Convocation 2017 / en 2017 in focus: 13 of our favourite photos /news/12-our-favourite-photos-2017 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">2017 in focus: 13 of our favourite photos </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Squirrel-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=zH6w4Wkf 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Squirrel-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Xlatf3Ki 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Squirrel-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=9kjAe6hy 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Squirrel-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=zH6w4Wkf" alt="Photo of squirrel"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-12-14T00:00:00-05:00" title="Thursday, December 14, 2017 - 00:00" class="datetime">Thu, 12/14/2017 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">This lucky squirrel made off with a good haul near Sir Daniel Wilson Residence (photo by Laura Pedersen)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/art-museum" hreflang="en">Art Museum</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-music" hreflang="en">Faculty of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/geoffrey-hinton" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Hinton</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/orientation" hreflang="en">Orientation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">Թϱ Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">Թϱ Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>From server rooms to squirrels, selfies to swimmers – University of Toronto photographers captured them all in pixels&nbsp;</p> <p>Here is a selection of some of our favourite pictures in what was another big year for the university:</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Geoffrey Hinton" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7011 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Geoffrey-Hinton.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 501px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a> and Google researcher <a href="/news/ai-revolution-spreads-its-wings-toronto-and-u-t"><strong>Geoffrey Hinton</strong></a>, a.k.a. “the godfather of deep learning,” strikes a relaxed pose in the server room of the machine learning group, in Թϱ's department of computer science. Photo by <strong>Johnny Guatto</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Swimmer" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7026 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/swimmer.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Swimmer<strong>&nbsp;Vithusha Coomaran </strong>in action at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. Photo by&nbsp;Թϱ Scarborough staff photographer <strong>Ken Jones</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Orientation" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7027 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/orientation.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Before hitting the books, Թϱ Scarborough students hit the streets for orientation. Ken Jones used a wide angle lens to capture the excitement.&nbsp;“This is a rare situation where I think the distortion lends something to the picture,” he says.&nbsp;“It gives it a more dynamic feel.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="graduate" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7028 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/graduate.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Convocation is a time for flowers, smiles and, of course, selfies. Photo by Ken Jones.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Buck in snow" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7098 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Buck-in-snow-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>One of the many perks of studying at Թϱ Mississauga? Spotting white-tailed deer. Photo by <strong>Arjun Yadav</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Richard Marsella" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7066 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/On-Location-Regent-Park.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><strong>Richard Marsella</strong> is the executive director of the Regent Park School of Music and a PhD candidate in music education at Թϱ. The school, Թϱ faculty and Turning Point Youth Services <a href="/news/u-t-regent-park-arts-program-harnesses-power-music-change-lives-teens-detention">run a program to help kids in detention learn to play an instrument</a> and discover music. Photo by <strong>Romi Levine</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Kent Monkman" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7009 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Kent-Monkman.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>The 150<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Confederation was not just a cause for celebration. For Cree artist Kent Monkman,&nbsp;it was time to think critically about Canada's history of colonialism and the country's future. Staff photographer/videographer&nbsp;<strong>Lisa Lightbourn</strong>&nbsp;portrayed the artist at work before <a href="/news/shame-and-prejudice-u-t-art-museum-hosts-artist-kent-monkman-s-exhibit-canada-150">his exhibit at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="CN Tower and UC" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7010 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/CN-Tower-reflection.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>One of the qualities that sets Թϱ apart from many other universities is its location at the centre of a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Nothing says that better than staff photographer/videographer <strong>Laura Pedersen</strong>'s image of the CN Tower reflected in the doors of University College.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Noura" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7014 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Noura.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><a href="/news/scholar-risk-u-t-s-noura-al-jizawi-key-player-syrian-uprising-became-opposition-leader"><strong>Noura Al-Jizawi</strong>&nbsp;was in the thick of the uprising</a> against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from the start. She organized pro-democracy protests, ran a subversive blog and posted pictures of victims of repression. She came to Թϱ this year through <a href="https://www.masseycollege.ca/people/scholars-at-risk/">Scholars at Risk</a>, a program&nbsp;for graduate students and academics fleeing&nbsp;war or persecution. Photo by Laura Pedersen.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7130 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-12-14-trudeau-engineering-resized_0.jpg" style="width: 751px; height: 487px;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>While&nbsp;taking part in an annoucement&nbsp;with Sidewalk Labs about a new&nbsp;mixed-use, connected community on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with 20 girls in Grades 4 to 6, all aspiring engineers,&nbsp;who were designing the neighbourhood of the future at a workshop held by Թϱ Engineering's outreach program. Trudeau&nbsp;made several trips to Թϱ in 2017. Photo by <strong>Roberta Baker.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;<img alt="Bernie Sanders" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7008 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Bernie.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>After&nbsp;<a href="/news/spotlight-canada-s-health-care-system-during-bernie-sanders-s-visit-toronto-weekend">it was announced that Bernie Sanders would give a speech</a> a Թϱ's Convocation Hall, tickets sold out almost immediately. But the folksy senator from Vermont didn't leave his fans disappointed. He and Թϱ President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>&nbsp;(first from left) greeted&nbsp;students in the rush line before Sanders took the podium. Photo by <strong>Geoffrey Vendeville</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Quebec City vigil" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7012 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Love-Trumps-Hate_0.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>After six people were killed in a Quebec City mosque in January, Թϱ responded to the tragedy by <a href="/news/hundreds-gather-vigil-university-toronto-memory-those-killed-quebec-city-mosque">coming together in front of University College</a> to remember the victims and denounce Islamophobia in all its forms.