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CIFAL York

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

Upcoming Events

Link to Event Page

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

Link to Event Page

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

Link to Course Page

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

Link to Course Page

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 

Link to Event Page

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.

Link to Course Page

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

Link to Event Page

Virtual Reality Open House 2.0

November 7, 2024, in-person

Link to Course Page

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

Link to Event Page

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