There was surprise, laughter and empathy, as conference participants compared stories of crossing cultures and experiences of living and working among people of many cultures.
Imagine people from countries including India, China, Colombia, Nigeria, and U.K. together in one room, sharing stories about cultural identity, migration and living in Canada. This was the scene at TWU Richmond’s first Cultural Conference on Wednesday, March 9, where food, stories and lessons were shared among students and staff.
TWU Richmond’s Student Life team organized this half-day event at the university’s Minoru location. Amy Saya, Student Life Coordinator, was the event’s host.
Over 50 people joined the conference in-person and online. The group was diverse with representation from many ethnicities and career and academic interests, making for lively and engaging discussions.
One participant reflected, “Today’s Culture Conference felt like springtime after a long winter season. I felt so alive and fresh talking with people about a topic I am passionate about!”
Another expressed, “Today’s event was great. I loved it so much, and it makes me think about several questions I’ve never thought about.”
Guest Speaker, Zenith Bose (Columbia College) led the first session on “Understanding and Processing the Newcomer Experience.” Her workshop helped participants to explore the makeup of their identities, helping people to see themselves in the full view of their background, experiences and current context. She led participants to dialogue in small groups and discuss the meaning of “being a Canadian,” and how we interpret who is a newcomer versus a local.
From TWU’s Global Engagement Office, Ifihan Olaoye, Director, and Chris Wong, Assistant Director of Intercultural Programs, led a workshop on “Unpacking Cultural Awareness through the Culture Map.” Drawing insights from authors Erin Meyer (The Culture Map) and Yang Liu (East Meets West), Ifihan and Chris led participants to compare and contrast the values and practices of many cultures when it comes to communication, giving feedback, leadership, trust and other social elements.
Following lunch, two student leaders, Shijin (Solomon) Fan and Ziyi (Stephanie) Song, both TWUSA representatives, also shared their experiences of being international students at TWU.
Throughout the day, there was surprise, laughter and empathy, as conference participants compared stories of crossing cultures and experiences of living and working among people of many cultures.
About TWU Richmond
Located in the heart of the city, TWU Richmond provides programs tailored to the urban and international audience in Richmond and Metro Vancouver. The expansive, modern spaces are designed for students to engage in TWU bachelors degree and masters degree programs. TWU’s innovative education delivery modules allow students to choose from a variety of delivery models. Learn more about the programs offered at TWU Richmond.
See also — TWU Richmond's 'Together is Better' initiative seeks to help students beat the winter blues and re-connect with community:
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier global Christian liberal arts University. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.