Wednesday, October 13, 2021
KINGSTON – Alumni from around the world are going to enjoy a mix of music, nostalgia, and the latest campus news during this year’s virtual Queen’s Homecoming celebration, running Oct. 14-17.
Award-winning broadcast journalist Shelagh Rogers, Artsci’77, LLD'19 and Queen's University Alumni Association (QUAA) President Rico Garcia, Artsci’13, will reprise their roles as co-hosts for the virtual celebration.
“Queen’s gave me so much: research skills, a sense of discipline, a career in radio (thank you, CFRC) and most significantly, lifelong friendships. I’m so excited to be co-hosting Homecoming with my friend Rico. Last year’s Homecoming was very moving. This years’ will be powerful, too. Nothing tops that feeling of community,” says Rogers.
There is a full slate of virtual events taking place. Attendees can look forward to an interview with The Honourable Murray Sinclair, the former Senator from Manitoba who recently became the university’s 15th chancellor and led the federal government’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
There will be musical acts throughout the day, including the Queen’s Bands and a performance by Juno-Award-winning singer-songwriter William Prince, a rising star on the Canadian music scene.
There are also events highlighting exciting research, including new advances in cancer treatment. Alumni will learn how graduate students have helped our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hear from prominent alumni who actively work to advance women in leadership.
This year’s Homecoming coincides with the celebration of Queen’s Day. On Oct. 16, 1841, Queen’s was officially incorporated by an Imperial Royal Charter issued by Queen Victoria. Alumni and Queen’s community members are being invited to celebrate the university’s 180th birthday by sharing photos and memories to social media using the hashtag #QueensuDay.
The university decided to go with a virtual Homecoming for a second year in a row due to public-health guidelines that continue to emphasize minimizing large group gatherings and global travel to limit the spread of COVID-19. It was also part of an effort to ease the burden on hospitals and other healthcare providers, especially with the rise of the Delta variant.
“The health and safety of all members of the Queen’s and Kingston communities remain our number one priority, and we want to ensure that the measures we are taking protect our community,” says Vice-Principal (Advancement) Karen Bertrand, Artsci’94.
“We look forward to reconnecting and celebrating with our alumni and friends, in a way that is safe and that allows members of our global community to attend from the comfort of their own homes.”
For more information, please contact:
Julie Brown
Media Relations Officer
Queen’s University
julie.brown@queensu.ca
343-363-2763
About Queen’s University
Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that has shaped our collective knowledge and helped address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, the university offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment with prominent strengths in physics, cancer research, geoengineering, data analytics, surveillance studies, art conservation, and mental health research. Welcoming and supporting students from all countries and backgrounds to a vibrant, safe, and supportive community is an important part of the Queen’s experience. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich our campus and our community. A core part of our mission is to engage our students, staff, and faculty in international learning and research, both at home and abroad.
Queen’s University is ranked first in Canada and fifth in the world in the 2021 Time Higher Education Impact Rankings. The rankings measured over 1,200 post-secondary institutions on their work to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).