Exercise Run Down: Keeping the UBC community safe
On the morning of Wednesday, June 28, UBC Risk Management will stage a large-scale emergency preparedness exercise in the area of Agronomy Road and Main Mall on the UBC Vancouver campus. Exercise Run Down (as it’s being called), will simulate a mock vehicle attack at a running event during which the driver is shot by […]
Dialogue with Karma and Wade Davis
Chan Centre, UBC, June 22, 2017 His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Mr. Wade Davis, colleagues, students and guests Pleased to see so many people here today at the Chan Centre for this important dialogue I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. […]
Pulse: UBC President’s Update
Download: Pulse – UBC President’s Update (PDF)
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions Annual Forum
UBC Robson Square, June 15, 2017 Good evening. I am Santa Ono, 15th president & vice-chancellor, UBC. Also, chief advisor, BC Innovation Network. Wearing two hats tonight: as the leader of a university that is at the forefront of clean tech innovation in Canada In my role as The Chief Advisor I work with the […]
Thank you, faculty and staff: you make UBC special
I give many speeches in my role as president and vice-chancellor of UBC. This past week alone, I’ve spoken at graduation ceremonies at UBC Okanagan, at a luncheon for the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, at a dinner for the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference and on other occasions. Later this week I’ll be […]
Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference
Sage Bistro, Vancouver, BC, June 5, 2017 Thank you, Angela, for the introduction and thank you all for coming out tonight Honoured that you, Canada’s future leaders, have chosen to visit UBC today. Welcome to UBC and to Sage! Hope you are enjoying your visit to Vancouver and to our beautiful campus. Looking forward to […]
In a time of global uncertainty, innovation is more important than ever
On Friday, June 2, I will have the honour of hosting His Excellency, The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Open Text founder and chair Tom Jenkins, co-authors of a book on Canadian innovation called Ingenious: How Canadian Innovators Made the World Smarter, Smaller, Kinder, Safer, Healthier, Wealthier, and Happier. (The book, published by […]
Graduation Address: “This day is about you and what you’ve achieved”
Honoured guests, members of the Board of Governors and Senate, faculty, staff, alumni… and, most especially, graduands, family and friends. Welcome! What an honour it is for me be with you today to celebrate UBC’s graduating Class of 2017! I can tell you that this is one of the best parts of my job, to […]
Announcing a new Provost and VP Academic, UBC Vancouver
I am pleased to announce that Professor Andrew Szeri has been appointed as the new Provost and Vice-President Academic, for UBC Vancouver. Please see https://academic.ubc.ca/academic-community/appointments/announcing-new-provost-and-vp-academic-ubc-vancouver for more information about this exciting announcement.
Tokyo trip lays building blocks for future engagement with Japan
As you may know, I recently returned from a week-long visit to Tokyo. It was the first time a UBC president has travelled to Japan since Stephen Toope went there in 2010. While there, I visited the University of Tokyo, as well as two Japanese firms that regularly hire UBC coop students. I also engaged […]
Graduation: The next stage in a remarkable journey
Now that exams are over, students, faculty and staff at UBC are getting ready for the next big event in the academic calendar – graduation. It’s a joyful time on our campuses, when graduating students, their families and friends gather to celebrate a significant milestone. From personal experience, I can tell you that one of […]
The Changing Role of Higher Education: Developing the Next Generation of Global Leaders
The Ismaili Centre, Burnaby, April 18, 2017 It’s an honour and privilege to be with you, in this strikingly beautiful Ismaili Centre. For nearly four decades, the Ismaili Centre has offered spaces for spiritual contemplation, as well as social, cultural and intellectual gatherings. The Centre truly does provide a bridge to friendship and understanding for […]
Exam anxiety? UBC can help
April in Vancouver can be amazing. The cherry blossoms are in bloom, the days are longer, and the temperature is (most days anyway!) getting warmer. April this year also brings the convergence of three holidays of deep significance to people of different faiths throughout the world: Passover, Vaisakhi and Easter. Whatever you celebrate, I wish […]
Statement on Report of Advisory Panel for the Review of Federal Support for Fundamental Science
The University of British Columbia welcomes the release of Investing in Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research, the report by the Advisory Panel for the Review of Federal Support for Fundamental Science. “With the panel’s recommendations in hand, Canada’s research community can move forward together towards a more efficient and impactful research funding […]
President’s Message to the UBC Community on Respectful Debate
As President, I have an unwavering commitment to the free, respectful expression of ideas and I trust that all members of our community, share this commitment. The University of British Columbia has a long legacy of commitment to respectful debate. UBC’s position on the free and lawful expression of ideas was powerfully articulated in President […]
Thriving at UBC: Encouraging healthy minds on healthy campuses
Minister Wilkinson, distinguished guests: I am honoured by the opportunity to speak to you today about mental health and how UBC is encouraging healthy minds on healthy campuses, an issue I am personally involved in, as I will explain in a minute. First I am glad CMHA BC is considering endorsing the Okanagan Charter: An International […]
We cannot change the past, but we can honestly recognize it
This past weekend, I was honoured and humbled to participate in the raising of Reconciliation Pole at UBC’s Vancouver campus. It was gratifying to see so many people turn out for this important occasion and to hear from residential school survivors such as Elder Barney Williams and Pauline Jones (below left), who spoke with courage and candour of the […]
UBC welcomes government initiatives re technology education capacity and Robson Square district
The University of British Columbia welcomes two important initiatives announced today by the provincial government. The government announced today a 250-graduate increase to UBC’s technology education capacity and a planned public consultation process to chart a course for a more vibrant, innovative and connected Robson Square district. Today’s announcement means UBC will be able to graduate […]