University of Victoria Welcomes Three New Canada Research Chairs, Advancing Social Justice and Sustainable Development

The University of Victoria (UVic) has announced the appointment of three new Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), further solidifying its commitment to advancing social justice, Indigenous resurgence, and renewable energy research. The new chairholders will join the university's vibrant community of scholars, working tirelessly to create a better world through innovative research and community engagement.

The Canada Research Chair program, administered by the federal government's Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat, plays a vital role in attracting and retaining top global scholars. According to Lisa Kalynchuk, UVic's vice-president of research and innovation, the program enables the university to bring in exceptional talent, driving progress in areas such as language education, law implementation, and energy production.

Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark, a renowned expert in Indigenous law, has been awarded a Tier I CRC in The Embodied Politics of Indigenous Law. Her research program focuses on revitalizing Anishinaabe legal traditions, emphasizing community-based governance and relational accountability. Stark's work integrates embodied practices like storytelling, beadwork, and land-based teachings to provide a holistic understanding of Indigenous governance.

Bryson Robertson, a professor of mechanical engineering, has been awarded a Tier I CRC in Marine Renewable Energy. His research aims to drive innovation in the field, enabling communities and technology developers to integrate culturally relevant and economically tailored energy solutions. Robertson's work has the potential to catalyze global energy system change, contributing to a more sustainable future.

chuutsqa Layla Rorick, a Hesquiaht researcher and educator, has been named a Tier II CRC in Indigenous Language Revitalization, Reclamation, and Maintenance. Rorick's research will support new language teachers through immersive land-based mentorship, co-develop digital tools for language resource creation, and mobilize ancestral knowledge through First Nation-governed digital archives.

Aloysius Kahindi's Tier II CRC in International Sustainable Development, Inequality, and Social Innovation has been renewed for a second five-year term. Kahindi's research addresses the social and economic impacts of multinational enterprises, multilateral organizations, and grassroots digital entrepreneurship in Africa, contributing to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These research projects align with several SDGs, including quality education (Goal 4), affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), climate action (Goal 13), peace, justice, and strong institutions (Goal 16), and partnerships for the goals (Goal 17). The appointments demonstrate UVic's commitment to advancing knowledge and driving positive change in these critical areas.

The University of Victoria acknowledges and respects the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples, whose traditional territory the university stands on. The institution recognizes the historical relationships between the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples and the land, and is dedicated to fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and reconciliation.