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‘Walk the walk’ at Shuffle 27

August 9, 2016
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By Susan Attafuah-Callender


A new committee of Concordia community members is gearing up to host the 27th annual Shuffle, the university’s walkathon fundraiser for student scholarships and bursaries.

“The success of Shuffle is truly a team effort and a university-wide project,” says Graham Carr, Concordia’s interim provost and vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies, of the event taking place September 23.

Shuffle 27 “Concordia’s Shuffle is about supporting the next generation,” says co-chair Graham Carr of the 27-year university tradition. | All photos: Joseph Dresdner

This year, Carr and Danielle Tessier, assistant secretary-general of the University Secretariat, are co-chairs of the Shuffle 27 organizing committee.

For the first time, the deans from Concordia’s four academic faculties and School of Graduate Studies and the university librarian will act as honorary Shuffle co-chairs.

“The people around the table are very committed to the Shuffle, which means that they’re dedicated to Concordia and most of all to students,” says Carr. “It’s terrific to see that level of enthusiasm and engagement from people in all different units of the university.”

Staff, faculty, students, alumni and friends of Concordia can participate in Shuffle 27 by registering online to walk at the event, sponsoring a Shuffler or team, making a gift to Shuffle or making a challenge gift.

Examples of challenge gifts include faculty members pledging five dollars for each member of their department who participates in the Shuffle, or staff pledging a toonie for each Shuffler who fundraises more than $100.

Concordia Co-chair Danielle Tessier, right, with then-chair Jang- Hwan Kwon, in 2014. Concordia Co-chair Danielle Tessier, right, with then-chair Jang- Hwan Kwon, in 2014. Tessier says her best Shuffle memory was winning 2014 Shuffler of the Year honours. “The picnic after Shuffle is always fun, but it was nice to be recognized.”

“There’s a real opportunity here to bring the university together and fundraise more than ever,” says Tessier, who was named Shuffler of the Year in 2014.

Shufflers walk, run, bike, skateboard or rollerblade 6.5 kilometres from Sir George Williams Campus downtown to Loyola Campus in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. Once there, Shufflers are met with the President’s Picnic, where they can enjoy an outdoor meal and prize draw — with dozens of prizes — on the lawn in front of the PERFORM Centre.

The 16-member organizing committee is making sure all Shufflers get the tools they need to fundraise and enjoy the Shuffle. This year there will be new activities during and after the walk and some fresh swag.

“The mood is always terrific!” says Carr. “It’s nice to get out in the sun and see people in a totally relaxed context.”

“It’s a fun event and it’s for a good cause,” says Tessier, who has been shuffling since she joined the university in 2000. “We can never have enough support for students.”

“We say that our university is embedded in our community. Though it’s bigger than a corridor between the downtown campus and Loyola, this is a chance for Concordia to walk through our extended community and take pride in it,” says Carr.

“Shuffle is one way for Concordia to actually walk the walk.”

#CUgiving

Concordia’s Shuffle 27 will kick off from the Sir George Williams Campus at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23. Register online to walk at the event, sponsor a Shuffler or team, make a gift to Shuffle or make a challenge gift.



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