On Campus
Alumni from around the world converged on campus from Oct. 18 to 20 to celebrate Homecoming, a beloved tradition at Queen’s for almost a century.
Under glorious blue skies and with unseasonably warm weather, more than 2,500 alumni returned to Kingston from as far away as Singapore, New Zealand, and Chile to fly the tricolour and connect with housemates, classmates, faculty members, and family.
And there was much to celebrate. Members of the Tricolour Guard marched to the cheers of a sellout crowd at Richardson Stadium during the half-time parade at the football game, with the Gaels giving the crowd another reason to cheer when they trounced the Waterloo Warriors 54-7.
Queen’s fans also celebrated the men’s hockey team besting the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-0 at Kingston’s Memorial Centre to improve to 4-1 on the season and the women’s soccer team capped off Homecoming weekend with a 2-0 playoff win over the Carleton Ravens.
Alumni also took part in dozens of organized events, including faculty breakfasts, open-house tours, and reunion dinners. Both the Black and Queer alumni chapters held special socials for their members and supporters. The Tricolour Guard welcomed the class of 1974 to its ranks, with an elegant reception (attended by both Principal Patrick Deane and Chancellor Shelagh Rogers) to honour their place in the university’s most distinguished alumni group.
Hundreds also attended the Fall Harvest Alumni Gathering, which took place on Agnes Benidickson Field. Alumni and their families were treated to live music, food trucks, and games at this all-ages event that supports local vendors.
Homecoming dates for the next two years have been set for the third weekend of October, allowing alumni to plan to return to Kingston on Oct. 17-19, 2025, and Oct. 16-18, 2026.
The Isabel marks its 10th anniversary season
The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts is celebrating its 10th anniversary season in 2024-2025 with a large and diverse range of programming, including approximately 300 events – nearly eight times the programming of its inaugural season. The anniversary season began in July with a concert by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, marking the launch of the orchestra’s 2024 summer tour. The anniversary continued in September with concerts by two outstanding Indigenous musicians, Inuk opera singer Deantha Edmunds and Polaris award-winning performing artist Jeremy Dutcher. To mark the anniversary, a special event was held at the Isabel on Sept. 21 for friends and supporters of the centre. This event featured a presentation in the Isabel performance hall by the architecture firms Snóhetta and N45, as well as Arup sound engineers, on the story of the design of the Isabel, which was followed by a reception in the Isabel’s splendid lobby atrium. The 10th anniversary season at the Isabel is curated around the theme of “Inspiration and Alliances.” Gordon E. Smith, Director of the Isabel, explains that the theme signifies a celebration of the wonderful relationships with artists, staff, faculty, students, and communities that the Isabel has formed since its opening in 2014, as well as celebrating new and innovative pathways in the performing arts as the centre moves into its second decade.
Royal Society of Canada honours four Queen’s researchers
Four Queen’s researchers have been named to the Royal Society of Canada’s 2024 cohort of new Fellows and College Members – among the highest recognitions for Canadian academics. Douglas Munoz (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) and Mark Diederichs (Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering) will be inducted as Fellows, while Bhavin Shastri (Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy) and Cao Thang Dinh (Chemical Engineering) will become members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. The researchers are recognized for their advancement of their respective fields – from developing innovative diagnostic tools to advancing renewable energy technologies.
Three deans moving on from Queen’s
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane has announced that Dean Jane Philpott will be taking on a new role with the Ontario government, effective Dec. 1, 2024. She is stepping down as dean of Queen’s Health Sciences to chair and lead a new primary care action team. Earlier this year, Dean Philpott announced her intention not to seek a second term as dean to focus on her commitment to improving health-care systems. The search process for a permanent dean is underway. In the Faculty of Arts and Science, Barbara Crow ended her term as dean to begin an administrative leave on Aug. 1. Principal Patrick Deane announced that Dr. Bob Lemieux will fill the position of interim dean for the next two years. Dr. Lemieux is returning to Queen’s from the University of Waterloo, from which he will be taking a leave of absence. Wanda Costen, Dean of Smith School of Business, announced in August that she would be stepping down to become the provost and vice-president academic at Dalhousie University. Dean Costen will end her term on Dec. 31 and Dr. Lynnette Purda will step in for an 18-month appointment as interim dean as of Jan. 1.
Survivors’ Flag a new addition to campus
The Survivors’ Flag will now fly permanently on Queen’s campus. Raised on Sept. 23, the flag is located between Douglas Library and Ontario Hall, near the Indigenous Past and Futures at Queen’s plinth.
The orange and white flag honours the resilience of those who survived Canada’s residential school system, and commemorates the many Indigenous children whose lives were tragically lost. First unveiled in 2021, the flag can be found at many public buildings across the country. On Sept. 30, academic activities were suspended as Queen’s observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with several events taking place across campus.