
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
AI and Feminism: Foundations of a Critical Dialogue on Gender, Power, and Technology
Foundations and Applications of Generative AI for Teachers Course
Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
Business Continuity and Resilience Speaker Series
Mass Vaccination Challenges: Lessons from Canadian First Nations and Remote Communities Symposium
Drone Pilot Microcredit Course January 18, 2025
Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
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

Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
SESSION 5 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speaker: Wade Hawkins
Topic: Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability Hub at CIRUS: Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Achievements

Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
SESSION 5 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speaker: Dr. Ginbert Permejo Cuaton
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Topic: Uncovering the Drivers of Climate Gentrification in the Global South: Case Study of Tacloban City, Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan

Business Continuity and Resilience Speaker Series
SESSION 4 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27 11:30AM-12:30PM (EST)
Speaker: Dr. Riana Steen, Associate Professor, BI Norwegian Business School, Department of Auditing and Business Analytics
Topic: Resilient Business Continuity Management System: Preparing for the unexpected

AI and Feminism: Foundations of a Critical Dialogue on Gender, Power, and Technology
The Centre for Feminist Research (CFR) & CIFAL York &, York University
Date: March 15, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM EST (Toronto)
Location: ADERSIM Lab, Schulich School of Business, Rm. N004 (Basement Floor), 111 Ian MacDonald Blvd, York University, Keele Campus

Foundations and Applications of Generative AI for Teachers Course
Date: March 14, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM-3:15 PM EST (Toronto)
Location: ADERSIM Lab, Schulich School of Business, Rm. N004 (Basement Floor), 111 Ian MacDonald Blvd, York University, Keele Campus

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 07 08:30AM-4:00PM (EST)
Mass Vaccination Challenges: Lessons from Canadian First Nations and Remote Communities Symposium
&
Mass Vaccination Simulation Workshop

Emergency Management in Hospitals & Healthcare
SESSION 1 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5 12:00PM-1:00PM (EST)
Speakers:
Maddy Laberge - Manager, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health, Health Emergency Management, BC
Gloria Hertz - Manager, Business Continuity, Provincial Health Services Authority, BC
Joel Van Huizen - Health Emergency Management Specialist, Provincial Health Services Authority, BC
Topic: Planning for Evacuations: Toolkit for Patient-Centered, Risk-Based Healthcare Relocation

Student Nurses' Voices Speaker Series
SESSION 4 TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11 7:00PM-9:00PM (EST)
Panelists:
Elizabeth Iro, Former Chief Nursing Officer (2018-2022), World Health Organization
Dr. Hyeonkyeong Lee, Professor & Associate Dean for Research, Director of WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training for Nursing Development in PHC, Yonsei University College of Nursing, South Korea
Dr. Pearl Ed G Cuevas, Graduate Nursing Professor, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines
Dr. Ying Helen Wu, Professor, Former Dean of Capital Medical University School of Nursing. Dean of Clinical Nursing College, Capital Medical University. Beijing, China
Megumi Teshima, Representative from Japan / International Council of Nurses; Vice President and Dean, Graduate School, Tokyo Healthcare University
Dr. Jean Ross, Professor at Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga Department of Nursing
Kyua Kim, PhD Candidate, Yonsei University College of Nursing

VIRTUAL SESSION 19 FEBRUARY 3, 12:00-1:00PM EDT
Speaker: Dr. Marcus R. Létourneau, Lecturer, School of Planning Waterloo University. President M. R. Letourneau and Associates Inc.
Topic: The more things change, the more they stay the same’: Reflections on the integration of climate change considerations and risk management into Ontario’s Heritage Policy Framework

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