Montreal, led by Dawson’s own Model UN (DCMUN), has won the bid to host the 26th session of the World Model United Nations MMXVII in 2017! This is big news, nearly 3,000 participants are expected from post-secondary educational institutions around the world, with delegates participating in simulations and activities within the Model United Nations conference, bringing together young people to build greater awareness of the work of the United Nations and multilateral diplomacy, and to seek solutions to pressing international challenges of concern to us all.

Parijat Lal, Secretary-General of Harvard WorldMUN, the international organizing body, made the announcement this past weekend. It is a first for Montreal and coincides with celebrations of both the city’s 375th anniversary and with Canada’s 150th anniversary since Confederation.

This will take place from March 13 to 17, 2017. The driving force behind the successful bid was (DCMUN), led by Dawson teachers Ted Irwin, DCMUN Coordinator, and Chris Bourne, DCMUN Faculty Adviser, with Dawson graduate Jonathan Sasson, now studying law at Université de Montréal, and a dedicated team of Dawson College students and alumni. The bid also received support from Tourisme Montréal, the Palais des Congrès, and was endorsed by all three levels of government.

Over the last eight years, DCMUN has developed a reputation for excellence, professionalism, and diplomacy, having sent hundreds of students to dozens of Model UN competitions across Montreal, Canada, and the United States, and has competed at Harvard WorldMUN in Brussels, Seoul, and Rome.

“Dawson’s bid to host WorldMUN in 2017 demonstrates not only the College’s dedication to its academic mission, but its belief that good citizenry extends beyond our borders, by building a community of global citizens, creating a centre of both local and global excellence, and doing its part to position Montreal as a global city,” said Richard Filion, Dawson College Director General.

“WorldMUN [has] celebrated twenty-five years: a period that has seen this conference grow from just over 300 delegates to more than 2,000 [delegates],” Mr. Lal wrote. “As we set out to write a fresh chapter in WorldMUN’s vibrant and storied history, it is important for us to honor the real spirit of this conference, a spirit that has guided us since 1992.

“At the heart of this lies the delegate experience, whether this is the enriching debate and diplomacy inside committee or the unique opportunity of sharing one’s background and interests with passionate peers from over 110 nations. With a commitment to the experience of our participants in mind, the team this year is looking forward to providing the substantive excellence and social interactions that set WorldMUN apart,” he concluded.

“This will present an excellent opportunity to showcase Montreal to a world of young people,” added Mr. Filion. “And Dawson College, as a post-secondary educational leader in the greater Montreal community for nearly 50 years, is proud to be at the centre of this prestigious event.”