I had many moments of joy in 2025. Moments in which I was inspired by the ways our university continues to grow, evolve and make a difference.

Witnessing the new School of Business building take shape, floor by floor, has been exciting. It’s become a beacon of vibrancy and illustrates our commitment and confidence in the future of Edmonton. It’s just one example of how MacEwan is vital to the ongoing efforts to support and champion our downtown.

This fall, we welcomed over 5,000 new students to campus – you can feel the energy and excitement in our classrooms and hallways. As the demand for post-secondary education grows in Alberta, we are prepared to meet the demographic and labour market needs. Importantly, our growth is intentional and purposeful. We’re focused on expanding in the right places, guided by a sophisticated strategic enrolment management plan that aligns with our vision and the needs of our community. We’re also offering new programs and new support services ensuring that, even as we grow, our students have what they need inside and outside the classroom to thrive. We tried new things, like the housing pilot which provides students who want to live close to campus a discount on their rent and the pop-up markets that served over 8,300 affordable and nutritious dishes to our students in 2025.

The growth in our scholarly work saw the launch of two new centres of excellence, three research groups and a pedagogical journal focused on teaching. The impact of this work extends beyond faculty and has created opportunities for our students. In just a few years, we’ve more than doubled the number of research assistantships at MacEwan, giving students the chance to put what they’re learning to the test. We’ve also launched the innovative Indigegogy minor in the Faculty of Arts and Science, illustrating in a concrete and meaningful way our commitment to supporting and encouraging Indigenous ways of learning.

As we said farewell to our first chancellor, Dr. Tony Fields, and longtime board chair, Carolyn Graham, we welcomed the Honourable Gary Mar as our new chancellor and MacEwan alumnus Scott Kashuba as our new board chair. I look forward to working alongside both of these impressive community leaders to continue to advance MacEwan University and the work we do.

I also enjoyed numerous opportunities to celebrate the meaningful collaborations that have benefitted our students and our community partners.

Opportunities that included Leadership Unplugged alumni events and the Business Student Conference, where we welcomed former Allard Chairs in Business and business leaders on campus to share their experiences with students and alumni.

Our convocation ceremonies are always a source of inspiration – and this year’s were no exception. The energy and enthusiasm of our newest graduates were matched and amplified by the insightful, wise and encouraging words of our honorary doctorate recipients in their convocation addresses. 

In the spring, we recognized Beverley McLachlin, Canada’s first woman chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada; Bernie Makokis, a pioneer of provincial policy for Indigenous education; and Linda Wedman, who has spent four decades elevating Edmonton’s reputation as a leader in the arts. And just a few weeks ago, Dr. Bryan Kolb, nationally and internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in advancing understanding of the human brain, joined our community of honorary doctorates. All four exemplify the university’s strategic vision, in that they are trendsetters and trendbreakers who are all committed to lifelong learning.

Important collaborations we celebrated this year include the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Alberta Motor Association, Oilers Entertainment Group, Boyle Street Community Services and the Edmonton Public Library – all longtime partners with whom we have close and meaningful relationships. These MOUs are a way of celebrating our collective impact and reinforcing our commitment to explore more ways to work together.

MacEwan was also recognized in 2025 with an Alberta Top 85 Employer Award. This important designation celebrates what we already know: MacEwan is a great institution powered by skilled and dedicated staff who do work that matters. We also marked the Griffins 50th anniversary this year with a bold new logo that illustrates who we are – confident and ready to take on the challenges ahead.

I hope you take time to look back at all you’ve done over the last year. In the midst of deadlines and change, it’s easy to forget just how much we’ve done. It’s important to take a moment to reflect and feel proud of our accomplishments.

Thank you for making 2025 a memorable year for MacEwan. I am so grateful for your ongoing commitment to making MacEwan the exceptional place it is.

I wish you all a joyful holiday break spending time with those you love.

Dr. Annette Trimbee
President and Vice-Chancellor