Dear members of the UBC Community:
I would like to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the traditional and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.
Je voudrais commencer par reconnaître que je vous parle depuis les territoires traditionnels et non cédés des peuples Musqueam.
As you know, this week we switched over to Workday for Finance and Human Resources. It will bring modern, intuitive systems and simpler processes that will support UBC, meeting the needs of our learning, research and working environment. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on the project over the past few years.
Now, I’d like to say a few words about COVID-19. According to public health officials, we are now in the second wave of the pandemic
Here in British Columbia, the average number of cases is climbing every day and has reached uprecedented levels. And we can expect even more cases in the coming weeks, as we spend more time indoors because of the change of the seasons.
It’s more important than ever that we adhere to public health guidelines regarding COVID-19. Wherever you’re living, whether on campus, living at home elsewhere in B.C. or Canada, or outside of Canada, please follow the rules.
I know, we’re all experiencing so-called COVID fatigue. We want to get together with our friends and others and socialize in person. But right now it’s just not possible.
Please, keep your gatherings small; your immediate household plus a “safe six” — a consistent group of six friends or extended family members.
If someone outside this group invites you to a party or gathering, just say no. It only takes one infected person – who may not even know they have COVID — to spread it widely.
If you’re at UBC, follow the campus rules. These include: assessing yourself for symptoms, maintaining physical distancing as much as possible, wearing a mask indoors, washing your hands or using hand sanitizer and following the relevant signage and floor markings regarding entering, exiting or moving about within campus buildings.
You can find the UBC rules and guidelines for the Vancouver campus at covid19.ubc.ca and at ok.ubc.ca/covid19 for the Okanagan campus.
Together, we will get through this.
As you know, each week I give a shout out to one of the many amazing members of the UBC community. This week, I’d like to say a few words about Binta Sesay.
Binta is a third year international relations student at UBC Okanagan. She’s very involved in a variety of student leadership activities including the African Caribbean Culture Club Executive, the EIO Student Staff and was a panelist for a number of webinars this summer. She recently participated in a national forum on anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in higher education.
And now, for my weekly #songsofcomfort selection, I would like to present a 2017 performance of the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, featuring UBC Music students with Robert Silverman, CM Professor of Piano Emeritus. I hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes and stay safe. Tous mes vœux et soyez prudents.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor