As I look forward to the challenges we all face, I am reminded why my family chose to support the McGill Bieler School of Environment. I am pleased that McGill continues to recognize the major predicament of our generation and nearly three decades ago created the interfaculty School of Environment.
I continue to be pleased to see undergraduate programs supporting students with creative hands-on projects that will produce tomorrow’s leadership.
Our long-term commitment recognizes that McGill University continues to be a reputable world class research university situated in a country subject to unique environmental challenges. From accelerating negative Arctic climatic trends, our immense land mass, to vulnerable Boreal forests, and oil sands polluting our rivers and lakes, the School couldn’t be more pertinent.
Together we must concentrate our efforts so that we can achieve the greatest impact. We must prioritize restoration of all living species threatened by overconsumption of our natural resources.
We can and must draw strength and guidance from the traditional spirituality of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, who remind us to honor the creation of all living species in balance with one another.
Degradation of our physical and societal environment must be reversed.
All of this underscores a significant challenge for the BSE, one that I believe the School is prepared to meet.
While mobilizing the reputable McGill research community and motivating students around projects that impact our modern society, we continue to make a difference, and for that, I am grateful.