After a voter turnout of 16.1 per cent, team DAE has been elected the next AMS executive.
Announced in The Queen’s Pub at the election reveal night on Jan. 31, Dreyden George, ArtSci ’27, has been elected president over Alex McArthur, ArtSci ’27. Running unopposed, Avery Papoulidis, HealthSci ’27, has been elected the next vice-president (operations). Edward Sy, HealthSci ’27, also ran unopposed, and has been elected the society’s next vice-president (university affairs).
In the presidential election, 51.2 per cent of students cast their votes for George, 41.3 per cent voted for McArthur, 7.5 per cent voted none of the above, and 1,019 abstained. Alongside 1,115 abstentions, Papoulidis received 86.2 per cent of voters’ confidence in overseeing the society’s finances. Sy received 85.9 per cent confidence to tackle their role, including 1,085 abstentions.
George was at the pub when the results were publicly announced, surrounded by his campaign team as well as fellow candidates and their own teams.
“I’m very thankful to the students for their vote, of course, and I look forward to better explaining how transparency is hoping to be delivered,” George said in an interview with The Journal. “I think there’s a lot to do in the AMS and so I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running and diving right into the position.”
George after the announcement, with confetti in the air. PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA.
In an interview with The Journal, Papoulidis explained that while she recognizes it might be a difficult role, she’s ready to give “110 per cent” of her effort.
“I do feel ready [to take on the AMS’s finances and deficit]. It’s gonna be a challenge, but I think that my platform has highlighted the long-term goals that I want to put into place to address the deficit, and I’m very excited to put in the work,” she said.
Papoulidis after the announcement. PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA.
After the announcement, Sy explained in an interview with The Journal that he’s feeling very grateful, adding how he feels himself and the other candidates have gotten closer over the campaigning period.
“I’m very grateful. Grateful for everyone who supported me, grateful for the people who showed up today. It’s nice also being with all the other candidates who ran. I think we all created a bond together, regardless of if we’re running for the same position or not,” Sy said.
Sy after the announcement. PHOTO BY JASHAN DUA.
The ballot also included the implementation of a new $3.5 fee for the Social Issues Commission, with 61.3 per cent of students voting in favour. The Queen’s Black Academic Society fee was increased from $0.50 to $1.10, while the NeuGeneration fee decreased from $0.35 to $0.25. All 11 fees facing triennial review passed as well.
A plebiscite question—which is used to gather popular opinion on a certain topic—asked students whether they agree that Queen’s “investment portfolio should be in compliance with recognized international standards of ethical and sustainable investment?” 86.1 per cent of students, or 2320 people, voted in favour, while 625 individuals abstained.
The complete election results have been released on the AMS’s website.
—With files from Lilly Meechan and Emmet Paradis
Tags
AMS election, AMS elections, AMS executive, Elections 2026, Team DAE
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