Forum
An open door to the conversations shaping our world.
For more information, contact our team at sppcareers@ucalgary.ca.
Forum is a cornerstone of life at the School of Public Policy, an open door to the conversations shaping our world. Each week, students, faculty, alumni, and leaders from across sectors come together over a lunch hour to engage with the ideas and challenges shaping our world. From climate change and governance to innovation, security, and global development, Forum connects you to the people and dynamics shaping change locally and globally, and invites you to be part of the dialogue.
Speaker: Lisa Pollio, Program Manager, Energy Safety Canada.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
Learn how evidence-based safety initiatives are helping protect young and new workers in high-risk environments across Alberta. This session highlights practical tools, policy lessons, and cross-sector collaboration to foster safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Organized by SEDV Society and MPPSA
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
The student associations for the SEDV and MPP program will hold together a session oriented to fellow students and stuff on a selection of relevant topics in energy and policy from the students' perspective.
Speaker: Dr. Pablo Policzer, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
International news has been recently focused on Venezuela, and the capture of their president by Donald Trump’s administration. Drawing on historical context and contemporary developments, Dr. Policzer highlights regional implications, governance challenges, and international responses.
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, Director of Health and Social Policy at the School of Public Policy.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
Drawing on federal and provincial examples, this policy forum explores how disability policies—including the Disability Tax Credit, income assistance, and childhood supports—operate across jurisdictions in Canada. We will touch on recent policy changes in Alberta alongside broader cross-provincial comparisons, examining how policy design choices influence equity, access, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Winter, Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary; and Departmental Science Advisor at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
As the lead of the Canadian Climate Policy Partnership (C2P2), Dr. Winter with her team will provide an insight on the work they have been doing for the last years, and a view into how policy makers and policy-shapers from different disciplines can use their resources as a one-stop database.
Speaker: Dr. Sandra Davidson, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), University of Calgary.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
During this session, the center of Aging will introduce the ageism policy and present on the University of Calgary’s Age Friendly University initiative. This will be followed by a fireside chat with Dr. Davidson.
Speaker: Dr. Trevor Tombe, Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy, School of Public Policy.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
With a new year, a new budget for the province of Alberta is approved. Dr. Tombe will unpack the key priorities, fiscal choices, and policy trade-offs of Alberta’s 2026 budget. The discussion will examine what has changed, what it signals for the province’s economic outlook, and what may lie ahead for public policy and public finances.
Speaker: Dr. Joshua Bourdage, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
As Artificial Intelligence get more relevance as a hot topic every day, this session will present the findings of Dr. Bourdage research on AI implementation in the workforce, leadership and policy considerations.
Speaker: Dr. Irene Herremans, Professor Emerita, University of Calgary.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
As one of the founders and key professors of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV), Dr. Herremans invite us to analyze and understand some of the recent hot topics in sustainability, and the impact for Alberta economic matrix.
Speaker: Nicolas Martin Martin, Career Development and Engagement Specialist for the School of Public Policy.
Time & Location: 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Downtown Campus, Room 520
This interactive session offers a relaxed space for students and staff to unwind at the end of term through games and team-based activities. Designed to promote connection, well-being, and peer engagement, the session encourages collaboration and stress relief in a supportive environment.