Musqueam Welcome
kʷθə sqʷels tə xʷməθkʷəy̓əm ʔə kʷθə ʔi ʔəm̓i
Musqueam’s Words of Welcome
si:y̓ém̓ tə siyéy̓eʔ ct, θət tə xʷməθkʷəy̓əm məsteyəxʷ, ʔəm̓i ce:p ʔewəɬ tə ɬwələp ʔəy̓ məsteyəxʷ ʔi ʔə tə n̓a 2025 təm qəqaʔ graduation ʔə tə University of British Columbia.
On behalf of Musqueam Indian Band, Musqueam Council welcomes the new graduates, their families and friends to the spring 2025 graduation at the University of British Columbia.
ʔəy̓ tə šxʷqʷeləwən ct k̓ʷ s səy̓em̓stəxʷs kʷθə niʔ ʔəsep̓ k̓ʷs tatəl̕naməts. niʔ m̓ə ʔəw ʔəy̓ kʷθə ʔəθ ya:ys tə ɬwələp mək̓ʷ wet.
We are pleased to honour the graduates and extend our congratulations to each and every one of you.
sc̓ec̓ən̓ ct ʔəw hilək̓ʷmət tə ʔəw̓k̓ʷə́lməxʷ k̓ʷ s m̓is ʔi ʔə tə n̓a sʔa:ɬ təməxʷ k̓ʷ s tatəl̕wí:ls ʔə tə UBC.
We are especially pleased to extend our welcome and congratulations to the increasing number of First Nations students who visit UBC, and our traditional lands, for their education.
ƛ̓a tə sya:yss tə ɬwələp si:y̓ém̓ k̓ʷ s yəθey̓təm̓ tə ʔəθ weʔələp kʷθə sʔəy̓ xeɬ ʔiʔ kʷθə ʔəθ ʔəy̓eq.
The accomplishments and contributions of each student build the foundation for their future as well as the future of UBC and the larger community.
niʔ ce:p nem̓ yəʔe:y̓ k̓ʷə ʔəθ yəya:y̓əs, xʷən steʔə ʔiʔ wəɬ xʷq̓iləsəm ce:p ʔiʔ xʷən nəc̓nac̓təl̕ θəɬ. hilək̓ʷ yəxʷ ce:p k̓ʷə ʔəθ niʔ xəy̓ləs. nem̓ ʔewəɬ xʷəne:y̓ ʔə kʷθə ʔəθ ya:ys.
These individual accomplishments reflect the talent and diversity among you. Today, the feeling of pride and accomplishment that accompanies the completion of your course of study will add to each student’s confidence in moving on to their next endeavour.
ƛ̓a tə n̓a UBC ʔam̓ət ʔi ʔə tə n̓a šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaʔɬ təməxʷ tə šxʷʔam̓əts tə sʔa:ɬ syəθ.
UBC is situated within the heart of Musqueam’s traditional territory. These lands have always been a place for learning.
niʔ wəɬ k̓ʷin k̓ʷ s nec̓əw̓əcs meqeʔ šxʷniʔs nəweyɬəm kʷθə smən̓e:ms kʷθə xʷməθkʷəy̓em ʔi ʔə šxʷʔi ct. wə θəʔit wə cweʔ ct tə sʔa:ɬ šxʷəlməxʷaʔɬ snəweyəɬ. ƛ̓a šxʷtəʔes wə yaθ k̓ʷ s ʔiw̓əsənəqs kʷθə m̓i:s yəʔe:y̓eqt kʷθə syəw̓en̓ ʔiʔ xʷən stəʔe.
In previous centuries, what is now the UBC campus was a centre for learning for Musqueam youth, who were instructed in culture, history, and tradition, and who in turn shared their knowledge with a new generation. Belief, knowledge, ritual, and technological practices, were all handed down here from generation to generation—just as they are today to students from diverse communities and backgrounds.
c̓iyətalə ct ʔə tə šxʷsəy̓em̓ ʔə ƛ̓ UBC, President Bacon k̓ʷ s xʷən heʔk̓ʷs tə ɬniməɬ šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ ʔiʔ xʷən c̓ɬyəyay̓əstəl̕.
Musqueam is grateful to UBC and President Bacon for recognizing and respecting our history on these lands as the basis for continuing to work in partnership with us.
niʔ ct kʷə ʔəw mək̓ʷ wet tə ɬniməɬ xʷməθkʷəy̓əm xʷtəlqən k̓ʷ s niʔs ʔəw sθəθiy̓ kʷθə c̓ɬyəyay̓əstəl̕ ʔiʔ tə nəc̓awməxʷ. snəw̓eyəɬ, ƛ̓a šxʷm̓i q̓pəθət ct. c̓iyətalə k̓ʷəθ niʔ xəy̓ləs.
We are pleased that our lands continue to be a place for learning and sharing. We are supportive of UBC’s many programs and initiatives to form partnerships with the Musqueam and other First Nations communities. Education brings us all together, and each of the students congregating today is an inspiration to us all.
niʔ ce:p ɬə ʔal̕ xʷəyəlew̓ ʔəθ graduation yeɬ ʔəθ nem̓ c̓ewəɬtən kʷθə ʔi ʔə tə n̓a UBC ʔiʔ ƛ̓əw mək̓ʷ ʔəncə səsəw xʷəʔaʔɬət k̓ʷ c̓ɬwet ʔal̕.
After graduation, continue contributing to UBC, to our communities and to the wellbeing of society. In doing so you will bring about positive change.
