With nearly 70 students in attendance, the 2016-2017 AGM was a great success, encouraging nearly three hours of valuable student feedback and engagement.

We began with an inspiring visit from Spencer West: an acclaimed Me to We keynote speaker and author. Spencer joined us to share his experience with overcoming obstacles and building community. After losing both his legs from the pelvis down at the age of five, Spencer went on to climb and summit Mount Kilimanjaro with only his hands, a wheelchair and teamwork. Spencer’s presentation was sincerely humbling and will undoubtedly remain an inspiration to all those in attendance.

Sylvia Ibrahim - SSU President, Spencer West - Guest Speaker, Tyler Bogaert - SSU Board Chair

The membership then approved our 2015-16 audited statements, the 2015-2016 AGM Meeting Minutes and ratified our incoming 2016-17 board members. Sylvia Ibrahim, President of the Student Union took the members through the operational successes, including partnerships welcoming a Syrian student in cooperation with Sheridan and World University Service of Canada, our Espresso Yourself art initiative in our coffee houses, enhanced programming at HMC, health care kiosks, our Friendship Bench initiative, our first Pride Week initiative and a planned car share program.

Our Incoming President, Enrique Ponce, was introduced and approved by the membership at the meeting, saying, “Thank you, everybody! I’m really excited to become President. Some of you might know me from my role as an EVP for the past few years. I’m hoping to use that experience as President, and while I’m very familiar with HMC, I’m looking forward to taking the time to get to know the other two campuses better.”

Tyler Bogaert, Chair of the Board, also presented the major accomplishments of the board over the past year, including the approval of a Student Centre in the HMC2A expansion, sustainability upgrades to the Trafalgar Student Centre, investment in the student portal to support and enhance club life, and continued investments in supporting the shuttle bus along with encouragement of a student referendum surrounding the ongoing future of this service.

Sheridan students voting on SSU by-laws at 2017 Annual General Meeting

Thoughtful student discussion also led to membership approval of several by-law changes including;

making all fee-paying Sheridan College students eligible to run for the Board of Directors, instead of just full-time students,
changing all bylaw language to non-gender specific language,
clarifying the President’s duty to identify a process to select Board Chairs,
and the Board’s right to determine how they will select a Secretary of the Board.

“I am thrilled with the exceptional turnout for the 2017 AGM, and appreciate all of the student leaders who participated in such a significant event. Our AGM is one of the most direct and impactful ways for students to participate in SSU, and I’m grateful for all those who contributed their time to join us for this important meeting.” — Sylvia Ibrahim, SSU President

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Annual General Meeting! For more photos of Spencer and our Annual General Meeting, click here. For more information about our Board of Directors and how to get involved, visit our Governance page.