Based on a vote at the Legislative Council, it was decided that Elections ɫ��� re-tabulate the Single Transferable Vote count without the disqualified candidate. Under our ranked-choice system, ballots cast for the withdrawn candidate have been transferred to the voters’ next-ranked preference, ensuring all votes were still counted in this process.

Based on the redistribution, Candidate Harry Wang wins the election and will assume the office of Vice-President External. The full breakdown of the results can be found .

About the Role

The Vice-President (Finance) acts as the Society’s Chief Financial Officer and�� is responsible for the long-term financial stability of the Society and will:

• Provide financial reports to the Executive Committee, Legislative Council and Board of Directors.
• Develop the annual budget (approx. $11M) in alignment with ɫ���’s priorities.
• Supervise the disbursement of ɫ��� funds and ensure compliance with governance policies.
• Manage Society group insurance plans.
• Authorize agreements that bind the Society.
• Oversee the Finances of the Society’s Clubs and Services and ensure Independent Student-Group adherence to ɫ��� Policy.

Term

• The term runs from June 1st 2026 to May 31st, 2027
• Training period from May 1st, 2026, to May 31st, 2026.
• Minimum of 40 hours per week
• Paid position

Application

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply via our website, ssmu.ca/jobs, before April 15, 2026.

For inquiries, please contact the ɫ��� President at president@ssmu.ca��

Elections ɫ��� is an independent, non-partisan body. All decisions are made in accordance with the Internal Regulations and are guided by the principles of fairness, consistency, and the integrity of the electoral process.

As part of this mandate, Elections ɫ��� has completed an investigation into reported incidents involving Candidate Justice Bongiovanni having violated Section 7.8 of the Internal Regulations of Elections and Referenda, which states:��

“No Campaign member may observe, interfere with, or be actively involved in the process of a Member casting their vote.”

After a thorough review of the evidence, Elections ɫ��� has determined that Candidate Bongiovanni interfered with Members’ votes, actions which included taking Members’ phones and voting on their behalf, standing over Members’ while they voted, and other forms of intimidation, contrary to the Internal Regulations.

Given the seriousness of this violation, Elections ɫ��� has issued 10 demerit points to the campaign.

As previously communicated, the same campaign has also accumulated 9 demerit points for violations of the following provisions of the Internal Regulations:

• Section 6.4: No External Body may be directly or indirectly involved in the activities of, or in the implicit or explicit support of, Campaigns
• Section 6.11: No Campaign may abuse positions they hold with any group to provide greater resources, exposure, or support to their campaign
• Section 6.13: No member of a Club, Service, Independent Student Group, or media organization may use their position to aid a Campaign from which they directly benefit
• Section 6.15: All campaign materials must be approved by Elections ɫ��� prior to distribution
• Section 6.21: External bodies are restricted from any form of campaigning or support on any social media, mobile, or online platform

In light of the cumulative number and seriousness of these violations, Elections ɫ��� has determined, consistent with the Internal Regulations, that Candidate Bongiovanni is retroactively disqualified from the election, as he has accumulated over 15 demerit points during this election.��

What this means:

Justice Bongiovanni’s win in the election is of no force and effect.

Further information about next steps regarding this position will be available in the coming days.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact .

I am writing to let you know that a Special Referendum is now underway and will remain open until April 13th. It includes two important questions that will help shape the future of the ɫ��� and student life at our University.

The first question concerns the future of the ɫ��� and its governance, as proposed by amendments to the Constitution. The second concerns strikes and whether the ɫ��� should be required to meet a minimum threshold of voters before going on strike, and if so, what that minimum threshold should be.

The ɫ��� has existed since 1907, and over the past 119 years, it has played an important role in shaping student life at McGill. Its legacy can be seen in achievements such as the creation of Athletics and Recreation, advocacy that helped lead to the establishment of Student Services, the implementation of Health and Dental insurance, the institution of the Fall Reading Break, and the support it continues to provide to hundreds of clubs, services, and student groups across our campus, not to mention cherished spaces such as Gerts Bar and Gerts Café.

However, in recent years, the ɫ��� has been struggling. It has rested on its laurels, and periods of internal controversy and instability from various Executive teams have at times undermined student confidence and made it harder for the Society to live up to its full potential.

