Hi SGPS Members! My name is Aiman, and I am running for VP Community because I believe in strong communities where students feel supported, heard, and able to thrive.

In my time at Queen’s as a medical student, I’ve heard the same concern from many peers: the financial pressures of being a student are becoming increasingly harder to manage. Recent OSAP funding reductions, combined with rising living costs across Canada, are creating real stresses for graduate & professional learners.

These pressures affect not only our finances, but also our collective wellbeing, food & housing security, and ability to fully participate in campus life & community.

SGPS must respond proactively to these challenges. As VP Community, I would prioritize strong advocacy for students facing affordability pressures, including the impacts of OSAP cuts. When policies affect our ability to live & study in Kingston, our community deserves a dedicated and organized voice advocating on our behalf.

We must also strengthen the support systems serving the Queen’s community. Recent events will increase the need for programming supporting our student’s basic needs & wellbeing. I want to ensure SGPS continues expanding awareness and accessibility of initiatives, such as food insecurity programming, while also supporting wellness services & opportunities for community connection.

Advocacy and community building have been central to my work as a student leader. During my years at McMaster, I served as a faculty representative & Speaker of the Assembly, AVP of Governance for the Student’s Union, and on the President’s Council for Building an Inclusive Community. Currently, I am leading the CFMS Student Mistreatment Task Force, where I work to improve learning environments & highlight community support in professional education.

Through these experiences, I have learned how advocacy and policy can create meaningful change. If elected, I will work to ensure the SGPS community feels supported, represented, and truly connected.

I’m Alex, a first-year Master’s student in Translational Medicine, and I’m excited to run for SGPS Vice President Campaigns and Community Affairs. As my program’s Master’s representative, I advocate for my cohort and bring concerns to the graduate committee, and I’m eager to expand this work through SGPS. I do this in three ways: listening through check-ins and anonymous feedback, communicating with monthly event and deadline updates, and planning academic and social events that build community. I will bring these strengths to the VP Community role to support student wellness, belonging, and engagement.

I do not want to treat this position as just a bigger version of my current role. I want to make tangible improvements to students’ daily lives. First, I aim to strengthen wellness supports by ensuring initiatives are visible, accessible, and meet actual student needs. This includes regular check-ins and better outreach, so fewer students miss out on helpful supports. Second, I want to advance diversity and inclusion by promoting more equal representation in SGPS spaces and initiatives. I know I cannot speak for every group, so my priority will be making sure students are heard directly. I would meet with clubs and student groups representing equity-deserving communities to understand which challenges they want raised, then help create spaces where they can address these issues with the right university leaders. Finally, I want to connect graduate and professional students through regular, low-barrier events and stronger university partnerships. For example, I would launch monthly problem-swap nights where students share challenges or projects, get feedback, and make new connections.

Hello SGPS members,

My name is Sakura Koner, and I am running for Vice-President Community. I am a third-year PhD student in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, currently serving as your Graduate Student Senator.

I am running in this by-election because the VP Community role requires someone who can step in immediately with institutional knowledge, strong relationships, and the confidence to act. The incoming SGPS Executive brings impressive experience and energy, and I believe I would be a strong complement to that team by providing continuity and context rooted in Queen’s governance and SGPS structures.

Over the past years, I have been deeply involved in student governance at Queen’s. I have served as Vice-Chair (2024–2025) and Chair (2025–2026) of the Student Senate Caucus, represented graduate students on multiple Senate committees, and participated directly in policy and decision-making processes. Through this work, I have developed a strong understanding of how Queen’s governance functions and how student advocacy can be effective within it.

As VP Community, my priorities will focus on three areas that directly affect graduate and professional students’ lives:

1) Housing support – Improving communication between students, the City of Kingston, and the university; developing clear housing resources; and supporting workshops to help students navigate the rental market.

2) Community building – Strengthening engagement across departments and student groups, fostering inclusive dialogue, and ensuring SGPS programming reflects feedback from across our diverse community.

3) Food insecurity initiatives – Supporting partnerships within the Kingston community and working with the university to explore sustainable food and affordability initiatives for graduate students.

I believe effective advocacy begins with listening and follow-through. My experience has prepared me to contribute meaningfully from day one.

Thank you for your time and for participation. I would be honoured to earn your vote.

Hi everyone! I’m Colin and I’m running to be Vice President Finance and Service because I want to contribute to make sure that the SGPS’s finances are strong and sustainable, and that the services we provide are done efficiently and equitably. I’ve worked with many clubs during my undergrad and at law school, running administration and working with the university to organize and sanction events. This has given me the experience needed to manage things from the other side. I strongly believe that we as students deserve a student government that works responsibly for us. We deserve to have our student fees managed responsibly and put towards programs that make our lives and our community better. I believe that I have the experience and qualities to be trusted with this important role. I look forward to working with you all to make SGPS work better for you!