As we wrap up the year at the Canadian Mathematical Society, I have been thinking about what the past few months have taught us, and taught me. It wasn’t an easy year, personally or professionally, but it was one during which the strength of our community was impossible to miss.

Our two semi-annual, in Québec in the summer and in Toronto this winter, were highlights. The winter meeting, in particular, saw post-COVID record-breaking attendance with over 600 participants, which brought an incredible level of energy to the event. Being in rooms full of colleagues, hearing the hallway conversations, seeing people reconnect and collaborate, all of it reminded me why these meetings matter so much. They’re where our community truly takes shape.

The CMS Summer Math Camp in Ottawa continued to grow, and this year we reached a milestone with eight camps, including our first bilingual offering. Seeing more kids get excited about math has been incredibly energizing. With most camps being sold out in Ottawa, we are very motivated and excited to expand our programming across Canada in the coming years.

Despite some real challenges behind the scenes, our competitions ran smoothly. The Canada Lynx Math Competition (CLMC), the Canadian Open Math Challenge (COMC), and Canada Jay Math Competition (CJMC) all saw strong participation and strong support from volunteers.

The death of Robert Woodrow was devastating for the CMS and for many people across the math community. Robert’s decades of work in competitions shaped programs that thousands of students have benefited from. His absence leaves a real void. Robert touched my heart, and the hearts of so many others. He was a true mentor to many of us. At the Winter Meeting, the “Friends of Robert” gathered to share their stories, remember his legacy, and celebrate the friendships he built. For me, that event was a way for our community to grieve together while keeping his memory alive.  Robert built a lasting legacy that will not fade with his passing. As Saadi, the famous Iranian poet, says:

“A man of good name never truly dies;
 dead is the one whose name is never spoken with praise.”

« سعدیا مرد نکونام نمیرد هرگز   مرده آن است که نامش به نکویی نبرند »

Robert’s name will always be spoken with kindness, praise and respect. 

What has helped, in the midst of that loss, is seeing how many people stepped forward this year. Responsibilities shifted quickly, and several individuals took on more than they expected. Their willingness to do so ensured that the work continued. I think Robert would have been proud of that. I would also like to take a moment to thank everyone who stepped up and helped the CMS move forward in his absence. 

On the international scene, our students had a great year. At the European Girls Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO), the Canadian team earned four medals. At the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), Math Team Canada brought home five medals. These results reflect not just talent, but years of hard work, from the students themselves, their families, their teachers, and the many volunteers who make these programs possible.

Another major development this year was the launch of our new open-access journal, Canadian Mathematical Communications (CMC), which began accepting papers in 2025. The first issues will be published in the coming months, marking an important expansion of our publishing work. 

On a personal note, this past year was very difficult for me. There were moments that demanded far more energy than I felt I had to give, and many times when I wondered if my journey with the CMS needed to come to an end. I won’t pretend otherwise. But I also don’t want those challenges to overshadow the people who showed up, offered support, and quietly kept things moving forward when I couldn’t be everywhere at once. I am deeply grateful for that.

I was truly overwhelmed by the support and kindness of so many volunteers in our Society, who gave their time and energy to help set things right again. I would like to take a moment to thank them all, without naming individuals, and to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of them. I believe we all grow and learn from difficult times, and after all, “the voices that tried to break us, ended up shaping our resilience.”

During the difficult moments of this past year, I took some time to look back and reflect on my over seven years serving the CMS as Executive Director, and on what we have achieved together with the tremendous support of the CMS staff. From fully updating our website and revising our terms of reference, to navigating the hardships of COVID; from coping with the loss of a pillar of the CMS staff, Alan Kelm, to purchasing the House of Math; from building two new competitions, expanding our math camps, organizing workshops with universities, and creating a new day camp program from scratch, to securing significant grant funding and strengthening the budget to help ensure the CMS remains financially secure in the years to come. These are accomplishments that make me feel proud, grateful, and genuinely hopeful for the future.

 “All that time  […], I was building something […] I built a legacy that you can’t undo […] thanK you aIMee!” 

I want to acknowledge and thank the staff who kept the CMS running every day: Julia, Maria, Lindsay, Sarah, Steve, Trevor, Xinxin and Yvette. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and steady work throughout a demanding year.

And to our volunteers, committees, members, and CMS partners: thank you. The CMS runs on shared effort. Every competition problem written, every meeting organized, every peer review completed, every camp delivered, it all adds up, and it all matters.

Even with its challenges, this year moved us forward. We expanded programs, welcomed new members and volunteers, celebrated student achievements, and supported one another through difficult moments. As we head into the new year, we do so with momentum, with new initiatives underway, and with a community that continues to show its strength when it’s most needed.

Thank you for being part of this work and for helping the CMS in achieving its mission of promoting math in Canada, and Canadian math across the world.