Ceremonies and Events organizes events to celebrate ground-breakings, dedications, openings and naming ceremonies for new buildings and spaces on campus. These ceremonies recognize donors, architects, contractors, public officials and other major stakeholders involved in the project.
Hosted by SFU Chancellor Tamara Vrooman, and President and Vice-Chancellor Joy Johnson, this celebration recognizes community leaders whose service and accomplishments are exemplary. Recipients are recognized annually with the Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award and President's Distinguished Community Leadership Award, presented at a formal dinner reception.
Hosted by SFU President Joy Johnson, the Seasonal Reception provides an opportunity for the president and university to recognize and thank SFU’s donors, government representatives and community partners for their ongoing support and to highlight and celebrate the university’s achievements over the year.
As part of SFU's commitment to keep in touch with its graduates, the Alumni Relations Office and Ceremonies and Events staff work together to create events to give alumni living locally, nationally and internationally the opportunity to gather to hear updates and news from SFU. These events are attended by the President and/or other senior university administrators.
SFU and the Alumni Council honour its most accomplished graduates with the Outstanding Alumni Award. These graduates are nominated by alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university. Since the awards were first introduced in 1983, the Outstanding Alumni Awards event has become one of SFU's most celebrated traditions.
Ceremonies and Events collaborates with SFU Government Relations and municipal, provincial and/or federal governments to host announcements of various funding and/or resources granted to the university. Media is also frequently involved in funding announcements.
Simon Fraser University holds 12 Convocation ceremonies at its Burnaby campus each year. These ceremonies include the conferring of honorary degrees as well as academic degrees and feature the visually stunning procession of graduands, faculty and dignitaries across the reflecting pond and down the grand stairway to Convocation Mall, led by the world class SFU Pipe Band.
Ceremonies and Events collaborates with the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) to coordinate the Honouring Ceremony, a special event held each year to honour and celebrate Indigenous students in their degree completion at SFU.
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