Dear delegates, faculty advisors, McGill staff members, and friends of the conference,

It is with honour and excitement that I invite you to the 33rd iteration of the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) taking place from Thursday the 13th to Sunday the 16th this November 2025, at our iconic and long-standing partner hotel, Le Centre Sheraton, in Montréal. Just 10 minutes away from the city center campus of McGill, the conference weekend will be filled with meaningful debates and discussions, exchanging points of view and confronting ideas on pressing geopolitical issues. Offering a wide variety of committees, from General Assemblies, Economic and Social Councils, and Specialized Agencies to Crisis Committees, SSUNS prides itself on being one of the biggest and most diverse conferences on the high school North American circuit. Striving to empower today's young leaders, this weekend promises to be an unforgettable experience.

It is important to acknowledge that the unceded land on which SSUNS operates has long served as a place of gathering and exchange amongst Indigenous Peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. SSUNS honours, recognizes, and respects these nations as stewards of the lands and waters on which we meet. A land acknowledgement is not enough, we must actively work to dismantle settler-colonial legacies that persist to this day. Please consult the homepage of our website for further resources. 

My name is Fantine Goulliart, and it is my great pleasure and honour to serve as the SSUNS 2025 Secretary General. My Model UN adventure, a pivotal part of my life, started in Lille, France, where I was born and raised. I delved into this world in 2021, competing online in the EDHEC business school MUN (MUNL) and participating in their 6th edition in Croix the following year. This fantastic weekend opened my eyes to how MUN had such a significant impact on my life and my confidence. I discovered I had a voice and could use it to defend what I stood for. MUN taught me how to collaborate, be a positive leader and strive to find innovative solutions while believing in myself and my own potential. So this is where I became the confident version of myself! I got involved in the craziest projects, learned to lead teams, solidified my English skills and bet on myself to finally be one of the few in my region to enter McGill! In my first year, I discovered SSUNS 2023 as a photography staffer. I got to see the logistical side of the conference. I was truly blown away by the amount of dedication and passion that all these McGill students put into such a successful conference ranked top in North America. Walking into such a beautiful hotel with everything on a bigger scale than I had ever seen before, I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a part of this dedicated team. As I look forward to the SSUNS 2025 conference, I am filled with excitement and determination to create an empowering experience for everyone involved. I sincerely hope that every delegate leaves this weekend with increased confidence and lasting friendships that inspire them for years to come!

SSUNS is the work of around 250 McGill students, devoting their time to ensuring the weekend is the best experience possible for our delegates. Since January, I’ve had the privilege to work with my amazing Secretariat team of 14 talented and innovative minds. Together, we will work throughout the year, unwavering in our commitment to tailor the weekend to delegate expectations, proposing new ideas and bringing novelty to the conference and its committees.

We are dedicated to ensuring that SSUNS is accessible and welcoming to all delegates who attend. We understand that Model United Nations can be a financially challenging activity. To guarantee that all delegates and schools can participate in the enriching and educational experience of SSUNS, we are committed to ensuring access to our Financial Aid program to make them as accommodating as possible. We offer resources for new delegates who have not participated in Model U.N. before, providing a comprehensive support system to help you thrive in your committee room. With access to introductory workshops ahead of the conference and extensive committee preparation guides, SSUNS 2025 will ensure that delegates come into the conference feeling confident about their MUN knowledge and can thrive in committee with the right and accessible tools. We are committed to training our dais members and McGill students on the specifics of secondary schools MUN. Additional resources will also be provided in background guides and the delegate handbook to assist newer delegates. 

For our seasoned delegates, we have a range of exciting offerings, from advanced committees like the ad hoc crisis and joint crisis committees to the trial format specialized committee and much more. This year, Team committees are exceptionally dedicated to bringing innovative committees to our committee's slate. We are currently deciding on our committee slate! Additionally, we will offer a variety of workshops during the conference, free of charge, with teachings on specific skills for Model UN, as well as the Head Delegate Feedback Sessions, where the leaders of each delegation can socialize and learn from one another. 

Along with our committee experience, we offer various events, allowing delegates to pursue their interest outside the committee room. With our annual SSUNS walkaway, the delegates will get a chance to discover our 2025 sponsors and interact with them. Delegates will also tour the famous downtown campus of McGill in the heart of Montréal, which is a fantastic opportunity to tour their potential future university! As such, SSUNS offers various events, including the Delegate Gala, Delegate Networking Session, Faculty Advisor Cocktail, and McGill Staff Socials, all tailored to the specific participants to allow everyone to spend a weekend connecting beyond Model UN. Our Faculty Advisor Lounge is also a space to help you take care for your well-being.

It is with honor and excitement that I welcome you to SSUNS 2025, a place where we all thrive to empower the young leaders of today, a place where innovation and creativity meet eachother in a drive to lead our world in a positive direction. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at sg@ssuns.org. Your feedback and experience matters to us as we are here to ensure you it is nothing but fantastic.

With pleasure,