History of Horizons
Horizons: Future Student Leaders Conference was launched in 2002. Since its inception and even today, it follows three guiding principles:
1) To foster interaction between current and future student leaders
2) Act as a source of information on ways to get involved
3) Develop the leadership skills of incoming first year McMaster Students
Horizons is now celebrating its 4th anniversary as the delegates from the 1st annual conference recently or will soon be graduating from university. In 2003, the year after its creation, a massive power outage in the Northeastern United States, Quebec, and Ontario caused the cancellation of the conference.
In 2004, approximately 130 delegates (up from 100 in 2002) descended upon the McMaster University campus on Friday August 13th to start what some delegates refer to as one of the best Friday, the 13th’s ever.
Aside from the traditional conference setting that includes interactive sessions and social activities, Horizons 2004 included guest speakers such as McMaster University President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Peter George, in addition to Sunjay Nath (one of Canada’s leading leadership development professionals).
In 2005, a similar line-up of speakers, special guests, sessions, and events were presented. The conference is 100% by students–for students. It receives primary funding from, and is a subsidiary of the McMaster Students Union. The MSU provides services, representation, and employment for a large number (approximately 17,000) of students on the McMaster campus. In many ways, the MSU is comparable to a high school student council in an incorporated, professional format.
Horizons runs on a cost recovery basis and strives to provide a memorable experience at a fair cost to delegates.
