鈥淗e truly believed that if we just spent enough time together, if we just learned from one another, if we just believed in one another, and stood with one another, and got each other鈥檚 back, especially when we don鈥檛 agree, that we can do anything.鈥
What: Unveiling of the painting The Honourable Senator Emeritus Murray Sinclair (2024), acrylic on canvas, 48 脳 36 inches, by Kent Monkman. Collection of Queen鈥檚 University.
Where: Grant Hall on Jan. 14, 2026
Why: Part of the inaugural Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair Commemorative Lecture
Hon. Bob Rae to take on new role at Queen鈥檚
The Honourable Bob Rae has been named a Matthews Faculty Fellow in Global Public Policy at the Queen鈥檚 School of Policy Studies. In his new role, he will draw on decades of experience as premier of Ontario, a member of both provincial and federal parliaments, interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and, most recently, ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations. The Matthews Fellowship was established by Donald Matthews (BSc鈥50) in 2006 to support the appointment of world-class, leading-edge scholars and practitioners to teach, lead research, and share their experience with students and faculty at Queen鈥檚 University. It honours the lifetime commitment of Donald Matthews, a Canadian business leader, to public service. Previous Matthews Fellows include Donald Drummond, Daniel Brant, and Hugh Segal.
Canerector Foundation gives $1.5M to support Smith Engineering
A $1.5-million gift from the Canerector Foundation will fuel the kind of hands-on learning that increasingly defines the Smith Engineering student experience 鈥 supporting everything from programming to equipment to research at the 7,000-square-foot McLaughlin Hall Machine Shop. In appreciation of this generous support, the shop鈥檚 main bay area will be named the Canerector Foundation Machining Lab. Smith Engineering Dean Kevin Deluzio, Sc鈥88, MSc鈥90, PhD鈥98, says the support from Canerector couldn鈥檛 come at a better time. 鈥淪paces like the machine shop are central to our ongoing reimagining of engineering education at Queen鈥檚 around technically rigorous, experientially focused, and creatively inspired learning. The Canerector Foundation鈥檚 support ensures this environment continues to thrive.鈥
Queen鈥檚 Micro Summit draws crowds in the capital
Professors St茅fanie von Hlatky, Ryan Grant, and Nicolas Lamp addressed a full house at the Queen鈥檚 Micro Summit in Ottawa in November. The discussion, held at the Canadian Museum of Nature, offered insights on defence, trade, and technology. Through TED-style talks and a panel discussion with an audience Q&A, the three explored how these forces are redefining Canada鈥檚 role on the world stage and how Queen鈥檚 research and alumni community can help shape what comes next. This was the fifth stop in the Micro Summit event series, which features Queen鈥檚 experts travelling to different cities for conversations about some of the country鈥檚 鈥 and the world鈥檚 鈥 most pressing issues. Previous summits in Palo Alto, Calif., Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary wrestled with everything from the future of AI and health care to what鈥檚 on the horizon for media and Canada鈥檚 energy sector. Watch Queen鈥檚 social media channels for the next Micro Summit.
Queen鈥檚, Bell Canada, join forces to create supercomputing facility
As Canada looks to build a strong and secure AI compute foundation to support research and innovation while fuelling industry needs, Queen鈥檚 University and Bell Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a proposal to build and operate a supercomputing facility in Kingston. Once completed, the building will be able to host a globally leading AI supercomputer, enabling groundbreaking, made-in-Canada research and technical advances. The MoU supports the university鈥檚 response to the federal government鈥檚 call for interest in the Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program, and investment of more than $900 million, announced in Budget 2024 and Budget 2025. If government funding is secured, Queen鈥檚 鈥 already home to the Centre for Advanced Computing and Canada鈥檚 largest cohort of researchers and students advancing extreme-scale systems 鈥 will take the lead on research, chip procurement, system architecture, advanced technology programs, and the design, build, and operation of the supercomputer. Bell will lead the design, financing, construction, and maintenance of the facility, which will adhere to high-efficiency standards and include an innovative heat recapture system.
Queen鈥檚 team takes gold in Paris
The Queen鈥檚 Genetically Engineered Machine (QGEM) team recently attended the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Paris, France, where they earned a gold medal, received the Best Education Special Award, and were nominated for the Best Therapeutics Project, Undergrad. These are Queen鈥檚 best results since the team was founded in 2009. iGEM was established in 2004 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is a non-profit organization that promotes education and advancements in synthetic biology through an annual synthetic biology research competition, the largest of its type in the world. More than 450 universities competed this year.
10 Queen鈥檚 community members named to Order of Canada
A former Supreme Court judge who reshaped equality law, a world-leading transplant surgeon, and a leader in clean-energy innovation are among the 10 Queen鈥檚 community members recently named to the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 highest honours. The Queen鈥檚 alumni, faculty, and supporters were part of the 80 new appointments to, and promotions within, the Order of Canada announced by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, LLD鈥94, on Dec. 31. The appointments included The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella, LLD鈥85, Shaf Keshavjee, DSc鈥14, Praveen Jain, Curtis Nickel, Meds鈥78, Jane Darville, MPA鈥93, Reesa Greenberg, Ian Ihor Orest Ihnatowycz, Alfred Kwinter, Leonard Schein, and Barry Truax, Artsci鈥69.
Gaels prevail in 140th Carr-Harris Cup
One of Canada鈥檚 oldest hockey rivalries was rekindled Feb. 7 as the Gaels took on the Royal Military College of Canada鈥檚 Paladins for the 140th anniversary of the Carr-Harris Cup. The game, which took place at Slush Puppie Place, was an overtime thriller with the Gaels winning 4-3 to the roars of the crowd. Derek Hamilton scored the winning goal, noting that 鈥渢he energy in the building was incredible.鈥 The trophy is named in honour of the Carr-Harris family, which has a long-standing connection with both Kingston universities.
