
1564 votes cast out of 4330 SGPS members
(36% of the membership)
Presidential Candidates

Jeremy Ambraska
Candidate for SGPS President
As President, my focus would be: 1. Strengthening the SGPS community 2. Promoting holistic health and wellness for graduate students and 3. Increasing academic and career support for graduate students.
- Strengthening the SGPS community
I believe that orientation style events should not be limited to just the beginning of school. As President, I would promote more interfaculty social and networking events throughout the year. I would champion the creation of an interfaculty intermural sporting and activity tournament, known as the Grad Games. - Promoting holistic health and wellness for graduate students
I know how stressful graduate studies can be and I believe we can do better. As President, I would promote a holistic strategy for mental health that informs grad students about mental health resources on campus, but also focuses on connecting students to each other to help foster informal support networks. - Increasing academic and career support for graduate students.
As graduate and professional students, I know employment is top of mind. As President, I would lead the creation of an SGPS alumni professional network to connect current students to Queen’s alumni already working in their industry or field.

Jaspar Wong
Candidate for SGPS President
Two main objectives: Fiscal Transparency and greater integration between professional and graduate students.
Transparency for finances.
As President, I will work to ensure further steps are taken to inform our members of opt-out fees.
The existing fees in place further a plethora of fantastic projects.
Keeping students informed of these fees should not dissuade them from continuing to contribute their fees to those projects.
The decision to opt-out of the optional fees is respected.
During my undergrad at Queen’s, I worked as staff at the ARC, as coordinator for the Queen’s Blood Team, and also have two years of experience as staff with the Residence Society. I helped students across faculties integrate into campus life, and responded to their concerns or queries. Now as a member of the SGPS, I want to respond to your concerns and queries and represent you as your President.
As President of the SGPS, my goal is further integration across the diverse professional and graduate programs at Queen’s. As a member of Education I see the importance of social networking between our faculties to best utilize SGPS membership. Members of the SGPS are in a unique situation with such excellent faculties in such close proximity to each other that greater interaction between the faculties will only work to benefit the SGPS community as a whole.
Redevelopment of the JDUC is a major point of discussion affecting the SGPS. The JDUC is managed by a tri-party agreement between the University, the AMS, and the SGPS. As President, I will work to ensure the SGPS remains an integral member of this partnership -graduate and professional students should be equally represented on campus, not only undergraduate interests.
Vice-President Community Candidates

Cameron Wathey
Candidate for SGPS Vice-President Community
During my undergraduate at the University of Toronto, I was the Vice-President Operations at the University of Toronto Students’ Union. I was able to implement policies that directly improved the lives of the student community as well as organized events such as Orientation Week, Homecoming and Frost Week. My proudest accomplishment was the success of the international students’ right campaign, which included lobbying the university administration and the provincial government to permit international students to participate in the university’s governance structure. This victory amended the University of Toronto Act in 2015, allowing international students to sit on the University of Toronto’s Governing Council and the opportunity to be involved in the university-level policies.
After graduation I was also the Clubs Coordinator for the Student Association of George Brown College. I was responsible for all matters pertaining to Student Life Clubs Program, successfully tripling the number of clubs from 25 to 75 within one academic year. I have also volunteered extensively within the Kingston community including Social Committees, Public Administration Representative for SGPS, Policy Committee for SGPS, canvassed for Mary Rita Holland’s City Councilor campaign and am a member of the Planning Advisory Working Group for the City of Kingston.
Community engagement is my passion and I hope to bring that passion and experience to Queen’s. I hope together we can implement campaigns to promote mental health on campus, host more inclusive events, on and off campus, and look into increasing research funding through grants at the SGPS and within the university. Vote for experience and passion – vote for Cameron!
Vice-President Finance and Services Candidates