The ɫ��� could certainly be better; however, it can only improve with your help. Irrespective of where you stand on these two questions, I truly & strongly wish to encourage you to take a few moments to review them and cast your vote.��

Good luck with finals, and I hope to see some of you at graduation.

Cheers,

Dymetri Taylor,
President

Prayer and reflection spaces serve an important role on campuses across Quebec. For many students, these spaces provide a quiet, respectful environment to practice their beliefs, reflect, and maintain balance amid academic life. They respond to a real need within our diverse student community and have long existed on campuses without disrupting university activities. Restricting or eliminating these spaces would not solve any demonstrated problem. Instead, it risks limiting students’ ability to practice their beliefs in an organized and respectful way and undermines their right to exercise them.

Existing restrictions on religious attire for certain public servants already affect some students preparing for careers in the public sector. Increasing limitations on religious expression in postsecondary institutions compound our current serious concerns about access, fairness, and inclusion. This measure creates an exclusionary environment and unjustly stigmatizes many individuals within college and university communities, particularly members of religious and ethnic minorities and people of colour. Legislation like this overlooks the integral roles they play on our campuses and in Canadian society. We deeply value the diverse contributions they make to our school and to the communities in which they study, work, and live. Freedom of conscience and religion is a fundamental right protected under both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Universities must remain places where diversity of thought, identity, and belief is respected.

The ɫ��� stands in solidarity with religious student groups and all students who rely on prayer and reflection spaces. We will continue to advocate for our community and defend our students’ rights, dignity, and ability to practice their beliefs safely on campus.

Signed

Legislative Council of the Students’ Society of McGill University.

Ring in the end of the year in style! Join us for ɫ���’s Grad Party at the stunning Centre Mont-Royal for a night under the stars

Enjoy an hour of open bar (beer & wine), dance the night away with a live DJ, and celebrate with the people who made this year unforgettable: all dressed in your best semi-formal!

Thursday, April 2nd��

10 PM – 1:00 AM��

Mount Royal Center (2200 Rue Mansfield)

Who’s eligible?

–

• ɫ��� members (no officers or Funding Committee members)
• Completed at least 12 McGill credits by the end of this year

–

What you need:

–

• Letter from an instructor about your academic achievements
• Letter about your impact on student life at McGill
• Official McGill transcript (plus any other uni transcripts)
• Any other documents the Funding Committee requests

–

How applications are judged:

–

• Academic excellence
• Contributions to campus life
• Financial need
• Any other criteria the committee announces

–
Show us why you shine both in the classroom and on campus!

]]> /blog/2026/03/ssmu-awards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ssmu-awards Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:11:42 +0000 /?p=86634 Each year the Students’ Society of McGill University awards students and student groups who have dedicated themselves to improving life on campus.

The Awards aim to recognize students, student groups and student-run events that have proven themselves to be outstanding. Nominees will be invited to attend a semi-formal banquet in the Centre Mont-Royal on April 2nd, 2026 from 7pm – 12am.

Completed applications for any of the Awards listed below must be submitted through this form by March 20th, 2026, 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted.

Feel free to contact Minaal Mirza, ɫ��� Vice-President (Internal Affairs), by email at internal@ssmu.ca with any questions or concerns about ɫ��� Awards or about the application.

Awards List 2026:

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

1. ​�ċThe Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to ɫ��� activities, events, clubs, or campus groups. This person need not have been the coordinator of an undertaking, but should have played a consistently supportive role in its development. This person should not be an elected student leader, but rather a committed volunteer who does not have a mandate to do the task. Coordinators and elected student leaders should apply for Executive of the Year.
2. The Coordinator of the Year Award will be presented to a ɫ��� coordinator or commissioner who has demonstrated leadership and organizational skills, as well as innovation and creativity to ensure the success of their program or portfolio.
3. The Roma Nadeem Memorial Award will be presented to a Club, Service, Faculty Association, or Departmental Association Executive Member who has demonstrated leadership and innovation throughout their term, and who has gone above and beyond their duty to contribute to campus life for the members of their association or group.
4. The Lev Bukhman Councillor of the Year Award, named in honour of past ɫ��� executive and McGill donor Lev Bukhman, will be presented to a member of the Legislative Council who has had a constructive presence and contributed to a positive Council environment
5. The Fred Sagel Memorial Award for Senator of the Year is named in memory and honour of Fred Sagel, a former ɫ��� executive who went on to study at Oxford and work at the World Bank before being taken from us too early, at the young age of 26. The award will be presented to a ɫ��� Senator who is respected by their peers, a productive and diligent member of Senate, and a kind and caring person.