&nbsp;Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 14 Dec 2017 05:00:00 +0000 geoff.vendeville 123958 at #UofTGrad17: How Indigenous studies helped Julie Blair connect with her culture /news/uoftgrad17-how-indigenous-studies-helped-julie-blair-connect-her-culture <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: How Indigenous studies helped Julie Blair connect with her culture</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-05-09-LEAD-JULIE-BLAIR-2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YT6i26Oe 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-05-09-LEAD-JULIE-BLAIR-2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KXDvv8UG 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-05-09-LEAD-JULIE-BLAIR-2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=PUNOIAnJ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-05-09-LEAD-JULIE-BLAIR-2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YT6i26Oe" alt="Photo of Julie Blair"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>hjames</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-09T15:00:26-05:00" title="Thursday, November 9, 2017 - 15:00" class="datetime">Thu, 11/09/2017 - 15:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Julie Blair in the courtyard of Woodsworth College (photo by Hannah James)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/hannah-james" hreflang="en">Hannah James</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Hannah James</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/woodsworth-college" hreflang="en">Woodsworth College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After working in&nbsp;Toronto nightclubs for years,<strong> Julie Blair </strong>wanted a&nbsp;career change so she came to the University of Toronto.</p> <p>What she got out of the next five&nbsp;years was more than just a degree – she was able to reconnect with her Indigenous roots.</p> <p>“Before I came to Թϱ, I didn’t really know anything about my culture,” says Blair, who is Anishinaabe and Dutch. “There was a lot of stuff I hadn’t been taught.”</p> <p>She said learning about her Indigenous heritage “was very emotional.”</p> <p>Today, Blair collected&nbsp;her diploma in Indigenous studies from the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science during Թϱ's fall convocation. She is&nbsp;the first Indigenous student&nbsp;to receive the <a href="http://wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/news/awards_dinner_2017">Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Gold Scholarship</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;Woodsworth College.&nbsp;It's a&nbsp;$12,000 prize&nbsp;awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence and volunteerism in their community. She has also received&nbsp;the President's Award for&nbsp;Outstanding Indigenous Student of the Year.&nbsp;</p> <p>In her 40s, Blair&nbsp;has led&nbsp;various&nbsp;Indigenous committees and clubs at Թϱ, and she's worked&nbsp;as&nbsp;the Indigenous Education Network coordinator at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – all while maintaining a&nbsp;3.9 grade point average.</p> <p>“That’s really stunning,” says <strong>Cheryl Shook</strong>, assistant principal&nbsp;and registrar at Թϱ's Woodsworth College, who was part of the group that selected Blair for the gold scholarship. “The award is meant to provide somebody, who has shown this much potential, who is so involved,&nbsp;and who has overcome obstacles, an opportunity to take that funding and do even more things with it.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6698 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-09-JULIE-BLAIR-EMBED2.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>Julie Blair (right) with OISE dean Glen Jones (left) at fall convocation (photo by Gary Beechey, BDS Studios)</em></p> <p>Blair, who is a member of Serpent River First Nation, says&nbsp;she's always done well academically&nbsp;and&nbsp;attributes her success now&nbsp;to finding an area of study she's passionate about. After high school, she&nbsp;did a brief stint at Թϱ Scarborough, but left to work in the fashion industry for a bridal accessories company. She then worked&nbsp;in the service industry, in restaurants and bars,&nbsp;but eventually wanted to do something else.</p> <p>At Թϱ, Blair says she's found a community she can relate to. She recalls her first&nbsp;visit to Թϱ's First Nations House, which she says&nbsp;brought back&nbsp;an unexpected sensation, a deep-rooted memory passed on from generations before her.</p> <p>“I remember one day I went in there, and someone was smudging. I hadn’t smudged before that I could recall, but as soon as I smelled the sage burning, it brought back some memory I didn’t even know I had. It smelled so familiar. It smelled like home to me.”</p> <p>For&nbsp;the Native Students' Association at Թϱ, she&nbsp;served as a clan leader. She's also been a member of the <a href="http://indigenousstudies.utoronto.ca/undergraduate/issu/"><font color="#0066cc">Indigenous Studies Student Union</font></a> executive body, helping to organize the university's&nbsp;<font color="#0066cc"><a href="/news/u-t-s-giant-powwow-draws-hundreds-people-across-province">first major pow wow in 20 years</a>. </font>She's also been a mentor in the Aboriginal Peer Mentorship Program, and is a part of&nbsp;a&nbsp;community-based research team looking into Indigenous mental&nbsp;health, led by&nbsp;<a href="/news/researcher-leads-u-t-centre-indigenous-mental-health-and-homelessness"><font color="#0066cc">Suzanne Stewart</font></a>, director of Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at Թϱ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Outside&nbsp;Թϱ, Blair has volunteered for the Toronto Cat Rescue, Hot Docs Festival and The Stop's YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) community garden program.</p> <p>Blair's studies won't end with her bachelor's degree. She's already begun classes at Թϱ's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work in a master's&nbsp;program. She'll be focusing on&nbsp;<font color="#0066cc"><a href="/news/indigenous-trauma-and-resiliency-new-master-social-work-program-launched-u-t">Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency</a>&nbsp;</font>and hopes to one day work&nbsp;in mental health and addictions in Toronto.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:00:26 +0000 hjames 107496 at #UofTGrad17: Meet some of this year's graduates in the Faculty of Medicine /news/uoftgrad17-meet-some-year-s-graduates-faculty-medicine <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: Meet some of this year's graduates in the Faculty of Medicine</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-08-celine%20nathoo-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=hQYS4Kle 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-11-08-celine%20nathoo-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=THdvFMJg 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-11-08-celine%20nathoo-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vTrmCLxP 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-08-celine%20nathoo-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=hQYS4Kle" alt="Photo of Celine Nathoo"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rasbachn</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-08T12:41:49-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - 12:41" class="datetime">Wed, 11/08/2017 - 12:41</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Celine Nathoo graduated on Tuesday with a master of science in physical therapy</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>This week more than 4,800 graduate and undergraduate students from all three campuses are receiving their degrees during the University&nbsp;of Toronto's fall convocation. Among them are students from the health sciences in the Faculty of Medicine,&nbsp;whose ceremony was held on Tuesday. <strong>Julia&nbsp;Soudat </strong>interviewed several of them. Here are some highlights:</p> <hr> <h3><strong>Celine Nathoo, master of science in physical therapy (above)</strong></h3> <p>"I am&nbsp;most&nbsp;interested in neurorehabilitation. When I was 19,&nbsp;my dad had a stroke. After&nbsp;seeing how big of a role his allied health team played in his recovery,&nbsp;I knew I wanted to pursue a career in physiotherapy.&nbsp;While growing up as a&nbsp;competitive figure skater,&nbsp;I had&nbsp;some&nbsp;experience seeing a physiotherapist in a private clinic,&nbsp;but it wasn’t until my dad has his stroke that I realized how many other settings physiotherapists could&nbsp;work in and have an impact.</p> <p>"I hope that I can gain work experience&nbsp;and eventually do my PhD&nbsp;in stroke rehabilitation.</p> <p><strong>Advice for new and incoming students: "</strong>Soak in every minute of the program because the two years goes by quicker than you think. Take advantage of your internships, don’t worry about making mistakes."