Hart House

In photos: Student-run Black Grad event celebrates community, culture and excellence

davidlee — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:47:24 +0000

In photos: Student-run Black Grad event celebrates community, culture and excellence

davidlee Mon, 06/24/2024 - 12:47

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Graduating students and recent graduates from across the three campuses sit in Hart House’s Great Hall during the student-run Black Grad celebration, organized annually by ��ϲ��'s Black Student Association (all photos by Polina Teif)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2024

Black Grad

Hart House

St. George

��ϲ�� Mississauga

��ϲ�� Scarborough

Subheadline

"Your success is not just personal, but a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations"

Peals of applause reverberated through Hart House’s Great Hall as dozens of graduates and graduating students at the ��ϲ�� took to the stage at the Black Student Association’s annual Black Grad celebration, which brings together ��ϲ�� community members from across the three campuses.

Taking a page from their U.S. peers, students at ��ϲ�� began organizing Black Grad celebrations in 2017 as a way to honour students’ resilience, diversity and academic accomplishments.

��ϲ�� News writer Adina Bresge and interactive digital producer Polina Teif captured the celebration earlier this month:

(photo by Polina Teif)

Rows of graduates and graduating students waited to be called to the stage, where each was congratulated by ambassadors from across ��ϲ��’s three campuses.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Doyin Adeyemi, president of ��ϲ��'s Black Students' Association and head of the 2024 Black Grad Planning Committee, said she was honoured to be in a room filled with such Black excellence, acknowledging the challenges her fellow graduates had faced to reach this milestone.

“Your success is not just personal, but a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations,” Adeyemi said.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Meshach Homer said the significance of the occasion hit him as soon as he donned his kente stole.

“When I got here and I saw so many Black people like me, it just feels like we've achieved something so great,” says Homer, who was graduating with an honours bachelor of arts degree from the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at ��ϲ�� Mississauga.

He says the milestone was all the more special because he was sharing it with his mother, who flew in from Trinidad to see the son she’d raised as a single parent graduate from one of the world’s top universities.

“It’s a big thing to see me happy for all that I have achieved and all that she has achieved raising me the way I am.”

(photo by Polina Teif)

After the proceedings, graduates reunited with friends and family at a reception for hugs, photos and food.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Hannah Flores, a spoken word poet, scientist and life sciences student at New College in the Faculty of Arts & Science, performed a piece dedicated to “the only Black student in the room.”

In keeping with the 2024 theme, “Legacy in Motion: Passing the Baton of Excellence,” the student-run event’s speakers and performers recognized the rich tradition of Black community, culture, and excellence and reminded graduates of their role in carrying forward that mission of empowerment.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Dozens of graduates gathered in the Hart House courtyard for a Class of 2024 portrait.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Naomi Tekle Kiros said attending Black Grad felt like the culmination of a dream she’s been working toward since Grade 8.

“I felt that I was truly honoured and rewarded for what I've accomplished at this campus,” said Kiros, who is graduating with an honours bachelor of arts degree with a double major in sociology and critical studies in equity and solidarity.

Wearing the stole provided by the organizers, a traditional Ethiopian kemis and gold headpiece, Kiros said she was overwhelmed by the sense of fellowship and community permeating the hall and wanted her outfit to highlight how her heritage has shaped her vision for the future and plans to go to law school.

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Munk School's Peter Loewen reflects on the former prime minister's legacy

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:34:33 +0000

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Munk School's Peter Loewen reflects on the former prime minister's legacy

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 03/21/2024 - 10:34

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��ϲ�� will lower its flags to half-mast in memory of former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s state funeral (photo by Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Michael Wilson

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Hart House

International

Politics

Rotman School of Management

Subheadline

"He’s one of the world’s great storytellers, but woven within those stories are some pretty important political lessons about focusing on the long term and taking on big challenges"

As Canadians prepare for former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s state funeral on March 23, the ��ϲ�� is remembering his legacy and will lower flags on all three campuses for the event.

Mulroney, the Conservative leader who served as the country’s 18th prime minister from 1984 to 1993, visited ��ϲ�� on numerous occasions over the years. That includes the G7 summit in 1988, when he met with U.S. president Ronald Reagan and British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at Hart House alongside other world leaders.

(courtesy of Hart House)

He also made several public appearances at ��ϲ�� after retiring from politics, including taking part in a conference on antisemitism in 2003 and a conference on diplomacy in the digital age in 2011. More recently, in September 2022, Mulroney visited the Rotman School of Management for an event celebrating the legacy of Michael Wilson, ��ϲ��’s 33^rd chancellor, who served as finance minister in Mulroney’s government.

A week after the Rotman event, Mulroney visited the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy for a conversation with Professor Peter Loewen, director of the Munk School, during which he reflected on his prime ministerial tenure and discussed Canada’s role in the world and the future of democratic societies.

��ϲ�� News spoke with Loewen about Mulroney’s achievements and the legacy of his leadership.

