UBC’s president announces a new entrance scholarship
UBC celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Hong Kong and its expanded efforts in the region with a new scholarship.
Modern Green-UBC strategic partnership
Modern Green has entered into a strategic partnership with UBC and the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS).
UBC and The Nippon Foundation launch $13 million research program
On 6 December UBC and The Nippon Foundation launched a nine-year research program focused on the world’s oceans.
Recent Inside Higher Ed opinion editoral by Professor Toope
Prof. Toope’s recent opinion editorial on global challenges and organizational-ethical dilemmas of universities appeared in Inside Higher Ed on 5 December 2010. The op/ed is archived under Speeches and Op/Eds on the President’s website.
UBC applauds decision to extend infrastructure deadline
The Prime Minister announced today the decision to extend the deadline for completion of federally funded infrastructure projects.
Celebrating Achievement: The Blue and Gold Review 2010
UBC President Stephen Toope hosted the 4th annual Celebrating Achievement: The Blue and Gold Review on 29 November 2010
President’s Letter to Maclean’s Magazine
Professor Toope’s letter to the editor of Maclean’s magazine, in response to the recent article titled, ‘Too Asian’?
David C. Lam
Statement from President Professor Stephen J. Toope on the death of David C. Lam
President’s Letters to the University Community
Professor Stephen Toope issued two letters to the UBC community on 25 November 2010.
UBC-IIT Delhi Agreement Renewed
Professor Toope renewed a longstanding student mobility agreement between UBC and IIT Delhi.
FICCI Higher Education Summit Address
Professor Stephen Toope addressed the Higher Education Summit on 11 November 2010.
2010 Fall Congregation
Members of the UBC Vancouver campus and guest are currently celebrating Fall Congregation.
Zadie Smith, On Beauty (Hamish Hamilton, 2005)
A romp through the politics of race and academic life. Brilliant riffs on affirmative action, fundamentalist Christianity and English usage, through explorations of the increasingly intertwined lives of two families where the fathers, two professors who work in the same area, detest one another. A hilarious and sad confrontation scene in a faculty meeting. Shortlisted […]
Paul Scott, The Jewel in the Crown (Heinemann, 1966)
An honest effort to grapple with the harsh complexities of India, and a sympathetic account of people struggling to cope with, and some to overcome, cultural difference. The characters of the British Raj are drawn with sensitivity and compassion, and the story is utterly gripping. A variety of narrative voices give the novel extraordinary range […]
David Mitchell, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (Random House, 2010)
Interweaving the history of the Dutch East India Company, Japan of the Shoguns and the mysteries of a Buddhist monastery, Mitchell tells a moving story of unrequited love. The upright and humourless clerk, Jacob de Zoet, is drawn into intrigue and corruption, and strives to find a way to escape while helping a fascinating women […]
UBC, Max Planck Society Formalize Partnership
The University of British Columbia recently forged a formal partnership with the Max Planck Society.
Renewed Mobility Agreement for HKU and UBC
Professor Tsui and Professor Toope signed a renewed mobility agreement between the two institutions.
University rankings key tool in recruiting foreign students
The strong reputation and global relevance of Canadian universities continues to make UBC a clear choice for international students.
2010 President's Town Hall Meetings
The 2010 Town Hall meetings were recently held at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses
Professor Toope is Co-Chair of the 2010 United Way of the Lower Mainland Campaign
The United Way of the Lower Mainland Campaign Cabinet for 2010 will be Co-Chaired by Stephen Toope and Kevin Layden.
2010 UBC United Way Campaign Kick-Off
The UBC United Way 2010 Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast took place on Monday 20 September.
2010 President's Staff Awards Presented
The President’s Staff Awards were presented to seven members of the UBC Vancouver campus community on 21 September.
2010 address to the Vancouver Board of Trade
Professor Toope addressed the Vancouver Board of Trade on the topic of helping BC companies enter the global market.
TES article features comments by Professor Toope
An 11 September 2010 article in Times Higher Education features comments by Professor Toope.
Don’t swallow these innovation nostrums
Canada’s economy continues to outperform those of its G8 partners, despite reports that warned of its innovation gaps and lagging productivity.
Minister Clement visits UBC for a roundtable on innovation and commercialization
Professor Toope recently chaired a Roundtable on Innovation and Commercialization.
O Canada
Stephen Toope and Neil Gross wrote an opinion editiorial on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s appointment of David Johnston, an academic, to be Canada’s next governor general. Titled O Canada, it originally appeared in Inside Higher Ed.
President's 2010 Campus Town Hall Events
The UBC community is invited to attend a UBC Town Hall Event. For locations and times in Kelowna and Vancouver, please refer to the Town Hall Event section of this website. This information will also be available under the Latest Information – Heads Up Group section.