</p> <h4><a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/faces-u-t-medicine-celine-nathoo">Read the full interview</a></h4> <hr> <h3><strong>Tyler Saumur, master of science from the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6670 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-08-tyler-saumur-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>“I have always had an interest in the human body, especially in the context of enhancing task performance. During my undergraduate degree in kinesiology, I began to develop a passion for studying the brain. In parallel, a friend of mine had experienced a stroke. Being able to understand the changes and rehabilitation that she was undergoing with the biological context that I was studying in tandem, further accentuated my desire to pursue movement and brain sciences.</p> <p>"My research focuses on understanding how the body prepares for unpredictability in the environment. Specifically, it is centered on changes in the sensitivity of the central nervous system during preparation for movements that need to be performed rapidly and correctly."</p> <p><strong>Advice for new and incoming students: "</strong>Embrace the experience, get involved, and find time to enjoy yourself."</p> <h4><a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/faces-u-t-medicine-tyler-saumur">Read the full interview</a></h4> <hr> <h3><strong>Mhairi Kay, master of science in occupational therapy&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3> <h3><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6672 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-08-mhairi-kay-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></h3> <p>"My research interests are mostly focused on mental health. I am interested in the benefits that can be accrued from participation in alternative, holistic, and harm-reduction focused approaches to wellness. I believe that one of the critical components of mental health recovery is helping people redefine their identity apart from their current struggle or diagnoses and facilitating participation in meaningful activity. My interest in this field was sparked through the work that I do for a non-profit organization in Toronto called Young Ones that provides free treatment and support to youth with mental health and addiction issues. I am currently the vice-chair of the board, the education program co-ordinator, and a public educator; I have worked closely with youth who are struggling with their mental health and I’m passionate about advocating for those in need."&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Advice for new and incoming students:</strong>&nbsp;"Take advantage of all the learning opportunities you are presented with during your time at Թϱ. So, while it may not seem relevant, desirable, or even feasible at the time – ask lots of questions, talk to the instructors, clinicians and guest presenters, make connections, join the school committees, and go to the optional workshops – it will make all the difference when it comes time to graduate and to start your own."&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <h4><a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/faces-u-t-medicine-mhairi-kay">Read the full interview</a></h4> <hr> <h3>Jaclyn Dawe, master of science in rehabilitation sciences</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6673 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-08-jaclyn-dawe-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>"My clinical background as an occupational therapist and my interest in neurodevelopment and neurologically based recovery led me to pursue research in rehabilitation sciences. I was interested in the opportunity to contribute to the development of evidence-based clinical tools for assessment and intervention with pediatric neuro-motor disorders."</p> <p><strong>Advice to&nbsp;new and incoming students:</strong> "To new students, my advice is to start with (and work to maintain) an openness – to making new friends and connections, and to new experiences and perspectives. Թϱ has so many great opportunities for extra-curricular learning, inter-cultural sharing, recreation and leisure, and personal and professional development. Seek out the resources and communities on campus that resonate with you, and build up the courage to explore and maybe even dive in."</p> <h4><a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/faces-u-t-medicine-jaclyn-dawe">Read the full interview</a></h4> <hr> <h3>Amy Verschuuren, master of&nbsp;health science in speech-language pathology</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6677 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-08-amyvershuuren-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>"A lot of my classmates and colleagues have had personal experiences receiving speech-language pathology services, whether for themselves, their grandparents, or their siblings. My story is much less interesting. A high school teacher (presumably whose child was receiving speech therapy at the time) mentioned the career to me in the 10th grade. At the time, I had never heard of speech-language pathology before. So I went home and did some research, and ended up falling in love with the idea of it. When I began volunteering a couple years later, I discovered I also loved the practice of it."</p> <p><br> <strong>Advice to new and incoming students:</strong>&nbsp;I think it's really important to have a "big picture" attitude, especially in health care. The reason I got into this field is to help people. And I think that can be said for most, if not all, students in the Faculty of Medicine. So, my advice would be not to fret about getting the highest marks or knowing every single detail about every single theory (but good for you if you do). Study to understand, not to know. Learn to be a good problem-solver, not an information-regurgitator."&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h4><a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/faces-u-t-medicine-amy-verschuuren">Read the full interview</a></h4> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 08 Nov 2017 17:41:49 +0000 rasbachn 121355 at #UofTGrad17: Nine favourite moments of fall convocation in photos /news/uoftgrad17-nine-favourite-moments-fall-convocation-photos <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: Nine favourite moments of fall convocation in photos</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/In%20front%20of%20trees%20%28lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jBo3b61h 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/In%20front%20of%20trees%20%28lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=J5ZGkDH3 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/In%20front%20of%20trees%20%28lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=E4zc5Wf4 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/In%20front%20of%20trees%20%28lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jBo3b61h" alt="Photo of grads and fall trees"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-08T11:00:57-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - 11:00" class="datetime">Wed, 11/08/2017 - 11:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Graduates line up outside Convocation Hall in front of the fall foliage (photo by Laura Pedersen)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/honorary-degree" hreflang="en">Honorary Degree</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">Թϱ Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Autumn colours serve as backdrop to thousands of students receiving diplomas</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As the University of Toronto campus turned a vibrant auburn, yellow and red, thousands of new graduates donned&nbsp;gowns to collect their diplomas at Convocation Hall. Թϱ photographer&nbsp;<strong>Laura Pedersen</strong> captured the emotion&nbsp;of the ceremonies against a backdrop of fall foliage, while photographer Steve Frost recorded the excitement inside the hall.&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Couple in front of Con Hall" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6661 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Couple%20%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Love was in the air outside the hall. This couple asked Pedersen to take their picture using a cellphone. She obliged and then took one of her own.&nbsp;“He's gazing so lovingly in the picture. He's truly proud of her,” Pedersen says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Grad with leaves in background" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6663 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Grad-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>The sun highlighted&nbsp;the serious expression of this student exiting University College (photo by Laura Pedersen).