Master Mind Master Class with Naheed Nenshi
Webcast sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and hosted by alumniUBC
Throughout his career, including his three terms as mayor of the City of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi has always emphasized the importance of civic engagement. On November 1st, join fellow UBC alumni, students, and friends in Vancouver for the next Master Mind Master Class where he will deliver the talk “Creating the Cities and Country We Deserve.”
The Master Mind Master Class speaker series is an alumni UBC program that offers an unprecedented look into the minds of modern thinkers making a unique impact on the world, and the lessons they’ve learned.
Speaker Biography
Naheed Nenshi, A’paistootsiipsii, was sworn in as Calgary’s 36th mayor on October 25, 2010 and was re-elected in 2013 and 2017.
Prior to being elected, Mayor Nenshi was with McKinsey and Company, later forming his own business to help public, private and non-profit organizations grow. He designed policy for the Government of Alberta, helped create a Canadian strategy for The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, and worked with the United Nations to determine how business can help the poorest people on the planet. He then entered academia, where he was Canada’s first tenured professor in the field of nonprofit management, at Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business.
For his work, Mayor Nenshi was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, was awarded the President’s Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners, and received the Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Psychological Association for his contributions to community mental health. In 2013, after his stewardship of the community during devastating flooding, Maclean’s magazine called him the second-most influential person in Canada, after the Prime Minister. He was also awarded the 2014 World Mayor Prize by the UK-based City Mayor’s Foundation as the best mayor in the world.
In 2014, he was also honoured by Elder Pete Standing Alone with the Blackfoot name A’paistootsiipsii, which means “Clan Leader” or “He who moves camp and the others follow”. In 2016, Elder Bruce Starlight of the Tsuu T’ina First Nation honoured him with the name Iitiya: “Always Ready”.
Mayor Nenshi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from the University of Calgary, where he was President of the Students’ Union, and a Master in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he studied as a Kennedy Fellow.
Moderator Biography
Anita Bathe
As the lead reporter for CBC News at 6pm, Anita Bathe takes viewers through some of the most important stories happening around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley every night. Anita is an award-winning journalist for her coverage of breaking news. She has been awarded two local BCAB awards, two local RTDNA awards, a national RTDNA, and the Jack Webster Fellowship. Her job is different every day and that’s what she loves about it. One day she will be out covering the latest news on BC’s premier, the next day she may be braving the elements bringing live coverage of the latest snowfall.
When she’s not working, Anita enjoys experiencing new places and new cultures through travel. She can also be found reading a good book or attempting to cook up a new dish.
A Millennium Of Mayan Textiles In Chiapas
Maya textiles reflect the ancestral wisdom embodied in the iconographic symbolism of its brocades that has been transmitted from generation to generation. For over a millennium, Maya women have been weaving their stories and brocade their textile legacy, continuing with the ancient tradition. They adapted their traditional style to new times, and this exhibit shows the evolving Maya fashion, techniques and materials over the past 30 years, highlighting the continuity of the symbolism and iconography.
This textile collection presents a small snap-shot of the changes, modes, continuity, and legacy of the diverse indigenous communities of Chiapas. Expert hands recorded their knowledge and incorporate their views of the world, adapting and using the materials they make a strong statement about their own culture – standing up for the present and the future.
We appreciate the support of the Cosulado General de Mexico in Vancouver and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.
EscaparArte Chiapas A.C / Xanvil A.C.
This exhibit will be on display in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre’s foyer from November 9th, 2018 to December 18th, 2018.
Hailey Cohen
Ciculation & Program Support Assistant, Chapman Learning Commons & MAA Library
Background
Hailey Cohen (she/her) joined the Chapman Learning Commons and Music, Art, and Architecture Library in 2025. Prior to starting at UBC Library, Hailey pursued education in Psychology, English, and Photography, gaining a well-rounded understanding of emotion, storytelling, and visual expression. As a former foster youth, Hailey is an advocate for inclusivity, using her experience to raise awareness and support marginalized communities.
Current Roles and Responsibilities
In her current role, Hailey provides support to both CLC and MAA operations during the evenings and weekends.
Contact
Email: hailey.cohen@ubc.ca
Phone: (604) 827-2807
MOV completes BC Bird Taxidermy and Product Packaging digitization project
Project title: BC Bird Taxidermy and Product Packaging Digitization Project
Institution: Museum of Vancouver (MOV)
Description: The Museum of Vancouver (Mov) has completed digitization of two cateories of artefacts with significant British Columbia stories to tell. The collections selected are bird taxidermy and product packaging. The artefacts selected includes 206 taxidermied birds and 1236 pieces of product packaging for a grand total of 1442 artefacts digitized.
Collection URL: http://openmov.museumofvancouver.ca/collection
“Due to the toxicity of these specimens, it was required that the technician handle the objects with gloves, a respirator, and a lab coat with additional daily and weekly decontamination of the work station.”
The product packaging collection comprises a variety of product types and packaging materials such as canned goods, wooden crates, glass milk bottle and pharmaceuticals.
Sarah Robertson
Program Assistant, Chapman Learning Commons
Background
Sarah Robertson initially joined the Chapman Learning Commons (CLC) team as a Work Learn student employee, and in 2025 returned to CLC as a Program Assistant. Sarah has completed a BA in English, Emphasis Literature and History, with a focus on Medieval History in the latter. She has a keen interest in web development work.
Current Roles and Responsibilities:
In her current role, Sarah assists with the daily operation of CLC, working alongside student-staff and program management.
Contact:
Email: sarah.robertson@ubc.ca
Phone: (604) 827-4811
The Power of Diversity: Better decisions? Better outcomes?
Webcast sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and hosted by UBC Equity and Inclusion Office
We now know that overemphasizing “fit” in hiring or team formation presents a number of challenges, including, inevitably, around decision-making, and the potential of it leading to “groupthink”. But beyond this, what are other ways in which bringing in diverse voice can impact decision-making and outcomes more broadly? How does involvement of diverse voices help inform social and system changes?
Diversity contributes to creativity and holds potential to enhance innovation within different fields by bringing in different perspectives and experiences. It also drives everyone to confront the biases of their own expectations. Bringing in diverse individuals is beyond simply being “the right thing to do” – it is essential to creating a better world. However, diversity alone is not enough – an inclusive culture must be in place to ensure a thriving environment.
Join us for an evening of dialogue as our panel shares their insights and experiences, and explores how inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives can deliver more innovative, more creative, and more inclusive outcomes – whether it’s in health, science, research, or the wider world.
This event will be taking place on October 30th at 6:30 pm.
For ticketing information, please visit the Equity & Inclusion Office’s page Event Page
BC History Digitization Program: 2019-2020 Call for applications
The B.C. History Digitization Program (BCHDP) is now accepting submissions for project funding. The program, launched by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre in 2006, provides matching funds to support projects that make unique British Columbia content freely available.
The BCHDP will be accepting applications for 2019 – 2020. Applicants can receive up to $15,000 of matching funds for their projects. Multi-year projects are accepted while each year of a project must still go through the adjudication process.
In 2018, the program awarded more than $170,000 for 18 projects. The wealth and diversity of unique British Columbia content to be digitized is impressive. Since its inception in 2006, the BCHDP has awarded more than $2 million of matching funds for more than 240 projects.
Applications are due by Monday, December 17, 2018. Information about the application process as well as the guidelines and application form are available on the BCHDP website @ https://ikblc.ubc.ca/initiatives/bcdigitinfo/bchdp-applicant-information/
For more information about the program and to view past projects, please visit the BCHDP website @ https://ikblc.ubc.ca/initiatives/bcdigitinfo/