About
CIFAL York is part of UNITAR’s global network of training centers for knowledge-sharing, training, and capacity-building for leaders, local authorities, and civil society. Established in 2020 as a partnership between UNITAR, York University and York Region, CIFAL York started its operation in June 2021 as the first CIFAL Centre in Canada.
Vision
CIFAL York envisions a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable world, empowering communities to overcome global challenges, while integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals for shaping a better future.
Mission
CIFAL York is dedicated to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange and capacity building among government officials, the private sector, academia, and civil society. CIFAL York works towards a global outreach and positive change through bridging gaps and facilitating a range of inspirational training and research opportunities.
CIFAL York Focusing Areas
- Disaster Risk, Emergency Management and Humanitarian Actions
- Health, Development, Environment & Climate Change
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Entrepreneurship, Digital Technology, and Economic Development
- Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
CIFAL York Recent & Upcoming Events and Courses
Student Nurses’ Voices Speaker Series
Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
Business Continuity and Resilience Speaker Series
Drone Pilot Microcredit Course January 18, 2025
Virtual Reality Open House 2.0
Sustainable Economic Growth and Prosperity Speaker Series
Emergency Management in Hospitals & Healthcare Speaker Series
Climate Change Emergencies & Cultural Heritage Speaker Series
VR/XR Based Training & Education Speaker Series
Unboxing the SDGs for People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership
Upcoming Events
Student Nurses’ Voices Speaker Series
Session 1: Tuesday, November 12 @ 8:00am EST.
Speakers:
Dr. Febes Catalina T. Aranas – Dean of the San Beda College of Nursing; PRO of the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing
Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, CBE – Former Dean of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, King’s College London; 2019-2021 President, Royal College of Nursing
Margaret Ruddy – Lecturer in Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Stirling
Dr. Ramesh Perumal – Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, York University
Dr. Rodolfo A. Guillergan Jr. – West Visayas State University School of Nursing
University of Stirling Students – Janet Babasola; Susan McLatchie; Alexandra Durrant
York University Students – Jessa Asis; Fatma Eltawil; Hadier Kandil
West Visaya State University Students – Edwin Umiten, Executive Chairperson, SNAP-WVSU; Angel Lou C. Rala, Executive Secretary SNAP-WVSU; Hanna Martina Cardaño, Director of External Affairs, SNAP-WVSU
Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
SESSION 2 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speaker: Clifton Cross, Council Member, Frog Lake First Nations
Topic: Connecting Frog Lake First Nation: Innovative Applications of Drone Technology
Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
SESSION 3 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speaker: Dr. Erica Bower, Human Rights Watch, Climate Displacement Researcher
Topic: Reimagining “community” engagement: lessons from climate-related planned relocation
Drone Pilot Microcredit Course
Date/Time: Saturday January 18, 2025, 9am-5:30pm
Location: ADERSIM Lab, N004, Schulich Building, York University
Instructor: Dr. Ali Asgary, Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, Director CIFAL York, Executive Director ADERSIM, York University, Holds Pilot Certificate for Advanced Operations
VIRTUAL SESSION 17: November 4, 12:00-1:00PM EST
Speaker: Dr. Angela Lombardi, Associate Professor, Architecture – Historic Preservation, University of Texas San Antonio
Speaker: Dr. Saadet Toker-Beeson, Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Interim Director of the School of Architecture+Planning, University of Texas San Antonio
Topic: Enhancing Disaster Resilience on the Texas Gulf Coast: A Framework for Historic Places of Worship and their communities.
Emergency Management in Hospitals & Healthcare
SESSION 8 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speakers:
Natasha Bloomberg – Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist, University Health Network
Lisa Colangelo – Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist, University Health Network
Katie Thomson – Emergency Preparedness Analyst, University Health Network
Topic: Creating University Health Network’s COVID-19 Pandemic Action After Report
Business Continuity and Resilience Speaker Series
SESSION 2 THURSDAY OCTOBER 24 11:30AM-12:30PM (EDT)
Speaker: Dr Krishna S. Vatsa, Member NDMA, Formerly Regional Advisor, South Asia, UNDP and Disaster Recovery Advisor UNDP, New York
Topic: Business Continuity for building financial Resilience
Link to Information & Registration
Topic: Developing Virtual Reality Traffic CoSimulation Tools for Data Collection, Driver Simulator for Training, and Digital Twin
Speaker:
Dr. Ahmad Mohammadi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University
Date: Friday, October 25, 2024 – 12:00PM – 1:00PM EDT
Location: Virtual on Zoom Webinar
SESSION 3 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Speakers:
Ramona Gallagher, Managing Director, My Main Street, Canadian Urban Institute
Jason Rhule, Co-Founder & President, iLeague Wireless
David Kwok, Director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, YSpace
Topic: Entrepreneurship in Challenging Times: The reality of Canada’s entrepreneurial and economic outlook and learnings for growth