A Deadly Disparity: The Urgent Need to Address Fire Risk in Indigenous Communities

Logo of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

CHASI is proud to maintain a longstanding partnership with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC). The NIFSC supports Indigenous communities in the development of their internal capacity to enhance community safety and resiliency. As part of this partnership, CHASI is pleased to amplify their articles on our blog. CHASI’s collaboration with the NIFSC, and … Read more

Fighting Flames Before They Ignite: A Call to Action for Fire Prevention in Vulnerable and Indigenous Communities

Logo of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

CHASI is proud to maintain a longstanding partnership with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC). The NIFSC supports Indigenous communities in the development of their internal capacity to enhance community safety and resiliency. As part of this partnership, CHASI is pleased to amplify their articles on our blog. CHASI’s collaboration with the NIFSC, and … Read more

CHASI collaborates with Sumas First Nation on disaster risk and recovery report

Cover for a report, reading: "Sumas First Nation - Resilience in Action: Managing Risk and Recovery"

CHASI was pleased to collaborate with the Sumas First Nation Emergency Management team on a report looking at disaster risk, recovery and resiliency in the community. This report was completed and shared with the community in November 2024. CHASI is pleased to share it publicly, and hopes that other communities are also able to draw … Read more

CHASI research explores health impacts of technology during pandemic

Photo of a person silhouetted against a cold blue window with the blinds drawn, looking at the phone. It conveys loneliness and isolation.

COVID-19 had more impacts on Canadian’s health than just the effects of the disease: during the early years of the pandemic, restrictions radically changed the way we socialized, learned, and engaged with medical professionals. In particular, technology enabled new, safer alternatives, but they were not a perfect solution. The Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) … Read more

CHASI and Sustainable UFV presentation: Collaboration for pollination — growing partnerships

Photo of a group of people planting plants in the UFV pollinator garden.

CHASI lead researcher Chelsea Klassen joined Sustainable UFV’s Jennifer Martel and Karima Cherifi for a virtual presentation about UFV’s new pollinator garden at the University of Bergen Day Zero Sustainable Development Goals conference. Originally presented February 5, 2025, the presentation discussed how the Office of Sustainability at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, … Read more

CHASI researchers show new moms what a realistic return to movement can look like

Thumbnail photo of a mother sitting on an exercise mat outdoors, holding her baby upright and smiling.

CHASI Faculty Associate Dr. Iris Lesser and UFV student research assistant Megan Filiatrault have released a new report sharing their findings from an initial series of workshops aimed at engaging new mothers in physical activity and presenting a realistic look at what their return to movement may look like. The report, titled Postpartum Physical Activity … Read more

Your future career awaits you — Career Mapping is here to help!

Screenshot of the homepage of the Career Mapping website. Text shows young adult gathered around a computer, and text reads "find out where your liberal arts degree can take you." Beneath are search boxes for field of study and program area.

As part of CHASI’s celebration of National Career Month, we asked practicum student Ava Hedblom to share her experiences with Career Mapping, a new tool launched by our research cluster CALL, the Career and Learning for Life Consortium. Check back throughout November to see more Career Month posts! It is as simple as this: studying … Read more

CHASI research shows VisionQuest program significantly reduces criminal recidivism

Cover of the report, including it's full title and an aerial photo of the VisionQuest facility

Researchers at UFV’s Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub share their findings from a three-year follow-up study of recidivism among highly prolific offenders admitted to VisionQuest’s substance use treatment program in Logan Lake, B.C. The report, prepared by Dr. Darryl Plecas, Dr. Martha Dow, and Chelsea Klassen, MA, found that the program demonstrated capacity … Read more

CHASI contributes knowledge to B.U.I.L.D.S. Project

A video still of a title card that reads "Community Based Research Guide, Presented by CHASI"

The Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub was pleased to partner with DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society to support their BIPOC Unified Inclusive Leading Organization Development for South Fraser (B.U.I.L.D.S.) project. The project supports “grassroots BIPOC organizations to help grow their services and impact in the community by accessing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) … Read more