Although ongoing health and safety concerns have resulted in the disappointing decision to cancel an in-person Homecoming, alumni are invited to a different kind of fall celebration: At-Home Homecoming. So, from the comfort of your home, you can enjoy a slew of interesting virtual events, including the Beatty Lecture with Steven Pinker, BA’76, DSc’99, and the Leacock Lecture with everyone’s favourite, Dr. Joe Schwarz, BSc’69, PhD’74. New this year is a unique opportunity to hear Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier, BSc’72, PhD’76, outline the role McGill will play in its third century during a special Town Hall.
Macdonald is hosting two events, the first being a Masterclass/Webcast on Friday, September 25, at 3:30 pm featuring Nil Basu, Murray Humphries and Treena Wasonti:io Delormier from the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE) as they speak to Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition, Food Security, and Well-being. Registration is required to receive the log-in details.
The second event, hosted by Dean Geitmann, features A Trip Down Memory Lane among other interesting presentations. Alumni celebrating an anniversary year are encouraged to register – hopefully this event will precede virtual class reunions.
According to Anna Duff, Advancement Officer in the Faculty, class reps are still interested in connecting with their classmates, so class letters have been prepared and sent, yearbook ideas are being collated and Zoom 5 à 7’s have been organized. Anna knows how important meeting up on campus is for Mac alumni, so she is working closely with the Dean and other campus units to create a photo montage of life on campus over the decades, and a walk through campus. This doesn’t replace the face-to-face get-togethers that so many classes organize months in advance, says Anna, which of course adds to the magic of a Mac Homecoming. She hopes that, even though the virtual events might seem a little impersonal, they will enable our alumni to experience nostalgia about their alma mater, see themselves or others they know or remember in the photo montage, and connect “face to face” through Zoom or other virtual platforms. Mac is looking forward to welcoming everyone to campus next year for Homecoming 2021, to celebrate this year’s anniversary classes as well as next year’s for a really special welcome back to campus and bicentennial celebration.
For more information on any At-Home Homecoming events please contact Anna Duff, anna.duff@mcgill.ca