CASA PoliStrat Conference 2026

Delegates:

Tanvir Hundal (SUS President)

Zack Castiglia (SUS Vice President External)

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Overview

From June 22–25, 2026, SUS President Tanvir Hundal and SUS Vice President External Zack Castiglia travelled to Ottawa to attend the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations' (CASA) Policy and Strategy (PoliStrat) conference.

CASA PoliStrat

CASA is a non-profit federal advocacy organization, representing 400,000 students across Canada. PoliStrat is CASA's second annual conference and is where the structure of the organization's advocacy year takes shape. During the conference, delegates from student associations across Canada established CASA's federal advocacy priorities and the strategies that will be employed to achieve them.

Committee Elections

The conference began with an opening plenary session, followed by committee elections. CASA has eight permanent working committees, each responsible for advancing a specific area of the organization's governance, policy development, or advocacy. Delegates elected to these committees meet virtually every two weeks throughout the year.

During the conference:

• Tanvir Hundal was elected to the Governance and Internal Review Committee and the Financial Sustainability and Planning Ad Hoc Committee. She will also be a non-voting member on the Federal Policy Committee.

• Zack Castiglia was elected to the National Advocacy Committee and the Federal Policy Committee. He will also be a non-voting member on the Membership Committee.

UFVSUS's representation on five committees ensures that the perspectives and priorities of University of the Fraser Valley students are reflected in CASA's governance, strategic planning, and federal advocacy efforts throughout the year.

Major Initiatives

‍Throughout the conference, delegates identified several key advocacy priorities that will guide CASA's federal work over the coming year. Discussions focused on improving the affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education, strengthening student financial assistance, advancing Indigenous post-secondary education, and addressing barriers to student housing. These priorities will continue to be refined by CASA's committees before becoming part of the organization's federal advocacy strategy.

Other Highlights

Board Action Plan

‍Members of CASA's Board of Directors presented their annual Board Action Plan, outlining the organization's strategic priorities, governance objectives, and advocacy initiatives for the coming year.

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Committee Working Sessions

‍Following committee elections, each committee held its inaugural meeting to welcome new members, establish priorities, and begin developing work plans and strategies that will guide committee activities over the next year.‍ ‍

Strategic Plan Consultation

Delegates participated in consultation sessions with CASA staff and members of the Board of Directors to provide feedback on the organization's next three-year Strategic Plan. Small-group discussions focused on organizational priorities, member engagement, governance, and long-term advocacy goals.

Financial Update

CASA's Treasurer presented an overview of the organization's financial position, including current revenues and expenditures, budget projections, and considerations to ensure its long-term financial sustainability.

Closing Social

The conference came to a close with an evening social. This was the final conference for Wasiimah Joomun, CASA’s Executive Director since 2021, who concluded the evening with a farewell speech. UFVSUS thanks Wasiimah for all the work she has done for the student movement and wishes her all the best going forward!

Looking Ahead

The next CASA conference will be Advocacy Week in November 2026, where student leaders from across Canada will meet with Members of Parliament, senators, ministers, and senior government officials in Ottawa to advance CASA's federal advocacy priorities.

Through its work with CASA, UFVSUS will continue advocating for the interests of University of the Fraser Valley students at the federal level throughout the year.

Tanvir Hundal
SUS President
president@ufvsus.ca‍ ‍

Zack Castiglia
SUS Vice President External
vpexternal@ufvsus.ca

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CASA Foundations Conference 2026

Delegates:

Tanvir Hundal (SUS President) &

Zack Castiglia (SUS Vice President External)

Student advocacy starts long before elected officials hear our concerns. From May 25–29, 2026, SUS President Tanvir Hundal and Vice President External Zack Castiglia attended the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) Foundations Conference in Ottawa. At this conference, student leaders from across Canada received training on federal advocacy and prepared for the coming year of lobbying Parliament on issues affecting post-secondary students.

Over the course of the five-day conference, we had the opportunity to get in-depth training on how to successfully lobby Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers. This included lectures on jurisdiction, policy overviews, brainstorming common concerns among delegates, and mock meetings with MPs.

The first of four conferences happening during this term, Foundations 2026, served as a crash course on how member delegates can work collectively to advocate for student issues to the federal government. Foundations is CASA’s most essential conference of the year. It sets up newly elected student leaders from across Canada with the practical skills and knowledge they will need to successfully advocate for students.

What is CASA?

CASA is Canada’s leading national voice for post-secondary learners. A not-for-profit stablished in 1995, CASA conferences bring together delegates from 26-member student unions, representing 400,000 undergraduate, graduate, and polytechnic students across Canada. CASA’s federal advocacy is grounded in the organization’s four main principles: accessibility, affordability, quality, and innovation.

