President Steenkamp: Little bits of good

“Do your little bit of good where you are: it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Happy 2022 everyone, and a warm welcome back to our Royal Roads family.

I know we are all tired of this ongoing pandemic, so I do hope you got some much needed rest and are feeling recharged for the exciting year ahead.

A new year is a time for reflection and resolution. A time to make sense of what we have gone through and to create a vision for the future.

This is much harder to do at times when the future is still so uncertain. With the recent surge in COVID cases, the stress of living in that uncertainty continues, as does the strain of having to continually adapt, and the burden of worry and care.

These feelings are very real. I know that in the last few weeks, this pandemic has touched many more of us personally.

But we will get through this together. We can only get through this together.

At times like this, when we face seemingly never-ending challenges, I draw on the words and reflections of the late Archbishop Desmond Desmond Tutu. That veteran champion for justice instilled in me the importance of hope in challenging times.

As he said: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

Our university is a beacon of hope, and is key to the well-being of so many — those of us who work here and those whose lives are transformed by our life changing education.

It’s a place where we can make a meaningful contribution and find fulfilment. This is so important to our health and happiness.

Royal Roads’ approach to learning affords us the ability to do things differently than other universities. And our values of caring, creativity and courage, which are tested each and every day, guide us in the ways we think, act and respond.

So thank you to all the faculty, associate faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to support our students and to keep our university running smoothly.

And thank you to our students for their patience and flexibility, and for supporting each other as we navigate these turbulent waters.

You have all done incredible work as a learning community.

I so look forward to seeing what we will accomplish in the year ahead.

While it’s harder to plan when you don’t know what lies ahead, it’s important to move ahead with purpose and optimism. I know that for me, each and every one of you is my reason for optimism.

Here’s to a great year!