December 2022
Welcome Welcome to the December 2022 issue of Letter from the President, a regular communication to members of the UBC community. Highlights Nineteen UBC researchers announced as Canada Research Chairs Frank Laezza appointed Vice-President, Finance and Operations Staying safe during the winter flu season Student affordability and food insecurity Celebrating UBC’s Graduates UBC sends […]
December 2022
Welcome Welcome to the December 2022 issue of Letter to the Board, a regular communication to members of the UBC Board of Governors. Highlights Nineteen UBC researchers announced as Canada Research Chairs Frank Laezza appointed Vice-President, Finance and Operations Staying safe during the winter flu season Student affordability and food insecurity Celebrating UBC’s Graduates […]
Food Security at UBC
On November 3, 2022, I sent the following letter to the co-presidents of UBC Sprouts: Gizel Gedik and Delanie Austin Co-Presidents UBC Sprouts Board Room 0001C, 6138 Student Union Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 Dear Gisele and Delanie: Thank you for your letter of October 21, 2022, regarding food security at UBC. I would also […]
A Message from the Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
Dear members of the UBC community: As UBC’s newly appointed Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, I would like to thank UBC Board Chair Nancy McKenzie and the Board of Governors for entrusting me with this responsibility. It is an honour to take on the position and contribute to this remarkable university. I enjoyed serving as Deputy-Vice […]
Looking Back
Last week, I had the opportunity to reflect on my six years as president of UBC in a conversation with Kathryn Gretsinger of UBC’s School of Journalism, Writing and Media. You can watch the interview here:
Accessibility Listening Session
Last month I had the privilege to meet with members of the Disability Affinity Group. I’d like to thank them for taking the time to prepare their report on accessibility on the UBC Vancouver campus. As I said at our meeting, I will make sure that the current Executive, the Board of Governors, the Senate […]
September 2022
Welcome Welcome to the September 2022 issue of Letter from Santa, a regular communication to members of the UBC community. Highlights Think Forward and Homecoming 2022 VSE receives $1M gift from Dominic Barton Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at UBC Rella Ng Appointed as New Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services […]
September 2022
Welcome Welcome to the September 2022 issue of Letter to the Board, a regular communication to members of the UBC Board of Governors. Highlights Think Forward and Homecoming 2022 VSE receives $1M gift from Dominic Barton Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at UBC Rella Ng Appointed as New Associate […]
Statement on Charges Related to Deaths of Two Students
On September 26, 2021, the university community was shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of two students. Their lives came to an end all too quickly and under terrible circumstances. We have collectively and individually mourned Emily Selwood and Evan Smith in the weeks and months since, and on behalf of the […]
Statement on the Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Today we join the global community in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Flags on our campuses will be lowered to half-staff in recognition of her decades-long service as Queen of Canada and Head of State. Since her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth reigned through times of significant geo-political turbulence with a […]
Welcome Back!
03 Welcome back to campus and the start of the 2022-23 academic year! I hope you all had a good summer. Welcome Students This week, UBC welcomes thousands of new and returning students to our campuses and learning sites. Thousands of new students are coming to our Okanagan and Vancouver campuses from across British Columbia, […]
Coming Soon: Recreation Centre North!
UBC’s commitment to the wellbeing of its students is something I’m very proud of and I am so excited that we are about to embark on a new endeavor that supports UBC students’ fitness and wellbeing goals. Earlier this summer, the UBC Board of Governors approved the Recreation Centre North project – a brand new […]
Walking the path of Reconciliation: The Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund
When we launched the Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP) nearly two years ago, we hoped it would provide guidance and inspiration for the UBC community and beyond. Being able to invest in our commitments and enable student-led projects to come to life and have a genuine impact in our communities is a crucial step in the […]
Djavad Mowafaghian, CM, OBC (1927 – 2022)
It is with profound sadness and a deep sense of loss that we learned of the passing of Dr. Djavad Mowafaghian. Affectionately called “Dr. M” by those whom he’s helped through his generosity, he was one of Canada’s most visionary philanthropists and a dear friend of UBC. On behalf of the entire UBC community, […]
Douglas Mitchell, CM, AOE, QC, 1939–2022
We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Douglas Mitchell, CM, AOE, QC, LLD (BLaws ’62). I wish to express my deepest condolences to his wife, Lois, and their family during this difficult time. A former player, Commissioner and member of the Board of Governors for the Canadian Football League (CFL), Mr. Mitchell was […]
Statement to the UBC Community
Dear members of the UBC Community: At the start of my seventh academic year as your President and Vice-Chancellor, I write to inform you of my decision to complete my term as the 15th President of UBC in October 2022. I have accepted an invitation from the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan […]
Canada Day 2022
Canada Day is a time for celebration and reflection. While we have much to celebrate this Canada Day, we still have far to go to achieve a truly representative and equitable university, province and country. We have seen progress over the past year — at UBC, we have begun to work on the 54 comprehensive […]
Community Update, June 27, 2022: End of Mask Mandate
Dear members of the UBC community. I hope that your summer is off to a great start. As you know, in April, we announced that masks had to be worn in indoor UBC public spaces until June 30. Since then, public health data has indicated that BC has passed the 6th wave of the pandemic. […]
June 2022
Welcome Welcome to the June 2022 issue of Letter to the Board, a regular communication to members of the UBC community. Highlights Peter A. Allard, QC, 1946 – 2022 Welcome Arig al Shaibah Thanks to our Donors and Alumni New UBC Vancouver student residences opens with gifted names from Musqueam Province invests $50m in […]
June 2022
Welcome Welcome to the June 2022 issue of Letter to the Board, a regular communication to members of the UBC Board of Governors. Highlights Peter A. Allard, QC, 1946 – 2022 Welcome Arig al Shaibah Thanks to our Donors and Alumni New UBC Vancouver student residences opens with gifted names from Musqueam Province invests […]