
2023 - 2024 SGPS Elections & Student Fee Referendum Results
SGPS Executive
Candidates for the 2023 – 2024 SGPS Election
Graduate Student Senator
The Graduate Student Senator is elected to a two-year term to represent graduate and professional students to the Senate–one of the chief governing bodies for Queen’s University, responsible for determining all matters of academic character affecting the University as a whole. It shares responsibility with the Board of Trustees for appointing the Principal.
The Senate meets monthly during the academic year. In addition to sitting on the Senate, the Graduate Student Senator sits on various sub-committees of the Senate.
The Senator votes on issues ranging from academic sessional dates to the creation of new programs at the University.
Being the Graduate Student Senator requires big picture, long term thinking, as many of the things they are voting on will not come to fruition until long after their time as a student is done.
This position is open to any graduate student at Queen’s University.

Emils Matiss
Candidate for Graduate Student Senator
This year the most pressing issue is to stress that inflation and inadequate funding are harming current students and the university’s competitiveness to attract future students. Increasing tuition at a time when we are facing unprecedented inflation and a looming recession has the potential to further stress one of the most financially vulnerable groups at Queen’s.
My name is Emils Matiss, I am a first-year Neuroscience PhD student and the incumbent Graduate Student Senator running for re-election. I’m hoping to secure your vote to continue my work at Senate advocating for student needs. During my tenure in the role, I served on two subcommittees, appeal boards, and I currently chair the Queen’s University Board-Senate Advisory Committee. I was selected to chair the subcommittee because of my active engagement in my first year, and this has allowed me to ensure that graduate student needs are considered in decision-making.
During my first term, I fought to ensure that academic accommodations were accessible to all students in response to COVID. Not all departments enforced the rules equally, and I worked to ensure that policies were applied as intended to allow access to lectures online and prevent students from needlessly having to seek physician’s notes for COVID or other respiratory illnesses.
I am always open to hearing from others and how I can help. Anyone can criticize, but it takes good will and hard work to find solutions. Bearing this in mind I like to tackle issues with an integrative approach to find a middle ground among stakeholders for the best outcome.
Thank you for your consideration!
President
The President’s role is to represent the Society of Graduate and Professional students to Queen’s senior administrators and stakeholders. This includes holding a position on Senate, the Board of Trustees, and University Council.
They work with the entire SGPS team to establish, present, and support the vision of Graduate and Professional students.
They also work with all SGPS members, the Executive team, and permanent staff to ensure the viability and sustainability of the SGPS.
The SGPS President is paid $15,500.00 per year. A pay increase to $19,500.00 will be brought to the February 2023 Special General Meeting for membership approval.

Devin Fowlie
Candidate for SGPS President
If elected to the SGPS President role I want to continue improving the financial stability of graduate and professional students at Queen’s. This means not only continuing to increase funding for graduate students, which remains at critically low minimums in the face of rapid inflation, but also for more responsible solutions to housing students. If the university is to raise its reputation, prestige, and research profile there needs to be a radical approach to fulfilling its moral obligations to support its students and be good stewards of the City of Kingston which it calls home. I know that we can work towards solutions to these problems that fulfill the university mandate while also making Queen’s a community that supports all of its graduate and professional students. I want to thank each and every one of you who are participating in this election by casting your vote, not only for me but for any candidate on the ballot that you think deserves to represent you – we are very fortunate to have such a strong student body who supports the democratic process.
Vice President Campaigns and Community Affairs
The SGPS holds a dual mandate: to offer services, and to advocate for its members. The VP Community, has a portfolio with work in both of these areas.
As a manager for the Commissioner team, they oversee the planning of Social and Athletic activities as well as the work of key International, Indigenous, and Equity student advocates.
They also represent the SGPS at external organizations like the Canadian Federation of Students and also has a focus on campaign work for our members.
The SGPS Vice President Campaigns and Community Affairs is paid $12,000.00 per year. A pay increase to $15,500.00 will be brought to the February 2023 Special General Meeting for membership approval.

