This past week-end delegates trickled into Montreal, home of the McGill Model United Nations Assembly, commonly known as McMUN. The 24th installment of Canada’s largest Model United Nations conference was this year expanded both in size and international presence, notably through its recent initiative, the MUN League. The partnership redefined the global notion of Model UN and helped McMUN 2013 set a new standard for international participation as it hosted students from eleven different countries: Canada, USA, Brazil, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, France, Australia, India, Bangladesh and Namibia.
The Opening Ceremonies featured inspiring words by Secretary General Mickaela Nixon, as well as Paul Heinbecker, former Canadian representative to the United Nations, and Marnie McBean, decorated Olympian and representative of the conference’s charity, Right To Play. Amidst 40 below zero (Celsius) temperatures, the intensity of debate and the blood, sweat, and tears of conference staff made for a one of a kind weekend.
This year the Secretariat’s ambition led the conference lineup to reach 26 committees, two of which were voted in by delegates months prior to the conference.
Highlights of the weekend included the creation of a brand new television series called Vigilant, the re-election of Jean Charest amidst student protests, the public assassination of McNamara, and a lot of game theory. Steering away from traditional crisis developments, delegates from the KGB were disguised as crisis staffers, enabling them to infiltrate the cabinets of the American War on Organized Crime, a joint-crisis gone triple-joint.
With a revamped committee plan, delegates were assisted by McMUN’s Media Team capturing every single moment of the week-end, from General Assembly resolution passing, to the infamous McParté. All footage and pictures can be found on McMUN’s Facebook page.
As the awards were distributed and the closing gavel was heard, chants erupted tying the perfect bow on this frigid, yet electrifying week-end.
Delegation Awards
Best Large Delegation: Georgetown University
Best Small Delegation: Boston University