Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 09:00 - 16:30

SiG @Waterloo has been pleased to be part of a national collaboration with Community-Based Research Canada, the Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning, and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health over the last year to convene the Canadian Knowledge Commons Initiative. We are interested and supportive of emerging efforts to address such challenges and hosting spaces to have these important conversations

Visit the Knowledge Commons Networking Website

A knowledge commons refers to conceptual spaces where the boundaries between diverse locations of knowledge creation, forms of knowledge and uses of knowledge are diminished. In such a commons, we are better able to address complex economic, social and environmental issues that confront us locally, nationally and around the world. Our proposition is that lowering the barriers that separate knowledge is desirable and necessary.

There is a growing recognition that knowledge is not a monopoly of academics. It is created, co‐created and shared in:

• Community classrooms where First Nations’ indigenous languages and cultures are being sustained and revitalized;
• Businesses working on green economic alternatives;
• University engineering departments working on adaptive technologies for children with special needs;
• Financial institutions’ exploring innovative new ways to create affordable housing;
• And so much more, including collaborative partnerships between academics and their colleagues in private, public and community sectors.

However, the fact remains that there are many long-standing challenges to thinking about and acting on knowledge in ways that are broad, inclusive, integrated and applied.

What has happened:

The Canadian Knowledge Commons Summit held on June 2, 2010 at the L'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) brought together a diverse group of participants who share a deep interest in the creation and uses of knowledge for accelerating the pace of positive change in our communities. Summit organizers share an interest in breaking down barriers between communities and universities, breaking down disciplinary knowledge silos within academia and supporting knowledge partnerships between community, policy makers, the private sector and academics. The program for the day included a panel address moderated by Chad Gaffield(President of SSHRC), presentations by Nancy Neamtan(Executive Director of Quebec's Chantier de l'economie sociale )and Lorna Williams, Chair of the First Peoples Heritage Language and Cultural Council) ; two outstanding examples of high-impact initiatives, themed round-table discussions on potential areas for action, and opportunities to contribute to a strategic document. SiG has played a key leadership role as chief coordinator for this particular day.

What Now:

The creation of a Canadian Knowledge Commons is an ongoing conversation that needs continuous and diverse dialogue. Our staff have created a Ning site( online social networking site) developed as a place to share ideas, connect with others, and peruse the videos, documents and presentation materials from the summit on June 2.

We are also collecting information on an ongoing basis about innovative ways that knowledge is being created, shared or applied. You have the opportunity to submit examples. To do so, you can either join the Knowledge Commons Ning or complete an anonymous survey.

The Knowledge Commons Initiative will next convene during May 2011 in Waterloo.

We sincerely hope that you will be able to participate whether in person on at future events and on an on-going basis via the website.