The Victoria Forum

Bringing together global and national policymakers, business leaders, academics, and civil society representatives, the Victoria Forum was created to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

Call to Action

Our world has become increasingly divided, while the challenges we face require us to come together to find and implement solutions. Whether to combat climate change, economic inequality, or the rise of populism, new ideas and solutions are critically needed. It is essential that business is both at the table for such discussions and part of the solution if we are to make any progress.

Established in 2015, the inaugural Victoria Forum was launched with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion. On Canada’s 150th anniversary, the University of Victoria Peter B. Gustavson School of Business partnered with Global Affairs Canada to offer an alternative to the forces of isolation, protectionism, and xenophobia by providing an example of a country that has succeeded by being open to trade, investment, and migration.

Building on this first event, the Victoria Forum has evolved into an ongoing initiative committed to convening evidence-based conversations and stimulating creative thinking to develop innovative ideas and actionable solutions to contemporary and urgent environmental, economic, and social challenges.

The Victoria Forum creates inclusive spaces to bring together regional, national, and international changemakers with different perspectives and expertise who are committed to making the world a better place for all.

Innovation Details

The world has become increasingly fractured along environmental, social, and economic lines, and these have been exacerbated by COVID-19. The Victoria Forum encourages the search for solutions by facilitating conversations and partnerships to bridge the gaps, guided by three fundamental principles: respect for divergence, evidence-based dialogues, and diversity and inclusion.

Recommendations for policy changes, new research, and calls for action made in open think-tanks and plenaries are provided to policymakers after each forum. This knowledge creation influences our school’s societal impact and encourages positive change and innovation. Three fora have been held to date:

• 2017, Canada@150: Promoting Diversity & Inclusion (in person)—with Global Affairs Canada, attracting 450 participants and 97 speakers.
• 2020, Bridging Divides in the Wake of a Global Pandemic (online)—with the Senate of Canada, 1,550 virtual registrants from 93 countries.
• 2022, Bridging Divides: Turf, Truth, & Trust (hybrid)—with the Senate of Canada, over 700 in-person and virtual registrants.

Smaller events, such as an enhanced citizenship ceremony, workshops at Canada House in London, and 19 webinars, have been key to ensuring ongoing engagement. Webinar topics included Black Lives Matter, global warming, anti-Asian racism, increasing the wage gap, gender discrimination, homophobia, and residential schools.

Thought leaders and changemakers from around the world have engaged in discussions on bridging global economic, social, and environmental divides, addressing topics such as building trust amid a crisis of misinformation, moving from extractive to regenerative approaches, and combatting social and economic exclusion.

Innovation Impact

Businesses and business schools have often been reluctant to engage in public debate unless issues are of particular concern to them. Such an approach must change for us to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Without business at the table, no actionable solutions will emerge—business must be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

It is noteworthy that a business school is leading this initiative and articulating key concerns for current and future leaders. Students have been involved as scribes and discussants, and a global essay competition was organized in 2022 in partnership with the Global Business School Network.

The Victoria Forum has leveraged the convening power of the Senate of Canada and the role of universities as places for open dialogue and the search for truth. We have hosted national and international leaders and provided public access to global decision-makers. After each conference, a summary report listing recommendations is prepared. These reports are circulated to policymakers and Victoria Forum partners.

In 2018, a workshop with 100 participants was convened in Ottawa to present the findings and propose ways forward. Similar meetings are planned for Ottawa and New York in 2023. The 2022 forum included the Lək̓ʷəŋən Declaration on the Power of Sport for Truth, Reconciliation, and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples. This declaration will be ratified by the Commonwealth Games Federation and taken to other global sport bodies in recognition of local Indigenous peoples.

Reference Links

• The Victoria Forum
• “UVic and the Senate of Canada Co-Host National Forum on Bridging Divides in Wake of Global Pandemic,” The Victoria Forum
• “Victoria Forum Report Launch,” The Victoria Forum