December 17, 2025
Boozhoo, Aanii, and seasonal greetings to you all,
As we enter the holiday season, I am excited and optimistic about the year to come for our Faculty and the broader education community. Over the past twelve months, we have strengthened our programs, deepened our research and partnerships, and engaged in reflective, collaborative work that continues to shape our identity and guide our path forward.
Looking ahead to the launch of our Faculty’s 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, we enter the new year with renewed clarity of purpose and shared commitment. Thank you to everyone who contributed their insights, creativity and care to advancing this important work. I hope you will join us on January 20 for our Strategic Plan Launch Event as we mark this milestone together and address the next steps in our collective journey. Register here.
Alongside this achievement, many other significant developments are unfolding across our community. At our Okanagan School of Education, work is well underway for a redesigned 11-month Bachelor of Education program for implementation in August 2026. This transition from the current 16-month structure aligns with the evolving educational landscape, preparing educators for today’s classrooms.
I am also delighted that our annual Global Speaker Series on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusion will return on February 10, featuring keynote speaker Tiq Milan, a writer, storyteller and cultural strategist whose nationally recognized work explores the intersections of gender, justice and joy. Now in its third year, this series has become a vital forum for international dialogue on belonging and educational change. Details will be shared soon.
With another inspiring year of collaborative growth and possibility ahead, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your dedication to students, scholarship, partnership and service, which is the foundation on which we continue to build.
I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and restorative holiday season and a happy New Year.
Miigwech – thank you.
Jan Hare, PhD
Professor and Dean
UBC Faculty of Education
