Community Update, March 11, 2022: Masks Still Required on UBC Campuses
Dear members of the UBC community, I would like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Yesterday, the BC Provincial Health Officer announced that the Public Health Order requiring masks to be worn in public indoor spaces is lifted as of […]
Statement on Russia and Ukraine
On behalf of the University of British Columbia, I am deeply concerned about Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and its impact on many of our university community members. These attacks are unwarranted, unprovoked, and unacceptable. We join Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier John Horgan in deploring this illegal and unjust war, and echo the international community’s […]
Community Update, February 11, 2022: Thank You for a Safe Return to Campus
Dear members of the UBC community: I would like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. On Monday of this week, courses at UBC returned to the format in which they were originally scheduled. I want to thank everyone who has […]
Faith and Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Vancouver School of Theology Thank you, Richard, and good evening everyone! I am honoured to be here tonight to deliver the G. Peter Kaye lecture. The topic I will be addressing is “Faith and Leadership in a time of crisis.” The time of crisis is, of course, COVID-19, and it’s a crisis that the entire […]
Episode 34: Nancy Hermiston: “The Face of UBC”
In this episode of the Blue & Goldcast, Santa talks to Nancy Hermiston, chair of UBC’s Voice and Opera Division, director of UBC’s Opera Ensemble and University Marshall; who Santa describes as “the face of UBC.” Download the transcript here.
Celebrating Lunar New Year: The Year of the Water Tiger
Greetings to each and every one of you, and a heartfelt welcome to our UBC celebration of the Lunar New Year 2022! I am sorry that once again we cannot meet in person but, based on last year’s event, I am sure we have a great time ahead of us! The Lunar New Year has […]
Update on Winter Session, Term 2
Dear members of the UBC community, I would like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Earlier this month, we announced that UBC would deliver online instruction until February 7. Today, we are confirming that the majority of instruction will be […]
Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Today, I join the UBC community in observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day and remembering the six million Jewish people and countless others who lost their lives during the Holocaust. We must never forget the heinous crimes perpetrated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. I am deeply concerned that antisemitism, discrimination and violence continue to […]
Statement on Williams Lake
I was heartbroken to learn of the discovery of 93 unmarked graves at the site of a former B.C. residential school in Williams Lake. These discoveries are horrifying. We can only imagine the grief and pain that the families and communities of the missing children are feeling. UBC stands with Williams Lake First Nation seeking […]
Episode 33: Scholarly Integrity at UBC
https://soundcloud.com/ubc_blue_and_goldcast/episode-33-scholarly-integrity?si=a6bc94a56cd442dab6b3271282ef1b3d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing In the first episode of the Blue and Goldcast for 2022, Santa talks with two scholars working to improve scholarly integrity at UBC. Dr. Ross Hickey is an associate professor in the Faculty of Management and the Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science at UBC’s Okanagan campus Jacqui Brinkman is the Director of […]
At the University of British Columbia, we are committed to doing our part to address the climate crisis
A version of this post appeared in the Georgia Straight, January 12, 2022 Our province is still reeling from an unprecedented and deadly heatwave fueled by climate change. Tragically, hundreds of people died from heat-related illnesses across the province, and the town of Lytton burned to the ground. But this extreme weather also serves as […]