ʔəy̓ tə ʔəθ ya:ys tə ɬwələp 2025 graduates təniʔ ʔə tə University of British Columbia. niʔ ce:p ɬə ʔal̕ wə ʔiyəs ce:p ceʔ.
Congratulations to all University of British Columbia 2025 graduates. We wish you further success for your future.
Chancellor’s Welcome
On behalf of more than 410,000 alumni from around the world, I extend warmest congratulations to all members of the Class of 2025, and sincere gratitude to all who have supported you along the way.
The transformation from student to graduate is a defining accomplishment, and one that will speak compellingly about you for the remainder of your lives. After all, you didn’t just study hard and make good grades, you also had to learn some practical life skills that will be essential as you navigate the pathways ahead.
In getting to this stage of your journey, you invariably had to be resourceful. In addition to fulfilling degree requirements, you had to overcome a range of challenges: finding suitable accommodation; managing money and time; perhaps holding down a part-time job; making good decisions about course selection; exploring co-op opportunities, not to mention the necessity of staying physically active and allowing time to have a bit of fun.
At times, you may have found it difficult to be separated from your families, or to say goodbye to old friends and find new ones. Perhaps you had moments of doubt, and even genuine anxiety. But for now, rest assured that the problems you solved and the challenges you overcame were an integral part of your education, and are therefore a part of the triumph and transformation that we celebrate with you today.
Indeed, you may not yet be fully aware of the great extent to which you have differentiated your character, so please do not underestimate how very much you have achieved in getting here today.
So where to now? Putting your degree to work in a meaningful way represents another challenge. But whatever path you choose, I encourage you to rigorously pursue your passion, whatever that may be.
At the same time, however, be receptive to new opportunities, including things you may never have thought of before. Success is not about how much money your make; it’s about leading a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.
Above all, utilize your critical thinking skills to seek truth and evidence in all your dialogue and deliberations, and encourage others to do the same.
Continue to work hard. Be joyful and confident, be persistent, be imaginative, learn from mistakes, stay physically active, and always make time for the people you love.
We hope you will return often to UBC and that you will stay always connected in some way to your university. A warm welcome will always await.
Tuum Est!
— Judy Rogers, C.M., B.R.E. (BR.COL.),
M.P.A.
Chancellor
President’s Welcome
The future is yours.
Congratulations! As the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, I am truly honoured to share this important milestone with you.
Tuum Est. It is Yours.
These sage words—UBC’s motto for more than a century—beautifully capture both the university’s promise to you and the boundless potential you carry forward.
You are now a graduate of UBC and I hope you will carry those words—Tuum Est—with you as you embark on the next chapter of your life’s journey. May they serve as a lasting reminder of the strength within you, and of the agency you hold to shape a better world.
A degree from one of the top 40 universities in the world opens many doors. It’s not only a mark of academic achievement, but a signal of your readiness to lead, contribute, and create meaningful change. You are on your way to a life of success and self-determination. As you look ahead, take the time to pause, savour this moment, and reflect on how you now stand at the threshold of your next great adventure.
Since UBC’s first graduating class in 1916, smart, engaged graduates like you have helped shape Canada for the better. Over that time, UBC has grown from a small provincial university to a global research and innovation powerhouse, with a community of more than 400,000 alumni in 150 countries.
UBC alumni thrive in every realm of achievement—as scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders—helping to address the most pressing issues of our time. They do incredible, world-changing things, and you are now a part of this amazing community.
Now think about how much you have changed in your time at UBC—the people you’ve met, the discussions you’ve had, and the contributions you’ve made. Taken together, these experiences have shaped you in lasting ways that will guide and strengthen you as you navigate the complexities of the world.
There will be hurdles along the way—but what defines you is not what stands in your path, but how you rise to meet it. Each of you has the capacity and skill to succeed and make our world a better place.
Be proud of all you’ve accomplished—we certainly are! UBC has been honoured to serve as your home. Please know that you will always be welcome here.
Congratulations once again, and my very best wishes as you begin the next chapter of your journey.
Benoit-Antoine Bacon, B.A. (Hons.), M.Sc., Ph.D.
President and Vice-Chancellor
Alumni Welcome
Welcome, Class of 2025, to your new and honoured place among more than 410,000 UBC alumni in 145 countries. That’s a powerful network to help build your life and make a real difference.
Many students don’t realize that when you graduate from UBC, you automatically become a member of alumni UBC and your relationship with the University enters a whole new phase.
You might be surprised at just who your fellow alumni are, and their levels of accomplishment, influence and contribution to society. No matter where you go, you will find yourself in the company of amazing people who are making a real difference in the world—educators, artists, doctors, nurses, business and community leaders— UBC grads who will be your role models, mentors, colleagues and friends. alumni UBC will help you connect through our email updates, website and social networks.
You can participate in our mentoring, cultural, education and career-building programs, here in Vancouver and around the world through alumni networks as far away as London, Hong Kong and Seoul, or as close as Victoria, Calgary and Toronto.
On the Point Grey campus, the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre is your alumni home for life, where you can make alumni connections, attend events or book your own meetings or celebrations.
Remember our motto: Tuum Est (“It is yours”). UBC is still yours.
It will always be yours. So reach out. Stay in touch. Ask for help when you need it. Lend a hand when you can.
To learn more, visit alumni.ubc.ca. Best wishes for the future,
— Natalie Cook Zywicki
Associate Vice-President, Alumni Executive Director, alumni UBC