2021 has been a remarkable year
for all of us here at Western. And looking back, it's gratifying to realize
how much we've accomplished together. This year, we welcomed our largest-ever
first-year class from across Canada and around the world.
And thanks to our vaccination rates in which we led Canada, we were able
to return to campus this fall. Our students, staff and faculty
have been incredibly resilient. It's been a terrific team effort. We launched a new strategic plan,
Towards Western at 150, that reflects our shared ideas, hopes
and dreams for Western's future. And as we approach our 150th anniversary, this new plan frames our bold ambitions
to build a better world. We also welcomed exceptional new leaders
to our community this year who are supporting our efforts to become a more equitable, diverse
and inclusive community. We partnered with universities
around the world to reduce our collective carbon footprint, and Western ranked
in the top 5% of global universities making progress toward
the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. And together with our local
hospital partners, we celebrated our historic connection
to the discovery of insulin over 100 years ago, and recognized
the important research and innovation that continues today in the Schulich
School of Medicine and Dentistry. Western's impressive research achievements
include successes in every faculty and every school across campus.
From interdisciplinary work focused on the global response
to COVID 19, for example; to mapping where floods are most likely
to place Canadians at risk. Or from studies on the experiences
of transgender youth; to measuring the impact of industrial
developments on Indigenous communities. And say from tracking and recovering
meteorites around the globe; to exploring the ethical and social aspects of data
analytics and artificial intelligence. Really, there's no end to the impact
Western's having on the world. We also have had several athletic
accomplishments to be proud of. The Vanier Cup 2021, go Mustangs!
Our newly renovated Alumni Stadium where our Mustangs have won several
provincial and national championships. And a record number of student-athletes have been recognized this year
for outstanding academic achievement. And I'm grateful for the tremendous support of our alumni and friends
who have demonstrated faith in Western. Among their many generous gifts
were those supporting new entrepreneurship and leadership programs that will engage
students across campus for years to come. I feel enormously proud of all we've
accomplished as a community this year, and I hope you feel the same. On behalf
of my family - including our beloved Meisha - I want to wish everyone a happy and restful holiday
and all the very best for 2022.