</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Boy with Superman cape" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6676 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Superman-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Three-year-old James, <a href="https://twitter.com/UofT/status/928358253221859328">wearing a Superman cape</a>, waits with his grandfather Donald Philip for James's mom,&nbsp;<strong>Emily King</strong>, who received a PhD from the department of mechanical and industrial engineering&nbsp;(photo by Laura Pedersen).&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Grads leaving UC with CN Tower in background" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6664 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Grads-leaving-UC-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>“It's so cool that when the students come out for convocation, they face the CN Tower,” says Pedersen, who was covering convocation for the first time (photo by Laura Pedersen).&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Family hugging outside Convocation Hall" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6665 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Hug-with-flowers-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>“Every single person in this photo is smiling,” Pedersen says.&nbsp;“Convocation is just as much about the family” (photo by Laura Pedersen).</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Pink hair" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6666 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Pink-hair-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>This graduate's pink hair stands out in a sea of black-and-white gowns (photo by Laura Pedersen).&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6667 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Meric%2C-Bruce-Kidd-and-Murray-Sinclair-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>University presidents have Instagram, too. Թϱ President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> photographs&nbsp;honorary degree recipient, and former chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-murray-sinclair-chair-canada-s-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-receives-honorary">Murray Sinclair</a> with Թϱ Scarborough Principal <strong>Bruce Kidd </strong>(photo by Laura Pedersen).</p> <hr> <h3><img alt="Barbara Hannigan and Mary Morrison" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6675 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Barbara-Hannigan-and-Mary-Morrison.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></h3> <p>World renowned soprano and conductor <strong>Barbara Hannigan </strong>performed for students at convocation while <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-opera-singers-who-were-teacher-and-student-u-t-receive-honorary-degrees">accepting an honorary degree with her former teacher</a> and mentor <strong>Mary Morrison</strong>&nbsp;(centre) of the Faculty of Music (photo by Steve Frost).</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Grads and fall foliage" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6668 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/In-front-of-trees-%28embed%29.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>“Beautiful fall colours,” Pedersen says.&nbsp;“And they happen&nbsp;to have kick-ass hair"&nbsp;(photo by Laura Pedersen).&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="/news/uoftgrad17-meet-four-fall-convocation-s-impressive-graduates">Meet four of fall convocation's impressive graduates</a></h3> <h3><a href="/news/uoftgrad17-meet-some-year-s-graduates-faculty-medicine">Meet some of this year's graduates from the Faculty of Medicine</a></h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 08 Nov 2017 16:00:57 +0000 geoff.vendeville 121352 at #UofTGrad17: Murray Sinclair, chair of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, receives honorary degree /news/uoftgrad17-murray-sinclair-chair-canada-s-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-receives-honorary <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: Murray Sinclair, chair of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, receives honorary degree </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-07-sinclair-one-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iIJb1I0a 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-11-07-sinclair-one-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fZQ6mHWN 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-11-07-sinclair-one-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Xz746_a8 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-07-sinclair-one-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iIJb1I0a" alt="Photo of Murray Sinclair"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>hjames</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-06T00:00:00-05:00" title="Monday, November 6, 2017 - 00:00" class="datetime">Mon, 11/06/2017 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Senator Murray Sinclair, who was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, speaks to the graduating class on Monday (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/hannah-james" hreflang="en">Hannah James</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-law" hreflang="en">Faculty of Law</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/honorary-degree" hreflang="en">Honorary Degree</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/truth-and-reconciliation" hreflang="en">Truth and Reconciliation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-toronto-scarborough" hreflang="en">University of Toronto Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Senator Murray Sinclair, the former chief commissioner of the&nbsp;Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Toronto for his outstanding service to Canada&nbsp;as a lifelong advocate for Indigenous people.</p> <p>As the head of the TRC, Sinclair travelled across Canada,&nbsp;participated in hundreds of emotionally charged hearings and gathered oral and written statements&nbsp;and testimonies from approximately 12,000&nbsp;Indigenous people affected by&nbsp;Canada's system of Indian residential schools. Many survivors of the schools were speaking about their experience for the first time.</p> <p>“I think Murray Sinclair is probably one of the bravest and strongest persons who has ever lived,” says <strong>Douglas Sanderson</strong>, associate professor in the Faculty of Law.</p> <p><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWwbnCM90vM" width="750"></iframe></p> <p>“Running a commission like that is monumental, just in terms of the administration of it,” says Sanderson, who is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.</p> <p>“Senator Sinclair had to listen and read about it, and these are stories of such incredible and appalling abuse day after day for years to absorb that all and be able to press on and be sincere and kind and generous. That is such an amazing gift of humanity that very few people could do.”</p> <p>The TRC’s work culminated in a five-volume <a href="http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=890">final report</a> that Sanderson calls&nbsp;“substantial, honest and thoughtful.”&nbsp;The report&nbsp;contained <a href="http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf">94 “calls to action”</a> for the Canadian government and Canadians&nbsp;to respond to in order to move towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6637 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-06-gertler-photographing-sinclair-kidd-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Senator Murray Sinclair (centre) poses with Թϱ Scarborough Principal Bruce Kidd (right) while Թϱ President Meric Gertler takes a picture at the convocation ceremony&nbsp;(photo by Laura Pedersen)</em></p> <p>"Reconciliation is about atonement. It's about making amends. It's about apology. It's about recognizing responsibility. It's about accounting for what has gone on," said Sinclair in a <a href="http://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/ssontr-eng.aspx">speech</a>&nbsp;earlier this year&nbsp;to the Canada School of Public Service. "But ultimately it's about commitment to maintaining that mutually respectful relationship throughout, recognizing that, even when you establish it, there will be challenges to it."</p> <p>Sinclair – whose Ojibway name <em>Mizanay Gheezhik </em>means&nbsp;“the one who speaks of pictures in the sky” – grew up near Selkirk, Man. After his mother died when he was just a baby, he was raised by his kokum (grandmother).