Assalamu alaikum!

Eid Mubarak. (I know Eid was last month, but it is better late than never!)

Blessings to you, your families, and your friends this evening.

Tonight, I am honoured to be here representing Trent International as its acting Director.

Trent International -- what was formerly called TIP -- is here for you; to support your growth as a student and as a citizen of the world.

If you need anything, come visit. We are happy to help.

Trent is special.

Like many of you, I didn’t know that I would be coming to this amazing place and being part of its international community. But now that I am here, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

In its very essence, this university is a place that inspires people to come together and to share.

We all know that Eid al-Adha commemorates the prophet Abraham. A prophet who Jews, Christians and Muslims all share. It is a mutual heritage that we have in common.

And like that example, Trent is a place that encourages us to celebrate what we have in common; to celebrate our mutual love of learning, with humility, fellowship and fun.

Education makes us better people and it inspires us to better the lives of others. Only when we educate and improve ourselves can we truly make the world a better place.

As students, people who have devoted your lives to education, you are inspirational. Thank you for inspiring me… to be a better person and teacher.

Thank you for creating a Trent where sharing and celebrating those things that bring us together is more important that dwelling on those things that unnecessarily divide us.

Enjoy the blessings of the evening now and always.

Thank you.