Sen. Pamela Wallin and Brian Mulroney at the Rotman School of Management (photo by Johnny Guatto)

You recently wrote an article in The Conversation in which you described Brian Mulroney’s stance against apartheid in South Africa as one of his biggest achievements. Why?

This was, in Mulroney’s telling, and the telling of many others, one of the greatest achievements of his prime ministership. Brian Mulroney, in concert with Canadian mainstream opinion, was deeply opposed to apartheid. He thought it was an unacceptable form of racial separation within South Africa and was unbecoming of a democracy. That opposition, by the way, went all the way back – several governments – to John Diefenbaker’s Conservative government which opposed the imposition of apartheid when he was prime minister.

Mr. Mulroney became prime minister at a time when the issue was really coming to a head. It was deeply dividing South African society. The imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners was, by that point, widely recognized internationally as unacceptable. So for Mulroney, it was an opportunity in foreign policy for Canada to play a role in trying to right one of the great wrongs of the world.

He was opposed in that effort, though, by two of his otherwise closest allies and, indeed, closest political friends: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who opposed opposing apartheid ostensibly for anti-communist reasons. They felt that the ANC [African National Congress] was an ally of communists and they still saw themselves locked deeply in the Cold War. So, this made it difficult for Mulroney – and yet he took up the challenge of opposing it. He was joined in that opposition by most Canadians indeed and by other Commonwealth leaders, including Bob Hawke in Australia.

How did Mulroney enlist global organizations in the fight against apartheid?

South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela arrives in Ottawa for an official visit June 17, 1990 (photo by Renaud Giroux/AFP via Getty Images)

Mulroney’s international leadership was key. In 1987-1988, Mulroney had positioned himself to hold the chairmanship of three different organizations: the Commonwealth, the Francophonie (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie) and the G7. When you hold the chairmanship of those organizations, you’re in a position to set the agenda for the things to be talked about.

It was at that point that he brought the Commonwealth nations together as well as G7 countries – minus the United Kingdom and the United States – to really bring the full pressure of a sanctions regime on the South African government. And this eventually led to much economic difficulty and really squeezed the South Africans so that they had to release Mandela.

[Then-president of South Africa] F.W. De Klerk announced in February 1990 that he would unilaterally release Mandela without conditions. Mandela was released seven days later and one of the first phone calls he made internationally was to Brian Mulroney; indeed, the first parliament he visited after his freedom outside of South Africa was the Canadian Parliament, where he thanked not only Mulroney but all Canadians.

This was a moment of great international leadership by Mr. Mulroney. It’s one in which he marshaled all the support of Canadian public opinion. He often ran against public opinion – in this case he was on the right side of it and he marshaled all that support to this great international action.

What are some other examples of how Mulroney operated on the world stage?

The North American Free Trade Agreement was initialled in San Antonio on Oct. 7, 1992, with U.S. president George H.W. Bush (centre), Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari (left) and Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney (right) in attendance. Michael Wilson, Canada's minister of international trade, is seen seated in front of Mr. Mulroney (photo by Bettmann/Getty Images)

During the first Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm, the American-led mission to push back Saddam Hussein’s Iraq out of Kuwait – Mulroney was very influential in using multilateral relationships to set the terms of engagement for that war. He made it largely possible for other countries like Canada and Australia to have conditions under which they could join that alliance.

Then there’s the other sets of things which weren’t multilateral initially, but bilateral – that is, his agreements with the United States over free trade in 1987 and 1988 that then led to the multilateral NAFTA, which has set the framework for North American trade across all of the Americas. It’s taken a longer time for that vision to be realized, but that template of bilateral and then trilateral trade agreements has really formed the basis for a lot of the trade agreements that Canada now holds throughout the Americas.

How do you reflect on your conversation with Mulroney at the Munk School in 2022?

It was a thrill to have spent the time with him. He’s one of the world’s great storytellers. But woven within those stories are some pretty important political lessons about focusing on the long term and taking on big challenges.

I reflected with [TVO journalist] Steve Paikin – we were chatting after Mulroney’s passing – that I think I may have been the only person to have ever asked Mulroney a question in a public interview that stumped him. I asked him essentially whether there were things he wished he had spent more time on. He couldn’t answer the question.

I don’t know if it was an unfair question, but I think the answer was very telling in that Mr. Mulroney didn’t waste a minute when he was in office. And I think he left with no regrets over all the things that he got done. And that’s a lesson to political leaders today: that you have to really grasp that unfailing minute, and if you don’t make use of all 60 seconds of it, that you will have regrets in your career – but I think Brian Mulroney had none.

��ϲ�� to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:32:56 +0000

��ϲ�� to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:32

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(photo by Polina Teif)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre

Diversity and Inclusion

IDERD

Equity

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

School of Continuing Studies

Sexual & Gender Diversity Office

��ϲ�� Mississauga

��ϲ�� Scarborough

The ��ϲ�� is bringing together perspectives from across the tri-campus community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).

Established by the United Nations, IDERD is observed on March 21, the day that in 1960, police opened fire on a group of peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people.

