I am writing this en route to Kingston from Barcelona, where I have been attending the third United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Higher Education Conference.

Convocation speech text follows below: 

Thank you Chancellor Emeritus.

Distinguished Guests, Colleagues, Friends, Graduands:

The recipients of the 2022 Principal’s Teaching and Learning Awards have been announced, recognizing excellence demonstrated by educators at Queen’s.

Administered by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the criteria include student support, curriculum development, promotion of inquiry, international innovation, and educational leadership.

Ten ‘blue sky’ courses have been selected for the Principal’s Impact Courses (PIC) initiative this year. The programs will use funding creatively to support the development of educational experiences that push the boundaries of teaching and learning.

Courses receiving funding range in topic from impact-driven leadership to the effect of humanitarian crises on health and health systems.

On June 21, people across the country will be marking National Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s an opportunity to honour the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

In his role as Queen’s University Chancellor, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, shared his thoughts on the importance of sustaining the national push for reconciliation.    

The Queen’s University Task Force on Street Parties held its first meeting on June 6.

Struck by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane, the task force builds on Queen’s existing partnerships with the City of Kingston and community partners and provides a forum to develop new and innovative approaches to address unsanctioned street parties.

Queen’s University’s UK campus has a new name – Bader College.

Following an extensive consultation process and review of the Canadian and international post-secondary landscape, Bader College was selected as the new name for the Bader International Study Centre (BISC).

This past November, Queen’s became a founding signatory of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. Signing this document commits the university to specific goals and targets to work towards eliminating anti-Black racism across the institution and to promote Black representation and flourishing. More than 50 universities and colleges across Canada have signed the Scarborough Charter.

The arrival of June marks the start of Pride Month, a time to honour and support members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, while also reflecting on the long, difficult history that has led to this month.

Throughout June, Queen’s University will highlight several resources available to our students, staff, and faculty and point to several events taking place in Kingston this month.