About Algoma BRIDGE Lab

Trends towards global challenges are worsening, including climate change, geopolitics, socioeconomic struggles and more. These factors are undermining the resilience and long-term viability of global systems, as many intersect. Responding to the need for profound systems change is of growing urgency, and reconciliation is not a parallel concern but a foundational component of this change. Addressing global challenges requires confronting historical and ongoing injustices that continue to shape power, knowledge production, and decision-making. Focusing on reconciliation and decolonizing in research and education is essential. Without a commitment to reconciliation, our attempts for collective wellbeing through systems transformation risk reproducing the very inequities, power imbalances, and structural harms we seek to address.

The Algoma BRIDGE Lab exists to respond to human and planetary wellbeing and was born out of a shared interest in mentorship, community-based research, and outreach. We bring people together to co-create knowledge, foster respectful collaboration, and support more just, resilient, and inclusive systems. Students, staff, alumni, and community partners form a dynamic scholarly community, engage in real-world research, and connect across disciplines. Interdisciplinary faculty and professionals collaborate locally and globally with communities to drive practical, meaningful change.

Our Goals

  • Form and foster a collaborative team with equal contributions making a substantial difference to research/service in the community, enriching education, leadership development and livelihood possibilities.

  • Accept diverse opinions and ideas while professionally resolving conflicts and differing personalities to ensure the smooth operation of credible research.

  • Lead and orchestrate meaningful and impactful research findings towards human and planetary well-being.

  • Illustrate sustainability improvements across both the campus and community through collaboration with interdisciplinary faculty and community members.

  • Develop mentor-mentee relationships to adequately utilize various strengths, enhancing the quality of solutions.

  • Unveil new and innovative ideas regarding future improvements, direction, policy changes and objectives of research around regenerative practices.

 Algoma BRIDGE Lab Core Values

Because our work is inherently collaborative, these values are crucial at every stage of the process—across disciplines, cultures, and communities—as they strengthen healthy relationships (including with oneself), build trust, and ultimately enhance the relevance, legitimacy, and impact of our work. 

    • Participating in active listening while valuing, inquiring, and giving thanks for other opinions, ideas, and perspectives

    • Asking before giving feedback and caring for shared spaces and resources

    • Approaching disagreements with curiosity, empathy, and a desire to understand

    • Suspending judgment, and speaking with kindness and positivity

    • Supporting each other's growth and well-being while using a strength based approach

    • Fostering a brave space of inclusivity where everyone feels welcomed and valued

    • Encouraging equal participation, sharing ideas openly, building connections, and uplifting team goals beyond individual interests

    • Being open to constructive criticism, and engaging with others to foster a supportive community

    • Promoting a growth mindset and open-mindedness

    • Being upfront and honest in communication even about mistakes or challenges

    • Embracing new ideas, maintaining integrity, and building trust through transparency and accountability