Spring 2025 Partnership Workshop
Flourishing Together: Cultivating Meaningful Engagement
Find the workshop slides here
On March 27, 2025, we welcomed partners to our half-day Spring 2025 Partnership Workshop Flourishing Together: Cultivating Meaningful Engagement at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place. We continue to choose gathering spaces that are accessible and rooted in community—and this venue offered just that.
With one of our best turnouts yet, the workshop brought together over 70 partners from community, academia, and government to reconnect, strengthen relationships, and learn more about how we’ll work together moving forward.
We began the day learning from Knowledge Keeper Leslie Spillett, who reminded us of the values, responsibilities, and relationships at the heart of SPECTRUM’s work. The morning continued with presentations and a hands-on activity!
Presentation 1 - Joanne Zuk
Joanne Zuk, business strategist and consultant, gave a much-anticipated overview of SPECTRUM’s evolving governance model, which aims to shift decision-making to the research theme level. Each research theme will be co-led by partners from community, government, and academia, supported by advisory committees, working groups, and the project management team. Joanne also spoke about possible changes to the roles of key groups like the Core team and encouraged partners to share their feedback.
Presentation 2 - Dr. Stephanie Sinclair
Dr. Stephanie Sinclair, Data Sovereignty Lead with the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), presented key principles of Indigenous data sovereignty and respectful research. She emphasized the importance of First Nations governing their own data and the need for research that reflects Indigenous values, knowledge, and lived experience.
Presentation 3 - Tyler Amos
Tyler Amos, Director, Provincial Data Science Program with the Manitoba Government, gave an inside look at how government works, helping partners understand how policies are shaped and where there are opportunities for collaboration and influence.
Presentation 4 - Dr. Anita Durksen
Dr. Anita Durksen, SPECTRUM Post-Doctoral Fellow, briefly reviewed SPECTRUMS’s four research themes and reminded everyone that work in these areas is just beginning – partners can expect to hear from their research theme leads soon. If you are interested in joining a research theme, please reach out by email (spectrum@umanitoba.ca).
Research Themes
Levels of Engagement Framework - Dr. La Royce Batchelor
A key part of the day was a hands-on learning led by Dr. La Royce Batchelor, who introduced SPECTRUM’s new Levels of Engagement Framework using a beautiful, beaded flower and leaf design. Partners built their own versions of the framework, reflecting on what meaningful engagement looks like for their organizations and how it can be practiced in the partnership.
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We’ll be following up with partners to continue building on this work with Dr. La Royce Batchelor in the months ahead.
A Shared Meal
As always, food was an important way for us to connect during the workshop. Partners caught up over coffee and breakfast from Hildegard’s Bakery, a local favourite known for sourcing local ingredients and supporting fair wages and benefits for staff.
We also enjoyed lunch from Shelly’s Indigenous Bistro, a business that prioritizes Indigenous representation.
At the end of the day, leftover food was donated to Sunshine House. It’s one small way we aim to give back to our community.
Workshop Feedback
The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Many partners said the Levels of Engagement Framework learning was a highlight of the day. A few suggestions included allowing more time for speakers and making sessions even more interactive. Partners also expressed interest in receiving more regular updates—especially about research theme activities.
We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed their time, energy, and ideas. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going—and to connecting with you again at the next gathering!