��ϲ�� recognizes IDERD annually as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and racism across the university while promoting a more inclusive learning and working environment.

Presented by the Institutional Equity Office and the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, this year’s event – Faith, Hope and Dialogue: Strengthening Anti-Racism Tools and Strategies for the Path Ahead – will be held in Rotman’s Desautels Hall and broadcast via livestream.

Nythalah Baker, director of ��ϲ�� Mississauga’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, and Natasha Prashad, adviser in the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, will emcee the proceedings, which are set to open with remarks from Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion in ��ϲ��’s Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture.

Glean-Mitchell is also scheduled to speak on a panel about the challenges and opportunities of navigating EDI work alongside Allison Burgess, director of ��ϲ��’s Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, Bharat Saini, director, equity, diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and Angela Treglia, executive director, sexual violence strategy, prevention and support at the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre. The discussion will be moderated by Alexie Tcheuyap, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience.

Later, Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, senior director of ��ϲ�� Scarborough’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, will moderate a discussion featuring the perspectives and reflections of Black women in leadership. Panellists include Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, dean of the School of Continuing Studies, Sharon Grandison, director of human resources in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Janelle Joseph, assistant professor of critical studies of race and Indigeneity at KPE, and Lesa Williams-George, director of equity, inclusion and transformative practices at Victoria College.

There will also be a panel on enhancing community strategies to address anti-Asian racism on campus moderated by Loretta Ho, program and faculty development consultant in the Division of the Vice-President and Vice-Provost. The panellists include Vikram Chadalawada, director, IT strategy, innovations and digital transformation at Student Life, Joyce Hahn, chief administrative officer in the Division of the Vice-President & Provost, David Kim, warden at Hart House, and Afsana Miah, vice-president, academics and student affairs in the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union at ��ϲ�� Scarborough.

Art therapist and psychotherapist Phuong Nguyen will close out the proceedings with art-centred activities that centre hope, restoration and care.

In photos: ��ϲ��'s Black History Month Luncheon 2024

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:52:10 +0000

In photos: ��ϲ��'s Black History Month Luncheon 2024

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:52

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Volunteers serve food during the 22^ndedition of the Black History Month Luncheon, a signature event at ��ϲ�� during Black History Month (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Black History Month Luncheon

David Palmer

Hart House

Meric Gertler

Glen Boothe says he always wonders how many people will turn out for the Black History Month Luncheon – an annual event that brings together the ��ϲ�� community to celebrate Black excellence, history and culture.

“Every year, I go through this, ‘are enough people going to show up?’,” said Boothe, who works in ��ϲ��’s division of advancement and co-founded the annual luncheon more than two decades ago.

He needn’t have worried.

Glen Boothe, a co-founder of the Black History Month Luncheon, thanks Michaëlle Jean for delivering the event’s keynote address (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Booth estimated nearly 600 people gathered in the Great Hall in Hart House for the 22^nd edition of the event this week – with many others joining the celebration virtually, including via a watch party hosted by ��ϲ�� Mississauga.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s tangible support.”

Lilly Phillip, a chef with ��ϲ��’s Food Services, has been cooking for the luncheon for eight years (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Those who attended in person and virtually heard from keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, a former journalist who served as governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and spoken-word poet Randell Adjei, who was named Ontario’s first poet laureate in 2021.

Spoken-word poet Randell Adjei gestures to the audience (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Senior ��ϲ�� leaders, including President Meric Gertler, David Palmer, vice-president, advancement, Barbara Dick, assistant vice-president, alumni relations, and Dickson Eyoh, interim principal of ��ϲ��’s New College, welcomed attendees and commended the event’s volunteer organizers.

“This is one of the signature events for ��ϲ��’s annual Black History Month celebration,” President Gertler said.

��ϲ�� President Meric Gertler with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Michaëlle Jean, who served as Canada’s governor general from 2005 to 2010 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

President Gertler also remarked on the recent $5-million investment in the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies by alumnus Richard Rooney, who was in attendance.

“It will help attract world-leading scholars through the establishment of two new endowed professorships and it will support the next generation of top minds through the creation of a pair of postdoctoral fellowships,” said President Gertler.

An estimated 600 people attended the Black History Month Luncheon in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Meanwhile, Palmer presented Jean with an achievement award – recognizing her service, leadership and impact nationally and globally.

Attendees at ��ϲ�� Mississauga’s watch party listen to Michaëlle Jean via livestream (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Jean credited her mother and grandmother for motivating her to be an advocate from a young age.

“My mother constantly reminded me that indifference is not an option,” she said. “You have to be aware of what’s happening around you and how it affects you and others.

“Embrace this discomfort. Feel the pain but stand firm.”

Attendees line up in Hart House’s Great Hall as volunteers serve food (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Jean said her mother told her to use her voice, not just for her own cause, but for others too.

“Having perspective and knowing you can make a difference – that is the key to rising above adversity.”

