Get ready for the conference! SSUNS 2024 is taking place from November 7th to 10th!
Letter from our Secretary General
Dear delegates, faculty advisors, SSUNS staff members, esteemed sponsors, and friends of the conference,
It is with great honor and enthusiasm that I extend to you an invitation to attend the 32nd iteration of the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium (SSUNS), which will take place from Thursday, November 7th to Sunday, November 10th, 2024. As per usual, the Conference will take place at Le Centre Sheraton Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Montreal and near the McGill campus, for 4 days of creative engagement, diplomacy and learning. It is a time when we come together to not only discuss global issues but also to forge lasting connections and friendships. Whether you are a seasoned veteran of MUN and SSUNS, or just dipping your toes into this enriching experience for the first time, our entire staff, made of passionate McGill students, is dedicated to creating the best possible delegate experience in an inclusive and thrilling environment, where delegates thrive on excitement and fresh opportunities.
My name is Lucille Applegate, and it is my pleasure and privilege to serve as your Secretary-General for SSUNS 2024. Like many delegates, I discovered Model United Nations in high school, and I simply fell in love with it. Being a delegate taught me so many valuable skills and lessons, many more than I had ever imagined, and I am eternally grateful to have been able to participate in high school MUN conferences. It is now my goal to create an experience that delegates will cherish and remember, surrounded by their peers and cheered on by our amazing staff.
I would like to acknowledge that I cannot run this conference alone. Since January, my team of thirteen Secretariat members has been tirelessly working to uphold our mission and our distinction as the premier Model United Nations high school Conference in Canada, while also introducing fresh ideas and initiatives to make this year’s event truly unforgettable. This conference plays a special role in all of our McGill experiences, and we strive to put this passion into all aspects of our work.
Every year, SSUNS takes pride in its diverse slate of committees, offering an exciting opportunity for all. This year, innovation is at the forefront of our committees, whether it be in structure, or in topics addressed. Between 2 Joint Crisis Committees, a double delegate UNSC, COP29, and a thrilling ICJ committee, there is truly something for every delegate and their level.
Alongside our varied and inventive committees, we offer an array of events beyond the confines of the committee rooms. Between our annual SSUNS Walkway, inviting our esteemed conference sponsors to table and interact with delegates, our tours of the beautiful McGill campus for potential future classmates, and our famous Delegate Gala, there is truly a wide variety of opportunities to unwind and socialize amidst the bustling weekend. Moreover, the vibrant city of Montreal in which SSUNS takes place will make your SSUNS trip one for the books.
I am genuinely excited to welcome you to SSUNS 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at sg@ssuns.org. On behalf of the Secretariat, I would like to thank you for considering coming to SSUNS and we cannot wait to meet all of you in November.
With kindness,
See you there!
SSUNS 2024 is held at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal .
Land Acknowledgement
SSUNS 2024 will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, with preparatory work accomplished at McGill University. Both of these sites are located in Montréal, known as Tiohti:áke to the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation, a founding nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This territory is unceded land, and prior to the colonization of these Indigenous peoples, it served as a place of exchange and gathering for the Haudenousaunee and Anishinaabe nations. Owing to our use of such land, we must honor, recognise, and respect these nations as stewards of the lands and waters on which we meet.
It is important to understand the rich history of Indigenous communities and their connection to this land for millennia to the present day. In the 15th and 16th Centuries, European nations discovered the Americas and quickly began their settlements. This was the beginning of the colonization of Indigenous Peoples across these two continents, and led to the greatest genocide the world has ever witnessed. For over 500 years Indigenous Peoples have been the subject of extreme discrimination and racism, facing atrocities from ethnic cleansing, to assimilation, to cultural segregation.
A land acknowledgement must not replace reparatory and reconciliatory work. In order to achieve this, we must all be dedicated to recognizing the atrocities enacted by Euro-centric settlers and the long-lasting impact that colonization has had on Indigenous communities and Peoples. To move beyond a land acknowledgement, we must actively work to dismantle settler-colonial legacies that persist to this day. We can take the first step by educating ourselves. To find allyship tools from the Montreal Indigenous Community NETWORK, please consult https://reseaumtlnetwork.com/en/being-an-ally/our-tools/. If you are interested in further resources about initiatives, please contact the Chief of Human Resources at hr@ssuns.org.