Looking back
2023 Year in Review
December 18, 2023
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The past year at Queen’s University has been filled with new beginnings, renewal, key accomplishments, and important events. As 2023 draws to a close the Gazette takes a look at the items that made the biggest headlines.
Engineering’s new era
The unveiling of Smith Engineering honours a historic donation of $100 million from financial-services entrepreneur and Queen’s University alumnus Stephen J.R. Smith (Sc’72, LLD'17) to reimagine STEM education through engineering at Queen’s.
Stephen Smith shares remarks during a special announcement event at ³ÉÈË´óƬ University's Mitchell Hall on Nov. 2, 2023. (Photo: ³ÉÈË´óƬ University)
New Indigenous gathering space officially opens on campus
The new space, created with funding support from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. will help bring Indigenous ways of knowing to Queen’s, and will serve as an important place for learning, ceremony, and reflection.
Attendees of the opening event taking part in a round dance led by members of the Mohawk community from Tyendinaga. (Photo: ³ÉÈË´óƬ University)
Plinth honours Black medical students
The latest addition to the Queen’s Remembers program, commemorates those affected by a 1918 ban that prevented the admission of Black students to Queen’s medical school up until 1965 and looks toward a future of greater respect, representation, and justice.
³ÉÈË´óƬ community members sit and listen to Dr. Lanval Daly during the unveiling ceremony for the plinth honouring Black medical students. (Photo: ³ÉÈË´óƬ University)
Queen’s places third worldwide in 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
For a third straight year, Queen’s made the top-10 out of more than 1,700 post-secondary institutions and placed first in Canada in the global measurement for advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
³ÉÈË´óƬ University placed third in the world in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
New partnership prepares Indigenous students for healthcare careers
The Queen’s Weeneebayko Health Education Program, with support from the Mastercard Foundation, is working toward transforming Indigenous healthcare in the James Bay region.
The Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA), Queen’s University, and the Mastercard Foundation are partnering to transform healthcare in Northeastern Ontario.
Agnes Reimagined comes alive in new renderings
In 2026, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre will emerge as the largest public university-affiliated museum in Canada and a champion of museological change where Indigenous and Western worldviews sit side by side as equals.
Exterior composition of Agnes Reimagined (concept only), showing the new curvilinear addition, left, in conversation with the heritage Etherington House (right). (Rendering by Studio Sang courtesy of KPMB Architects)
Community celebrates Lang Pavilion grand opening
The final piece of the Richardson Memorial Stadium Revitalization project was completed with former Gaels, donors, alumni, supporters, and community members gathering to celebrate the accomplishment.
Stu Lang cuts the ribbon during the official opening ceremony for the Lang Pavilion at Richardson Memorial Stadium.
Major increase in gender-neutral washrooms on campus
In an effort to make Queen’s more inclusive, safe, and welcoming for transgender and/or gender non-conforming people, all single-user washrooms on campus have been converted into gender-neutral washrooms, with symbol-based signage that focuses on the usage of the space rather than the identity of the user.
All single-user washrooms across campus have been converted into gender-neutral washrooms, with symbol-based signage that focuses on the usage of the space rather than the identity of the user.
FURTHER READING: Learn more about the achievements of the Queen’s research community that have defined the last 12 months.
