Creating a momentum for change, together

What an unforgettable ride 2025 has been! And thanks to the generosity of our donors, alumni, and friends, every turn has transformed our bold goals into meaningful change.

Our numbers tell an extraordinary story—but the real story is about people. Because of you, students are realizing their dreams, researchers are pushing boundaries, and communities are growing stronger.

Like each of the past six decades, we proudly celebrated the culmination of incredible journeys, and the beginning of new ones, as thousands of new SFU graduands crossed the stage. One such alumnus was Philip Huynh, who made a deeply moving decision to establish a new student award in sustainable transportation just as he graduated in October.

With more than 200,000 alumni—myself included—in 135+ countries, it was wonderful to meet and connect with my fellow SFU grads around the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto. I was especially moved to see how our alumni continue to cheer us on from near and far. Alumni and friends have helped us create 42 new scholarships, bursaries, and awards this past fiscal year alone to uplift SFU students.

For the 17th time in 18 years, SFU has once again held the top spot as Canada’s #1 comprehensive university, according to the 2026 Maclean’s University Rankings. Looking back at 2025, here are some other major milestones we couldn’t have accomplished without you:

• SFU ranked first as Canada’s top university for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, according to the 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).
• Thanks to donor support, SFU opened the doors to the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum and First Peoples’ Gathering House on Burnaby Mountain as inclusive places for connection, learning, and reflection.
• Our generous donors made 20,000+ gifts, totaling more than $56 million to strengthen SFU and the communities we serve. More than 3,200 scholarships, awards, and bursaries were created to make post-secondary education more attainable for aspiring leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
• We celebrated our community of more than 400 internal SFU supporters, who donated a collective $2.8 million to advance our shared mission.
• SFU was honoured with the IDEA Award for our unwavering commitment to the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility. Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, our Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion, accepted the award on our behalf during the AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter (Association of Fundraising Professionals) luncheon.
• Finally, the new SFU School of Medicine opened applications for its inaugural class and announced its permanent home at SFU’s Surrey Campus. These two exciting milestones bring us one step closer to preparing the next generation of primary care physicians dedicated to improving the health of British Columbians.

As SFU heads into the holiday season, you still have the opportunity to make a positive difference for students. If you make a gift before December 31 to the Food Security Program Fund, every dollar you give will be matched by SFU, doubling your impact, up to $60,000. Please consider supporting students during this crucial time so they can focus on learning rather than finding their next meal.

Reflecting on this past year, I am filled with gratitude for every supporter, partner, and friend who walked this journey with us. It’s because of you that we can look to the future with hope and confidence. Sending you my warmest wishes for the holidays and a happy new year.