In 2005, as I began my second term as president and vice-chancellor, Simon Fraser University threw a spirited party to mark the start of its year-long 40th anniversary celebrations. Unflagging energy and optimism, the essential ingredients of every positive transformation, have buoyed the ongoing festivities, which culminate in September with the official opening of the new Surrey campus. I hope you will join us at our Burnaby open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. Visitors will also be welcome at Vancouver and Surrey.
Over the past several years, I have noted with pride that faculty, staff and students are working diligently to renew SFU’s status as Canada’s most distinctive, most innovative and most exciting university. Thanks to their efforts and commitment, SFU is growing dramatically in both size and reputation, and setting new degrees of excellence for academic achievement and engagement with the community. On this website, you will learn more about our internationally celebrated researchers, our outstanding teachers and students, our burgeoning campuses and unique programming.
In a country favoured with so many reputable universities, SFU set itself apart right from the beginning with a commitment to innovate rather than replicate, to embrace risk and bold initiative, and to reach out to the wider community. Today, the SFU difference attracts some of the world’s brightest minds—students and faculty alike. To enhance that appeal, we committed at the beginning of this new century to raise $125 million to mark our 40th anniversary and endow new buildings, new professorships, and new student awards. I invite you to join our many friends and supporters as we celebrate SFU’s colourful history, and realize its distinctive future.
Michael Stevenson
President and Vice-Chancellor