Home » Engage Magazine | Summer 2023

Engage Magazine | Summer 2023

Our generous partners help SFU and the communities we serve to thrive. Donors like you are inspiring student change makers, invigorating Indigenous art education, advancing excellence in legal services, fostering diversity in STEM, and more. Thank you for your remarkable leadership!

Inside the Magazine

Explore the impact of philanthropy at SFU in the stories below.

Message from the vice-president, advancement & alumni engagement

Erin Morantz

Thank you for the difference you make across Simon Fraser University and the communities we serve. Today, and since our beginnings in 1965, SFU is a place that responds to the needs of our rapidly changing world. Your remarkable generosity has been essential to the university’s evolution and to our local and global impact over the years.

We have arrived at a critical moment in history, with society facing increasingly complex and formidable challenges...

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From the archives: The first graduates of SFU

First convocation processionOn September 9, 1965, Simon Fraser University opened it doors to 2,500 charter students—the first students to attend the university. Two years later on May 20, 1967...

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People of SFU: Chris (Syeta'xtn) Lewis

Chris (Syeta’xtn) LewisWith meaningful and enduring ties to SFU, alumnus Chris (Syeta’xtn) Lewis (BA ’05) has enriched the university community in many ways⁠—from serving as a member and chair of the Board of Governors to co-leading the Aboriginal Reconciliation Council. In 2021, Syeta’xtn was recognized with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for his significant contributions and commitment to building a better SFU...

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By the numbers: investing in the future

Getting a university education is a smart investment for your future—but it’s also a major financial expense. Get a snapshot of some of the costs per term that students need to think about during their studies.

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SFU donor community helps student-athlete run through adversity

student athlete runningSFU student and track and field athlete Megan Roxby has weathered her fair share of challenges. In grade 10, she recovered from 10 hours of innovative—and risky—spinal surgery to...

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Supporting students in hard times

Students in a classroomEverywhere we turn, life is getting more expensive—food costs continue to rise, rents are the highest we’ve ever seen. For university students, many of whom are already living on a shoestring budget, it’s a daily struggle to make ends meet...

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Through their words

SFU students and alumniIn honour of National Indigenous History Month, we asked four students and alumni to share their perspectives, as well as reflect on their SFU experience, the impact of donor funding on their studies, and their hopes for the future. Advancement & Alumni Engagement (AAE) sat down with Kali Stierle, a BBA student in accounting; Ashley Kyne, a master’s student in criminology; Mathew Fleury, a doctoral student in health sciences; and Julie Seal, an SFU alumnus, to tell their stories...

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Strengthening legal services excellence in B.C.

Notaries, group photoA newly endowed professorship, supported by a generous $3.5 million gift from the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia (SNPBC), will significantly advance the field of applied legal studies and place SFU as a pivotal partner in the expansion of the education of notaries public in the province...

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Coming to SFU: an innovative new hub for the arts

New art museum renderingSFU will be home to the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum, a new architectural flagship for Burnaby campus...Housing the dynamic and growing SFU Art Collection, it will feature works from across the region many call British Columbia, and the diverse people who make art in response to this place...

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The power or reciprocity: A Q&A with Ian and Yvonne Reddy

Ian and Yvonne ReddyIan and Yvonne Reddy are committed to giving back and shaping a better society. A dynamic and philanthropic couple, they are passionate about making a positive impact in the world through education and environmental sustainability...

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Transforming Indigenous art education at SFU

ArtworkA ground-breaking commitment from “activist collectors” George and Christiane Smyth will uplift Salish art and help Indigenize art education at SFU...

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Embracing the SFU student experience

Christian CookAlumnus Christian Cook is matter of fact when explaining her thoughtful decision to leave a gift in her will to SFU. “We need more people to go to places like SFU,” she says...

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When charity truly begins at home

Dr. Yosef WoskAs a child, Dr. Yosef Wosk brought a nickel to school and then got a sticker cut in the shape of a leaf. He came back with more coins, eventually collecting enough leaf stickers to fill a picture of a tree.

“I handed the picture to the teacher, and I knew my coins were enough to plant a tree in Israel in my name or the name of someone I chose,” says Yosef. “That was something that really spoke to me as a child. It was a wonderful way to learn about the gift of giving.”

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Shaping a more inclusive future in tech

Angelica Lim with studentsTwo SFU professors are leading the way to build diversity and equity in STEM and STEM education. Drs. Angelica Lim and Lesley Shannon are two prominent researchers in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer engineering, respectively. Both are also recognized advocates for uplifting and encouraging women in computing science...

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Propelling diversity and innovation in higher education

Hycroft Manor stairs with studentsFounded in 1907 and based since 1962 in the exquisite Hycroft Manor, the University Women’s Club of Vancouver (UWCV) was one of the first university clubs for women in Canada. Its members are dedicated to education and lifelong learning, supporting women's rights and issues, and promoting social and cultural exchange...

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SFU news and research

Aerial view of SFUCheck out our selected highlights from SFU News. Read about the latest institutional announcements, research innovations, and accomplishments of people throughout the university and our community at large.

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Achieving your philanthropic goals with stock options

Cody GordonPortfolio manager and wealth management advisor Cody Gordon, CIM, CFA, shares his advice on a tax-efficient strategy that can help you donate more to the charities and causes you support...

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In memoriam: Ron Cliff

Ron CliffRon was a distinguished philanthropist, volunteer and leader in Canadian business. Throughout his life, Ron demonstrated an unwavering commitment to bettering our communities and his service earned him some of the nation’s highest honours, including being appointed to both the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia...

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