Abel Hazon
Candidate for SGPS Vice-President Finance and Services
As the current Vice President Finance & Services, Abel delivered on his promise to reduce the health plan fees last year. This translates to over $20 in savings to every graduate and professional student. Abel has also raised the much-needed Emergency Bursary and the heavily-utilized Department Student Council grant to $10,000 each. In addition to bringing real and tangible value to students, Abel’s experience managing budgets and student fees has kept the books in the green despite the SGPS seeing an unanticipated six-figure reduction in its collected monies last year. The society is currently on track to report a healthy surplus this year.
As a previous Health and Dental Plan administrator for a 24,500-member policy, Abel brings in a wealth of knowledge in best practices and negotiating with health plan providers. This is more important than ever given the political uncertainty of OHIP+ remaining a primary payer for prescription drugs in the province. Having already reduced the plan cost to students last year, Abel promises to bring in a new health plan design which will ensure maximum value-transfer to students that need it the most.
When re-elected, Abel’s experience will usher in another year of fiscal responsibility, transparency and efficiency.
“I believe that the SGPS must work towards sustainable and positive change through the pillars of collaboration, community, and transparency.”
Best Regards,
Abel Hazon
Vice-President Graduate Candidates

Leo Erlikhman
Candidate for SGPS Vice-President Graduate
I would like to continue my work to provide more visible and accessible services to graduate students at Queen’s. My platform for this year will be centred around issues that have been brought up this year by members of our community. If re-elected I will do my best to ensure that there will be a continued administrative focus to support Graduate students’ well-being on campus. I will do so by:
- Finalizing and completing the Graduate Peer Support Center, SGPS members will have their own peer-to-peer mental health service on campus.
- Utilizing the increased student advisor team to do more advocacy on campus.
- Ensuring the continuation of the Graduate student wellness survey, we can create evidence-based policies and procedures that will improve the lives of our members.
- Expanding professional skills and experiential learning opportunities.
- Continued work to improve supervisory relationships and an increased promotion of the new student-supervisor agreement.
I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you over the campaign period and encourage those looking for more information to check out my platform.
Vice-President Professional Candidates

Ryan Adlem
Candidate for SGPS Vice-President Professional
- Increase Awareness of SGPS Services Within Professional Programs
It is possible for one to spend their entire professional degree at Queen’s without knowing what the SGPS does. If elected VP Professional, I would begin an informational campaign to advertise the services the SGPS offers—such as its health & dental plan and grants & bursaries. This can be accomplished by working to enhance the social media presence of the SGPS. - Increase Interaction Between Professional Faculties
There is little interaction between members of the various professional faculties. For example, law students tend to primarily interact with other law students while students in the Faculty of Education are geographically isolated on another part of campus. I would work with the VP Community to increase the number and quality of social events between members of the professional programs. - Enhance Career Week
Career week should focus on helping professional students develop the practical skills they need to excel after graduation. Workshops on job interviews, cover letter & resume development, and personal branding are critical.
Student Government Experience:
During undergraduate studies at UBC, I was President of the Graduating Class Council and an executive in the Political Science Students’ Association. Additionally, I was a councillor in the Arts Undergraduate Society and a member of its Finance Committee. At Queen’s, I am currently a Law Students’ Society Special Representative for the Restructuring Initiative.
Graduate Student Senator Candidates

Courtney Bannerman
Candidate for Graduate Student Senator

World University Services Canada (formerly Student Refugee Support)
$3.48 - Optional
Nomination Period Opens | December 31, 2018 @ 8:00am |
Nomination Period Closes | January 14, 2019 @ 4:00pm |
SGPS Council | January 15, 2019 @ 5:30pm |
All Candidates Meeting | January 17, 2019 @ 5:30pm |
Campaign Period Opens | January 18, 2019 @ 12:01am |
Campaign Period Closes | January 27, 2019 @ 11:59pm |
Voting Opens | January 28, 2019 @ 12:01am |
Voting Closes | January 29, 2019 @ 8:00pm |
Expenses Due | February 7, 2019 @ 4:00pm |

President
Tyler Morrison, Current SGPS President
Salary: $15,500

VP Community
Isabel Luce, Current SGPS VP Community
Salary: $12,000

VP Finance and Services
Abel Hazon, Current SGPS VP Finance and Services
Salary: $12,000

VP Graduate
Leo Erlikhman, Current SGPS VP Graduate
Salary: $12,000

VP Professional
Lauren Peacock, Current SGPS VP Professional
Salary: $12,000

Graduate Student Senator
Alexandru Sonoc, Current Graduate Student Senator