��ϲ��’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000

��ϲ��’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19

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The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Michaëlle Jean, top row, middle, as the keynote speaker (photo of Michaëlle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

The luncheon is one of many events taking place across ��ϲ��’s three campuses during Black History Month

Over the past two decades, the ��ϲ��’s annual Black History Month Luncheon has grown in popularity and significance across ��ϲ��’s three campuses – and beyond.

Glen Boothe, the luncheon’s co-founder, attributes the event’s ongoing success to a “diversity for all” approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.

“It gets bigger every year, and it’s heartening to see because that’s an indication that the message is resonating with more people,” says Boothe, who works for ��ϲ��’s division of advancement.

Michaëlle Jean (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s luncheon – the 22nd edition of the event – will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet – and Ontario’s first poet laureate – Randell Adjei.

Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be emailed to individuals who register for the event.

The luncheon will also have a separate program – and livestream – for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by Dalton Higgins, an author and journalist, Esie Mensah, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna, Aiza, a singer and songwriter, Brandon Gonez, the CEO of Gonez Media, and Stacey McKenzie, a model and motivational speaker.

“We like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, ‘This is what you can aspire to,’” Boothe says.

In 2022, ��ϲ�� established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports a Black undergraduate student in financial need. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle. The lunch is also sponsored by Coca-Cola and TD Bank.

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

The luncheon is one of many events across ��ϲ��’s three campuses that mark Black History Month.

From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, ��ϲ�� Mississauga has a full program of Black History Month events, including a dinner and a welcome ceremony on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.

At ��ϲ�� Scarborough, a tri-campus event called Our Stories on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month – one of several events happening on the campus in February.

On the St. George campus, there’s a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found at the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, Hart House and ��ϲ�� Libraries, among others. They include a series of free events – organized by libraries at ��ϲ��, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University – to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and a student-run Black hackathon organized by the ��ϲ�� chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.

“Initially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody’s support and excitement.”

��ϲ�� marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:44:20 +0000

��ϲ�� marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 12/06/2023 - 14:44

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��ϲ�� students, faculty, staff, librarians and alumni marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women at a memorial led by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Kelly Hannah-Moffat

Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre

Diversity and Inclusion

Alumni

Equity

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Graduate Students

Hart House

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

‘We mourn, then we work for change’

The ��ϲ�� community came together to honour the memories of the 14 women who were killed in the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989 and to acknowledge the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence.

In-person and online, students, faculty, staff, librarians and alumni across the three campuses marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with a memorial, led by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, that was held at Hart House on Wednesday – the 34th anniversary of the anti-feminist attack that claimed the lives of 14 women and left another 10 women and four men injured.

Students walked across the stage to say the name of each woman killed – Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte – followed by a moment of silence.

Separately, a group of women in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering prepared to unveil a student-led monument outside the Galbraith Building. The installation, led by Rebecca Ing, Kaija Mikes, Natalia Espinosa-Merlano and Erika Narimatsu with the support of more than a dozen volunteers, features 14 figures in a circle with a plaque that explains its meaning.

A student-led monument created by women in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering was unveiled on Wednesday evening (photo by Shawn Ahmed)

Ing said the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is of particular importance to her, as a woman in engineering.

“I see myself reflected in the women we are remembering, as I attend classes that they once learned from,” Ing said. “To remember them and the gender-based violence that took their lives is not an option: it is our responsibility as students to encourage action and awareness to improve inclusion.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow encouraged attendees to work for change (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Back at the Hart House event, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow appealed to the ��ϲ�� community to heed the call she recalled seeing on a sign during a Dec. 6, 1989 vigil outside of Emmanuel College: “We mourn, then we work for change.”

“Every one of you are change-makers and change leaders, because you’re here at the ��ϲ��,” Chow said. “You get the best education. You have the confidence – you have the skills – to know what needs to be done. So today, I urge you to make a commitment to put your passion and your intellect into it.”

Marisa Sterling, assistant dean and director, diversity, inclusion and professionalism in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, said women in engineering continue to face discrimination, violence and harassment (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Marisa Sterling, assistant dean and director, diversity, inclusion and professionalism in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, said that while positive change has been made in the decades since the tragedy, women in engineering continue to face gender-based violence and harassment, along with other forms of discrimination.

“Until violence against women has been eradicated, we will remember these 14 women and their families and bring awareness for the need for further actions every year,” Sterling said. “The eradication of gender-based violence and all forms of oppression is collective work.”

Author, performer and somatic sex educator Kai Cheng Thom delivered a keynote speech at the event (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

The event featured a keynote speech by author, performer and somatic sex educator Kai Cheng Thom – titled “Care, Healing, and Justice: Addressing Transmisogyny and Ending Gender-Based Violence for All” – and a musical performance.

Thom urged attendees to hold fast to the ideals of empathy and solidarity amid the rising threat of violence.

“The valley of fear threatens to swallow us whole, but the light of love moves within and between us – if only we let it," Thom said. “The moment we begin to act as though a better world is possible is the moment that starts to be true.”

Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students, announced this year’s winners of the Award for Scholarly Achievement in the Area of Gender-Based Violence, which recognizes ��ϲ�� students for their exceptional commitment to issues of violence against women, girls, transgender and non-binary people.

