Canada is well known around the world for its vibrant cities and multicultural identity. Cities like Vancouver function as “gateways” to foreign countries, providing a cultural reference point for local-to-global engagements.
The key to optimizing Vancouver’s “locational advantage” as a global knowledge and innovation hub is developing a curator’s instinct for new sources of social and economic value as well as a strategist’s aptitude for combining different, but complementary perspectives, in an integrated manner.
Follow the conversation in Vancouver and learn more about VSIR’s growing contribution to the social, economic, and intellectual life of this exceptional city.
JAPAN-CANADA INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP FORUM IN VANCOUVER
While Vancouver continues to strengthen its global reputation as an innovation centre amidst a context of technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty, Canada has much to learn from Japan about internationalizing its urban “soft power” advantage.
Immigration 2.0: What Role Will Cities Play?
Canada’s global reputation for welcoming and integrating newcomers is unparalleled. But the world is changing and Canada’s immigration system will have to adapt accordingly. Meeting these challenges will require agility, risk-taking, and a new relationship with cities.
The GeoPolitics of Private Refugee Sponsorship and the Duties of Citizens
The continuation of large-scale irregular migration flows into Canada from the US has stirred a passionate debate across the country has the potential to overshadow the “soft-power” achievements of Canada’s long-established refugee resettlement efforts.
ON THE WATERFRONT: VANCOUVER’S FUTURE SHORELINE
Vancouver is one of the few major cities without a comprehensive waterfront plan despite intensive competition among different stakeholders and the city’s consistent top-class ranking as one of the world’s most livable cities.
INDO-CHINA: STRATEGIC COOPERATION IN AFGHANISTAN
Once described as failed states, India and China are deeply invested in shaping the future of Afghanistan. Recent diplomatic developments suggest that India’s and China’s national interests in Afghanistan are guided by strategic cooperation and competition.
KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION IS KEY TO CANADA’S ECONOMIC FUTURE
As a trading nation Canada relies on the competitiveness of global exports for its economic prosperity and security. International trade accounts for 31% of its gross domestic production (GDP) and 16.7% of all employment. British Columbia is...
FOUR TOUCHSTONES TO OPTIMIZE MANAGERIAL FORESIGHT
Growing uncertainty about the current state of international affairs and the global economy presents decision-making challenges for institutions and business models designed in an earlier, more predictable era. This uncertainty raises the premium on managerial foresight, an interpretive framework infrequently used by enterprising organizations.
FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR THE CHINESE ECONOMY
Canada is pivoting away from the risk-averse policy of previous federal administrations in adopting a more constructive approach to its diplomatic engagement with China. Learning to think “unthinkable” consequences can provide valuable insights to engaging with China on seemingly intractable governance, regulatory, and policy innovation challenges.
ENVISIONING A RESILIENT DELTA
The uneven geographic and social impacts of near-catastrophic floods along British Columbia’s Fraser River in May 2018, is further evidence that disaster-like conditions develop from the complex interaction of extreme environmental occurrences and human vulnerability. This necessitates a holistic understanding of both ecological and social dynamics along this “working” river.
FOUR PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE ENTRY-LEVEL KNOWLEDGE PROFESSIONALS
Knowledge mobilization is the foundation for building the multi-disciplinary thinking and the cross-functional workforce that Canada needs to remain competitive in a dynamic and knowledge-driven global economy. VSIR has identified four action-oriented principles that entry-level knowledge practitioners should prioritize to enhance their value proposition in this high-impact economic sector.