Annual General Meeting

ACCRU 2026 AGM

The Alliance of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities (ACCRU) convened its 2026 Annual General Meeting on May 25–26 at the Royal Society of Canada’s Walter House, located at 282 Somerset Street West in Ottawa. The two-day event brought together representatives from member institutions across Canada for strategic discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaborative engagement in support of advancing the Alliance’s priorities.

The meeting provided an opportunity for members to reconnect in person and engage in discussions on key organizational priorities, including membership fee structure, governance, and the future direction of the Annual General Meeting. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to working sessions with Beacon North Strategies to support the development of ACCRU’s government relations and advocacy approach, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the Alliance’s collective voice and overall impact.

Throughout the two days, ACCRU’s standing committees met to discuss shared challenges, exchange best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration. These discussions highlighted the importance of coordination across institutions and reinforced a growing focus on demonstrating and enhancing the collective impact of ACCRU within Canada’s research ecosystem.

The program also featured invited speakers who provided valuable external perspectives. Dr. Britta Baron, Vice-President, Strategy Development at ECCIR, presented on Horizon Europe and the opportunities it offers Canadian institutions to enhance global and local research relevance and collaboration. Amber Leahey, Librarian at the University of Toronto and Service Director for Borealis, the Canadian Dataverse Repository, spoke on supporting access to and reuse of research data through national digital infrastructure.

The AGM included formal business sessions, including committee updates, the Chair’s remarks, the Executive Director’s report, and approval of the 2026–2027 budget. Discussions also addressed future planning considerations, including meeting format, timing, topics, and member engagement.

Overall, the 2026 AGM reinforced ACCRU’s commitment to collaboration, strategic alignment, and increasing its collective impact, while providing a valuable forum for members to share perspectives, build connections, and contribute to shaping the organization’s next phase of development.