VMUN 2016

On a nippy Thursday, sixteen delegates, accompanied by Mr Skardal and Ms McNeill, set out for the Vancouver Model United Nations (VMUN) conference, one of the largest such conferences in North America, to determine the proper use of a point of personal privilege. During the three-day conference, delegates were faced with seemingly catastrophic crises, and simulated political uprisings, all to learn to navigate contentious issues, including economic diversity, methods and benefits of controlling overpopulation, and addressing the dearth of women in politics. Our delegates engaged in productive debate, unproductive arguing and much lunchtime diplomacy. The goal of focus was diplomatic resolution, but delegates also made some new friends within the MUN community, practised new dance steps at the VMUN social, did a bit of Vancouver shopping, all while bringing awareness to world issues and harnessing the power of diplomatic vocabulary. Of 1300 delegates at the conference, Brentwood students garnered several Starbucks coffees, three colds, two headaches…and five impressive formal awards: Outstanding Delegate: Muhammad K (Greece) European Union Best Researched Delegate: Caitlin W (India) World Health Organisation,  Outstanding Delegate: Max Q (USA) World Health Organization,  Honourable Mention: Michael L (China) Disarmament and International Security Committee Best Researched Delegate: Jaylynn B (Congo) Disarmament and International Security Committee Maria S, Hope ‘16; Photo by Tegwyn C, Allard '17