The following is a look ahead at select upcoming events held at SFU Vancouver, for the week of August 9-16, 2013. For the full calendar of events, please visit:

https://events.sfu.ca/ViewCal.html?calendar_id=6

Coming up next week at SFU Vancouver:

Wednesday, August 14

Going Places: A Writerly Perspective on Travel

Time: 7-9pm
Place: Rm. 1415, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St.
Cost: Join the waitlist online

Short-story writer Marina Sonkina in conversation with a local writer. What’s the allure of travel? Is it the opportunity to satisfy an instinctive curiosity about other cultures and lifestyles? Or does it help us run from an old identity by inventing a new one among strangers and in remote places?

When travelling, we find ourselves on a curious border, sharing a new way of life temporarily, but remaining outsiders. It is this duality that liberates us, giving us the freedom to see through fresh eyes. If art is about seeing the world from an unexpected perspective, then travelling is a perfect tool to enhance this vision. The writer also takes this experience home, discovering the new in the familiar.

Using her own experience, Marina Sonkina will also reflect on the curse and the cure of changing continents and languages for the creative writer, who, against all odds, wants to remain true to her art.

Thursday, August 15

City Conversations: Is the Agricultural Land Reserve under attack?

Time: 12:30-1:30pm
Place: Rm. 1600, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St.
Cost: Free

A huge Tsawwassen Mall, larger than Metrotown's. Expanded warehousing and staging for DeltaPort. Replacement of the George Massey Tunnel. Expansion of the Fraser Surrey Docks to handle coal exports from the U.S. to Asia. All supported by the new South Fraser Perimeter Road, much on land presently agricultural. And now, the province plans a “core review” of the ALR and its governing commission “to determine whether [their decisions are] structured to help achieve the goals of our provincial government.”

The core review “is tasked with finding tens of millions of dollars in savings.” A similar exercise on Translink led to the gutting of all transit expansion projects, and service reductions. Is the ALR next? Exploring the hot topic is Ken Cameron, a key architect of the Livable Region Strategic Plan and of Translink, two of the foundations for the internationally-recognized attractiveness of the Lower Mainland. We have also invited a provincial representative, and an agricultural representative. Then it’s your turn to question, challenge, opine. Please bring your lunch.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness in Seniors: Workshop

Time: 7-9pm
Place: Rm. 1415, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St.
Cost: Register by emailing agnes.pisarski@hc-sc.gc.ca by August 12

The SFU Gerontology Research Centre and Health Canada invite you to attend a workshop on "Preventing Heat-Related Illness in Seniors".

• Get practical tips on how to prevent heat illness in seniors
• Learn to recognize, diagnose and treat heat illness
• Take away Health Canada handouts & reference materials on Extreme Heat and learn about other resources

This workshop for seniors, their care providers and others will be delivered via WEBEX.

When registering, please provide the following information:

• your first and last name
• e-mail address
• phone number
• please let us know who you are (choose from: a senior, staff who work with seniors, family care provider, member of a senior’s organization or other)

The conference can also be found online:

• Go to https://pwgsc-nh.webex.com/pwgsc-nh/j.php?ED=228545002&UID=1628629037&PW=NNjY5MjUxZTc3&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D
• Enter your name and e-mail address
• Enter the meeting password: Changeme1
• Click "Join Now"
• Follow the instructions that appear on your screen

Friday, August 16

Managing Creativity and Innovation: The Italian Model (early bird deadline)

Time: 11:59am
Place: Event held at Segal Graduate School, 500 Granville St. – event October 7-10, 2013
Cost: Various pricing, details online

For so many businesses, innovation has become essential and technology its ally—transforming the playground for creativity and turning traditional business models on their heads. Look beyond your immediate professional world for the latest practices and ideas for your organization, and join us in Milan, Europe’s creative hub from October 7 to 10, to explore the business practices that have given Italian fashion and design companies global prestige for innovation and creativity. Meet experts and business innovation leaders who will share the insights that are instrumental to their success. Brought to you by SFU Beedie Executive Education and SDA Bocconi School of Management. Who will benefit? This learning journey offers valuable insights for professionals of all industries who are responsible for or involved in managing innovation.