It is one of those rare occasions when tradition finds new meaning — when people from different horizons come together around a shared commitment to dialogue, inclusion and the possibilities that learning and research can create.
During the ceremony, a newly created presidential stole will be placed on her shoulders — a moment filled with symbolism and intention. “Symbols matter,” Sylvestre says. “They help us see who we are today — the relationships we honour and the values we share. Five months into my mandate, I see how much is already in motion, and how much possibility we can continue to shape together.”
The stole’s symbols draw on Indigenous knowledge, the living bilingual identity of the uOttawa campuses, and the belief that learning and research can create meaningful change, echoing Sylvestre’s commitment to a research-intensive university grounded in community, open to dialogue and inspired by the desire to imagine, create and build together.
Symbols grounded in place, identity and the power of knowledge
The presidential stole reflects the spirit Marie-Eve Sylvestre brings to her leadership — grounded, dynamic and inspired by the people and knowledge that shape uOttawa. Its design draws meaning from this place and its communities, beginning with the floral beadwork created by craftswoman and Anishinàbemowin teacher Stephanie Tenasco. The strawberry, blueberry and white flower (Wābigon in Anishinàbemowin) evoke growth, renewal and the bonds that connect us to the land, while the porcupine quills and pike vertebrae honour practices rooted in respect for all that nature provides.
“Collaborating with uOttawa on this project has allowed me to share my passion for beadwork, storytelling and the Anishinàbemowin language,” Tenasco reflects. “The beadwork on the president’s stole isn’t just decoration: it’s storytelling. Each bead, each stitch, carries meaning that connects us to our ancestors.”
“The beadwork on the president's stole isn’t just decoration—it’s storytelling. Each bead, each stitch, carries meaning that connects us to our ancestors.”
Stephanie Tenasco
— Craftswoman and Anishinàbemowin teacher
The stole also reflects the vibrant Francophonie that defines the University of Ottawa: not only as a linguistic reality, but also as a cultural and intellectual force. The Tudor Rose, the Trillium and the Fleur-de-lys together represent Anglophone, Franco-Ontarian and broader Francophone communities, whose histories and futures intersect on this campus. Their place on the stole speaks to a living, bilingual identity that shapes research, teaching, partnerships and the daily experience of students and staff.
An unfurled book anchors the design in uOttawa’s academic heritage, a reminder of its evolution from a small college into a research-intensive university driven by relevance, innovation and social impact. The image honours a long-standing belief shared across the campus: that learning and research can transform lives and help address today’s challenges.
Taken together, these symbols evoke relationships rooted in respect, recognition of the land, the strength of the Francophonie, and the power of education and research to create possibilities.
A collaborative creation rooted in listening, respect and campus expertise
The creation of the presidential stole grew from the kind of collaboration that defines the working culture at uOttawa — creative, cross-campus and shaped by collective dedication and passion. The project brought together Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Francophone representatives, and teams across campus who approached the work with a shared desire to honour the University’s many identities.
Designer Catherine Légaré, who has been at the University for more than two decades, brought these elements together with intention and care. Her familiarity with the uOttawa community guided her approach from early sketches to the final stitching of the symbols. “To create a visual representation of the University for our incoming President—our first female leader—was an honour,” she reflects. “It’s something I took very seriously.”
“To create a visual representation of the university for our incoming President—our first female leader—was an honour.”
Catherine Légaré
— Lead Graphic Designer
Alongside her work, the project was guided in part by the creative direction of uOttawa’s Philippe Tremblay-Berberi and enriched by the expertise of the Office of Indigenous Affairs, the Francophonie Office, and colleagues across campus, ensuring that each symbol held space for the communities it represents. Decisions were shaped through dialogue, with contributors continuously refining the design so it would reflect the University’s roots while speaking to the present moment.
This spirit of collaboration is expressed through the stole itself. It reflects a culture where people work together across roles and perspectives, where creativity is shared, and where meaningful partnerships shape the way ideas come to life. What emerged is an academic garment that embodies not only the symbols of uOttawa, but the collective way in which the University moves forward — through cooperation, respect and shared purpose.
Possibilities carried into the future
Sylvestre’s presidential stole enters the University’s story as a symbol of who we are and who we aspire to become — shaped by many hands and rooted in this place. “For me, the stole reflects the people who make the University what it is today, and what it can become,” Sylvestre says. “It carries the relationships, the values and the hopes we share as we imagine the future together.”
“For me, the stole reflects the people who make the University what it is today, and what it can become.”
Marie-Eve Sylvestre
— President and Vice-Chancellor
At each convocation in the years ahead, as Marie-Eve Sylvestre marks this milestone with graduates, the stole will serve as a reminder of the shared values they will carry with them as they step into the world as alumni, and that the path forward will be shaped by the choices made as a community.
Attend the installation ceremony of Marie-Eve Sylvestre online
On December 1, the University of Ottawa will celebrate a milestone in its history with the installation of Marie-Eve Sylvestre as president and vice-chancellor. Join us to experience this event online; it promises to be a historic and memorable moment for the University and an opportunity for our institution to shine.
Learn more about the installation of Marie-Eve Sylvestre and attend the event online.
