Dear colleagues,

It’s spring, and a Lower Mainlander’s fancy lightly turns to the lanes, lawns, and boulevards bejeweled by the pink and white petals of the cherry trees. One thing that COVID can’t change is the breathtaking beauty of our surroundings; and our city is never prettier than when the cherry blossoms bloom… 

INFORMATION ITEM

A Blossoming Dialogue: KPU’s Task-force on Anti-racism is excited to announce the launch of KPU Speaks, a community-generated blog on anti-racism. The first blog entry, by Teresa Smith, is available here. 

CONGRATULATIONS

A Literary Bouquet: Aislinn Hunter’s powerful novel The Certainties has just been shortlisted for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, awarded annually to the best original work of literary fiction by an author from B.C. or the Yukon. This is outstanding! Congratulations to Aislinn, and to the entire Creative Writing department.

AN INVITATION

Florescent Scholarship: Lilach Marom (EDST) is conducting a research project on the changing role of universities in an era of superdiversity (REB: 2021-08). If you are 

  • a faculty member at KPU who teaches or has taught international, immigrant, and/or second-generation immigrant students at KPU
  • a KPU administrative staff member working in the area of international education, or in a position that includes working with or overseeing international, immigrant and/or second-generation immigrant students at KPU
  • a community leader who works in a central position in an organization that provides support to international, immigrant, or second-generation immigrant students, including KPU students

then Lilach invites your participation! This involves one interview of a maximum of 90 minutes. The interview will take place online, scheduled according to your availability. (Note that student participants will be given a $10 Amazon gift certificate as an honorarium for their contribution). Please contact lilach.marom@kpu.ca for more information. 

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

Integrity in Bloom: Our thanks go out to all those who have documented and reported academic integrity violations through the portal. We understand the burden of time that this can impose, and deeply appreciate your commitment to integrity – that most fundamental value of our shared mission. As assignments and exams continue to trickle in, please do continue to report violations here.

Monday brings a close to our classes for Spring 2021. The pandemic certainly made this a challenging semester, and the Third Wave now casts a shadow even over the (mostly) fine weather and the blossoming trees. For all of that, your resplendent efforts have made – and continue to make – a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, and your dedication and hard work continue to inspire. We hope you are able to find a few moments for rest and renewal amidst the frenzy of grading, and perhaps, like Yosa Buson, to find a bit of solace in the beauty of the cherry blossoms: 

Sakura, sakura 

they fall in the dreams 

of sleeping beauty 

All our best,

Diane, Wade, Shelley, & Greg

Photo credits, in order:: “Cherry Blossoms, Vancouver” by hskay is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0; hotos 2 and 3 courtesy Heather Cyr. Thanks, Heather!

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