Move UBC Keynote: The Power of Movement for Resilience with Olympian Clara Hughes (Event Recording)

Audience: Students, faculty, and staff at UBC.

Date/time: This is an event recording that can be viewed at any time. The live event took place on February 24, 2026, at the Chan Centre on the UBC Vancouver campus.  

Event description: 

February 2026 marked the 10-year anniversary of Move UBC, UBC's university-wide campaign that encourages movement, physical activity, and wellbeing in our everyday campus life.   

Since its launch in 2016, Move UBC has supported the health and wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff by promoting movement and physical health literacy across work, learning, teaching, research, and living environments. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a key UBC Wellbeing campaign, showing how movement can positively impact our physical health, mental health, wellbeing, academic performance, and community.   

A highlight of the anniversary celebrations was the Move UBC Keynote on February 24, 2026, featuring Olympian and mental health advocate Clara Hughes, with opening remarks from UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon. One of Canada’s most accomplished athletes, Hughes is internationally recognized for her leadership in mental health advocacy and her powerful message on resilience and the role of movement in wellbeing.  

In this recorded keynote, Clara shares her insights from her journey as a high-performance athlete and explores how movement can support resilience, mental health, and overall wellbeing both on campus and beyond.  

The event was presented by Athletics & Recreation, Human Resources, and Student Health & Wellbeing, reflecting UBC’s collaborative commitment to advancing wellbeing across our campuses. Learn more about Move UBC at move.ubc.ca. 

About Clara Hughes:  

Connection fuels Clara Hughes. Whether on the Olympic stage, on long-distance trails, or in conversation with audiences, she is driven by a deep commitment to connection with self, others, and the world around us. A six-time Olympic medalist and the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games (in cycling and speed skating), Clara is also a leading mental health advocate. As the founding spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk, she helped spark a national conversation to reduce stigma around mental illness. In her keynote presentations, Clara candidly shares her lived experience with depression and explores how movement and storytelling can support resilience and wellbeing. She continues to inspire through speaking, outdoor adventure, and writing, including her bestselling memoir, Open Heart, Open Mind. 

If you have any questions, please email ubc.wellbeing@ubc.ca 

Keywords: mental health, wellbeing, resilience, physical activity, movement, health promotion, Move UBC