</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6651 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-07-sinclair-third-resized_1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="681" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Senator Murray Sinclair's work as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has had an impact on Թϱ (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>In <a href="http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/sen-murray-sinclair-on-the-progress-of-truth-and-reconciliation/">an interview in Maclean's</a>, Sinclair said members of his family went to residential schools and distrusted the schools as a result. In spite of this, he said his family instilled in him an “obligation to get an education and to do something with it.”</p> <h3><a href="http://distrust">Read the <em>Maclean's</em> interview with Senator Sinclair</a></h3> <p>And that is exactly what he did.</p> <p>Sinclair graduated as his&nbsp;high school's valedictorian and athlete of the year in 1968.&nbsp;He&nbsp;earned a&nbsp;degree in sociology at the University of Winnipeg in 1975. He studied law at the University of Manitoba and was called to the Manitoba bar in 1980.</p> <p>Sinclair has served the justice system in Manitoba for more than 25 years. He was&nbsp;the first Aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba, and the second in Canada. He served as co-chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba before being appointed as chief commissioner for the TRC.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6652 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-07-sinclair-second-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>(From left): Թϱ Scarborough’s Indigenous Elder&nbsp;Wendy Phillips, Senator&nbsp;Murray Sinclair, Թϱ Chancellor Michael Wilson and Թϱ President Meric Gertler (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>Sinclair worked on the TRC from June 2009 until its completion in December 2015.</p> <p>He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in March 2016 and recently, following&nbsp;the deaths of several Indigenous youths in Thunder Bay, was appointed by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-police-board-murray-sinclair-1.4219260">as the independent investigator</a> to look into the Thunder Bay Police Services Board.</p> <p>Sinclair's work has had an impact at the Թϱ as well. President <strong>Meric Gertler </strong>and Vice-President and Provost <strong>Cheryl Regehr </strong>established a TRC steering committee in early 2016.&nbsp;After much deliberation&nbsp;and many discussions, the committee released its final report, <em><a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/Assets/Provost+Digital+Assets/TRC_FinalReport.pdf">Wecheehetowin</a>,</em>&nbsp;with 34 calls to action for the university to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Faculties, departments and individuals have started to work on ways they can change their practices and spaces and create a more inclusive environment for Indigenous peoples, cultures and knowledges.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6638 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-06-convocation-resized-gertler-kidd-sinclair.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Թϱ President Meric Gertler (left) and Թϱ Scarborough Principal Bruce Kidd (right)&nbsp; take part in Monday's convocation ceremony (photo by Laura Pedersen)</em></p> <p><strong>Andrew Wesley</strong>,&nbsp;an Elder-in-Residence at&nbsp;Թϱ who&nbsp;advised the university's TRC steering committee in its deliberations and presented the final report to Gertler and&nbsp;Regehr&nbsp;at an <a href="/news/truth-and-reconciliation-u-t">entrustment ceremony</a> in January, was&nbsp;present when&nbsp;Sinclair was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, <em>honoris causa</em>.</p> <p>Թϱ Scarborough’s Indigenous Elder <strong>Wendy Phillips</strong>&nbsp;gave&nbsp;Sinclair an Eagle feather, and an honour song was performed by the Red Hawk Singers.</p> <p>Sanderson was also present with a hand drum, which he sounded&nbsp;at various moments as a way to celebrate and honour Sinclair&nbsp;for his work in changing the dialogue about Indigenous peoples, cultures and knowledges in Canada.</p> <p>“The work of the Truth and Reconciliation commission set the stage for the possibility of long-term change,” says Sanderson. “And it’s up to institutions like the university to embrace conceptual change and not just ticking the box because that’s just one step in a very long journey of change.”</p> <h3><a href="/news/truth-and-reconciliation-u-t">Read about Truth and Reconciliation at Թϱ</a></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 06 Nov 2017 05:00:00 +0000 hjames 120846 at #UofTGrad17: Opera singers who were teacher and student at Թϱ to receive honorary degrees /news/uoftgrad17-opera-singers-who-were-teacher-and-student-u-t-receive-honorary-degrees <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: Opera singers who were teacher and student at Թϱ to receive honorary degrees</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Composite%20of%20Hannigan%20and%20Morrison.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_GrFLlF0 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Composite%20of%20Hannigan%20and%20Morrison.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UBqv7f0h 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Composite%20of%20Hannigan%20and%20Morrison.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rV4xhXMA 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Composite%20of%20Hannigan%20and%20Morrison.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_GrFLlF0" alt="Barbara Hannigan and Mary Morrison"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-03T08:50:49-04:00" title="Friday, November 3, 2017 - 08:50" class="datetime">Fri, 11/03/2017 - 08:50</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Soprano Barbara Hannigan studied under Mary Morrison in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music (photos by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images and Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-music" hreflang="en">Faculty of Music</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Two acclaimed voices in Canadian opera who met as student and teacher are receiving honorary degrees from the University of Toronto on Wednesday.</p> <p>Before singing at venues like the Royal Opera House in London or conducting leading orchestras, <strong>Barbara Hannigan</strong> studied music under <strong>Mary Morrison</strong>, an accomplished soprano in her own right who has taught at Թϱ since 1979.</p> <p>Despite Hannigan’s packed schedule – she has engagements in 10 cities before the new year – she keeps in touch with her university mentor.</p> <p>“I usually know what she’s up to,” Morrison says, “and she knows that I’m here.”</p> <p>Although their singing careers are separated by decades, Hannigan and Morrison’s biographies offer striking parallels.</p> <p>Both studied music from an early age and left their hometowns before their 18th birthday to pursue singing in Toronto and earn&nbsp;recognition as new-music sopranos.</p> <p>Morrison, who turns 92 next week, grew up in a Scottish family in Winnipeg. She started singing almost as soon as she could speak, winning awards at Gaelic competitions. While in her teens, she made her radio debut on CBC. She has performed lead roles in Canadian Opera Company productions from Marguerite in <em>Faust </em>to the countess in <em>The Marriage of Figaro</em>, and is known for bringing contemporary music to ears around the world.</p> <p>Morrison says her policy with students&nbsp;has always been&nbsp;to be honest about their progress. She can be blunt, but she tries not to.</p> <p>Like her Թϱ mentor, Hannigan is also known as an advocate of new music. “Mary makes sure that all her students respect the composers of our time, but with me it was clearly a passion that needed attention,” she says.</p> <p>Hannigan grew up in the gold rush town of Waverley, N.S., singing and playing piano and oboe before moving to Toronto when she was 17.</p> <p>She says Morrison encouraged her to take risks in performance,&nbsp;”to not choose&nbsp;the safe route, and rather pursue other heights which are not possible when one plays it safe under pressure.”</p> <p>Morrison also taught her how to sing in less than perfect circumstances.&nbsp;“We are never working under ideal conditions,” Hannigan says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Flight delays, dry throats and colds are obstacles all opera singers must contend with.&nbsp;“And yet we need to maintain a certain level of not only consistency but musicianship under the pressure of performance.”</p> <p>Morrison remembers Hannigan as a keen student with a work ethic to match her rare talent. “She was tremendously disciplined and she just knew where she was going,” she says.