Our latest issue of CUpride, a review of a memorable year at Concordia, for our leaders and volunteers
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#CUpride: a Campaign for Concordia newsletter

Dear [FIRST NAME],

It’s been a memorable year. As you enjoy highlights from our 2023 #CUpride newsletter, I hope you’re inspired by the many ways our donor community has given momentum to the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now.

Despite our progress, there have been challenges. Like many other universities, our campus experienced tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, a situation our president addressed in an appeal for open dialogue and understanding. We also face a 2024 with significant changes to our funding formula for out-of-province and international students as announced by the Government of Quebec.

Yet this fall we also celebrated notable successes — from a record-shattering Golf Classic fundraiser to our second Rhodes Scholar in three years — that have set the stage for exciting developments in the new year, including some major gift announcements.

Warmest wishes for a peaceful and happy holiday season,

Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97
Vice-President, University Advancement


Fundraising successes

Corporate partners, foundations and individual donors helped make 2023 another banner year for the Campaign for Concordia.

January: A $1-million gift from Miriam Roland, LLD 18, was commemorated at a hybrid event. The funds will support sustainability pilot projects co-led by Concordia’s Next-Generation Cities Institute and Ben-Gurion University’s Goldman Sonnenfeldt School for Sustainability and Climate Change.

February: The Canadian Irish Studies Foundation funded a new position in Irish literature at the School of Irish Studies with a gift of $725,000.

March: Scotiabank equally supported two novel initiatives designed to encourage international students and students from Indigenous communities. The bank’s $1.4‑million gift was celebrated on campus on March 27.

May: Hollywood luminaries rallied to support the Jean-Marc Vallée Memorial Fund, an initiative established in the wake of the acclaimed filmmaker’s untimely death in 2021. The fund will support student talent at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema.

May: A $2-million gift from Behaviour Interactive — the largest Canadian video game developer and publisher — to the Faculty of Fine Arts was celebrated on campus on May 18. The support will enhance Concordia’s ability to develop new talent and innovation for the video game industry in Quebec and Canada.

October: Students from rural communities in Quebec and Canada will benefit from a new bursary program made possible thanks to a gift of $2 million from the Joyce Family Foundation.

December: CIBC championed equity, diversity and inclusion at Concordia with a gift of $500,000 to create scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students from marginalized backgrounds.

At the Scotiabank gift announcement in May: Maria Mangiocavallo, BComm 86, GrDip 89, Regional Vice-President, Commercial Banking, Quebec, with Concordia President Graham Carr and Vice-President of Advancement Paul Chesser

Special events

The 20th edition of the Concordia Golf Classic raised a record $600,000 plus for students in need — thanks in part to our dedicated volunteer co-chairs and co-presidents. Our annual tournament has raised $7.6 million since 2004. View our Concordia Golf Classic photo album.

Shuffle 34, Concordia’s annual walkathon in support of students and services, was held on September 22. More than 600 participants helped make the event a success, with more than $220,000 raised. View our Shuffle 34 photo album.

The volunteer-powered Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair, staffed by international students and overseen by university employees, raised a record $34,000 for students in March. A further $5,100 was raised by the Concordia EPIC Used Book Giveaway in November. View our book fair photo album.

Shuffle 34
Team Gina Cody at Shuffle 34 with its namesake in front row, centre.

Pride and engagement

Hardy Grewal, BComm 93, founder and CEO of Ohcal Foods, headlined a special fundraiser in support of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at Maison Forget in Montreal on May 24. Watch his speech or view photos of the event.

The Concordia community celebrated Homecoming at several events from September 21 to 24. The Concordia Sports Hall of Fame inducted five alumni at a special ceremony attended by 160 guests. The inductees were: George Lengvari, BA 63 (Builder); Richard MacKay, BA 58 (Athlete, Basketball); Dave Miller-Johnston, BA 01 (Athlete, Football); Cat Tull, BA 02 (Athlete, Basketball); and Sheila Turner, BA 95 (Athlete, Rugby). The 1994 Concordia Stingers women's rugby team was also inducted.

John Molson School Day inspired students, faculty and alumni alike on October 30. The day included special lectures as well as a lunch event that gave current students the chance to network with successful alumni.

Gina Cody School Day returned on March 15. The third annual faculty celebration for engineering and computer science featured swag giveaways, a LinkedIn photo session and a panel event on the implications of ChatGPT.

The 2023 edition of Concordia’s 50 Under 50 Shaping Tomorrow — a celebration of alumni leadership and talent — was announced and celebrated in November.

Gina Cody, MEng 81, PhD 89, was the featured guest and speaker at a special luncheon hosted in Toronto on November 16 by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

George Lengvari, BA 63, with his award at Concordia's Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, pictured with his wife Inez Lengvari

Milestones

The late Mel Hoppenheim, LLD 09, trailblazer and namesake to Concordia’s cinema school, was celebrated on April 27 with a video tribute. The homage was part of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema Awards with remarks from Annie Gérin, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Martin Lefebvre, chair of the Hoppenheim School, and filmmaker Salomé Villeneuve, BFA 20. View photos of the event.

Concordia’s 31st Alumni Recognition Awards ceremony was held on May 30 at Maison Alcan in Montreal. Sponsored by the Concordia University Alumni Association, the event was emceed by Sudha Krishnan, BA 99, host of CBC Montreal News at 11. View photos of the event and watch our video.

Our community gathered for a series of events on September 26 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the naming of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Advancement commemorated Black History Month in February with video testimonials from six standout alumni.

We also marked Asian Heritage Month with heartfelt video testimonials from Concordia alumni in May.

Advancement’s Women Who LEAD, previously known as Women & Leadership, was re-launched with a video championing our 116,000 alumnae.

Our generous donors were commemorated with a special video as part of National Philanthropy Day on November 15.

Bogdan Lytvynenko, BA 23, joined an exclusive club when he became the 12th Concordian to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.

Next-gen publications

Concordia University Magazine, Momentum and our monthly newsletters celebrated our growing culture of philanthropy throughout the year.

Distinctions

In 2023, our sector was honoured with several national and international distinctions from the:

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
• Grand Gold for our Campaign for Concordia Case for Support and companion website

CASE District I Awards
• Publications: 2022 President’s Report
• Feature Writing: “Creating to Heal,” Concordia University Magazine
• Fundraising Case Statements: The Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now

Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) Prix d’Excellence
• Best Alumni Initiative – Gold: 50 Under 50 Shaping Tomorrow (2022)
• Best Use Of Video/Film – Engagement – Gold: Asian Heritage Month



Concordia University, University Advancement
1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec CANADA

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