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Sikh Heritage Month 2023

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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

Our Charmed Circle #3

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An image of Matthew Shepard, a young blonde man, with Mary-Jo's face reflected in the glass case

In memory of: Curtis Marsh Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte Edwin Chiloba Raymond Taavel Imanitwitaho Zachee (pronounced Za-shay), known as Zachee Diamond Jackson-McDonald Matthew Shepard 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 … Read more

Celebrating the artists of The Laramie Project Digital Art Competition

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Actress Taya Viger stands with the angel wings on, delivering a speech from the play.

On March 22, the Community Health and Social Innovation Hub (CHASI) celebrated the artists who created work for The Laramie Project Digital Art Competition and the cast and crew of UFV Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project at a gathering in the Hub. We were joined by many other members of the UFV and local community to … Read more

CHASIcast: Dr. Shelley Liebembuk — confronting hate through art

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Dr. Shelley Liebembuk sits in the CIVL Radio studio with a microphone in front of her. Behind her, a window looks out at the UFV Abbotsford Student Union Building Atrium. A quote from Dr. Liebembuk reads: “My hope is that when you sit with someone — literally, physically, have to sit with somebody else and someone else’s ideas for a while, in a space that asks you to listen — I think that can be really transformative. And I think part of that is the wonder and the courage of an audience member to arrive, and the courage of a performer to be vulnerable, to tell the story, to use their body as a conduit for that conversation.”

Dr. Shelley Liebembuk, a UFV Assistant Professor of Theatre, dives into her upcoming project on the latest CHASIcast. Premiering Thursday, March 23, The Laramie Project is constructed from the transcripts of over 200 interviews, conducted in the aftermath of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man, in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998. Dr. … Read more

CHASI marks International Women’s Day 2023

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Illustration of five women of varying races, ages, and body types, each holding their hand up forming an American Sign Language letter, spelling the word "women."

Today is International Women’s Day! Our artist, Sharon Strauss, marked the occasion with this beautiful illustration. CHASI takes pride in being a women-led and directed centre at UFV. We hope everyone can take some time today to celebrate women! Here are some ideas: Something to read: Check out this article which includes interviews with members … Read more