Writing a year-end message is always a difficult task. There is so much to look forward to in the year ahead and so many achievements and changes to contemplate in the months that have gone by all too quickly.
The passing of time has also caused us to pause and reflect on the loss of Mazina Giizhik-iban, Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair, and welcome his cousin, Shelagh Rogers, as our 16th chancellor. Their profound commitment to Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation is evident throughout Queen’s – and their efforts challenge us as a university community to embrace Indigenous Knowledges and play a leadership role in fostering understanding and transformation.
Reflecting on this call to action, I am reminded of what first struck me when I began at Queen’s four years ago: the unique and special sense of community that defines this institution. There is an undeniable spirit of interconnectedness – among alumni, students, staff, faculty, and the broader local and national communities. This connection transcends geography and affiliation, creating a bond that unites us all.
Through my own ongoing journey of reconciliation, I have come to recognize that the concept of interconnectedness – our relationships with one another, with the land, and with all living things – is central to many Indigenous worldviews. Indigenous ways of knowing teach us that community is not just about the relationships we build with people but also about the responsibility we have to nurture and sustain these relationships. I believe this understanding of community resonates deeply within our Queen’s family, where our shared connections are foundational to who we are.
Many of you have demonstrated this spirit of interconnectedness by contributing generously to our community. Your gifts have supported critical research, assisted students in need, and provided the technology, equipment, and space for us to continue to lead postsecondary education in Canada. Your generosity reflects the principles of reciprocity and care that Indigenous teachings often emphasize.
Others among you have given your time and knowledge to our community – volunteering, mentoring, and sharing your talents and skills. You are bringing us together, removing obstacles, and contributing expertise that will support our efforts to attract, retain, and support the scholarship that is the backbone of our institution. In giving of yourselves, you are keeping the Queen’s spirit alive in all that we do.
And so many of you have taken the time to offer feedback about our community – writing letters and emails, taking part in our online conversations with Principal Patrick Deane, or even just in passing when you met us at Homecoming. Whether your feedback was positive, constructive or somewhere in between, it has been invaluable in shaping the future of the Queen’s. This commitment to open dialogue is another way that together, we are building a stronger community.
I am also pleased that so many of you stay connected by attending events within our community. Whether you participated in A Mile in Their Shoes: Truth, Empathy, and Reconciliation, visited a branch event in Canada or abroad, or reunited with housemates at the Homecoming football game, by attending events in person, you are maintaining that connection to Queen’s and each other. Your participation strengthens the bonds that unite us and ensures that Queen’s remains a source of connection and pride for all.
It’s that connection that binds us as a community – our Queen’s community – woven together through shared experiences, mutual respect, and collective action.
At this special time of year, marked by renewal and reflection in many faiths and cultures, I hope we can all draw inspiration from Indigenous ways of knowing. The winter season is often seen as a time for rest and restoration – a chance for the Earth to replenish itself and for each of us to pause, reflect, and renew our spirits. Let us embrace this opportunity to celebrate the connections that sustain us and use them to guide us into the new year.
On behalf of everyone in the Office of Advancement, I wish you all a season filled with peace and joy. May our collective journeys continue to be guided by a spirit of respect and hope for the future.
Michelle Fuko (she/her)
Chief Advancement Officer
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Office of Advancement