Third-year student Gabrielle Tavazzani was recognized for her work providing pro-bono dental care to survivors of gender-based violence (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

The undergraduate recipient was Gabrielle Tavazzani, a third-year student specializing in bioethics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, who was recognized for her work and research efforts on providing pro-bono dental care to survivors of gender-based violence.

The graduate winner was Nil Basduraka, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Music. She was honoured for her interdisciplinary research examining media surrounding violence against women in Türkiye.

Faculty of Music PhD candidate Nil Basduraka was recognized for examining media surrounding violence against women in Türkiye (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Wednesday’s hybrid event at Hart House was co-hosted by the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office; the Community Safety Office; the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office at ��ϲ�� Mississauga; the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office at ��ϲ�� Scarborough; the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering; Hart House; the Division of People Strategy, Equity, & Culture; the Institutional Equity Office; the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office; and the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre.

Kelly Hannah-Moffat, vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture, underscored the importance of providing opportunities for the community to engage with issues of gender-based violence and how it intersects with prejudices including transphobia and misogyny.

“Ending gender-based violence is possible through widespread, consistent, and ongoing action,” Hannah-Moffat said in a statement. “We can realize this possibility at the ��ϲ��, one action at a time.”

��ϲ�� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:58:33 +0000

��ϲ�� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 09/29/2023 - 15:58

Cutline

Attendees wear orange shirts at a tri-campus event at Hart House ahead of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (photo by Polina Teif)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Subheadline

Events took place across the three campuses in advance of Sept. 30

The ��ϲ�� community came together to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by honouring survivors of Canada’s residential school system, reflecting on its lasting impact on Indigenous communities and recommitting to reconciliation.

Attendees packed the Great Hall at Hart House for a tri-campus event Friday, with hundreds more tuning into a livestream – one of several events across the university’s three campuses in advance of Sept. 30.

The Hart House event included a panel discussion on the Indian Residential School Survivors’ Storybase, a project at ��ϲ�� Libraries that aims to make the stories of residential school survivors more accessible by compiling accounts from across the internet into a single searchable resource.

From left: Angela Henshilwood, Desmond Wong, Mikayla Redden and Grant Hurley (photo by Polina Teif)

Mikayla Redden, information services and instruction librarian at New College Library, says storytelling was instrumental in shedding light on the horrors of the residential school system and she hopes the storybase can be a tool to help address its ongoing harms.

“Stories are a huge part of the reason that we know the truth, the courage of residential school survivors in telling their stories for decades – even in the face of disbelief and denial from the Canadian masses,” Redden said.

“They're the reason we're here today. They are the reason for this day. They're the reason for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and everything that resulted from it.”

From left: Ayeza Ahmad, Alexandra Gillespie, David Kim and Rose Patten (photo by David Lee)

Redden, who is a mixed-race woman of Anishinaabe and Anglo settler heritage, says library staff met last year to discuss ways they could go beyond reading lists to amplify the voices of residential school survivors, their families and communities.

They wanted the project to meet an educational need without “taking” from Indigenous Peoples by enlisting their labour or exacerbating intergenerational trauma, Redden said.

“Canadians of all ages, from all walks of life can access the storybase, and they can use these stories, to listen to more of the truth, and learn and unlearn,” Redden said. “Hopefully, they can take what they've learned, encourage others to do the same and turn the emotions that they are feeling … into an action. And that's what reconciliation is, it's an action.”

From left: Andrew Bomberry and John Croutch of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (photo by Polina Teif)

Redden was joined on the panel by Grant Hurley, Canadiana librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, and Desmond Wong, outreach librarian at OISE Library, in a discussion moderated by Angela Henshilwood, head of the Engineering & Computer Science Library.

David Kim, warden of Hart House, emceed Friday’s commemoration, which also featured remarks by Alexandra Gillespie, ��ϲ�� vice-president and principal of ��ϲ�� Mississauga.

Gillespie thanked ��ϲ�� Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the event, which shows a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words “Every child matters.”

��ϲ�� Chancellor Rose Patten described the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as “one of the most important days in the life of our community and our country.”

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building is lit up orange (photo by Steve Barratt)

“In so many ways, Canadians have only begun to take and show responsibility for this,” Patten said at the event. “And doing so requires an unfaltering commitment from all of us.”

After the event, First Nations House hosted a fire for Indigenous community members in the Earth Sciences Courtyard.

Also on Friday, Professor Kisha Supernant of the University of Alberta gave a talk at New College about her research using ground-penetrating radar to identify the sites of potential unmarked graves at former residential schools and her work with Indigenous communities to preserve the sites.

Meanwhile, at ��ϲ�� Scarborough Campus Farm, footage of the Indigenous Garden was livestreamed from sunrise to sunset.

Earlier in the week, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held at the St. George, ��ϲ�� Mississauga and ��ϲ�� Scarborough campuses.

Flags will be lowered to half-mast across ��ϲ��’s three campuses on Sept. 29 ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada on Sept. 30.

