Partnership with DIALOG helps bring Indigenous lens to education at UCalgary

A renowned North American multidisciplinary design firm is supporting a University of Calgary program aimed at providing Indigenous students with the best opportunities for skill development and career success.

DIALOG, with studios in Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and San Francisco has lent its support to the Indigenous Pathways Program at UCalgary’s Schulich School of Engineering (SSE) and School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL).

The Indigenous Pathways Program, designed specifically for Indigenous students pursuing careers in fields including engineering, architecture, planning and landscape architecture, aims to provide essential support throughout the educational journey.

In alignment with ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, it provides avenues for students to explore their academic interests while encouraging Indigenous representation in typically under-represented professions.

“By weaving Indigenous lenses into the built environment, we can create spaces that are not only functional, but also culturally meaningful, sustainable and inclusive,” says SAPL Dean John Brown. “We’re incredibly grateful for DIALOG’s support, which empowers us to continue this important work.”

Heritage as a path to success

The program facilitates academic success while ensuring students feel a profound connection to their heritage as they navigate their education.

“We are proud of the work being done to support current and future engineering students,” says Deanna Burgart, associate dean, Indigenous Inclusivity and Reconciliation with SSE, adding the financial contribution from DIALOG will allow the program to continue its work.

"The challenges shaping our communities, such as climate resilience, infrastructure, housing, inclusion and reconciliation, are complex, and demand diversity of experience and ways of thinking to find the right solutions,” says DIALOG Studio Chair Chris Lenzin, BSc (Eng)’06, a UCalgary civil engineering alum.

“It is important to us to support students in both SAPL and SSE to help foster the next generation of collaborative designers. We’re excited to learn alongside these students and to welcome them into our studio as they build their careers." 

The program aims for graduates to serve as role models, inspiring more Indigenous youth to pursue careers in engineering, architecture, planning and landscape architecture and, Lenzin says, “create real pathways for Indigenous students to bring their knowledge, perspectives and leadership into the professions that shape the built environment.”

To find out more about SAPL scholarships and awards, visit the web page. To find out more about the Indigenous Pathways Program at SSE, visit its web page.