</p> <p>Morrison warned her student before her university audition that she might be too young to pass, but she breezed through it. Morrison looked back on the audition in a 2016 video by Թϱ Music: “Whoever was adjudicating at the time said, ‘Oh, you know this piece,’ and Barbara said, ‘Never seen it in my life.’”</p> <p><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/152924758?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen width="640"></iframe></p> <p>Hannigan went on to star as Berg’s Lulu<em> </em>and Debussy’s Mélisande and to premiere about 80 works.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2011, she made an unusual step for a female soprano: a foray into conducting. It was a career choice that hadn’t crossed her mind when she was young because&nbsp;she had never seen a woman conduct an orchestra, she told<em> The New York Times</em>.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/arts/music/barbara-hannigan-soprano-aix-festival-stretching-into-a-new-role-conductor.html?_r=0">Read more about Hannigan in The New York Times</a></h3> <p>She made her conducting debut in Paris singing and leading Ligeti’s<em> Mysteries of the Macabre</em>.&nbsp;This year, she has engagements as a singer/conductor in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and France.</p> <p>She is known for not shying away from criticizing sexism in the opera world. She fell out with her teacher, Jorma Panula, after he suggested in a TV interview that female conductors should stick to&nbsp;“feminine” repertoires like Debussy and Ravel. And at the Lucerne Festival last year, she mocked an illustration of a female conductor's hand holding a baton with painted nails and a bracelet.</p> <p>In between recording sessions, recitals and concerts, Hannigan will reunite with her mentor at Թϱ to accept their honorary degrees on Wednesday.</p> <p>Asked how it will feel to share the convocation stage with her former student, Morrison says:&nbsp;“Overwhelming, exciting and thrilling.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:50:49 +0000 geoff.vendeville 120955 at #UofTGrad17: Meet four of fall convocation's impressive graduates /news/uoftgrad17-meet-four-fall-convocation-s-impressive-graduates <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"> #UofTGrad17: Meet four of fall convocation's impressive graduates</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-03-convocation-fall-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rUM3h7fl 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-11-03-convocation-fall-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=RMZtfmn5 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-11-03-convocation-fall-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_kKYutt8 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-11-03-convocation-fall-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rUM3h7fl" alt="Picture of fall on downtown Toronto campus"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rasbachn</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-02T18:20:51-04:00" title="Thursday, November 2, 2017 - 18:20" class="datetime">Thu, 11/02/2017 - 18:20</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/katherine-fernandez-blance" hreflang="en">Katherine Fernandez-Blance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-music" hreflang="en">Faculty of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">Թϱ Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/woodsworth-college" hreflang="en">Woodsworth College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>They spent years in lecture halls, libraries and laboratories, volunteered in communities across Canada and interned with companies around the world – and now they’re graduating from the University of Toronto.</p> <p>From Monday to Thursday, more than 4,800 students from all three campuses will receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees, becoming Թϱ's latest alumni.&nbsp;</p> <p>The convocation plaza is set up and&nbsp;the diplomas are packaged and ready to give out. The students will&nbsp;be joined by three honorary degree recipients who have made notable achievements in their fields:&nbsp;Senator Murray Sinclair, who served as chief commissioner of Canada's Truth and Reconcilation Commission,&nbsp;longtime Faculty of Music instructor <strong>Mary Morrison</strong> and renowned soprano <strong>Barbara Hannigan</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <p>When combined with spring convocation, Թϱ’s Class of 2017 is more than 18,000 strong. Here are some of their stories:</p> <hr> <h3><strong>&nbsp;Antu Hossain: Advocate for public health&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6615 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-03-grad-antu-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Antu Hossain receives the 2015 Gordon Cressy student leadership award, flanked by Թϱ President Meric Gertler (left) and Cressy (right)&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>Antu Hossain </strong>had her first "aha" moment when she was only 19.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the summer of her second year at Թϱ Scarborough, Hossain spent a summer volunteering in Kenya as a health project manager, part of a Թϱ-run student international development club, now known as Partners for International Development.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I wanted to get more hands-on experience of what health looked like outside of the classroom. I got that, and for me that was my life-changing experience from a really young age,” says Hossain.</p> <p>“That’s when I realized I really wanted to pursue health equity.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Hossain completed her undergraduate degree in 2015 and then pursued her master's degree. On Thursday, she will be part of Թϱ's&nbsp;Class of 2017 when she receives her Master of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>For Hossain, public health is about much more than health care – it’s about advocating for community needs and having a real impact.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hossain’s time&nbsp;as a graduate student at Թϱ&nbsp;included placements in a&nbsp;remote community in Labrador, where she worked on improving child health, and in&nbsp;Vienna, where she worked at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, focusing on prisoner health.&nbsp;</p> <p>Both experiences challenged her to better understand inequities in health, and how advocacy can help reduce some barriers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“As much as it is pushing for government to do something, your voice matters as well,” says Hossain. “Public health professionals have the privilege of speaking with community, engaging in those narratives and bringing them to the table.”</p> <p>Hossain has utilized every opportunity she’s had&nbsp;to help move the dial on the public health issues about which she’s most passionate.</p> <p>Earlier this year, she was selected to represent her federal riding as part of Daughters of the Vote – a multipartisan, Canada-wide initiative to acknowledge and celebrate women’s suffrage. In the three-minute speech she gave to Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Hossain spoke about migrant detention in Canada and how women are disproportionately affected.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hossain hopes to continue applying the research and policy skills she gained from her time at Dalla Lana as she seeks opportunities after graduation. Ultimately, she plans on making the world a better place for racialized, migrant women.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“I want to continue trying to improve the health inequities that exist, not just within Toronto but also worldwide.”&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><strong>Trina Moyan: Mature student and Indigenous organizer</strong></h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6616 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-03-grad-trina-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>When <strong>Trina Moyan</strong>’s son&nbsp;<strong>Shadrak Gobért</strong> graduated high school and began his undergraduate degree at Թϱ, Moyan had reached a turning point.&nbsp;</p> <p>She had a successful career working on Indigenous issues as a TV&nbsp;and video producer, communications specialist and business owner.&nbsp;But she wanted to pursue something&nbsp;that had been on her bucket list for a long time: a university degree.&nbsp;</p> <p>She enrolled in Woodsworth College’s academic bridging program in 2012 as a mature student. Then her son began his studies at Թϱ, and she knew it was the right time for her to continue on the path to completing her degree.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I thought this was perfect. I could go back to school with my son,” she says.