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Your thoughtfulness changes lives—and for that we are exceptionally grateful. The support we receive from dedicated partners like you furthers SFU’s vision for advancing an inclusive and...
Many alumni may remember Ted Sinnott, the beloved Convocation Mall janitor. Fondly known as the “singing janitor,” Ted was a cherished member of the SFU community who had a song and smile...
For over 25 years, Renaissance Coffee owner Parminder Parhar has been a devoted member of SFU’s community, passionately crafting exceptional coffee and helping cultivate a sense of belonging...
The giving season, technically, starts in the weeks leading up to the holidays. For SFU alumni working in the social good sector, it runs year-round. From offering immersive experiential learning...
RADIUS – RADical Ideas, Useful to Society – is SFU’s social innovation lab and venture incubator. Sparked by Beedie School of Business adjunct professor Shawn Smith in 2013, RADIUS...
Addiction, homelessness, crime. As first responders, this is what fire fighters see every day. They know first hand the source of these issues is often mental illness. With the hope of better...
Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Here’s how your commitment to The Power of Engagement campaign has impacted SFU. Engaging students Our students think they can change the...
In 1967, Sylvia was 30, with a young daughter and no formal education. She’d once dreamed of being a teacher, but without a high school diploma, what was she going to do? She started taking...
When Barry and Guenther began thinking about their legacy, SFU seemed the natural choice for their bequests. Professor Barry Truax has been teaching acoustic communication at SFU for 40 years. He...
Shireen was an aspiring teacher in the Professional Development Program at SFU when she heard about the International Teaching Education Module (ITEM) in India. She was immediately interested. Every...
While caring for her ailing father, Lorna experienced first-hand the gaps that exist within seniors' health care, particularly for patients with dementia. She saw a desperate need for...
That's the question business leader and entrepreneur Charles Chang, BBA '95, asked himself as he prepared to sell his plant-based protein powder business, Vega. "I wanted to not only...
A few years ago, Ruth’s parents passed away within two months of each other. But through her grief, she found a sense of purpose. Ruth works in the Back on Track (BOT) program at SFU. She helps...
Mamadi's life started in Guinea. He came to Canada with his mother and sister when he was four years old. Settling in Montreal, Mamadi's mother raised him and his sister on her own, with no...
For decades, David Sweanor gave quietly, anonymously. But a year ago, he decided to go public with his philanthropy. What changed? “When you give anonymously, you truly don’t expect...
We’re all familiar with the simplicity and accuracy of using a thermometer to read our body’s temperature to pinpoint a fever. What if monitoring brain health was as accessible? Thanks to...
It was the 1980s and Janis Horne was a single mom with two young sons. She had attended SFU in the past and was thrilled to come back to campus as a staff member – she also welcomed the...
Jim McEwen's first teacher, Isobel Rose, helped him catch up quickly after a late entry to school following a family quarantine during a polio outbreak in 1954. In grade eight, after a botched...
In spring 1951, young University of Alberta law student and aspiring dancer Grant Strate made a gut decision that radically altered his life path. Upon receiving an invitation to join the new...
Originally from Denmark, Jorgen Vibe (Jack) Christensen was held at a prison camp in Japan during World War II. He was released in 1945 and rarely spoke of that time, but the experience stayed with...
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Jesse Elliott always pursued his interests with dedication. In his elementary school years, this meant a black belt in Tae Kwon Do by age 12. Later, he turned his...
An immensely talented artist, Mary Filer worked in multiple media. Initially trained as a watercolour painter under John Lyman and Group of Seven artist Arthur Lismer, she was also a pioneer in...
Innovation at SFU moves ideas into action. In 2008, SFU launched Venture Connection, the first university business incubator in Western Canada. The program offers entrepreneurship training and...
Christian 'Chris' Friesen's early life was filled with adventure. He grew up exploring his family's lush acreage in Langley, visiting nearby relatives in the Fraser Valley, making...