On Campus
With community engagement at the heart of the design process, Agnes Reimagined envisions an entirely different architectural approach to museum building and practice in Canada.
- WHAT: Agnes Reimagined, a living art museum for the 21st century
- WHERE: New entrance faces Bader Lane
- WHEN: Construction begins May 2024, reopening in 2026
Agnes Reimagined construction phase begins
The Agnes Etherington Art Centre transformation is underway, after a groundbreaking ceremony on May 6. The ceremonial event signalled the beginning of the construction phase of the project, with the new space set to open in 2026.
The new facility will double the existing gallery space and serve as the perfect home for the Bader Collection at Agnes, which includes the most comprehensive collection of authenticated paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and his circle in any institution within Canada.
Agnes Reimagined was made possible by a US$75-million gift from Bader Philanthropies, Inc., and through the leadership and philanthropy of the late Alfred Bader, Sc’45, Arts’46, MSc’47, LLD’86, and the late Isabel Bader, LLD’07. Thanks to generous donations from the Bader family, Agnes will be the largest public university-affiliated museum in Canada.
Smith MBA ranked tops in Canada
In February, the full-time Master of Business Administration program at Smith School of Business earned another honour when it was ranked best in the country in the Financial Times global MBA ranking.
Smith also ranked first in Canada for a fourth straight year and 30th in the world for career services. Globally, the Smith School of Business MBA program ranked 62nd, ahead of the three other Canadian universities that made the top 100.
“Ranking first in career services in Canada for the fourth year in a row reflects the school’s dedication to deliver an outstanding learning experience for our students, resulting in exceptional career outcomes,” says Karen Jackson-Cox, Executive Director, Smith’s Career Advancement Centre.
Student creativity recognized by City of Kingston
This year’s Mayor’s Innovation Challenge top honour was awarded to two Queen’s student teams working on original approaches to issues facing the local area.
The annual Kingston competition is designed to generate creative solutions to local issues, drawing teams from Queen’s, the Royal Military College of Canada, and St. Lawrence College.
The Queen’s students focused their entries on developing phone apps with equity-deserving groups as their target audience. The first team addressed the rising cost of living by creating an app that helps connect those in need with additional resources. The second team created an app for blind and visually impaired people to use their phones as assistive devices.
Queen’s ambassadors guide community
On April 8, the Kingston community was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe a total solar eclipse, as the region fell within the path of totality for the first time in 375 years.
The university’s preparations for the eclipse began in earnest in 2022. A team from the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy ran outreach efforts by leading workshops in over 80 local schools and other community sites.
More than 100 Queen’s students, faculty, and staff served as eclipse ambassadors to help prepare the community for the big event. Queen’s provided over 120,000 certified eclipse glasses to the community through local schools and through the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
The on-campus community gathered on Tindall Field when, for a few unforgettable moments, day turned to night.
Undergraduate applications soar for 2024–25
Queen’s is connecting with top prospective undergraduate students from across Canada and around the world after receiving a record number of applications for 2024–25.
The university received nearly 58,000 applications for 5,000 first-year undergraduate openings, an eight-per-cent increase from the previous year.
“Outstanding students continue to be drawn to our university and the promise of our exceptional academic programs, vibrant campus life, and strong, supportive community,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “This is an exciting time for those who have been offered a spot at our university, and we are here to provide information, answer their questions, and support them every step of the way.”
Queen’s welcomes celebrated CERC scientist
In March, Queen’s announced that world-renowned nuclear materials scientist Dr. Yanwen Zhang will join the university as the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies.
The internationally recognized scientist’s research into nuclear materials aims to help the industry find ways to build safer and longer-lasting reactors, which can play a key role in the low-carbon transition.
CERC is among the most prestigious and well-funded programs supporting leading-edge research globally. Dr. Zhang’s chair is valued at $8 million over eight years and will relocate her research program from the Idaho National Laboratory, where she also holds a joint faculty appointment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
New Board of Trustees chair named
David Court, Com’79, has been named the new chair of the Queen’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. Court, a senior partner emeritus with McKinsey & Company and current Queen’s trustee, will begin his four-year term June 1. Mr. Court will succeed current chair Mary Wilson Trider, who concludes her term May 31.
“David’s extensive experience and dedication have been invaluable to the Board of Trustees and its work,” says Patrice Walch-Watson, who led the Governance and Nominating Committee’s selection process. “We’re confident that his experience and demonstrated leadership make him the right choice for this important role at this time.”
A former chair of the Smith School of Business Advisory Board, he joined the Board of Trustees in 2020 and has since served as both vice-chair and chair of its Finance, Assets, and Strategic Infrastructure Committee.
Queen’s students to sail the Atlantic in prestigious race to Bermuda
Eight sailors from the Queen’s sailing team are embarking on the Newport Bermuda Race June 21, a four-day, 1,200-kilometre event from Newport, R.I., to St. George’s, Bermuda, featuring 200 yachts in one of North America’s biggest sailing races. Skipper Julian Hill says the group will be racing under the name HoldFast Ocean Racing, hoping to “inspire a younger generation to hold fast in their skill, passion, and competitive ability.” The Queen’s students will be the youngest participating team – the median age of sailors in the race is 56, and HoldFast Ocean Racing members are all younger than 24. To prepare, the team will participate in five regattas and two months of training in New York and Rhode Island. Track their adventures and follow them on Instagram.
