Remarks for Reconciliation Pole Installation: We cannot change the past but we can honestly embrace it
I begin by acknowledging all the Elders, Chiefs, and Matriarchs, distinguished and honoured guests, and by welcoming all of you, our many friends and family. We are so honoured to have you with us. Thank you for your work, your leadership and support, and for joining us today. I am thrilled to be with you, […]
Innovation: Conception and Connection
Vancouver Board of Trade March 28, 2017, 11:30 a.m. Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver Good afternoon and thank you everyone. It’s an honour to be with you today. I’d like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, the Musqueam, the Squamish and […]
UBC welcomes 2017 federal budget investments in innovation, opportunities for students
The federal budget introduced this week includes welcome measures that support the continued development of Canada’s most important assets: our people. The 2017 federal budget tabled by Finance Minister Bill Morneau Wednesday includes funding for work-integrated learning, Indigenous student supports, and a new organization to support skills development across Canada. “We are pleased to see […]
British Columbia 51st Leadership Prayer Breakfast
Good morning to all of you. Thank you, Glen, for that wonderful introduction. I want to thank and salute every one of you for what you do to make Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the world a better place. In many ways, I think Canada is a beacon for democracy and justice in the world […]
Full STEAM Ahead: The role of Arts in the 21st century university
Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia The “liberal arts” today are generally understood to mean the arts and social sciences, as distinct from the physical sciences and technology. But “liberal arts” used to be applied to all the skills that would enable a person to act as a responsible citizen In that sense, when […]
Executive Brief – Vice-President, Research & Innovation
Executive Brief – UBC VPR – Final
Nikkei Place Foundation Sakura Gala Keynote Address
Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver Thank you, George for that warm introduction. Honoured to be here. Consul General Okai, Mr. Wakabayashi, distinguished guests. Would like to thank the Nikkei Place Foundation for inviting me to the annual Sakura Gala which raises funds for the Feels Like Home campaign Proceeds from tonight will help the Foundation create […]
UBC’s Next Century: Have your say
Friends, I am delighted to report that we are launching the next phase of the UBC’s Next Century strategic planning process with a series of public open houses starting next week (see below for details). As you know, the plan is designed to provide an effective framework to guide and implement UBC’s key priorities, goals and […]
The Learning Exchange: Engaging UBC with the Downtown Eastside
According to its website (http://learningexchange.ubc.ca), UBC’s Learning Exchange is “a place where everyone has something to teach and something to learn – a place where learning is exchanged”. I’m not sure I taught the staff, students and patrons of the Learning Exchange anything, but I certainly learned a lot on my visit earlier this week. […]
Executive Brief – Provost and Vice-President Academic
UBC – Executive Brief – Provost and VPA – Final
University Governance in the 21st Century
Keynote Address: University Governance in the 21st Century Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC Friday, March 3, 2017SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver Thank you Honoured to be here. Delighted to see so many engaged faculty members as well as other university community members here Grateful for opportunity to speak about university governance and UBC in particular […]
Keynote Address to the WestVAC and WestVPR Conference
Keynote Address to the WestVAC and WestVPR Conference 2017 March 2, 2017, Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria BC Thank you Very pleased to be here and to meet research and academic leaders from Western Canada Your sessions today and tomorrow are ones that interest me keenly Unfortunately, due to previous commitment I have to leave […]
Using data for social good: Announcing the Cascade Urban Analytics Cooperative
Thanks to a $1-million donation from Microsoft Corporation, UBC and the University of Washington have an unprecedented opportunity to transform the Cascadia region into a technological hub comparable to Silicon Valley and Boston. The donation allows UBC and UW to establish a Cascadia Urban Analytics Cooperative (CUAC), an applied, interdisciplinary, regional centre that brings together […]
Tuum Est! Preparing for a Career in Science
Future of Research Vancouver Symposium, SFU Harbour Centre Honoured to be here today at the Future of Research Vancouver symposium. Asked to speak about how universities and how can you better prepare for careers in science. But before I do so, I would like to congratulate you all for what you have achieved so far. […]
Presidential Task Force – Final Update and Thank You
On January 29, 2017, I announced that we had established a task force to determine what assistance could be offered to those affected by the executive order signed by US President Trump on January 27th (“Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”). The task force was positioned to undertake a rapid […]
Watch again: Professor Ono on UBC’s Next Century
On February 15, Professor Santa Ono took to Facebook to discuss the strategic planning process and answer your questions. The live event was moderated by UBC Journalism Senior Instructor Kathryn Gretsinger and included special guests Professor Linc Kesler, director of the UBC First Nations House of Learning and senior advisor to the president on Aboriginal Affairs, […]
Update on Presidential Task Force
As I announced Sunday, I have established a task force to determine what assistance the university can offer those affected by the U.S. Executive Order preventing individuals from seven countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days. The task force is headed by Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President International pro tem Pam Ratner and encompasses key support […]