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By Robie Liscomb
Hughes. Photo: Robie Liscomb Grant Hughes, who took up the position of director of community relations in February, knows from personal experience what a valuable community resource UVic is.
Hughes graduated from UVic in 1976 with a BSc and then, while working at the Royal British Columbia Museum, returned to complete a part-time master’s degree in marine biology.
Thereafter, as director of curatorial services at the museum, he found himself managing a diverse staff and taking on more administrative work, so he returned on a part-time basis for his diploma in public administration.
At the museum, Hughes developed and implemented a successful multi-year civic engagement program involving nearly 200 community-based projects throughout BC. After 15 years in that position, says Hughes, “I got to the stage where I was old enough to finish one career and young enough to start a second one.” And when the position of director of community relations at UVic was posted, it seemed a perfect fit.
The Ring recently spoke with Hughes about his new role on campus and some recent initiatives he is involved in.
How do you see your role here?
I serve as a bridge or conduit between all of the fine work that’s done on campus and people in the community trying to find out what’s happening here. If they don’t have an easy way of finding out, they can contact me and I will try to find the appropriate person or expert to help them.
Conversely, for people at UVic involved in programs or activities that they wish to be better known in the community, they can let me know and we can find appropriate opportunities to work that into some of the meetings that I have with associations and community leaders.
There are 13 local municipalities with 88 elected municipal officials that I have primary contact with, and there are seven neighborhood community associations that we work closely with.
The other half of my job involves the whole initiative around civic engagement and our continuing commitment to be involved in increasing the capacity of communities to solve their problems. That’s beginning with the Civic Engagement Steering Council, an initiative spearheaded by UVic’s vice-presidents to continue to contribute to the civic life of the community. My office will be the secretariat to the council.
What are some of the recent initiatives you’re involved in?
We organize an annual series of community breakfasts where the president meets with local elected municipal councils. We also plan two- or three-day trips out of town where the president and others from UVic meet and build relationships with community groups and ensure that UVic’s role and contributions in the broader context are well known. Most recently, we had a very successful road trip to the mid-island region in April.
I’m involved with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, serving on the conference planning committee for the economic summit that will happen in Victoria this coming November.
And recently I’ve been facilitating discussions around the memorandum of understanding between UVic and the new Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney. UVic is also mounting a temporary exhibit there highlighting the role of UVic and the UVic-based Oceans Networks Canada in research and education on the marine environment.
How does the
off-campus community view UVic?
It’s hugely positive, from my perspective. Of course, I have been speaking primarily with people who have active links and broad connections with the university.
I think we can always do more, but there’s a really good feeling of pride among people I deal with that they have a university like UVic in their community.
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