Members of the Indigenous ��ϲ�� community in need of support can reach out to:

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419)

Students:

��ϲ�� Telus Help Student Support can be accessed 24-7.

Other mental health resources, programs and supports are available through the student mental health resource page.

Staff and faculty:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (1-800-663-1142)

Survivors' Flag raised on ��ϲ��'s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:23:39 +0000

Survivors' Flag raised on ��ϲ��'s three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 09/25/2023 - 09:23

Cutline

The Survivors' Flag flies alongside the Varsity Blues and ��ϲ�� flags at Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus (photo by Jason Wang)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange Shirt Day

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

New College

��ϲ�� Libraries

Subheadline

��ϲ�� will mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an event in advance of Sept. 30

As the ��ϲ�� community prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Survivors’ Flag, which honours Indigenous lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada, has been raised on each of its three campuses.

On the St. George campus, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), in partnership with First Nations House and the ��ϲ�� Office of Indigenous Initiatives, raised the Survivors’ Flag at Varsity Stadium last week. It will be lowered to half-mast on Sept. 30 when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is formally recognized across Canada.

Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, said the flag is an important sign of support and solidarity with Indigenous communities.

“Public commemoration of the painful history of Canada’s residential school system, whose tragic consequences continue to reverberate today, is a vital component of the reconciliation process,” said Kerr. “It’s also a time for settlers to reflect on taking action to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples and build a better future together.

“I take this opportunity to invite all students, staff and faculty members of KPE to attend Truth and Reconciliation events where their schedule permits and to spend some time reflecting on their own efforts towards reconciliation.”

��ϲ�� will commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a tri-campus event on Sept. 29 in the Great Hall at Hart House that can be attended in person or watched via YouTube livestream. It will feature remarks by Alexandra Gillespie, ��ϲ�� vice-president and principal of ��ϲ�� Mississauga, and ��ϲ�� Chancellor Rose Patten.

Emceed by Hart House warden David Kim, the event includes a panel discussion on making residential school survivors' stories accessible at ��ϲ�� libraries. The panel, moderated by Angela Henshilwood, head of the Engineering and Computer Science Library, features Grant Hurley, Canadiana librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Mikayla Redden, information services and Instruction librarian at New College Library, and Desmond Wong, outreach librarian, OISE Library.

“There is no way to quantify the trauma suffered by the victims and survivors of residential and day schools. Yet this trauma has been shared – as Phyllis Webstad did by recalling the childhood experience that gives Orange Shirt Day its name,” Kelly Hannah-Moffat, ��ϲ��’s vice-president of people strategy, equity and culture, said in a statement.

“I urge non-Indigenous members of the ��ϲ�� community to seek out this and other survivors’ stories to gain greater knowledge, to foster deeper compassion, and to strengthen your resolve to engage in work that restores mutual respect and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.”

5 things students need to know as ��ϲ�� gears up for classes this fall

mattimar — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:09:00 +0000

5 things students need to know as ��ϲ�� gears up for classes this fall

mattimar Thu, 08/24/2023 - 15:09

Cutline

Ela Dai, a recent grad and this year’s ASKme program assistant, says ASKme booths are a “campus compass” for new and returning students (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

From orientation events to community gatherings, there's a flurry of activity happening across the university's three campuses

Ela Dai was too nervous to ask questions when she first arrived at the ��ϲ�� in 2018 – so, her father encouraged her to approach an ASKme booth on the St. George campus.

The booth’s volunteers helped Dai, who was arriving from Türkiye, and her father sort out a question about the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) – and now, four years later, Dai is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Arts & Science and this year’s ASKme program assistant.

“The ASKme booths have become the campus compass for a lot of students,” says Dai.

“The ambassadors are students or recent grads, so they know where you’re coming from because they experienced being a new student. It creates a safe environment.”

The booths are just one of the many resources that staff, faculty, librarians and student volunteers are rolling out on ��ϲ��’s three campuses over the next several weeks in preparation for the arrival of more than 90,000 new and returning students from across Canada and around the world.

That includes online and in-person workshops, seminars and orientation events focused on everything from academic skills to finances, housing and more.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the many ways ��ϲ�� is rolling out the welcome mat for students this fall – and a few suggestions on how they can make the most of the upcoming year:

Get to know ��ϲ��

Attendees at last year’s Homecoming event at ��ϲ�� Scarborough (photo via UTSC)

There’s a flurry of events scheduled at St. George, ��ϲ�� Scarborough and ��ϲ�� Mississauga during the month of September – but if there’s one day students won’t want to miss, it’s Sept. 6.

In the morning, a tri-campus “cheer-off” will take place at Varsity Stadium at 10:30 a.m., bringing together students from all three campuses in advance of a tri-campus student parade that will march – loudly – from Varsity Stadium to the intersection of St. George and College Streets.

Later in the day, the annual tri-campus clubs fair will take place on St. George Street between College and Harbord/Hoskin Streets from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Students are invited to explore hundreds of clubs at ��ϲ�� – from eSports and K-pop to Afro-dance and culture – to find their community.