The Importance of Foundations?

The Foundations Conference is CASA’s first conference of the year. This is where student leaders from across Canada received training on federal policymaking and how to lobby lawmakers in Ottawa. At the end of the five-day conference, we became equipped with the fundamental tools and skills needed to advocate on behalf of students.

The skills developed at Foundations will directly support SUS advocacy efforts over the coming year. Whether advocating for improvements to student mental health, financial aid, housing, and affordability, the conference helped us effectively represent UFV students at the federal level.

Memorable Moments from Foundations 2026

During the course of the five-day conference, delegates received detailed training, collaborative brainstorming sessions, networking opportunities to get to know each other, and opportunities to explore Ottawa.

• Update on the political climate, and how CASA should navigate it this year when advocating for students.

• The Honourable Patti Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North, addressed delegates on the first day of the conference. She reflected on her journey to federal politics and spoke about the important role students play in shaping the next generation of Canadian leaders.

• An “Advocacy 101” lecture where delegates learned how to lobby federal politicians, including a mock meeting with MPs.

• Watching the prime minister and leader of the opposition go head-to-head during Question Period inside the House of Commons.

• Board of Directors debate and election. It was great to see student leaders from across the country put their names forward to be part of leading CASA this next year. 

• Leading with Equity. Delegates participated in a "privilege walk" exercise, taking a step forward or backward based on whether certain statements reflected their own experiences. The exercise demonstrated the wide range of lived experiences represented within Canada's student population and reinforced the importance of ensuring advocacy reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of the students we represent.

• Committee ideation. This final lecture gave a detailed overview of CASA’s eight committees and how members can be involved in the decision making process, and advance specific priorities more effectively.

What is next?

This is a strategic planning year for CASA where the organization will draft its 2027-2030 Strategic Plan.  As a member-driven organization, delegates from member student unions will play a vital role in the drafting of the Strategic Plan.

We will attend CASA’s PoliStrat conference at the end of June in Ottawa. This is when committees will begin to take shape, and where policy priorities and strategies will be set out for the next year.

The Foundations Conference marked the beginning of SUS's federal advocacy work for the year. We look forward to bringing UFV students' priorities to future CASA meetings and continuing to advocate federally for policies that improve the post-secondary experience across Canada.

Tanvir Hundal
SUS President
president@ufvsus.ca

Zack Castiglia
SUS Vice President External
vpexternal@ufvsus.ca

Bringing New Ideas Back to Campus: SUS At AMICCUS-C

The UFV Student Union Society (UFVSUS) recently attended the AMICCUS-C Conference at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, joining student leaders and campus professionals from more than 80 student unions across Canada.

While conferences are often viewed as networking opportunities, they also play an important role in helping student leaders and staff learn, collaborate, and bring new ideas back to campus. As the organization responsible for advocating for students and delivering services, events, and programs at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), SUS continually seeks opportunities to improve the student experience.

What Is AMICCUS-C?

AMICCUS-C is a national organization that supports student associations and student unions across Canada. Each year, representatives from member institutions gather to discuss common challenges, share successful initiatives, and explore ways to better support students.

This year's conference theme, Stronger Together, reflected the collaborative nature of student leadership and advocacy. Topics covered throughout the conference included student engagement, governance, advocacy, student services, leadership development, campus programming, and emerging trends affecting post-secondary students.

Inside The Conference

Over several days, attendees participated in keynote presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions focused on student leadership and campus life. The conference brought together student leaders, staff, and industry professionals to exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges, and share approaches that have been successful at their institutions.

Beyond the scheduled sessions, the conference provided valuable opportunities to connect with representatives from student unions across Canada. These conversations offered insight into how different organizations are addressing student needs, delivering services, engaging their communities, and adapting to changing campus environments.

The Work Behind The Scenes

Many students are familiar with SUS through events, services, clubs, advocacy initiatives, health and dental benefits, or campus spaces such as Fairgrounds and the Student Union Building (SUB). However, much of the work that supports these services happens behind the scenes.

Throughout the year, SUS staff and elected student leaders work on:

• Student advocacy and representation

• Campus events and programming

• Student clubs and associations

• Health and dental plan administration

• Student services and support programs

• Governance and strategic planning

• Community partnerships and engagement initiatives

Professional development and collaboration opportunities, such as AMICCUS-C, help ensure that this work continues to evolve and respond to student needs.

Why This Matters To Students?

Student unions across Canada face many of the same opportunities and challenges, from student engagement and advocacy to service delivery and campus programming. Attending conferences like AMICCUS-C allows SUS representatives to learn from successful initiatives, share experiences, and explore new approaches that can strengthen the support, services, and opportunities available to UFV students.

