co-organizers … Read more

CHASIcast: CHASI RAs on the destruction of flags and the meaning of Pride

October 7, 2026June 28, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Four women sit in the CIVL Radio studio with headhphones on and microphones in front of them. A quote from Miranda Erickson reads: “Looking back at all of the incidences where people have stepped on or spit on, or broken, or thrown out the flags... it’s upsetting because they were just existing and it feels very symbolic of the community as a whole. Like we’re not asking for allyship, we’re not asking for money, we’re not asking for resources. We’re just existing. And just the fact that we’re existing is enough to incite hatred and aggressive ... they feel threatened by it because apparently just existing is not enough. They need to not see us. They need us to not be here.”

On this special Pride episode of the CHASIcast, we welcome four of the amazing students who work at CHASI: Lynsie Beaulieu, Ekat Marenkov, and Miranda Erickson, all research assistants, and Frankie Fowle, a graphic design intern. After several months seeing targeted hate first hand with the repeated vandalism and theft of CHASI’s Pride flags display … Read more

Our Charmed Circle #4

October 7, 2026June 21, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Full page of Fenix, cheering in their seat at the computer desk, having just won the last round of the game. The room is dark, illuminated by the monitor. In the upper right corner is a video camera image of Zoe, who is rolling her eyes and smiling. In the lower left corner is the default image of another player. FENIX: Yesss! I told you I had it! ZOE: Yeah yeah, GG. RANDOM PLAYER 116: What the hell, man! That shouldn't even work! FENIX: Yeah, but it totally did! RANDOM PLAYER 116: That's so ****ing gay.

Words have to matter. Our Charmed Circle shares the story of four friends connected across the continent by a shared enthusiasm for gaming and bound by a sense of solidarity. Follow the story of Fenix, Amrita, Mary-Jo, and Zoe as they navigate the realities of online relationships and daily life. With this comic, CHASI and … Read more

Pride 2023 at CHASI

October 7, 2026June 21, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Photo of CHASI team members speaking at a table with a rainbow tablecloth.

Pride is always time of celebration and action at CHASI, and 2023 was no different! Here is just some what our team did to mark the occasion. Dr. Martha Dow joins GW Graham Secondary’s Pride Celebration CHASI director Dr. Martha Dow was privileged to be able to speak at GW Graham Secondary’s Pride celebration to … Read more

CHASI Tea Dance and Queeraoke — June 28

October 7, 2026June 19, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Poster with illustrated hands holding up Pride flags, and a bright cartoon sun above, shining down rainbows. The text reads: "Join us in transitioning the Pride display to a more permanent home. CHASI Tea dance and Queeraoke, Wednesday, June 28th, 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Come to the K Building Patio on Abbotsford's UFV campus for good music, food, and drinks! Door admission: $10 ($5 for students) includes food and first drink ticket. 19+ event."

Join us in transitioning the Pride display to a more permanent home! Come to the K Building patio on UFV’s Abbotsford campus for good music, food, and drinks. Please reserve your spot with an Eventbrite ticket. Door admission is $10 ($5 for students), and includes food and your first drink ticket. This public event is … Read more

After the Flood: Community Response & Recovery

October 7, 2026May 26, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Cover for the report "After the Flood: Community Response and Recovery" which shows an aerial photo of brownish floodwaters covering land in Abbotsford, with a mountain in the distance.

The Community Health and Social Innovation Hub (CHASI), in partnership with Archway Community Services, is pleased to present “After the Flood: Community Response and Recovery.” Using the diverse experiences of community members, the report discusses some of the key challenges people faced during and after the flood. Additionally, the report provides recommendations to strengthen the … Read more

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia 2023

October 7, 2026May 17, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Illustration of two figures, one light blue, the other pink, kissing in front of a rainbow. Behind them is a rainbow and flowers. Their bodies are marked up by scars. In the upper corners, grey faces look down at them, their eyes not visible, and shout, represented by red lightning bolts coming down. The figures and the rainbow take up the majority of the image, overpowering the negativity.

Today, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. This year, we’re extremely cognizant of this day’s importance. When a Pride flag is destroyed, we must plant a new one. When hate causes harm, we must name it. When negativity draws a crowd, we must gather in positivity. To our queer family, … Read more

Congratulations on 30 years, Dr. Martha Dow!

October 7, 2026May 12, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Group photo of the CHASI team surrounding Dr. Martha Dow. Everyone else is dressed up like her, and holding paper cutouts of her face.

Congratulations to CHASI’s director Dr. Martha Dow on 30 YEARS at UFV! The team surprised her on May 11, 2023 in a uniquely CHASI way to thank her for being such an incredibly positive force in all of our lives.

Get ready for Pride with CHASI’s button-making night!

October 7, 2026May 12, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Poster showing Pride stickers on the left side and text on the right. Text reads: "The Community Health and Social Innovation Hub presents: Pride Button-Making. On May 18, CHASI feels it is important to celebrate our pride and be in allyship together in a safe, celebratory space. Join us for a free evening of button-making, pizza, good music, and great company!" Event details are listed, reading: "May 18, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, B164, UFV Abbotsford, Open to all."

On May 18, CHASI feels it is important to celebrate our pride and be in allyship together in a safe, celebratory space. Join us for a free evening of button-making, pizza, good music, and great company! This event is open to all, and will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the CHASI Hub, located … Read more

Sikh Heritage Month 2023

October 7, 2026April 11, 2023 by Jeff Mijo-Burch

Illustration of langar, where three figures are serving food and tea to three others who are seated on the floor. The people all look happy, are a variety of ages and races, and wear a mix of traditional Sikh clothing and Western clothes.

April is Sikh Heritage Month, and CHASI is observing the occasion every Tuesday! Part 1: First, we’re highlighting and acknowledging the incredible charitable work our local Sikh community performs. “Pillows for evacuees in Abbotsford, pizza for dozens of truck drivers stuck in Kamloops, homemade meals choppered in to hundreds who have been sleeping in their … Read more