“I have taught Active Citizenship in Canada (CDN435Y), working with outstanding students and dedicated change-making community partners for over a decade. Individually and as teams, students have contributed to successful city and provincial initiatives working with Toronto and Richmond Hill city councillors, BIAs, community organizations, and MPs including the introduction of bike-lanes and lane-way housing, and the Mississauga Smart City policy development. Working with diverse not-for profit community partners, including the Digital Justice Lab, Toronto Park Renewal, Story Planet, SquareCircle, Chinese Canadian National Council, and more, students have had the opportunity to juxtapose critical perspectives with real world practices. I have found that community-engaged learning consistently supports the transition from student to active agent, organizer, and team leader, with impact beyond the university, and many alumni from these CEL experiences stay in touch.”

Siobhan O’Flynn