Letter from the Secretary-General, Natalie Schaller

Dear Delegates, Faculty Advisors, Staffers, and Partners, 

It is a distinct honour and privilege to invite you to the 32nd iteration of the McGill Model United Nations Assembly (McMUN), held this year in the City of Montréal from January 28-31, 2021. McMUN has a long history of being Canada's premier Model UN conference, and it stands in part as a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in its planning. This year, the McMUN team is working diligently to carry on the conference’s legacy of excellence, and I am excited to share with you our vision for this year’s edition. 

For over thirty years, McMUN has offered students a platform for debate, diplomacy, and problem-solving through its committees. These committees provide the perfect mix of rigour and innovation our conference is known for. In line with the United Nations’ commitment to responsible and peaceful global development, we will have three General Assemblies focused on the Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Industries, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.  In our Specialized Agencies, delegates will participate in an exciting new New York Times Editorial Board committee, which will challenge delegates to produce journalistic content.  In our Crisis portfolio, delegates will enjoy In The Times of Harvey Milk: The San Francisco  Board of Supervisors committee to hone their skills in a Board of Directors setting.  Whatever the committee, we are planning to deliver intellectually engaging and fast-paced settings for debate, which is the hallmark of the McMUN committee experience.

As well, McMUN prides itself on providing a fantastic experience for delegates both in and out of the committee room. McMUN 2021’s out-of-committee programming will carry on our tradition of innovation. On Thursday night, GA delegates can anticipate the Global Leadership Forum (GLF), held in the United Nations headquarters for the International Civil Aviation Organization.  At the GLF, delegates will get to meet professionals and experts in the field, for an inspiring discussion and cocktail. McMUN also offers some of the most well-known social events. This year we are excited to revamp our events to ensure that everyone attending McMUN can enjoy themselves. This includes two Friday night social events, and McParté on Saturday night.

Regardless of the event, we are committed to making our out-of-committee programming the unforgettable experience merited by the hard work and dedication of our delegates and staff.

Finally, while there is uncertainty about what the coming months will look like, please rest assured that the McMUN 2021 team will communicate with you about any changes to our conference as soon as we know them. We will continue to monitor the global situation and health and safety regulations, and make adjustments as needed. No matter what, McMUN is committed to offering delegates a safe and enjoyable experience, whether that be during our traditional in-person event in January, or through an online event, if needed.

The McMUN 2021 team is looking forward to welcoming you to Montréal in January.

À bientôt!

Natalie Schaller

Secretary-General, McMUN 2021

Land Acknowledgement

McGill University is located on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. McMUN honours, recognizes and respects these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and waters on which we meet today. (Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/fph/welcome/traditional-territory)

These topics will be delved into further during the conference and in our conference packages, but for more information on Indigenous territories in Canada we invite you to visit native-land.ca and to learn more about Indigenous histories in the Montreal area, the website wampumchronicles.com provides information on the Mohawk community of Ahkwesáhsne.