Messages to Community

Gaza situation and support reminders

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:25:50 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

Many of us are watching the escalation of human suffering in Gaza with alarm. While thousands of kilometres away, many members of the 51�Թ��community are touched at a human level by the scale and impact of the crisis unfolding, which threatens to intensify over the coming days.

The belief that drives us forward

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:35:21 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

As we conclude another academic year together, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the collective efforts that have brought us here. Over the past year, McGill’s students, faculty, and staff have shown a remarkable commitment to McGill’s mission, all while navigating the complex challenges impacting our University and the higher education sector more broadly.

Court rules on tuition increases, French proficiency

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:11:41 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

In February 2024, 51�Թ��launched legal proceedings to reverse government changes to tuition for students outside of Quebec and a new francisation requirement. Today, Justice Dufour of the Quebec Superior Court ruled that:

Injunction granted to protect McGill’s academic activities

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:13:14 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

Today, the Superior Court of Quebec granted McGill’s request for a provisional injunction against Students for Palestinian Honour and Resistance (SPHR). In his judgement, Justice Collier noted that “51�Թ��has a clear right to an order that allows it to carry out its academic activities without obstruction” and that “51�Թ��is entitled to the protection of its property.”

In summary, the Court ruled that SPHR and any person aware of the judgement:

Injunction to protect McGill’s academic activities

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:02:20 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

On April 8, 51�Թ��applied to the Superior Court of Quebec to grant a provisional injunction against Students for Palestinian Honour and Resistance (SPHR) to protect the rights of students and staff to pursue their studies and work free from threats, obstructions and harassment. The judge heard our request today and we are awaiting his ruling.

Vandalism on Campus

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:02:41 +0000

Dear 51�Թ��community members,

I write you in the wake of last night’s events, when approximately 40 individuals moved quickly across our Downtown Campus – smashing the windows of five buildings in under ten minutes and disrupting ongoing classes and exams involving hundreds of students. Security agents quickly notified police, but the vandals left before they arrived, after causing chaos, extensive damage, and panic among the students, faculty, and staff on site.

McGill’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy (2025-2030)

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:25:53 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

We are pleased to share with you McGill’s new Climate & Sustainability Strategy 2025-2030, recently endorsed by the Board of Governors on the recommendation of its Sustainability and Social Responsibility Committee.

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:20:06 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��Community,

Today, January 29, we observe the National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. It has been eight years since the devastating attack at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec (CCIQ), a hateful act of Islamophobia that took six lives and profoundly impacted 19 others who were injured, leaving a lasting scar on our community, Quebec, and Canada.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:21:35 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD). The date marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp that has become a symbol of both unimaginable cruelty, but also of tremendous resilience.

Reflections for the holidays 2024

deidre.mccabe@McGill.Ca — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:14:33 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

The last few weeks of December are always filled with much anticipation. Final exams are wrapping up and the holiday season is on the horizon. As we look forward to a new year, and all the hope and promise that it holds, this is a natural time for reflection.

Commemoration of Polytechnique Montréal tragedy

rosalie.nardelli@mcgill.ca — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:16:29 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

Friday, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – a day during which people across Canada pause to remember the 14 women who were murdered, and the 14 others who were injured, in the tragedy that took place at Polytechnique Montréal on December 6, 1989.

Anja Geitmann appointed Vice-President (Global Engagement)

deidre.mccabe@McGill.Ca — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:48:15 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Anja Geitmann as Vice-President (Global Engagement). McGill’s Board of Governors confirmed her appointment based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the Vice-President (Global Engagement). Her five-year, renewable term begins immediately and ends on June 30, 2030.

Appointment of Deputy Chancellor

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:44:57 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

We are delighted to announce that the 51�Թ�� Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Governor Emerita Cynthia Price Verreault as the University’s first Deputy Chancellor. Effective immediately, her two-year term runs until December 31, 2026.

Welcome to Academic Year 2024-2025

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:27:40 +0000

Dear members of the 51�Թ��community,

The beginning of a new academic year always ignites a sense of excitement and opportunity. It is an absolute pleasure to see our campuses bustling with activity, as new and returning McGillians embark on a shared journey of discovery, connection, and intellectual flourishing.

The return to campus this year is also marked by several challenges that are unfolding in Quebec, Canada, and internationally, which have a direct bearing on members of our community and on our university.

Looking forward

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:45:42 +0000

Dear 51�Թ��community members,

I write today to update you following last week’s dismantlement of the encampment. This event was significant for McGill, and it occurred after we had worked assiduously for weeks and exhausted all other options to end this occupation of the lower field.

Difficult but necessary work lies ahead, calling for engagement from each of us within the 51�Թ��community. This work must focus on further strengthening our capacity for respectful dialogue, and renewing our focus on the academic mission that unites us all.