And that’s only the beginning. Here are just a few of the other events scheduled to take place at ��ϲ�� Mississauga, ��ϲ�� Scarborough and the St. George campus to welcome students to the fall term.

Sept. 1. Snap the 6ix photo scavenger hunt at ��ϲ�� St. George
Sept. 2. The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union Frosh at ��ϲ�� Scarborough
Sept. 5. Resources and Involvement Fair at ��ϲ�� Mississauga
Sept 5. Black Excellence Orientation – Bonnet and Durag Bash at ��ϲ�� Mississauga
Sept. 6. Campus Bites and Sights at ��ϲ�� Mississauga
Sept. 7. Healthy Campus Day at ��ϲ�� Scarborough
Sept. 8. Spadina Block Party at ��ϲ�� St. George
Sept. 13. First Nations House Orientation at ��ϲ�� St. George
Sept. 23. Homecoming at ��ϲ�� Scarborough

There's also a tri-campus Xplore Hart House event on Sept. 1 on the St. George campus that includes shuttle bus access from ��ϲ�� Scarborough and ��ϲ�� Mississauga.

Find more orientation events by using Student Life’s calendar (St. George), the orientation events page at ��ϲ�� Mississauga and the orientation events page at ��ϲ�� Scarborough.

Don’t be afraid to ASK(me)!

ASKme Anything volunteers are on hand to answer all of students’ questions (photo by Johnny Guatto)

No matter how big or small the question, students can find help across all three campuses.

Dai stresses that the ASKme booths are there to provide essential information to make the transition to university – or getting reacquainted with campus – that much easier.

She says they get questions ranging from, “Where is Hart House?” to “How do I study as a new university student?”

On the St. George campus, there are four booths set up at the Koffler Student Services Centre, the campus gates at King’s College Road and College Street, near Sidney Smith Hall and at Robarts Library from Aug. 21 until Sept. 15.

At ��ϲ�� Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be located by the bus loop outside Highland Hall, at the front of the Student Centre, at the front of the Instructional Centre and at the Bladen Wing Hallway.

Students at ��ϲ�� Mississauga are encouraged to visit the Centre for Student Engagement front desk office to have their questions answered. The office is open from 9:30 to 5 p.m. and an available resource to students year around.

There are even welcome booths at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Terminals 1 and 3. They will be open from Aug. 21 to Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Find your first class – and arrive on time

��ϲ�� Mississauga campus map

The first day of classes varies for each campus.

At ��ϲ�� Scarborough, students will start on Sept. 5, while ��ϲ�� Mississauga kicks off the fall semester on Sept. 6. Students on the St. George campus begin heading to class on Sept. 7.

��ϲ��’s tri-campus map tool is a great resource when it comes to figuring out where to go – and don’t forget that most lectures start 10 minutes after the hour to make sure students have time to get where they need to be. And, when it finally comes time to hit the books, ��ϲ�� Libraries has put together a helpful tip sheet about accessing its collections and other resources, as well as where to find study spaces across the three campuses.

Find your community

Students from the LGBTOUT Centre for Queer, Questioning & Allied Students promote their organization at Clubs Day (photo by James Poremba)

One of the best things about attending ��ϲ�� is that it’s located in a city renowned for its diversity, which is reflected in the university’s many groups and student associations.

From First Nations House to the Black Students’ Association to LGBTOUT and the Multi-Faith Centre, there is a wide range of opportunities on the three campuses for students to connect, share their experiences and make meaningful connections.

Joining a club at ��ϲ�� also provides an avenue to try something new, or delve deeper into your hobbies, and fosters a sense of belonging within the university community. From eSports to art, there are literally hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups across the three campuses – meaning there’s something for everyone.

In addition to the Sept. 6 clubs fair, the Student Organization Portal – a clubs directory – is a great resource to discover campus groups and includes information on what each group does and how to go about joining it.

Make health, wellness and safety a priority

��ϲ�� strives to provide a safe supportive environment where students, staff, faculty and librarians can thrive in their academic and personal pursuits.

The ��ϲ�� Campus Safety app features emergency contacts, tips, support services, and a live chat feature that connects users with ��ϲ�� safety staff in real-time. App users can also use a Mobile Bluelight feature which sends the user’s on-campus location to a safety team in case of a crisis. Other features include TravelSafer, enabling safety staff to monitor users’ on-campus walks, and Friend Walk, which allows a trusted contact to monitor your walk anywhere in the world.

Additionally, ��ϲ�� community members are automatically enrolled in UTAlert – a service that allows the university to send important messages via email. Students can log into the UTAlert portal to ensure that their info is up to date, and add a phone number to receive text messages.

Students are also encouraged to stay safe online by practicing good password hygiene, using multifactor identification where available and generally being on the alert for suspicious websites, emails and texts. More information can be found on the university’s Security Matters website, including a tool to report phishing attempts.

Students seeking mental health support can visit the Student Mental Health Resource site or health and wellness at St. George, ��ϲ�� Scarborough and ��ϲ�� Mississauga.

