Our Guiding Principles

The Social Innovation Research Group (SIRG) is:

• An active research and education training incubator that honours a critical examination of community development and micro, mezzo, macro research initiatives on a local, national, and international level.
• An educational arena whereby faculty, students and community partners engage in community-based research projects designed to meet the needs of community partners.
• A resource for groups or individuals who seek our support to enhance their own capacity for community-building.
• A training portal whereby master's, doctoral and post-doctoral students are encouraged to develop research and professional skills in collaboration with community partners (i.e., funding proposals, process and outcome evaluations, needs assessments, etc.).
• A bridge between the university and the larger community in order to enhance innovative and creative working partnerships that value arts-based social development as a legitimate component of community development practice.
• A crossroads of academic and community stakeholders who believe and honour the idea that universities should be of service to the communities in which they operate and value mutuality in working partnerships, social innovation and social justice.