Joseph Boyden, Through Black Spruce (Penguin Canada, 2008)
Xavier Bird’s son, Will, and grand-niece, Annie, struggle to find a way out of the violence that threatens to destroy their lives. A missing sister. Alcohol addiction. Drug dealing. Brutal assaults. But amidst it all, the promise that family and traditional learning can bring redemption. Striking portrays of life in the bush and in the […]
Joseph Boyden, Three Day Road (Penguin Canada, 2005)
A remarkable story, the first part in a planned trilogy, that draws us into generations of the Bird and Whiskeyjack families. Two young Cree snipers, Xavier Bird and Elijah Weesageechak (called Whiskeyjack by his white soldier buddies) are formed and deformed by the horrors of the First World War. One tries to find redemption in […]
APRU 14th Annual Presidents Meeting
Professor Toope addressed the APRU 14th Annual Presidents Meeting on 1 July 2010.
Heads Up Meeting: June 15, 2010
Professor Stephen Toope addressed the June 15, 2010 meeting of the HEADS UP group.
UBC President's spring 2010 address to graduates
The University of British Columbia’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses concluded Spring 2010 graduation ceremonies on Friday, June 11, 2010. Please see Professor Toope’s 2010 Spring Congregation address, which is also archived under Speeches on this web site.
UBC Board re-appoints Toope to second term
The Board of Governors of The University of British Columbia has reappointed Professor Stephen J. Toope to a second term of five years as President and Vice-Chancellor. For further details, please visit the Public Affairs website.
UBC’s Okanagan campus to double in size
The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus will soon double its land area, as the UBC Board of Governors today approved the $8.78-million purchase of 103.6 ha. (256 acres) of North Glenmore farmland from the City of Kelowna. Please refer to the press release for further details.
2010 Spring Congregation
The UBC Vancouver campus is currently celebrating its 2010 Spring Congregation. For more details, please see the Congregation schedule.
Proposed Provincial Legislation Announced (Bill 20)
On April 29th, the Government of B.C. introduced legislation that will positively impact UBC’s Vancouver campus. May 13, 2010 President’s Statement on UBC Farm and Bill 20 To respond directly to those who have raised concerns that legislation moving land use control from the Metro Vancouver regional government to the Province will imperil the UBC […]
United Way of the Lower Mainland
Professor Toope assumed the Cabinet Campaign co-chair role for 2010.
G8 University Summit
Professor Stephen Toope, with Dr. Indiria Samarasekara from the University of Alberta, co-hosted the Summit attended by university representation from the G8 and G20 countries, resulting in a Statement of Action.
Ian Stewart, Why Beauty Is Truth (Basic Books, 2007)
A distinguished mathematician explains the fundamental concept of symmetry by tracing the history of mathematical thought through the lives of key theorists from Babylonian to modern times. Some difficult equations, but Stewart makes the story lively and he does not expect much background knowledge. A surprisingly good read.
Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice (Harvard University Press, 2009)
Building on John Rawls enormously influential explanation of justice, the Nobel prize-winning economist undertakes to remove justice from the realm of the ideal and to place it in the real life of societies trying to develop and to provide better lives for millions of people. Challenging and brilliant.
Yann Martel, Beatrice and Virgil (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010)
A taxidermist is writing a play about human attacks on animal biodiversity, using the Holocaust as an allegory. Can any author, no matter how gifted, deal creatively with the hardest and cruelest moments of twentieth-century history? One thing is certain: Martel is courageous.
President’s Statement on UBC Farm and Bill 20
To respond directly to those who have raised concerns that legislation moving land use control from the Metro Vancouver regional government to the Province will imperil the UBC Farm, I must be crystal clear that the opposite is in fact the case.
UBC’s Economic Impact
Professor Toope spoke at the September 29, 2009 Vancouver Board of Trade meeting about UBC’s $10 billion economic impact. To review his comments, see his speech and the study upon which it is based.
UBC and the Global Financial Turmoil
Read the messages updating the UBC community on this. 23 March 2009 11 February 2009 15 December 2008 26 November 2008
Respectful Debate
UBC President and Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Toope addresses the university community in a March 3 letter (PDF).
Amid Austerity, a Boost for Higher Education
The 2010 budget of the Government of Canada has struck a difficult balance in difficult times.
UBC’s Balanced Budgets for 2010‐11
UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses should enter fiscal 2010-11 with balanced operating budgets.
President’s Message on Haiti
UBC responds to the earthquake in Haiti with the Help Heal Haiti fundraiser on 22 January 2010.