More information about ��ϲ�� can be found at UTogether

Five spots at ��ϲ�� to take convocation photos with family and friends

mattimar — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:24:38 +0000

Five spots at ��ϲ�� to take convocation photos with family and friends

mattimar Fri, 06/02/2023 - 13:24

Cutline

Hart House (photo by Polina Teif)

St. Michael's College

Subheadline

The best places on campus for convocation selfies, family portraits and celebratory group photos

With spring convocation in full swing at the ��ϲ��, graduating students might be wondering: where are some of the most Instagrammable places on campus?

From lush green spaces to quirky quads and eye-catching architecture that ranges from the mid-19th century to the modern day, there are many picturesque locations across the three campuses to take selfies, family portraits and celebratory group photos.

In addition to the photo booth operated by Alumni Relations on Galbraith Road, there are many photo locations across ��ϲ��’s three campuses that graduates and their friends and families can explore.

Hart House

Hart House and Arbor Room patio (photo by David Lee)

Hart House is a picturesque backdrop to any convocation photo, with its eye-catching architecture and almost Hogwarts feel. The quad, meanwhile, is home to large bronze sculptures and offers elegant views of the building’s stonework and windows.

When the selfies are done, head inside for something to eat. During the week, the Gallery Grill is open for from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a charming convocation lunch while the Arbor Room is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for tasty snacks and drinks.

Philosopher’s Walk

Philosopher's Walk (photo by Polinta Teif)

From the Queen Alexandra Gateway in the north to the Bennett Gates in the south, the leafy Philosopher’s Walk is a meandering path that connects bustling Bloor Street to Hoskin Avenue.

A calming space in the middle of downtown Toronto, the walk features wide cobblestone paths dotted with benches and lush lawns set against a backdrop of old masonry – all of which offer a variety of backgrounds for a great post-convocation snapshot.

The colleges and quads

Sir Daniel Wilson Quad (photo by Polina Teif)

Several stunning quadrangles on the St. George campus are roughly within a 10-minute walk from Convocation Hall.

The nearest to Con Hall is the Sir Daniel Wilson Quad, which can be accessed via King’s College Circle.

Crossing Queen’s Park to the eastern edge of campus, you will find Victoria College’s quad, with its stunning views of Burwash Hall; and St. Michael’s College, whose campus includes Odette Hall – constructed in 1856 and ��ϲ��’s oldest building in continuous academic use.

Watkins Pond (and bridge) at ��ϲ�� Mississauga

Watkins Pond Bridge at UTM (photo by Randy Landicho)

A stone bridge, gently arching over a peaceful, leaf-strewn pond, surrounded by a grove of cool, shady trees.

Watkins Pond is a photographer’s dream and it’s located right alongside Principal’s Road at ��ϲ�� Mississauga. To get there, follow Outer Circle Road from the campus’s north entrance and take the small road to the left, which will lead you down Principal’s Road to the pond and bridge.

Valley Land Trail at ��ϲ�� Scarborough

Valley Land Trail at UTSC (photo by Matthew Dochstader)

The Valley Land Trail is a favourite destination for nature-lovers and photographers at ��ϲ�� Scarborough. This 500-metre-trail connects the campus to the Highland Creek Ravine and boasts several lookout points with accessible seating.

The trail overlooks the gorgeous Highland Creek Valley, so don’t be surprised if you’re photobombed by one of the many colourful birds that inhabit the area – and keep an eye out for opportunities to add a pic of a white-tailed deer or red fox to your convocation camera roll.

Hart House

In photos: Student-run Black Grad event celebrates community, culture and excellence

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Munk School's Peter Loewen reflects on the former prime minister's legacy

������ϲ����� to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

In photos: ������ϲ�����'s Black History Month Luncheon 2024

������ϲ�����’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

������ϲ����� marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

������ϲ����� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Survivors' Flag raised on ������ϲ�����'s three campuses

5 things students need to know as ������ϲ����� gears up for classes this fall

Get to know ������ϲ�����

Don’t be afraid to ASK(me)!

Find your first class – and arrive on time

Find your community

Make health, wellness and safety a priority

More information about ������ϲ����� can be found at UTogether

Five spots at ������ϲ����� to take convocation photos with family and friends

Hart House

Philosopher’s Walk

The colleges and quads

Watkins Pond (and bridge) at ������ϲ����� Mississauga

Valley Land Trail at ������ϲ����� Scarborough

��ϲ�� to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

In photos: ��ϲ��'s Black History Month Luncheon 2024

��ϲ��’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

��ϲ�� marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

��ϲ�� marks Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Survivors' Flag raised on ��ϲ��'s three campuses

5 things students need to know as ��ϲ�� gears up for classes this fall

Get to know ��ϲ��

More information about ��ϲ�� can be found at UTogether

Five spots at ��ϲ�� to take convocation photos with family and friends

Watkins Pond (and bridge) at ��ϲ�� Mississauga

Valley Land Trail at ��ϲ�� Scarborough