GROUP AWARDS

1. The Committee of the Year Award will recognize an ɫ��� committee which has made outstanding contributions throughout the year.
2. The ɫ��� Club of the Year Award will be presented to a club which has fostered a solid membership, which has demonstrated its organization to be capable of growth, and which has sought to have an impact on the McGill community and broader society. Special consideration will be given to clubs who have demonstrated growth and/or innovation in their quest to serve their constituents.
3. The ɫ��� Service of the Year Award will be presented to the ɫ��� service that has shown itself to be continually self-improving, and persistently serving the needs of students within ɫ���, the McGill community at large, and Montreal.
4. The Publication of the Year Award will be presented to a campus publication demonstrating an outstanding quality of editorial content and presentation as well as the positive impact of the publication’s content on the ɫ��� student body.
5. The Executive Team of the Year Award will be presented to a Club, Service, Faculty Association, or Departmental Association Executive who have demonstrated leadership and innovation throughout their term. The award will honor the executive team that has worked to support teamwork among its constituents while striving to maintain a link with the larger McGill campus. The executive team will have demonstrated an ability to work within tough circumstances and to develop initiatives designed to inform, serve, and involve the students it represents.
6. The Music Group of the Year Award will be presented to a student music group that has brought energy and innovation to McGill’s cultural scene through performances, collaborations, and events. The winner will be chosen based on the originality and quality of its music, its impact on campus community building, and its ability to inspire participation and sustain growth.

EVENT AND GENERAL AWARDS

1. The Social Event of the Year Award will recognize an activity sponsored by campus groups that benefited McGill and its students and was successful, either because of the cooperation it fostered, the interest it aroused, or the creativity and execution of the event.
2. The Charitable Event of the Year Award will recognize activities run by on-campus groups that are charitable. The charity in question can be local or international but must be (or be sponsored by) a ɫ��� recognized or internationally recognized club or group. The winner will be determined by funds raised, scope, interest, and creativity.
3. The ɫ��� Funding Project of the Year Award will be presented to a project sponsored by the ɫ��� through any of our existing funds (Ambassador Fund, Campus Life Fund, Club Fund, Environment Fund, Space Fund, Charity Fund, and Equity Fund) that has shown itself to be a significant addition to campus life and of exceptional benefit to students. The winner will be chosen based on the creativeness of the project, and its success, and its ability to be sustainable.
4. The Faculty Bar of the Year Award will be presented to a faculty bar that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and lively social environment for students. The winner will be chosen based on the consistency and quality of its programming, its efforts to build community and student engagement, and its creativity in making the space accessible, safe, and enjoyable for all.

For additional information, please contact internal@ssmu.ca.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS: 21st March 2026 @ 11:59PM

Disclaimer: Please only nominate for one award at a time. If you wish to submit nominations for multiple awards, you have to submit a new nomination form each time.

The ɫ��� Funding Committee is looking for standout students to award up to 4 prizes of $2,000 each!*

 

Who’s eligible?

• ɫ��� members (no officers or Funding Committee members)
• Completed at least 12 McGill credits by the end of this year

What you need:

• Letter from an instructor about your academic achievements
• Letter about your impact on student life at McGill
• Official McGill transcript (plus any other uni transcripts)
• Any other documents the Funding Committee requests

How applications are judged:

• Academic excellence
• Contributions to campus life
• Financial need
• Any other criteria the committee announces

Show us why you shine both in the classroom and on campus!

*Nomination form coming soon.

]]> /blog/2026/03/referendum-winter-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=referendum-winter-2026 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:59:03 +0000 /?p=86531 Have your say on important issues, including your student fees.