Varsity teams celebrate successful winter season
Queen’s Varsity Athletics had a very successful end to the 2023-24 season. The athletic season’s conclusion was highlighted by Queen’s men’s basketball – the team won their first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship since the 1956-57 season in dramatic fashion at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) in early March. The Gaels’ 79-76 win over the Brock Badgers in the OUA Wilson Cup was accentuated by a highlight-reel buzzer beater by Kingston native Cole Syllas. The OUA championship was the highlight of a record season for Queen’s men’s basketball, which also finished with a program-best 19-3 regular season record and captured the U SPORTS Men’s Final 8 silver medal.
Queen’s women’s basketball also played deep into the season, advancing to their second straight Critelli Cup, capturing the OUA silver medal and their third straight trip to the U SPORTS Women’s Final 8.
Queen’s men’s volleyball also earned the OUA silver medal before hosting the U SPORTS men’s volleyball championship, tying their program-best finish at the national level with a fourth place.
And Queen’s women’s squash continued their dynasty on the court, winning their ninth straight OUA championship in February, while the men’s team captured the silver medal.
New system to increase medical-school diversity
Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) announced changes to its MD Program admissions process in an effort to create a more inclusive entry point for all applicants, minimize systemic barriers to becoming a doctor, and increase student diversity. Beginning this fall, in time for 2025 admissions, the renewed medical student admissions process includes a pathway for lower socioeconomic--status applicants and adjustments to the current Indigenous pathway. A second phase of admissions changes will also support the recruitment of Black students.
The new process will be unique in Canada and will give any qualified candidate the potential to reach the interview stage.
“We have thousands of qualified medical school applicants each year who would make excellent doctors,” says Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of Queen’s Health Sciences. “Our new admissions process will give them equal opportunity to be selected for the interview stage. This will help level the playing field for prospective students.”
VP (Advancement) Karen Bertrand stepping down
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane announced on April 11 that Vice-Principal (Advancement) Karen Bertrand, Artsci’94, will be stepping down from her position at Queen’s, effective June 14, 2024, to take on the role of Vice--President (University Advancement) at Western University, starting Aug. 1.
Bertrand joined Queen’s in 2018 as VP (Advancement) and successfully cultivated numerous large gifts, doubling the university’s fundraising results since taking on her role. She has also strategically managed the university’s alumni relations and the broad range of advancement activities at Queen’s, including strengthening relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, streamlining advancement operations, and undertaking preparations to position Queen’s for future philanthropic success.
“It is fair to say our loss will be Western’s gain. Karen has been an exceptional colleague and invaluable member of the senior leadership team,” says Principal Deane. “While I am very sorry to see her leave our institution, I wish her every success in this next step in her career. She assures me she will always be a proud alum.”
Shelagh Rogers to succeed The Honourable Murray Sinclair
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane has announced that award-winning broadcast journalist Shelagh Rogers, Artsci’77, will become the 16th Chancellor of Queen’s. University Council members confirmed her selection following a process led by an advisory committee with wide-ranging representation from across campus.
Chancellor-Designate Rogers will begin on July 1, 2024. She will succeed outgoing Chancellor, The Honourable Murray Sinclair, who will become Chancellor Emeritus and a Special Advisor to the Principal on Reconciliation.
“Shelagh’s remarkable career, wide-ranging experience, and her roots at Queen’s make her an ideal representative for our institution and its values,” says Principal Deane.
Gordon E. Smith named director of the Isabel
Queen’s has appointed Gordon E. Smith as director of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts for a two-year term effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Smith has served as interim director of the Isabel for the past two years. During this time, he oversaw the planning of the 10th anniversary season of the Isabel and has provided leadership in advancing the Isabel’s strategic priorities of Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in its programming and operations. An ethnomusicologist in the Dan School of Drama and Music, Dr. Smith has served in a number of administrative roles in the Faculty of Arts and Science, many of which intersect with the creative and performing arts. These include vice-dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science (2013-2021), interim dean (2016-2017), associate dean (2006-2012), and director of the School of Music (2003-2006). His current research examines music and intersectional cultural and social practices in Mi’kmaw communities in Cape Breton, specifically Eskasoni.
Principal, QUAA president host webinar regarding budget challenges
On Feb. 28, Queen’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane hosted a webinar with Queen’s alumni, supporters, and friends to discuss budget challenges the university is currently facing and how it is navigating this period while planning for the future. The one-hour conversation, moderated by Queen’s University Alumni Association (QUAA) President Colin McLeod, Artsci’10, covered topics on financial management and transparency, student recruitment, and long-term planning and sustainability. Up-to-date details about Queen’s current financial situation and the measures taken so far to address the budget deficit can be found online at queensu.ca/budget.