</p> <p>For the next four years, Moyan and her son formed a unique support system. They chose the same major, which meant they took notes for each other when one of them couldn’t make it to class, and they studied for exams together.&nbsp;</p> <p>On Thursday, she’ll cross the stage to receive her bachelor's degree in environmental studies, five months after her son received the same degree and 18 years after her husband&nbsp;John Kim Bell received an honorary doctorate of law from Թϱ.</p> <p>“We’re a whole family of Indigenous alumni from the University of Toronto,” she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Throughout her time at Թϱ, Moyan has sought out numerous opportunities to contribute to Indigenous groups on campus.&nbsp;In March, she helped co-ordinate the university’s <a href="/news/u-t-s-giant-powwow-draws-hundreds-people-across-province">first powwow&nbsp;in 20 years</a>. Currently, she is finishing up research to help First Nations House <a href="/news/commemorating-25-years-u-t-s-first-nations-house">mark&nbsp;its 25<sup>th </sup>anniversary</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s been such an honour and privilege for me to be able to support … all of the Indigenous bodies that really paved the way for Indigenous students like myself to be comfortable and feel at home at Թϱ,” she says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>While she may have completed her last undergraduate class this summer, Moyan hopes that her academic journey will have a second act.&nbsp;</p> <p>“My son is taking a year off as well,” she says. “We’re talking about possibly taking the same master’s program.”&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><strong>Kaela Newman: Inspired by&nbsp;physical therapy</strong></h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6617 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-03-grad-kaela-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Kaela Newman </strong>first discovered that she wanted to study physical therapy when she was recovering from a knee injury.&nbsp;</p> <p>Newman, who had always been interested in science and anatomy, received therapy for her knee, and immediately knew this was the path she should pursue.</p> <p>“As a physiotherapist, you take evidence-based knowledge of anatomy and function, and translate it into practice by working one-on-one with your patients,” says Newman. “It’s very rewarding to see how you can improve an individual’s function and quality of life through the combination of knowledge and hands-on expertise.”</p> <p>On Tuesday, Newman will join her classmates on stage as she receives her master's degree in physical therapy from the Faculty of Medicine.&nbsp;</p> <p>Studying at Թϱ, she says, gave her access to world-renowned hospitals and unique placements.&nbsp;</p> <p>She completed six placements in the two-year program, including one with a&nbsp;neurological focus.&nbsp;</p> <p>“For me, this neurological placement was when my love for the brain, its plasticity, and our ability to help patients recover from a severe insult to their brain began.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>During the placement, Newman witnessed her patient take a&nbsp;few steps six months after a heavy stroke. She saw another patient walk out of the rehabilitation facility to go home after a year-long recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder.&nbsp;</p> <p>“To be a part of someone’s rehab and recovery is one of the most satisfying feelings, despite the ups and downs they may face in their journey,” says Newman. “Having the autonomy as a health-care professional to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of patients makes each day different.”&nbsp;</p> <p>After graduating, Newman plans on working in a private-practice setting, with a caseload of patients with&nbsp;musculoskeletal injuries and neurological conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3>Terese Pierre: A detour on her way to medicine</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6620 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2017-11-03-grad-terese-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>For<strong> Terese Pierre</strong>, taking a less traditional path towards medicine has opened her up to experiences that she hopes will eventually shape her as a doctor.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pierre started at Թϱ studying life sciences, believing that to be the most typical path towards becoming a doctor.&nbsp;</p> <p>She worked tirelessly throughout her first year, focusing primarily on her academics.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I thought that if I didn’t join any clubs, that would somehow make my grades better, which wasn’t really true,” she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>After taking a step back to assess her grades, she realized that her highest marks were in philosophy, which led to her changing her major to bioethics.&nbsp;</p> <p>With her academics refocused, Pierre, whose previous experience with Hart House had been limited to using its gym, decided to explore the extracurricular opportunities the community had to offer. She found herself at home with the broad range of arts activities available at Թϱ.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I tend to think that you’ll do well in things that you love and things that don’t feel like a chore to do,” she says. “As long as I can remember, I’ve always been in a choir and I’ve always been writing.”&nbsp;</p> <p>During her time at Թϱ, Pierre has been student chair of the Hart House Singers, poetry editor of The Spectatorial, and choir director of the Healing Sounds of Music. She received the Student Engagement in the Arts Award from the university in April. And, on Monday, Pierre will graduate with a bachelor's degree in bioethics.</p> <p>“I want to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of others,” says Pierre, who continues to be involved with Hart House activities even after completing her course work.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Pierre has already begun a master’s degree in philosophy at York University, and is looking at additional master’s programs, as well as her medical school ambitions, in the years to come.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I hope that my philosophy degree will expose me to different ethical issues and ethical problems that I can later bring to my medical degree,” says Pierre. “I still want to be a doctor – that has never changed.”<br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.convocation.utoronto.ca/events">See the&nbsp;full schedule of #UofTGrad17 convocation ceremonies&nbsp;</a></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 22:20:51 +0000 rasbachn 120852 at An accordion superstar, self-driving cars: Our favourite Թϱ moments from the 2016-2017 academic year /news/accordion-superstar-self-driving-cars-our-favourite-u-t-moments-2016-2017-academic-year <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">An accordion superstar, self-driving cars: Our favourite Թϱ moments from the 2016-2017 academic year</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-06-22-trudeau-greeter_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ap5n8Ung 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-06-22-trudeau-greeter_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SLHSeI96 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-06-22-trudeau-greeter_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7wsjcy22 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-06-22-trudeau-greeter_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ap5n8Ung" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Romi Levine</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-07-04T12:23:37-04:00" title="Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - 12:23" class="datetime">Tue, 07/04/2017 - 12:23</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's appearance at the downtown Toronto campus in June was one of this academic year's highlights (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Romi Levine and Geoffrey Vendeville</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation" hreflang="en">Convocation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">That’s a wrap!</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c668f4d2-f92a-3f2d-11a2-74c8daad86e1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With the last grad crossing the stage in Convocation Hall, the 2016-2017 academic year <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-you-give-us-hope">came to a close</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">We’re looking back at the&nbsp;incredible accomplishments made by University of Toronto faculty, students and alumni who made an impact this year&nbsp;in Toronto and across&nbsp;the world.