Office of the President 10 Jun 2026
CommunicationsBoard of Governors Highlights

Dear members of the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï Community,

It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on the recent activities of ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï’s Board of Governors. You can learn more about the Board’s mandate and membership on its 

The Board of Governors held the fifth regular meeting on May 21, 2026. The full minutes of the meeting’s open session will be available following approval at the Board’s next meeting on October 1, 2026. In the meantime, we would like to share with you the meeting’s important discussions, decisions, and developments.  

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Board of Governors. If you have any questions, ideas or comments, please write mcgill.president [at] mcgill.ca (mcgill[dot]president[at]mcgill[dot]ca).

Sincerely, 
Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor
Maryse Bertrand, Chair, ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï Board of Governors

Key Updates

The Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance and Ethics (NGE) Committee, approved the appointment of Ms. Maryse Bertrand to the rank of Chair Emerita and Governor Emerita, commencing July 1, 2026. In her role as Chair of the Board of Governors, Ms. Bertrand made significant contributions during a period characterized by uncertainty and institutional change. Her steady leadership proved instrumental in guiding the Board through complex and evolving circumstances, while fostering a renewed sense of strategic focus that will shape ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï for years to come.

Also on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, the Board approved the appointment of Ms. Debbie Fischer as a member-at-large of the Board of Governors of ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï for a four-year term, commencing July 1, 2026. A seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership in consulting, health care, and government, Ms. Fischer also brings extensive governance experience as a board and committee chair across various sectors, making her an ideal candidate for the role.

The Board of Governors approved the recommendations contained in the Report of the Working Group on Board of Governors-Senate Cohesion. The recommendations focus on enhancing member onboarding, strengthening bidirectional representation, improving communication channels, and increasing collaboration opportunities, among other aspects. A new iteration of the Working Group will be established in the 2026–2027 academic year to support implementation and track progress.

From the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board received the Annual Report on the University’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), which provides an overview of the annual ERM activities and an update on the 2026 Institutional Risk Register.

Also on the on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board approved the following:

  • The submission of the FY2026 Declaration of Compliance to the Quebec Treasury Board, attesting that the University has met its reporting obligations relating to public procurement contracts, as governed by the Act respecting contracting by public bodies and its regulations.
  • The amended Emergency Management Policy, which renames the Emergency Operations Centre Policy Group to the Executive Emergency Group to better reflect its operational and executive mandate, while enhancing clarity and transparency.

On the recommendation of Senate, the Board of Governors approved appointments to the Panel for the Investigation of Research Misconduct, the Committee on Staff Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures, and the University Appeals Committee.

Also from Senate, the Board was informed of the revisions to the Constitution of the Faculty of Education, effective June 1, 2026; the revisions seek to support the evolving mission, values, and structure of the Faculty, while further aligning with the University’s governance practices.

 

The Board also received a presentation on the Faculty of Education by Dean Vivek Venkatesh, which provided an overview of the Faculty’s recent activities, initiatives and developments.

Finally, the Board of Governors, on the recommendation of the NGE Committee, approved amendments to Article 1.4.2 of the University Statutes  to streamline the appointment process for new members-at-large of the Board, coinciding with the broader goals of the Board Efficiency and Effectiveness Project. In accordance with the Statutes, the amendment has been communicated to the Governor General of Canada and is subject to disallowance within a 60-day period. 

President’s Remarks

President Deep Saini opened his remarks by acknowledging the contributions of Ms. Maryse Bertrand as Chair of ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï’s Board of Governors and extending his gratitude for her exceptional service as she concludes her term. 

He then proceeded to provide an update on key university developments, framed around ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï's strategic institutional priorities.

Transform

The President updated the Board on the construction progress at the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï Sustainability Park site, noting that 31 of 171 planned geothermal wells are complete. He also shared that Professors Elena Bennett, Blane Harvey, and Robert Nason have been appointed Associate Academic Directors to help advance the academic vision for the Park. 

Turning to Horizon ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, the President touched on ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï's ongoing efforts to advance academic transformation and long-term institutional sustainability. He noted that over the summer and into the fall, exploratory consultations will begin across several key areas — including strategic enrolment management, academic staffing, program delivery, and the University's budget model — with the aim of strengthening ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï's academic mission.

He also mentioned that the advisory committee for the search for ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï's inaugural Vice-President (People and Culture) has been established, and has launched broad consultations across the community, engaging faculty, staff, HR professionals, senior leadership, and students.

Engage Locally

The President noted that, on May 5, the Prime Minister announced the nomination of the Honourable Louise Arbour as Governor General of Canada. He highlighted her distinguished career as an internationally respected jurist and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Upon her swearing-in on June 8, she will become ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï's official Visitor under the University's Royal Charter of 1852, continuing a longstanding tradition.

He also reported that ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï participated in two important federal consultation processes in May: the federal pre-budget consultations, where universities emphasized the need for sustained support for research, talent, infrastructure, and innovation; and consultations on the draft 2026–2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. 

The President further noted that ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï continues to monitor several active files, including the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs recruitment — for which the first intake has concluded with results expected soon and the second intake is now underway with applications due at end of June.

He also mentioned that discussions related to the initiative on the valorisation of French at ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï are ongoing and expressed a commitment to keeping the Board apprised.

Finally, the President highlighted the official inauguration of the Anse-à-l'Orme REM station in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, which will enhance connectivity between the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï’s Macdonald and Downtown Montreal campuses. The University will monitor the station’s impact on intercampus travel patterns and the shuttle will remain in service while transportation needs are further assessed in light of this development.

Unite

The President noted that Spring Convocation begins on May 26, with 13 ceremonies at the Tomlinson Fieldhouse and two at the Macdonald Campus, and expressed his anticipation for celebrating this milestone with graduating students and their families.

He highlighted that ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï will confer honorary degrees on 10 distinguished individuals this year, including Principal Emerita Suzanne Fortier, who will receive a Doctor of Science, honoris causa on May 29.

He also acknowledged student leaders who are ending their term on the Board, including Dymetri Taylor and Sheheryar Ahmed, who will be graduating alongside members of their executive team. The President expressed gratitude for student leadership and contributions to the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï community.

Finally, the President highlighted recent student achievements, noting that seven ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï Law graduates earned clerkships at the Supreme Court of Canada, representing over a quarter of the 27 clerkships awarded nationally each year.

The Board of Governors received the following reports: