Life is a marathon, not a sprint
Sending all students and faculty love during exams. A post shared by Santa J. Ono (@ubcprez) on Apr 10, 2018 at 9:28pm PDT The other morning while walking by the UBC Life building, I noticed a young woman sitting at a table, her books and laptop spread in front of her, fast asleep with her […]
The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre: Fulfilling a Promise
On Monday, April 9th, I invite you to join me in witnessing the fulfillment of a promise made by my predecessor, UBC President Stephen Toope, in 2013 – the opening of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC). At the opening, I will also make a Statement of Apology for UBC’s involvement in […]
Building a more inclusive campus community
Tomorrow is shaped by what we hear today. I love the sound of my cello. I can lose myself for hours, practicing just one small refrain. But playing alone – the sound of just one cello – doesn’t compare to the experience of playing in a trio or quartet. If we continue adding more players […]
Budget 2018: A clear recognition of the value of Canada’s science and research community
Earlier this week, the Government of Canada tabled a historic budget for research, responding to the views expressed by researchers across Canada and the recommendations made in the Fundamental Science Review. Budget 2018 highlights several key themes that align very well with UBC’s priorities – increasing opportunities for women in the economy, investing in the […]
Digital Technology Supercluster means exciting opportunities for UBC, now and in the future
Yesterday, the Government of Canada announced its support for Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster, a BC-led consortium of private industry, high-tech start-ups and post-secondary institutions. I am proud that UBC is a founding member of the supercluster, along with TELUS, Microsoft, Teck, Change Healthcare, Providence Health Care and other members of the Research Universities’ Council of […]
Inspire: “This is our moment”
Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a draft of Inspire: the strategic plan of the University of British Columbia (UBC) to the UBC Vancouver Senate. Later this week, I will present it to the UBC Okanagan Senate. It will go back to the Senates next month and, following that, to the Board of […]
Getting closer to where you want to be
Welcome to 2018! I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday break and is refreshed and ready for the new year. A new year means different things to different people. To me, a new year means a chance to reflect on the year that’s gone by and to think about what I hope to achieve in […]
Looking back on 2017, looking forward to 2018
Dear friends: December is traditionally a time to reflect back on the year that was and to look forward to the year to come. Looking over my blog posts over the past year, I’m struck by UBC’s many accomplishments in 2017: We began work in earnest on the new strategic plan. The planning process – […]
The Blue & Gold campaign: Change their world so they can change ours
Earlier this year, I wrote in this space that we need to support the UBC students who are determined to make a better world. As I wrote at the time, “Thank goodness for the dreamers among our world’s youth. It is because of them that I remain hopeful about the future of Planet Earth.” But […]
Going global: Our future depends on it
Is Canada prepared for the challenges that lie ahead? That was the question that I – and the other members of the Study Group on Global Education – asked ourselves this year as we looked at Canada’s approach to global education. Our conclusion: Canada is not ready. Our young people are not ready. And we […]
Building a better Canada
As Canada’s 150th anniversary year draws to a close, this is a good time to reflect on this country, its history and its future. Canada has much to be proud of – our contributions to both global peacekeeping and defence against tyranny, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, our welcoming of Syrian refugees, our scientific […]
Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
Recently I spoke at a TEDx event about the need to support young people struggling with mental health issues. To mark World Mental Health Day, I have decided to adapt my talk into a blog post. Please also see the joint Globe and Mail op-ed piece that University of Toronto Chancellor Michael Wilson and I wrote about […]
UBC’s Next Century — the next phase of engagement
Dear members of the UBC community: I am pleased to confirm that we are now entering the next phase of UBC’s strategic planning process. Over the last few months we have conducted a series of events and consultation activities: from open houses on our Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, and other learning and research sites, to […]
Supporting the dreamers
Dear friends: As we get caught up in the day to day activities of a busy September, it’s hard to believe that it was just two weeks ago that we welcomed thousands of new students to our campuses at UBC Create and UBC Imagine. They were joyous occasions. But there were some sobering moments, too. […]
Imagine UBC 2017
Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, UBC Vancouver (Click here to see a video of the speech) Thank you! Well, I’ve been waiting for today for several months. People have been working really hard trying to choose you. As you probably know, there are about 30,000 people who applied to this institution to have the privilege […]
Looking ahead to 2017-18
Dear members of the UBC community: Welcome back for the start of the 2017/18 academic year. I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the summer. Today, UBC is welcoming thousands of new and returning students to our campuses and learning sites. As we embrace the energy and excitement that comes with this, I […]
Summer at UBC
I love summer at UBC. The sunshine, the luxuriant foliage, the mountains and the ocean, the historic buildings – it all reminds me how lucky I am to work at this amazing institution. Another thing I like about walking or cycling through the campus on my way to work at this time of year is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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’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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
An innovative start to the Year of the Rooster
Yesterday, I was honoured to be named British Columbia’s first Chief Advisor: Innovation Network, and to be appointed to the Premier’s Technology Council. The announcement was made at DarkVision Technologies in North Vancouver, a terrific example of a BC-born, innovation-driven company. As Chief Advisor, I will work with leaders in industry and post-secondary education and research to transform […]
UBC’s Next Century: Moving from Excellence to Eminence
Canadian Club, Vancouver, BC: Thank you to Joyce Murray for that warm introduction, and thank you all. I am honoured to be here today, to deliver the first address to the Canadian Club during this, the country’s sesquicentennial. Before I begin, I would like to thank the law firm, Farris, for sponsoring this event. I […]
UBC’s Next Century
I trust that everyone had a restful and happy holiday season.
I’m looking forward to 2017, my first full year as president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia. It promises to be an exciting year for UBC, as we start work in earnest on developing our new strategic plan, UBC’s Next Century: From Excellence to Eminence.
UBC’s Strategic Plan – seeking your input
The holiday season is a time both for reflection and for looking ahead to the future. As I reflect on UBC’s first 100 years, I am also looking ahead to UBC’s future as an eminent public research university. To help secure this future, UBC is embarking upon a comprehensive strategic planning process. Our new strategic […]
A time for reflection
The holiday season is a time for reflection, and lately I have been thinking fondly of the warm welcome that the members of the UBC community have extended to me and my family in the months since I took up my position as 15th president and vice-chancellor of the University…