uOttawa News

OTTAWA, May 7, 2015  —  Healing the brain. Resolving conflicts. Developing green energy. Eliminating bullying.

These are some of the many hopes and dreams that inspire the University of Ottawa’s students, professors and researchers. And to enable them to achieve their ambitious plans, the University is launching the largest fundraising campaign in its history, Defy the Conventional: The Campaign for uOttawa, with a goal of $400 million.

“If the University of Ottawa hasn’t changed your life already, it will, because it’s a place where we seek to serve the country and make it better,” says President Allan Rock. “We are a crossroads of languages and perspectives, and we’ve always looked at things differently. Our mission is not only one of unparalleled teaching and research, but also one of service to society, both in our country and around the world.”

Campaign Chair Perry Dellelce adds, “By supporting education, you are helping to address the root causes of social injustice, disease and homelessness. After graduation, our students can go forward and solve these fundamental challenges.”

The mission of the University of Ottawa has moved many leading figures in the world of business, the arts and culture to join the campaign.

Campaign Vice-Chair Daniel Lamarre, president and CEO of the Cirque du Soleil, recalls his own uOttawa experience: “When I arrived on campus, I spoke no English, and my roommate spoke no French. We were connecting with people from all over, different languages, different cultures. Those years were a game changer for me. I think the rest of Canada could learn a lot from how it’s done at uOttawa.”

The goal is ambitious: to raise $400 million for this campaign, which has four areas of action:

• Craft a  stronger Canada to contribute to public discourse and better train future leaders
   
• Make a better life for all Canadians through medical education and neuroscience research
   
• Harness the potential of the next generation by offering our students scholarships, bursaries, startup support and internships
   
• Transform the uOttawa campus to make it a better place to learn, play and live

The campaign will be officially launched Saturday, May 9 during the Defy the Conventional Gala, the flagship event of Alumni Week. During this historic evening, 600 people will gather in front of Tabaret Hall in a temporary pavilion built for the occasion.

The gala will also mark the 50th anniversary of the University of Ottawa as a public institution. It will feature a multimedia show, a chance for alumni, friends and partners of the University to recall the key events and discoveries of the last 50 years, as well to look at the next 50 years and discover how the University will defy the conventional and find cutting edge solutions to the great challenges facing Canada and the world.

The University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe.

Media inquiries:

Caroline Milliard
Manager, Media Relations
Office: 613-562-5800 ext. 3087
Cell: 613-240-0275
Caroline.Milliard@uOttawa.ca

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