 Hello, to the Emily Carr University of Art and Design graduating class of 2020. I'm Jillian Sidall, and for the past two years I've had the privilege of being President and Vice Chancellor of Emily Carr. It is my sincerest pleasure to have this opportunity to address you all today, and to offer a resounding congratulations on the completion of your hard-earned degrees. Throughout your time with the University, each of you has been at the very heart of what makes this community so exceptional. And right now, more than anything, I want you to know how incredibly proud I am of you and all you've accomplished. I recognize the sometimes overwhelming pressures you've each faced, not only as you poured yourselves into your education, but especially in the past year as the world threw up so many roadblocks to make your path to success even more challenging. Nevertheless, you have time and again responded with courage, resilience, empathy, and dedication. And I hope you're able to take a moment to reflect on the truly extraordinary legacy you've created as a group. You've consistently proven yourselves to be leaders among your peers. And I know all of your fellow community members will point to the class of 2020 as one that exemplifies the best of what we value as conscientious, creative practitioners. Now I know that this is a strange time to be embarking on this next phase of your lives. COVID-19 has touched virtually every aspect of our existence. And it's becoming clear that there are ways in which our world will never be the same. But while there will be challenges, there is also tremendous opportunity. Opportunity to shape and remake our world in ways that might have seemed impossible before. We may finally be able to make the changes necessary to slow down climate change. We may discover innovative ways to reduce poverty. We may design new solutions to improve global health. Now more than ever, society needs people like you who can imagine new possibilities in the face of an uncertain future. A post-pandemic world will need active, engaged participants in ways we're only beginning to understand. Such a world will need creative thinkers and innovators, people who feel empowered to build inclusive communities where social and environmental justice can flourish. So, for all the uncertainty that exists around how the future may unfold, there's one thing I am sure of. You've already shown you have what it takes to adapt and to make good on all of your aspirations and dreams. And today is proof of that. You are poised at this very moment to grow into the leaders our world needs. And the tireless commitment you've shown to driving change toward a better future, to creative thought and hard work is precisely the quality that will take you wherever it is you wish to go next. So, again, my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you. Your achievements are an inspiration to us all and I wish you my very best as you begin this next chapter in each of your stories. Take care and good luck.