'88 Legacy Fund Project Proposals

In December 2024, nine projects were awarded $97,700 from the ’88 Legacy Fund:

🌳 SAIT Trojans Land Acknowledgement | A project to create a professional, commercial-quality film to deliver a consistent land acknowledgement that honours traditional territories and represents the SAIT community as we welcome guests through sport participation. 

🎿 Outdoor Winter Recreation Opportunities #HereAtSAIT | A new initiative by Athletics and Recreation to enhance the winter experience for SAIT and AUArts students and staff. The project will introduce inclusive snowshoeing and cross-country skiing programs on Cohos Commons Field, along with potential off-campus excursions. The program will encourage participation from international students, offering a welcoming introduction to Calgary winters, while promoting physical activity and cultural exchange. 

📽️ Empowering Students Through a Video Podcast Series | A project to create a professional video podcast series that promotes student well-being, academic success and career readiness. By leveraging digital tools and storytelling, the series will deliver engaging, accessible content to help students navigate their SAIT experience and thrive.  

🔨 Depicting Women at Work in the Skilled Trades | This arts-based project explores the experiences of women in skilled trades through five large-scale abstract paintings that challenge stereotypes and celebrate their agency and contributions. The project captures emotional and physical aspects of women’s work in male-dominated environments. The artwork will be exhibited in Aldred Centre in August 2025, accompanied by events aimed at youth, faculty, employees and the broader community. 

💡 Decolonization is Not a Metaphor (DINAM): Pathways to Decolonizing and Indigenizing Teaching and Leadership Practices at SAIT | This project aims to deepen faculty and staff engagement with decolonizing and Indigenizing teaching and leadership practices. A collaboration between Natoysopoyiis and the Office of Indigenous Engagement, and with future participation from Treaty 7 Elders and Knowledge Keepers, the revised DINAM program will offer two new discussion circles. The team is also undertaking a research study to assess the program’s impact and build institutional capacity for reconciliation-aligned education.  

🩺 Culturally Competent Care: AI-Enhanced Virtual Simulations for Health-Care Students | A project to develop an innovative generative AI virtual simulation that enhances learner communication by simulating dynamic patient responses, enabling students to practice and refine their skills in a variety of complex, culturally sensitive scenarios. 

☔ Resilience Under Pressure: A Generative AI Simulation for Apprenticeship Students | A project to develop an innovative generative AI virtual simulation that equips students with tools to manage stress, build resilience and develop effective coping strategies. for the high-pressure experience of preparing for and taking the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Exam. 

💬 VR and AI Pilot for Public Speaking and Communication Skills Enhancement | This School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) initiative uses immersive VR and AI tools to help SAIT students and employees build communication skills. Participants engage in real-world scenarios — such as job interviews and public speaking — and receive real-time, AI-generated feedback on speech speed, word choice and tone. The project offers a low-pressure, judgment-free space for students with anxiety, neurodivergence or English language learning needs to build confidence. A pilot in SADT and the School of Business will assess its impact and potential for broader rollout. 

💼 Case Clash | Led by the Enactus SAIT student group in the School of Business, Case Clash immerses high school students in real-world business challenges through an annual competition. Students work in teams to analyze cases provided by local businesses and present innovative solutions to a panel of judges, building entrepreneurial thinking, teamwork and communication skills. The program is expanding to include international high schools and will offer scholarships to encourage global participation and broaden access to post-secondary education. 

To support ongoing learning, Case Clash Classrooms on Instagram, YouTube and the Enactus SAIT website provide digital resources focused on human skills such as public speaking and team collaboration. Participants also receive LinkedIn digital badges to showcase their achievements, while local businesses benefit from fresh perspectives and direct engagement with future talent. 

In December 2023, the following projects were awarded a total of $70,920 from the ’88 Legacy Fund:

🗑 Artificial Intelligent Garbage Sorter | A pilot project installing one artificial intelligence (AI) garbage sorter that provides real time data in waste diversion, waste audits and can incentivize students and staff to recycle/sort garbage at SAIT.

💬 Exploring Faculty Perspectives on Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classroom Micro Learning Modules | A research project obtaining faculty perspectives on the recently launched Teaching in Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Classrooms modules to help inform subsequent institutional and Centre for Academic Development and Innovation (CADI) programming for faculty in the areas of intercultural student support and inclusive teaching strategies in the classroom.

🎨 Natoysopoyiis: Mural Art | A project commissioning an Indigenous artist from Treaty 7 to design and paint a large mural representing the story of the Indigenous resource centre’s name and the people of Treaty 7.

🎙 Podcasting in the 21st Century: Using traditional tools and artificial intelligence to tell your story | A project involving a pilot partnership between the Journalism and Radio, Television and Broadcast News programs providing students with the latest knowledge and tools to take into the expanding world of podcasting.

🩺 Revitalize HPS Preceptor Training – Research | A project to research the reasons for low engagement in the current School of Health and Public Safety Preceptor Training and new concepts that would result in higher engagement.

In December 2022, the following projects were awarded a total of $114,135:

👓 Augmented Reality Learning in Vision Care | A pilot project building 3D models of vision care equipment/instruments, adding sequencing of events, to support the function of the equipment. Students will interact with the model learning the parts and use of the equipment/instrument.

🏫 Enabling SAIT Community Access to XR Content Through 3D Objects | A project developing a library of 3D objects of key equipment for teaching purposes.

💻 Interprofessional Collaboration – Role Clarity Resource | A project to develop a fully functioning stand-alone resource, packaged as a course, ‘Interprofessional Collaboration – Role Clarity’ in D2L, that includes learning activities and evaluations.

➕➖ Online Learning System for STAT 245 – Statistics for Engineering & Technology I through MyOpenMath | A pilot project to create an assessment system for STAT 245, using MyOpenMath an online course management and assessment system, for mathematics and other quantitative fields, which will be free to students.

In December 2021, the following projects were awarded a total of $185,915:

🌈 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion Online Course and Workshop | $10,000 was awarded to Student Engagement to develop the course and workshop.

✨ Anthology Engage – Saitsa Student Engagement Platform | $68,000 was awarded to the SAIT Student Association to launch a digital platform that unites student experience and enhances student engagement across all campuses and programming.

👨🏽‍⚕️ Development of Interactive On-line Simulations | $11,400 was awarded to the School of Health & Public Safety to develop interactive respiratory therapy case studies using advanced interactive software.

⛳ Disc Golf Course | $15,900 was awarded to Athletics & Recreation for a Disc Golf Course on SAIT campus.

🌾 Food Story | $40,000 was awarded to the School of Hospitality and Tourism to develop an interactive website to be used as a learning tool about the foods of Canada.

🧵 Threads that Thrive | $5,000 was awarded to Saitsa LGBTQ+ Club to create and offer a series of sewing events.

👷🏻‍♀️ Women Empowerment in Advanced Manufacturing WEAM | $31,000 was awarded to CIRAMM to establish a program to encourage and give women the tools and confidence to become successful leaders within the innovative manufacturing industry.

👩🏾‍🏫 Women Teaching Classrooms of Mostly Men and Academic Managers’ Support | $4,615 was awarded to Academic Services to support this scholarly activity research project.

Not necessarily. Proposals are evaluated by the committee, and only those that benefit the SAIT community and meet eligibility requirements will be selected for funding.

A project must be completed within one fiscal year. A project approved in November 2025 has a timeline from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

These funds will be added to the next period's amount available for projects.

Unallocated funds will be carried over and added to the next period's amount available for projects.