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Branksome Hall News

BH Model United Nations Goes to Montreal!

From November 10 to 13, 2022, 30 enthusiastic and motivated Model United Nations (MUN) club members from Grades 9–12 and three faculty advisors travelled to Montreal to attend the Secondary School United Nations Symposium (SSUNS), the club’s first in-person overnight conference since January 2020.
SSUNS, a highly competitive and prestigious conference, presented a wonderful opportunity for the team to develop and practise their skills of debating and diplomacy while collaborating with students from across Canada, America and the Caribbean. Students took part in four days of committee sessions discussing and finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing global issues. 

Faculty advisors Mr. Brownson, Mr. Narancsik and Ms. Higginson were very impressed with the confidence shown by the students. “We saw our BH students taking the lead in their committee negotiations and really getting involved in debate,” said Mr. Narancsik. “We saw confidence levels soaring as the conference progressed. The excitement and positive energy that students shared with us about their accomplishments at the end of each day was truly inspiring and energizing. This is why we love MUN!”

“BHMUN is a young team with many Grades 9 and 10 members and we see great potential in our students as they continue to gain experience with each conference. We are the team to watch in the coming years!” noted Ms. Higginson.

Grade 12 students Seungmyoung and Samantha led the Branksome Hall delegation and ensured all members were prepped and ready for this big event. Both were outstanding role models and a constant support and inspiration to the younger students, many of whom had not attended an in-person MUN conference before.

Mr. Brownson reflects on the success of BHMUN, “We love the sense of community and supportive culture that is growing in this club. Students from all grades work together to share skills and expertise and build strong friendships through our weekly club meetings and through our conference participation. It was wonderful to see students connecting across grade levels at SSUNS.”

Branksome is also very proud that two students took home top awards from the conference. Grade 12 student Seungmyoung and Grade 10 student Julie were both awarded the Viola Desmond Award for Advocacy by their committee groups for their efforts to ensure that all voices and perspectives were recognized and represented in the debate. 

BHMUN looks forward to continued success in January 2023 at their next conference in Den Haag, The Netherlands.
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.

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