Dear Graduating Mt.A Students
A letter from the president and vice-chancellor
By Ian Sutherland
Dear Class of 2026,
You are on the precipice of your next journeys and adventures. Words fail to express how proud and excited we are for you. On behalf of all of us, heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement.
This is a tremendous milestone in all your lives; a time for celebration, a time for reflection, and a time to look to the future. Each of you arrives at this moment with your own story. If your undergraduate journeys have been anything like mine, and I dare say all of your professors and instructors too, they have been characterised by ups and downs, failures and successes, and overcoming substantial challenges and adversity (and no doubt a good dose of joy, fun, and parties too!). Your time at Mt.A has asked much of you. It has helped shape who you are, and who you are becoming. These years have fostered your critical thinking, perseverance, courage in expression, and the impact you have, and will continue to make, in the world. Fundamentally, these years have nurtured and cultivated the best of your humanity — a journey that will always be unfolding.
While your time at Mt.A has shaped you, you too have shaped Mt.A. Each graduating class leaves its mark, and you have done so with intelligence, generosity, creativity, and care. Each day, in classrooms and studios, on sports fields and rinks, at labs, libraries and performance halls, your vibrancy and energy are the best of Mt.A. Thank you for this.
Many of you, perhaps all of you, have heard me say one time or another “there is no place like Mount Allison.” We are a community where we know each other, where ideas matter, where learning, exploration, and creativity are amongst our highest ideals. My deepest wish for all of you is that, aside from building success — however you may define that — you hold onto and grow those ideals throughout your lives.
Wherever you take life from here, and wherever life takes you, Mt.A will always be with you, for you are Mt.A.
Class of 2026, you are truly ready for another adventure, and we will be cheering you on from your Mt.A home.
For now, enjoy, reflect, and wonder at the possibilities ahead.
With immense pride in all of you,
Dr. Ian Sutherland
President and Vice-Chancellor
Mount Allison University