January 26, 2026

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Truth and Reconciliation Symposium (Hybrid)

Day and Time: Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Location: In-Person, Event Centre, Progress Campus; and/or Online, through Teams

Description: Centennial staff are invited to attend the Orange Shirt Day / Truth and Reconciliation Symposium on March 5, 2026. This internal event honours Survivors of the Indian Residential School system and offers space for shared learning, reflection, and dialogue on the ongoing impacts of colonization in Canada. The symposium will feature a keynote by Peter Sackaney, Survivor of St. Anne’s and St. Joseph’s Residential Schools, on the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action, followed by a panel of Centennial colleagues and community guests reflecting on Reconciliation work at the College. Participants will also take part in a guided gallery-style reflection experience. This is a meaningful opportunity to learn together and renew our collective commitment to Reconciliation.

Full Moon Feast

Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: The Local Cafe and Restaurant, Progress Campus

GenAI 101 for Educators: A Beginner's Mini-Course (new sessions added!)

Start Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Location: Online, through Teams

Paula Demacio and Benjamin Laskar in CFDTI are offering the new and expanded GenAI 101 for Educators: A Beginner’s Mini-Course, a four-part, hands-on, learning experience designed for those who are very new to GenAI. The learning in this mini-course is cumulative, so please plan to attend all 4 sessions.

Session 1: GenAI: What It Is and Why It Matters (Thursday, January 29, 12-1:30 p.m.)

This session will address what GenAI is, how it works, what it can and cannot do, and how to begin experimenting with it safely and responsibly.

Session 2: GenAI for Teachers (Thursday, February 5, 12-1:30 p.m.)

In this session you'll learn how GenAI can support your teaching work and explore hands-on examples of how GenAI can help you plan lessons, create examples, design activities and communicate with students.

Session 3: GenAI for Learners - Integrating GenAI in Learning (and Talking with Students About It) (Thursday, February 12, 12-1:30 p.m.)

This session explores how to help students understand when and how to use GenAI ethically and design activities that strengthen their ability to critically assess AI outputs.

Session 4: Rethinking Assessment in the Age of GenAI (Thursday, February 19, 12-1:30 p.m.)

This session explores practical strategies for redesigning assessments to stay authentic and engaging in a GenAI era while supporting students in using AI responsibly, reflectively, and transparently to enhance their learning.

Accessibility Bites and Conversation: UDL 3.0 in Practice
Join us online to engage with the Accessibility Bites sessions from BCcampus. Each 30-minute session introduces a different aspect of accessibility.

Register: UDL 3.0 in Practice, January 29, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

While you wait for sessions to begin, be sure to explore the BCcampus Pressbook Accessibility Bites. 

Luminate Resources and Support

MS Teams is now fully integrated into Luminate. Please check out the updated documentation below, that outlines steps and troubleshooting tips for both faculty and students.

• How to Use Microsoft Teams through Luminate
• MS Teams Troubleshooting Guide - Instructors
• MS Teams Troubleshooting Guide - Students

Stay updated with upcoming workshops and events!

Visit our Designing and Teaching with Technology website.

Email Us: Luminate@
centennialcollege.ca

Centennial Research Network (CRN)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Location: Online, through Teams

Title: Your Friendly Neighbourhood REB

Presenter: David JE Byrne BA MDiv PhD,

Chair - Research Ethics Board

Since the second half of the twentieth century, Research Ethics Boards have been a mainstay in research involving human subjects at the post secondary level in Canada and beyond. Despite this, researchers often see their interactions with REBs as somewhere between a necessary hurdle and an impenetrable wall. (Briggs, 2022) This perception (and often, reality!) is compounded in the current context of post secondary education in Canada, where institutions, REBs, and principal investigators face reductions in budgets, time, and resources to support research activities. In this interactive section, we will explore ways that REBs and researchers can build bridges towards the timely approval of projects, using a recent case study in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research projects to illustrate a more collaborative approach.

Reconciliation Community of Practice (CoP)

Friday, February 6, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Location: Basket Room, A-Building, Progress Campus

The Reconciliation Community of Practice is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty who are committed to advancing Reconciliation within the college. This community focuses on embedding Indigenous perspectives in curriculum, fostering respectful engagement with Indigenous Knowledges, and supporting institutional change. Members explore strategies for decolonizing teaching and learning, building meaningful relationships, and ensuring Reconciliation efforts are intentional, sustained, and accountable. 

Requirement: Faculty must complete the Indigenous Education Gardens – Foundations before joining.

Please note, registration is not required.

How Can We Strengthen the Signature Learning Experience (SLE) Together?

As faculty integrating Global Citizenship and Equity, you understand the unique value of Centennial's Signature Learning Experience in equipping students with essential global citizenship and equity-focused understandings and skills.

The current revitalization process needs your perspective. How does the SLE impact student success? What improvements would enhance its effectiveness in our rapidly evolving global landscape? 

Share your experiences through our brief online survey (February 2-9, 2026). Your insights will meaningfully inform future revisions across the four SLE components, ensuring collaborative engagement and continued relevance for graduates.

Enroll Now: Fundamentals of Indigenous Education and Anti-Racism

Enrolment is open through November for the 2025–2026 cohort of Fundamentals of Indigenous Education and Anti-Racism, offered through the Centennial Talent Academy and the Innovation, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Healing (IIRH) portfolio.

This program equips Centennial employees with essential knowledge and skills to understand systemic barriers, build shared language for dialogue, and work more equitably across diverse communities. The program includes self-paced e-learning and live small-group sessions, both required for recognition.

Join over 500 colleagues who have already participated—88% found the content relevant to their work, and 89% reported a stronger commitment to inclusive practice.

Please follow this link to enroll today!

For more information, please contact IIRH at iirh@centennialcollege.ca. 

Share Your Feedback on Accessibility at Centennial

Students and employees who self-identify as having a disability are invited to share their anonymous feedback on accessibility at Centennial College. The College’s AODA Committee is gathering input through a survey and focus groups to inform Centennial’s 2026–2031 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP)—a required roadmap for identifying and removing accessibility barriers under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Eligible students who complete the survey or participate in a focus group will be entered into a draw for a $50 MyCard (1 in 3 chance to win).

Take the survey! and/or Register for a focus group!

For questions, contact the Accessibility Team in the Centre for Global Citizenship Education at GCEAccessibility@centennialcollege.ca.

Check out our updated CFDTI website to learn more about our programs and support available for teaching and learning.

Have any questions? Email us at CFDTI@centennialcollege.ca

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