Tony Hu
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Campagins and Community Affairs
Early on, one thing I learned about Queen’s is that the school is renowned for its student experience. You might regard this claim with frank skepticism. After all, I’ll be the first to admit that the sense of community experienced by undergraduate students at Queen’s is far greater than the sense of community experienced by graduate and professional students at Queen’s. My goal is to change that.
Another mandate of the VP Community relates to campaigning on behalf of SGPS members. In the upcoming year, my chief focus will be on the twin issues of housing and the cost of living. While stakeholders are working hard to mend these two problems, the timeline for concrete change is measured in years. In the interim, stopgap measures need to be implemented to stop students from missing meals or becoming homeless.
With your support, I’m confident in making a lasting positive impact for graduate and professional students. You can reach me at tony.hu@queensu.ca Remember: Hu (who) cares? I care!
Vice President Finance and Services
The VP Finance and Services’ role is to ensure that SGPS members’ fees are collected and allocated fairly and responsibly. This starts with the creation of a balanced budget that reflects the interests of members.
They are also responsible for Chairing the SGPS Finance Committee, and together they facilitate the distribution of bursaries, grants, and sponsorships, as well as, reviewing mandatory fees.
They work closely with the permanent staff and other Executives to coordinate SGPS services, including the Health and Dental Benefits Plan.
The SGPS Vice President Finance and Services is paid $12,000.00 per year. A pay increase to $15,500.00 will be brought to the February 2023 Special General Meeting for membership approval.

Gabriela Fekete
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Finance and Services
During my time on the Propel Impact Fund, I led a $200,000 syndicate in East Van Roasters. EVR is a coffee shop in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside which exclusively hires women with barriers to employment including challenges with homelessness and addiction. Without a $200,000 investment, EVR would have ceased to exist, and the women it employs would have lost a critical safe space central to many of their recoveries from struggles with addiction. More than anything this experience taught me the value of a dollar, and how meaningfully capital investments can be used if invested properly.
If given the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of Finance and Services for the SGPS, I would bring forth my knowledge in finance and accounting to form a balanced budget. More importantly however, I would bring forth a wealth of experience to direct money in meaningful ways because I understand first-hand the difference financial resources can make. I am committed to serving the best interests of students and my Queen’s community. In my role, I would aim to ensure that every dollar budgeted reflected this commitment.

Matthew Kuciak
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Finance and Services
I am originally from Ottawa, but I am now living in Kingston. I have an undergraduate degree in International Business with a minor in Spanish and concentration in Finance from Carleton University. After my undergrad I worked for two years in the finance department at Canopy Growth Corporation. I left my position as a Cost Accountant to fulfill my dream of studying law. I am a member of the SGPS Finance and Services Committee, and I am participating in an externship program at the Northumberland Community Legal Centre in Cobourg. I hope to one day use my financial experience and education alongside my future law degree to pursue a career in corporate law.
I believe my experience on the SGPS Finance and Services committee, my undergraduate education in finance, as well as my experience as an accountant would help me ensure that SGPS member fees are allocated in a prudent and responsible manner. Thank you for considering me as a candidate to be the next Vice President Finance and Services.
Vice President Graduate
The VP Graduate is responsible for representing graduate students’ needs and interests at the internal level as well as on various University committees and external bodies.
They oversee the SGPS Peer Academic Advisors, which offers advice and advocacy services to graduate and professional students on issues concerning their academic lives while here at Queen’s.
The SGPS Vice President Graduate is paid $12,000.00 per year. A pay increase to $15,500.00 will be brought to the February 2023 Special General Meeting for membership approval.

Jordan Balson
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Graduate

Steacy Coombs
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Graduate
Unfortunately, over my many years at Queen’s, I have also seen the challenges graduate students face. There has been a sharp increase in housing costs, paired with a drastic increase in the cost of living. Queen’s has built several new undergraduate residence buildings, but has not provided additional affordable graduate student housing since the 1970s. We need Queen’s to invest in affordable housing for graduate students! Moreover, the funding we receive leaves graduate students to take on loans or live in poverty. We are the bright, young minds of the future, and our compensation should reflect this!
Finally, I plan to initiate the hybridization of our classrooms. As a disabled student, I often have to miss in-person learning due to the lack of adequate equipment within our classrooms and lecture halls. Incorporating appropriate software, cameras and microphones, students of all accessibility and personal needs do not have to miss out on higher education!
Vice President Professional
The needs of professional students are at times distinct from the needs of graduate students. The VP Professional is responsible for representing professional students’ needs and interests at the internal level as well as on various University committees.
They are also tasked with doing outreach to professional students, who may be isolated from the rest of the SGPS membership due to the demands associated with their professional degrees.
The SGPS Vice President Professional is paid $12,000.00 per year. A pay increase to $15,500.00 will be brought to the February 2023 Special General Meeting for membership approval.

