Honourable senators, as a proud alumni of UBC Class of 1987, I rise to acknowledge the delegation of brilliant students from UBC who are taking part in the inaugural UBC Women in House program.

I wish to also acknowledge Moura Quayle, Founding Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs of the Liu Institute of Global Affairs for her leadership and providing the human resources for the program; Professor Gerald Baier; Aaron Posehn; and Rebecca Monnerat for their dedication and staffing support.

Currently ranked as one of the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to more than 60,000 students, and approximately 16,188 international students from 156 countries across its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

Most notably known for its credible research and impact in public policy, the Liu Institute of Global Affairs is an entity within UBC that is a purely research-led educational environment that fosters innovation, critical thinking, and experiential learning regarding subject areas concerning teaching and advancing global issues, sustainability, security and social justice.

Having witnessed the successes of the U of T Women in House Program, the McGill Women in House Program, and other programs, I was inspired, along with others, to help launch this very special inaugural program for UBC. This year 10 outstanding women enrolled at UBC have been selected to experience the Ottawa bubble, shadow a parliamentarian for a day, and meet diplomats and political staffers.

Honourable senators, I had the opportunity to meet these women on campus last week and was inspired by their personal stories and visions for the betterment of our world. They are: Camille Claros de Oliveira, Jade Dumoulin, Anam Elahi, Kelley Humber, Deanne Leblanc, Clara Leroy, Alex Lloyd, Michelle Owusu-Ansah, Jory Smallenberg and Nicole So.

I extend sincere gratitude to my fellow B.C. parliamentarians who are not only welcoming these women today, but also acting as co-hosts for the reception tonight in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, on the second floor. I hope that many senators will be able to take a jaunt across Wellington Street to join us, especially our fellow UBC alumni in this chamber.

Honourable senators, please join me in congratulating this first cohort of women for this inaugural program and the Liu Institute for being part of the launch and for the dedication that they have shown. Also, my amazing staff, who do all the heavy lifting — as we all know our staff do. Let’s celebrate today’s historic moment for the UBC Women In House Program.