Sustainability, Slow Teaching, and the 4Rs: Lessons from the Fall Forum

On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) at UFV hosted its annual Fall Forum, a full day dedicated to conversation, reflection, and action around regenerative sustainability.

This year’s theme invited faculty, staff, and community members to move beyond the idea of simply “doing less harm” and instead imagine what it means to repair, restore, and nurture thriving ecosystems and communities — both within and beyond our classrooms.

Keynote Highlights

The day began with an inspiring keynote by Dr. Shannon Leddy from UBC, titled “Indigenized, Slow, and Sustainable Pedagogies.” Drawing from her co-authored book, Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies (2023), Dr. Leddy encouraged participants to re-center teaching around the 4Rs: respect, relevance, reciprocity, and responsibility.

Through the lens of the Medicine Wheel, Dr. Leddy invited us to reflect on the holistic nature of education—connecting head, heart, body, and spirit—and reminded us of the importance of teaching people, not subjects. Her talk emphasized the value of experiential learning, Land-based connections, and the intersections between slow pedagogies and sustainability.

Afternoon Workshops and Conversations

Following a community lunch, participants joined a variety of interactive workshops led by UFV colleagues, exploring themes of reflection, creativity, and connection:

Weaving SDGs into Curriculum: Sabine Décamp

Indigenous Rights and the SDGs: Cherie Enns

Internationalizing Indigenization: Victoria Surtees

Navigating Climate Anxiety: Anna Griffith & Jen Martel

Embracing Slow and Sustainable Pedagogies Through Holistic Assessment: Claire Hay

Story, Song, and Yoga : Leanne A. Joe & Yué Bizenjima-Chrea

These sessions fostered rich discussion and practical strategies for integrating regenerative and relational approaches into teaching and learning at UFV.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Fall Forum was a meaningful opportunity to pause, connect, and reimagine what sustainability can look like: not just for the planet, but for our students, classrooms, and communities.

The TLC extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Shannon Leddy, our workshop facilitators, and everyone who joined us for this day of shared learning.

Together, we continue to explore what it means to teach where we are: rooted in care, reciprocity, and the ongoing work of regeneration.