Questions

Question 1

Renewal of the WUSC Student Refugee Program Fee
Do you agree to renew the non-opt-outable WUSC McGill Student Refugee Program fee of $4.00 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� members, starting Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive), for the purpose of maintaining the number of sponsored refugee students at 6 students a year?

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in the suspension of the student refugee program and the inability for WUSC McGill to sponsor refugee students in the future.

Question 2

Increase of the WUSC Student Refugee Program Fee

Contingent on its renewal, do you agree to the increase of the non-opt-outable WUSC McGill Student Refugee Program fee by $2.00 (from $4.00 to $6.00 per semester), payable by all ɫ��� members, starting Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive), for the purpose of sponsoring 10 refugee students a year (up from 6 annually under the current fee) to come study at McGill?

A majority ‘no’ vote on the fee increase will result in WUSC only being able to sponsor 6 students each year.

Question 3

Increase of the ɫ��� ECOLE Project Fee

Do you agree to the increase of the opt-outable ɫ��� ECOLE Project Fee from $2.00 to $4.00 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� members, beginning in Fall 2026 until Winter 2028 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal?

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in decreased services and student support.

Question 4

Renewal of the McGill Writing Centre Ancillary Fee

Do you agree to the renewal of the non-opt-outable ‘McGill Writing Centre Ancillary Fee’ of $1.50 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� Members, starting Fall 2026 and ending Winter 2031 (inclusive), at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal?

A majority ‘no’ vote shall result in the discontinued access of undergraduate students to the Tutorial Service.

Question 5

Increase of the McGill Student Services Ancillary Fee

In addition to the Ministry indexation factor, do you agree to increase the non-opt-outable Student Services Ancillary Fee by 4% in each of the next three academic years (2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029), payable by all ɫ��� members?

For example, in Fall 2026, 4% will amount to an increase of $8.19 for full-time students and $4.92 for part-time students.

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in a reduction of services and programs including higher wait times to access mental health clinicians, nurses and other service specialists, no online appointment booking system for physical and mental health appointments, and fewer student job opportunities in McGill Student Services.

Question 6

Renewal of the University Centre Fee

Do you agree to the renewal of the non-opt-outable ɫ��� University Centre Fee of $11.12 per full-time ɫ��� Member and $5.56 per part-time ɫ��� Member with a 5.6% indexation factor from Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive), at which time it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal?

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in both the termination of the fee and the Society’s ability to support student spaces

Question 7

Renewal of the Anti-Violence Fee

Do you agree to the renewal of the opt-outable Anti-Violence Fee of $0.45 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� members, starting in Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive) at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal?

A majority ‘no’ vote would result in the discontinuation of the fee and the loss of funding for the administration of the ɫ���’s anti-violence mandates, including the Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy?

Question 8

Increase and Renaming of the ɫ��� Grocery Program Fee

Do you agree to increase the opt-outable ɫ��� Grocery Program Fee (to become the ɫ��� Food Bank Fee) from $1.00 to $2.00 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� members, beginning in Fall 2026 and ending in Winter 2028 (inclusive) to support the operation of the ɫ��� Food Bank, at which point it will be brought back to the Membership for renewal?

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in no change to the existing ɫ��� Grocery Program Fee, its amount, or its permitted use.

Question 9

Renewal of the ɫ��� Daycare Fee

Do you agree to the renewal of the non-opt-outable ɫ��� Daycare Fee at a rate of $3.00 per semester, payable by all ɫ��� members, starting in Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive)?

A majority ‘no’ vote will result in the ɫ��� Daycare having to discontinue its operations

Question 10

Ratification of the Board of Directors Members-At-Large

Do you approve of ratifying the current four (4) Members-at-Large to the Board of Directors?
Hannah Lilles
Simon Ngassam
Adam Corbier
Rajan Duncan

YES/NO Campaigning

Those interested in forming a Yes or No campaign, visit ssmu.ca/elections for the campaign package and list of questions.
You have until March 20 to form a campaign.

Voting period

March 9 – March 20
Vote here:

]]> /blog/2026/03/meet-the-executive-candidates-running-for-2026-2027/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-the-executive-candidates-running-for-2026-2027 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:56:25 +0000 /?p=86525 Candidates
Read more about the candidates for the 2026 election here

Voting period
March 9 – March 20
Vote here:

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