Canadian Innovation Week 2022: #InnovateToEngage

Innovations have the potential to engage communities, help people and make our world a better, more inclusive place.

Affordable food and food literacy

While teaching, Pam Farrell, a doctoral candidate in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, heard from parents about the lack of affordable groceries and food programs for low-income residents. Inspired to apply her research on food literacy to her community, she started the GROW Community Food Literacy Centre. Serving low-income residents and people with disabilities in the Niagara Falls community, the organization provides a market of subsidized, healthy foods, as well as food literacy programming and advocacy.

A font for everyone

Tyler Hawkins, who graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Design from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, designed and launched a web tool that enhances letters for people with low vision. Named Optical, the accessibility tool allows people to shape letters on their computer to suit their specific needs. The resulting customized font is then displayed on screen, making web text more accessible for those with varying degrees and types of low vision.

A healthy university community

Université Laval student Valérie Hervieux and employee Amélie Bourdages are participating in Projet ESSAIM, a study focused on the health and well-being of their university community members. By surveying staff and students, they hope to uncover the factors that lead to sustainable health. Their findings could result in innovative changes to the university environment or people’s daily habits that facilitate long-term health and well-being.