With a voter turnout of 24.8 per cent, students have elected a new executive team for the SGPS.
Tatyana Grandmaitre, ArtSci ’24, JD ’27, was elected president over Alexandra Giff, HealthSci ’25, MSc, ’27. Olusola Akintola, PhD ’29, beat out Olivia DiPaolo, MSc ’27, and Sakura Koner, PhD ’28, for the position of vice-president (graduate). Mary Arakelyan, MD ’29, running unopposed, was elected as the next vice-president (professional).
In the presidential election, 54.4 per cent of students voted for Grandmaitre, with the remaining 45.6 per cent having cast their vote for Giff. Following the announcement of the results, Grandmaitre shared her excitement with The Journal about the new role.
“I’m honoured to have the support of the students around me, and to know Graduate and Professional Students across Queen’s have trusted me to support them in turn as we shape our Queen’s experiences into something memorable and empowering,” Grandmaitre said.
“This is a big role to take on, but I look forward to taking it one step at a time, learning everything there is to know, and beginning to work with an incredible team of advocates to help students navigate the road ahead.”
Akintola won the race for vice-president (graduate) with 41.2 per cent of the vote, with Koner receiving 32.8 per cent, and DiPaolo receiving 26 per cent. After his win, Akintola told The Journal what he’s looking forward to accomplishing in this role.
“In the coming year, my focus will be on strengthening student engagement, amplifying student voices, and working collaboratively with the executive team to address key student needs,” he said. “I’m particularly committed to fostering inclusivity, transparency, and initiatives that enhance the overall student experience at Queen’s.”
95 per cent of students gave their vote of confidence to Arakelyan in her uncontested race. Arakelyan shared her excitement and willingness to engage with students with The Journal.
“I remain passionate about expanding inter-professional education and collaboration during my term and am in the process of thinking through the details and gathering feedback on this goal. More than anything though, I hope for all my work to be shaped by the needs and priorities of graduate and professional students. Whether it’s now or when I officially start, I would love to hear ideas and concerns from students.”
The ballot also confirmed the renewal of nine fees facing triennial review. The mandatory fees confirmed included a $3.00 fee for the Ban Righ Centre, a $0.50 fee for the Campus Observation Room, a $1.40 fee for the Centre for Teaching and Learning, a $5.50 fee for Queen’s Legal Aid, and a $77.04 fee for Student Wellness Services. Optional student fees that were confirmed included a $1.00 fee for Camp Outlook, a $2.00 fee for Queen’s Daycare, a $1.80 fee for Reelout Arts Project, and a $3.00 fee for Union Gallery.
The complete election results have been released on the SGPS website.
Tags
Elections 2026, SGPS elections, SGPS executive
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