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, the ideas, relationships, and knowledge gained through these opportunities help inform decisions and improvements that benefit students throughout the year.

Bringing Ideas Back To UFV

The insights and ideas shared throughout the conference will help inform future programs, services, events, and initiatives at UFV. By learning from the experiences of other student unions and sharing our own, SUS can continue identifying new ways to support students and enhance campus life.

We would like to thank AMICCUS-C, the University of Alberta, and all participating student unions for creating a welcoming, collaborative, and insightful conference experience focused on supporting students across Canada.

CASA Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026

Delegates:
Gurpreet Singh (SUS VP External)
Bilal Faisal Faheem (SUS President)

Date:
25 Mar, 2026  –  27 Mar, 2026

Location:
Montreal, Québec

In March 2026, two executives from UFV Student Union Society travelled to Montreal to attend the CASA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), hosted by the Athabasca University Graduate Student’s Association (AUGSA), Athabasca University Student’s Union (AUSU) and Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).

The AGM represents CASA' s final Meeting of Members for this student leadership year. It serves as a key oppurtunity for membership to conclude the fiscal year by approving any political policies and operating procedures developed throughout the year. Delegates also evaluate CASA’s progress, approve the upcoming budget and prepare incoming representatives for a successful transition. A major focus this year was establishing advocacy priorities for 2026–2027, particularly in light of an earlier-than-usual federal budget cycle.

As we prepare to depart for the conference, we received the news of extension to the Canada Student Grants(CSG) – an initiative we strongly supported through CASA’s federal advocacy efforts. This extension maintains the temporary 40% increase in Canada Student Financial Assistance maximums for the 2026–2027 academic year, continuing enhanced support levels first introduced in 2023.

Prior to the AGM, we visited the Parliament Hill in Ottawa on 24th Mar and met with Members of Parliament, including Patty Hajdu (ThunderBay – Superior North), Fares Al Soud (Mississauga Centre) and Anna Gainey (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount).

Conference Highlights: Key Discussions

Day 1 began with an overview of AGM, which offered delegates the opportunity to ask questions before we got into the conference. The day continued with the Opening plenary and updates from the Board of Directors and various committees. Each Board Director presented their respective Action Plan and Committee Work Plan to the membership. The National Indigenous Advocacy Committee also presented the Future Generations Plan, and delegates engaged in an overview of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan Year-in-Review.

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Day 2 was when we reflected back on this year’s advocacy and set the direction for next year’s priorities. Delegates received a Government Relations update since CASA’s Foundations conference.  We also participated in a session to reflect on committee engagement experiences and provide feedback. Your VPE, Gurpreet, alongside CASA’s Secretary, presented a proposal for CASA to undertake a governance audit in the upcoming fiscal year, followed by a Financial Update and Budget YE 2027 presentation by your President, Bilal, in his capacity as CASA’s Treasurer. Delegates also engaged in a roundtable session to provide feedback on CASA’s Strategic Plan progress over the past year. The day concluded with the AGM Awards Gala, recognizing the contributions of delegates.

Bilal received an award recognizing his contributions and reliability as CASA’s Treasurer and Gurpreet was honoured as “Most Valuable Committee Member” for his consistant initiative within the Governance and Internal Review Committee (GIRC).

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The final day focused on transitioning incoming representatives and planning for the year ahead. Discussions addressed common misconceptions, leadership transitions and resources needed to support incoming delegates. A feedback session on the alignment of CASA‘s advocacy campaigns in expectations towards delegates and their home student unions. This was followed by a presentation on the advocacy priorities for 2026-2027. The priority themes were as follows:

·         Student Financial Aid

·         UEQ Ask (Research)

·         Indigenous Advocacy

·         Employment

·         Housing

·         International Students

We also participated in a Student Union Swag Swap, exchanging items that represent institutions as a way to remember. The conference concluded with the closing plenary, where we approved CASA’s Budget for 2026-27, priority themes, policy updates and operating procedures. The event ended with “CASA-oke” one last time, a Karaoke tradition at CASA that is held at the end of each conference.

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What’s next?

The outcomes of AGM 2026 will guide CASA’s advocacy and organizational priorities over the coming year.

As this conference also marks the end of our terms as representatives of UFVSUS for 25-26, contributing to national student advocacy has been both a privilege and a deeply rewarding experience. From policy discussions to building connections with student leaders across the country, this journey has truly showcased the importance of collective student voices in shaping student life.

As we pass on these responsibilities to the incoming executives with confidence in their abilities, we hope they will build on the progress made and continue to advocate with the same commitment and purpose.

SUS President Bilal Faisal Faheem and SUS Vice President External Gurpreet Singh…Signing off!

- Gurpreet Singh

Vice President External