SFU’s School of Public Policy is seeking local governments to partner with senior undergraduate student teams between September and December 2026 for a new program designed to take on real-world policy problems faced by B.C. cities and towns. There is no cost and limited commitment required from interested local governments. The student teams will undertake the bulk of the research and analysis while maintaining regular engagement with partners.
Facilitated by Associate Professor and former Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, student teams trained in policy analysis will work directly with local governments to deliver evidence-based research, creative and solutions-oriented analysis, and clear, actionable recommendations. Projects will be developed collaboratively to align with organizational priorities and deliver meaningful value, concluding with final reports tailored to the needs of each local government.
The program builds on a strong track record of working with leading public-sector organizations, including the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Provincial Health Services Authority, and is similar to SPP’s highly successful British Columbia Priorities Project program. Partnering with SFU SPP provides access to new ideas and additional analytical capacity to address complex local government policy challenges while helping to train the next generation of civil servants committed to building stronger communities across British Columbia.
As space is limited, local governments with policy questions that would benefit from focused research and fresh perspectives are encouraged to contact Kennedy Stewart at kennedys@sfu.ca before July 31, 2026.