Elizabeth Frangos
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Professional
Prior to my time at Queen’s, I held a three year appointment as Student Chair of UofT’s Governing Council Tribunal where I engaged directly with students and the Provost to administer academic disciplinary policies and mediate trial resolutions. In addition, this past year I assumed the roles of both advocate and intermediary, advising constituents and stakeholders regarding federal legislation and programming with my Member of Parliament; working as a team, we dedicated ourselves to helping local organizations procure the greatest sum of federal funding to our community in decades.
For their part, the Vice President Professional should give their ear to community members so they can holistically characterize their concerns and suggestions when participating in committee discussions to vote for policy in conformity with and in anticipation of their evolving needs. As a prospective candidate, I propose digital participatory opportunities for those who can’t attend live meetings, dedicated adjunctive updates throughout the semester, and diversified activity offerings suited to our unique timetables. Thank you all for your consideration and I hope we can work together in the near future.

Maya Kawale
Candidate for SGPS Vice President Professional
One of the core elements of this role is to represent professional students needs and interests. Should I be elected, one of my main goals would be to personally connect with all of you to understand what you are looking for so I can be a point of liaison. I would love to hear your opinions and implement these aspects into the society of graduate and professional students.
Another one of my other core goals would be to foster a community between all professional students. Professional students can get overwhelmed trying to balance their social and academic calendars. I want to create an inclusive environment and allow the professional student body to be more connected. I have always loved being involved in the school community which can be represented by my time with the orientation program and mentorship team during my undergraduate degree. School spirit and community is so essential to a rewarding experience!
I am a big advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. I would like to represent all individuals and ensure that your needs are being met. I have worked alongside many marginalized communities, and I want to be a point of connection to relay specific concerns that may develop.
I would really appreciate your vote in the upcoming election. I look forward to building relationships with many of you and strengthening the community of professional and graduate students!
The elected term for SGPS Executives is May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024.
The elected term for the Graduate Student Trustee is from May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2025.
Fees up for Referendum for the 2023 – 2024 SGPS Fee Slate

AMS Food Bank
$4.00 Mandatory Fee

Ban Righ Centre
$3.00 Mandatory Fee

Camp Outlook
$1.00 Optional Fee

Campus Observation Room
$0.50 Mandatory Fee
Click Here to View the Campus Observation Room’s Referendum Package

Centre for Teaching and Learning
$1.40 Mandatory Fee
Click Here to View the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Referendum Package

Queen's Daycare Centre
$2.00 Optional
Click Here to View Queen’s Daycare Centre’s Referendum Package

Queen's Legal Aid
$5.50 Mandatory Fee

Reelout Arts Project
$1.80 Optional Fee
Click Here to View Reelout Arts Project’s Referendum Package

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston
$1.25 Optional Fee
confidential, non-judgemental support for all survivors, regardless of gender and identity, 12+, of
recent and/or historic sexual violence in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) since
1978 (originally founded by Queen’s and SLC students and community members).
Click Here to View Sexual Assault Centre Kingston’s Referendum Package

Student Wellness Services
$71.40 Mandatory Fee
Click Here to View Student Wellness Services’ Referendum Package

Telephone Aid Line Kingston
$0.75 Optional Fee
Click Here to View Part One of Telephone Aid Line Kingston’s Referendum Package
Click Here to View Part Two of Telephone Aid Line Kingston’s Referendum Package

The Queen's Journal
$3.00 Mandatory Fee

Union Gallery
$3.00 Optional Fee
Important Dates |
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Wednesday, January 11, 2023 12:01 AM |
Nomination Period Opens | Nomination signature collection via Qualtrics |
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 4:00 PM |
Nomination Period Closes | |
Thursday, January 26, 2023 TBD |
SGPS Council Nomination Ratification | Via Email |
Thursday, January 26, 2023 TBD |
All Candidates Meeting | On Zoom |
Friday, January 27, 2023 12:01 AM |
Campaign Period Begins | |
Friday, February 3, 2023 3:30 – 4:30 PM |
All Candidates Debate | Zoom Link provided in the January 31 SGPS Newsletter |
Sunday, February 5, 2023 11:59 PM |
Campaign Period Ends | |
Monday, February 6, 2023 12:01 AM |
Voting Days | Ballots will be sent to SGPS members via SimplyVoting |
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 11:59 AM |
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Wednesday, February 8, 2023 9:00 AM (approx.) |
Announcement / Notification | Via Phone and Email |
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:00 PM |
Campaign Expenses Due | Via email to director@sgps.ca |