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 […]
Update: In-person exams, residence and testing
In recent days we’ve seen news of other universities in Canada needing to shift their final exams from in-person to online, and reports of COVID-19 cases at one of our residence facilities at UBC Vancouver. I understand that those developments and the uncertainty around the spread of the Omicron variant are deeply concerning for some of our community members. Particularly as we all observe other communities that are struggling […]
UBC and Surrey: Moving Together into the Future
Surrey Board of Trade, Sheraton Guilford Inn, Surrey B.C. Many thanks for that generous introduction, Anita – I only hope I can live up to it! As this is my first time addressing a Surrey audience, I too would like to acknowledge that we are in the traditional territory of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, […]
Community Update, December 10, 2021: New paths toward meaningful reconciliation
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 week, I had the honour of signing, on UBC’s behalf, a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government. The signing demonstrates our […]
UBC launches ambitious climate action plans
I am pleased to share that UBC has unveiled two ambitious climate action plans for the Vancouver and Okanagan campus. With the release of these plans, UBC has pledged to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 for both campuses and continue to play a leadership role in addressing the climate emergency. For Vancouver, that […]
Marjorie Anne Sauder, CM, 1929 – 2021
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Marjorie Anne Sauder, CM on November 20, 2021. Known for her consummate generosity, respect and genuine kindness, Marjorie Anne’s abundant support of her community touched the lives of countless people throughout British Columbia and Canada. A treasured volunteer and a considerate philanthropist, Marjorie Anne had […]
December 2021
Welcome Welcome to the December 2021 issue of Letter from Santa, a regular communication to members of the UBC community. Highlights Celebrating Graduation Congratulations to UBC’s latest Rhodes Scholars New award for women and gender-diverse faculty and staff at UBC UBC and COP26 Surrey and UBC UBC Signs Scarborough Charter Congratulations to Award Winners […]
Community Update, December 2, 2021: Envisioning Equality
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. Last week we celebrated our first in-person graduation ceremonies since the fall of 2019. It was such a joy to greet the graduating students as […]
Community Update, November 18, 2021: Emergency Funding Available for Those Affected by Flooding
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. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this week’s devastating storms, flooding and mudslides. It’s at times like this that we see the best in […]
Observing Trans Day of Remembrance
Saturday, November 20th, we mark the Trans Day of Remembrance in Canada. We know that trans people at UBC and in broader communities continue to face stigma, discrimination, and violence. Each year, more names are added to the list of those who died as a result of acts of transphobia. And this year, the pandemic […]
Community Update, November 12, 2021: Thanks to you, UBC is COVID safe
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. I am pleased to report that as of this week, 93.86 percent of UBC students, faculty and staff have declared their vaccination status and 96.39% […]
Community Update, November 4, 2021: Creating the most sustainable campuses in the world
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. COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, is now underway in Glasgow. I am proud to say that a delegation of eight […]
Community Update, October 20, 2021: Vaccination Declaration Non-Compliance
Dear members of the UBC community. I’m pleased to announce that eight weeks into the Fall term, we are continuing to do very well with regard to COVID-19. As of October 19, 95% of students, faculty and staff have declared their vaccination status. Of those who have declared, 96% have declared they are fully vaccinated […]