Dear members of the UBC community.
This coming weekend, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that marks the changing of the seasons, and a time to gather with family and friends and reflect on everything that we’re thankful for.
This Thanksgiving, I’d like to thank you, the members of the UBC community, for coming together so strongly to help to ensure our campuses are COVID safe.
Thanks to all of us working together, we have achieved a full vaccination rate of 95.2 percent, with very few positive COVID cases on either campus. For those who are not vaccinated or exempt, our rapid testing clinics are now operational, with vaccination clinics on both the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses.
So thank you, everyone, for making the return to campus such a success. Let’s keep it up – remember to continue to wear a mask in common indoor spaces, to wash your hands frequently, maintain a safe physical distance from others, and stay home if you’re not feeling well.
Because we are doing so well, I am pleased to announce that UBC’s Fall 2021 graduation ceremonies will be delivered in person on campus.
All ceremonies will take place at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts from Tuesday, November 23 to Friday, November 26.
The safety of all of our graduates, guests, and the UBC community is of utmost importance, and ceremonies will be planned according to Public Health Orders and guidelines.
We will also live stream all of the graduation ceremonies, and a link will be available on the Graduation at UBC homepage. I’m looking forward to celebrating this important milestone with our graduates in person.
Finally, I am pleased I am pleased to announce that UBC is sending a delegation of eight to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow this November.
By attending the COP as official observers, UBC delegates deepen their understanding of how global climate negotiations work, with positive impacts for their research and programs. The delegates will also share UBC’s exemplary work on the climate emergency with this global gathering, and share their experiences with the wider UBC community when they return.
As one of the world’s leading universities on sustainability, UBC is responding to the unprecedented challenges of a changing planet. We’re harnessing our individual and collective powers to accelerate action. At this critical moment, it’s up to all of us to step up as leaders.
Please join me in wishing our UBC COP26 Delegation well on their journey, and in making a difference in this vital work.
I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor