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 we will employ 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 six 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.
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 for ensuring the organization's 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