About
CIFAL York is part of UNITAR's global network of training centers for knowledge-sharing, training, and capacity-building for leaders, local authorities, and civil society. Established in 2020 as a partnership between UNITAR, York University and York Region, CIFAL York started its operation in June 2021 as the first CIFAL Centre in Canada.
Vision
CIFAL York envisions a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable world, empowering communities to overcome global challenges, while integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals for shaping a better future.
Mission
CIFAL York is dedicated to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange and capacity building among government officials, the private sector, academia, and civil society. CIFAL York works towards a global outreach and positive change through bridging gaps and facilitating a range of inspirational training and research opportunities.
CIFAL York Focusing Areas
- Disaster Risk, Emergency Management and Humanitarian Actions
- Health, Development, Environment & Climate Change
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Entrepreneurship, Digital Technology, and Economic Development
- Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
CIFAL York Recent & Upcoming Events and Courses
Drone Pilot Microcredit Course April 26, 2025
Climate Change Emergencies & Cultural Heritage Speaker Series
The Psychosocial Response and Education Preparedness Program (PREPP)
Climate Migration Futures Course
Emergency Management in Hospitals & Healthcare Speaker Series
Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
Student Nurses' Voices Speaker Series
Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
From Distanced to Connected: COVID-19 Five-Years On
AI and Feminism: Foundations of a Critical Dialogue on Gender, Power, and Technology
Upcoming Events
Drones for Public Health, Safety, Risk, Humanitarian and Emergency Management Speaker Series
SESSION 7 THURSDAY APRIL 17 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Speaker: Rahul Singh - Founder and Executive Director, GlobalMedic
Topic: RescUAV: An overview of GlobalMedic's aware winning drone program
VR/XR Based Training & Education Speaker Series: Knowledge and Experience Sharing
SESSION 19 FRIDAY APRIL 25 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Speakers: Michael Rosas, Vice-President & General Manager, Virtualware; Fernando Blasco, Director of Sales in North America, Virtualware
Topic: Building an IL/VR (Immersive learning/Virtual reality) Training environment in Industry 5.0
The Psychosocial Response and Education Preparedness Program (PREPP): Trauma resilience for public safety personnel ad disaster and emergency management students
Date: May 27 & 28, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM EDT (Toronto)
Location: ADERSIM Lab, Schulich School of Business, Rm. N004 (Basement Floor), 111 Ian MacDonald Blvd, York University, Keele Campus
SATURDAYS APRIL 26; MAY 24; JUNE 28; JULY 26 8:30AM-4:00PM (EDT)
Drone Pilot Microcredit Course
Location: ADERSIM Lab, N004, Schulich Building, York University
Instructor: Dr. Ali Asgary, Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, Director CIFAL York, Executive Director ADERSIM, York University, Holds Pilot Certificate for Advanced Operations
June 2-6, 2025.
Climate Migration Futures Summer Course
Location: Hybrid-In Person (York University) and Online
Instructors: Dr. Erica Bower, Dr. Yvonne Su, Dr. Opportuna Kweka, Dr. Frank Ojwang, Dr. Roger Zetter, and Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino
Student Nurses' Voices Speaker Series
SESSION 6 DATE APRIL 15 12:00PM-2:00PM (EDT)
Panelists:
Dr. Sharon Martinelli, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, L-Università ta’ Malta
Dr. Zeliha Tulek, Associate Professor of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Department of Medical Nursing, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa
Dr. Ananda Fernandes, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, School of Nursing of Coimbra, Portugal
Dr. María F. Jiménez Herrera, General Secretary, Universitat Rovira Virgili
Dr. Marika Lo Monaco, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care
Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties [PROMISE], University of Palermo
Moderators:
Dr. Deva-Marie Beck
Dr. Maria Theresa "Tess" Panizales
Localizing the Canadian Supply Chain - Understanding Sector-Specific Impacts on U.S. Tariffs
SESSION 1 THURSDAY APRIL 10 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Topic: Eye of the Storm - US Tariffs on Automotive and Manufacturing Sector
Climate Change Emergencies & Cultural Heritage Speaker Series
VIRTUAL SESSION 20 April 7, 12:00-1:00PM EDT
Speaker: Dr. Matthias Ripp, Senior Heritage Manager, Regenstauf, Bavaria, Germany
Topic: Urban Heritage Resilience: An Integrated and Operationable Definition from the SHELTER and ARCH Projects
Emergency Management in Hospitals & Healthcare
SESSION 2 WEDNESDAY APRIL 2 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Speaker: Lisa Tarini, Bsc - Emergency Preparedness Advisor, Health Sciences North, Sudbury, Ontario
Topic: Code Aqua: Flooding at Health Sciences North
Climate Change Displacement Dialogue Speaker Series
SESSION 6 WEDNESDAY MARCH 26 12:00PM-1:00PM (EDT)
Speaker: Dr. Hein de Haas
Professor, Sociology, University of Amsterdam; Professor, Migration and Development, University of Maastricht; Director, International Migration Institute, University of Oxford
Topic: Climate Refugees: The fabrication of a migration threat
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 07 08:30AM-4:00PM (EST)
Mass Vaccination Challenges: Lessons from Canadian First Nations and Remote Communities Symposium
&
Mass Vaccination Simulation Workshop
VIRTUAL SESSION 19 FEBRUARY 3, 12:00-1:00PM EDT
Speaker: Dr. Marcus R. Létourneau, Lecturer, School of Planning Waterloo University. President M. R. Letourneau and Associates Inc.
Topic: The more things change, the more they stay the same’: Reflections on the integration of climate change considerations and risk management into Ontario’s Heritage Policy Framework