Hi Everyone,
September brings the beginning of the school year when the pace of activity suddenly accelerates. This is also true for the partnership. Please SAVE THE DATE for the next partnership meeting that is tentatively planned for January 23, 2019 in Windsor. We anticipate that members of working groups and research projects can meet on either Wednesday, January 22, 2019 or Friday, January 24, 2019. Confirmation of the dates and more details will follow shortly.

There is lots of news on the KM front. A public event is being organized by the York Region and the Toronto city networks at York University on the morning of November 29, 2019. Planning is well underway for a discussion of practitioners’ local concerns and strategies for supporting international students that will build on the panel discussion in Kitchener-Waterloo . Naolo and Yomna have also been busy improving the website. Please read the KM news since we really need your help contributing to the improved website.

I also want to warn everyone that the FINAL ROUND of template requests will be announced in early October. Please watch for news.

There are many comings and goings at the partnership. It is my pleasure to welcome two new co-investigators; Dr. Michael Haan of Western University and Dr. Deborah McPhee from Brock University. Their expertise in quantitative sociology and entrepreneurial studies will benefit the partnership. Read more about them
And now, the bittersweet news about people going: Naolo Charles is leaving the partnership to take a full-time position as the Director of Communications in a new organization. It is a tremendous opportunity for Naolo and a real loss for BMRC-IRMU. Naolo will finish his work at the partnership on Sept. 20. It is impossible to enumerate Naolo’s many contributions to the partnership, but he certainly succeeded in convincing everyone that KM begins as a research program is conceived, not only when the findings are available. Two post-doctoral fellows, whose energy, enthusiasm and innovative ideas are the backbone of the partnership, have also left their positions. Dr. Marshia Akbar at York University is teaching in the Department of Geography and Dr. Virginie Messana at University of Ottawa. They will all be missed. I know everyone joins me in wishing all three, the very best in the future and stay in touch.
Cheers
Valerie