</p> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#students" id="students" name="students">Standout students</a></h2> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#research">Research</a></h2> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#tech">Tech&nbsp;royalty</a></h2> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#campus life">Campus life&nbsp;</a></h2> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#city">Թϱ in the city</a></h2> <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="#global">Going global</a></h2> <hr> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Standout students</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We begin with <strong><a href="/news/uoftgrad17-computer-whiz-u-t-s-top-student">Sandro Young</a></strong> of the department of electrical &amp; computer engineering. He finished the year with the highest marks of any undergraduate across Թϱ’s three campuses.&nbsp;(And no, he didn’t spend every waking hour in Robarts Library.)</p> <p dir="ltr">A 4.0 GPA isn’t the only way to impress. &nbsp;At just 20-years-old, Թϱ undergrad <strong><a href="/news/u-t-undergrad-leads-team-paleontologists-classifying-mysterious-ancient-cone-shaped-sea">Joseph Moysuik</a></strong> led a team of scientists that determined where exactly an ancient marine creatures known as hyoliths belonged on the tree of life. His research earned <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/science/hyolith-fossil.html?mcubz=1\">a write-up in <em>The New York Times</em>.</a></p> <p dir="ltr">If you thought 20 was young, here's someone even younger making headlines at Թϱ. <strong><a href="/news/meet-u-t-s-youngest-student-she-s-setting-her-sights-stars">Xiaoxiao (Maddy) Zhang</a></strong>, who turned 15 in January, is likely the youngest student in the history of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.<a id="research" name="research"></a></p> <p dir="ltr">While some students set their sights on the stars, others aimed for Mars. Թϱ engineering students completed <a href="/news/one-small-step-man-one-giant-leap-these-u-t-engineering-students">a project with advisers&nbsp;from NASA</a>&nbsp;– the undergrads came up with a way to make products like food, pharmaceuticals and fuel using elements of the Martian atmosphere.</p> <p dir="ltr">Convocation brought smiles and tears. <strong>Precilla Veigas</strong>, who was diagnosed with a terminal cancer halfway through her PhD, <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-facing-terminal-cancer-u-t-student-completes-her-phd">received her degree</a> from the University of Toronto's Institute of Medical Science in a special graduation ceremony in May. “I believed in miracles and I was ready to fight,”&nbsp;she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">This list would be incomplete without&nbsp;<a href="/news/uoftgrad17-meet-u-t-s-accordion-guy"><strong>Michael Bridge</strong></a>. He learned to play accordion when he was 5 and graduated with a master’s degree in music performance. He appeared on Breakfast Television and Metro News – with his accordion. Don’t miss his rendition of Leonard Cohen’s <em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsAh-LbAnOA">Hallelujah</a></em>&nbsp;but keep some Kleenex handy.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Thought-provoking research</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The importance of scientific research was brought to the forefront with a long-anticipated review of federal science funding, chaired by Թϱ President Emeritus <strong>David Naylor</strong>. <a href="/news/bolstering-canadian-research-u-t-welcomes-federal-science-review">The Fundamental Science Review</a> made a number of recommendations, including increased support for early-career researchers and a funding boost. <a href="/news/canadian-researchers-rally-support-funding-recommendations">Conversation surrounding the report</a> is still continuing with nearly 200 concerned researchers gathering&nbsp;in Toronto recently to devise a strategy on how to turn the recommendations&nbsp;into reality.</p> <p dir="ltr">Researchers at Թϱ gained insight into the creation of life on earth. They studied&nbsp;creatures&nbsp;<a href="/news/team-led-u-t-researchers-discovers-energy-source-sustaining-microbial-life-deep-beneath-earth%E2%80%99s">living deep beneath the earth’s surface</a>, and they helped an international team trace&nbsp;the origins of mankind hundreds of thousands of years into the past, with <a href="/news/human-ancestors-originated-europe-not-africa-u-t-part-international-team-studying-pre-human">surprising results</a>&nbsp;– our human ancestors may have originated in Europe, not Africa.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cyber sleuths at Citizen Lab at Թϱ's Munk School of Global Affairs uncovered a <a href="/news/u-t-s-citizen-lab-uncovers-spyware-campaign-against-mexican-journalists-and-civil-society">massive spyware campaign</a> in Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="/news/citizen-lab-reveals-cyber-espionage-disinformation-campaign-russian-connections">cyber espionage</a> linked to Russia,&nbsp;governments turning to commercial spyware to intimidate dissidents in the&nbsp;UAE, a phishing campaign in Egypt and <a href="/news/u-t-s-citizen-lab-exposes-censorship-popular-chat-app-wechat">Chinese social media censorship</a> this year – findings&nbsp;that led to extensive international coverage, including by the <em>New York Times.</em>&nbsp;A&nbsp;film adaptation of&nbsp;Ron Deibert's 2013 book&nbsp;<em>Black Code</em>&nbsp;premiered last fall at the Toronto International Film Festival.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5213 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Justin%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>Engineering PhD student Justin Kim has built nine robots not much larger than a thumb that exhibit “swarm intelligence” (photo by Johnny Guatto)<a id="tech" name="tech"></a></em></p> <p dir="ltr">Թϱ students and faculty also harnessed the power of technology to save lives. PhD engineering student <strong>Justin Kim</strong>’s <a href="/news/wisdom-crowds-u-t-phd-student-builds-swarm-intelligence-robots">tiny robots</a> could one day help rescue earthquake survivors or explore other planets while scientists at the Donnelly Centre are <a href="/news/tracking-proteins-using-ai-u-t-scientists-develop-deep-learning-algorithm">using deep learning </a>to help reveal what makes cells healthy and what goes wrong in disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">Some scientists are even finding inspiration from the tiniest members of the animal kingdom – flies. <strong>Andrew Mason</strong>, an associate professor of biology at Թϱ Scarborough, is studying the ormia ochracea’s incredible hearing to help <a href="/news/super-hearing-u-t-scientists-study-fly-develop-better-hearing-aids">solve some of the biggest problems</a> with hearing aid technology.</p> <p dir="ltr">And what are the odds of this? Married Թϱ professors <strong>Lei Sun</strong> and <strong>Radu Craiu</strong> <a href="http://news.artsci.utoronto.ca/all-news/married-u-t-professors-beat-odds-winning-canadas-prestigious-statistics-prize/">won the same prestigious statistics prize</a> one year apart.</p> <p dir="ltr"><b>Tech royalty&nbsp;</b></p> <p dir="ltr">It became abundantly clear this year that Թϱ is a global leader in&nbsp;artificial intelligence and an innovation powerhouse.</p> <p dir="ltr">The launch of the <a href="/news/toronto-s-vector-institute-officially-launched">Vector Institute</a>&nbsp;– aimed at attracting and maintaining AI&nbsp;talent in Toronto – kept campus abuzz with excitement this past spring.&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Geoffrey Hinton</strong>, considered the “godfather of deep&nbsp;learning,” who is a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor Emeritus</a> in computer science at Թϱ and vice-president engineering fellow at Google, will serve as Vector's chief scientific adviser. U&nbsp;of T Associate Professor and self-driving car expert&nbsp;<strong>Raquel Urtasun</strong> is one of its co-founders.&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5214 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/urtasun%20hinton%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>AI leaders Raquel Urtasun and Geoffrey Hinton&nbsp;</em></p> <p dir="ltr">International companies are now setting up shop in Toronto to take advantage of Թϱ’s AI talent.<a id="campus life" name="campus life"></a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="/news/u-t-s-self-driving-vehicle-superstar-lead-uber-s-new-research-lab-toronto">Urtasun will be joining the team at Uber</a>, which is opening its first international research lab in Toronto.</p> <p dir="ltr">This year also saw Թϱ AI legal research startup ROSS, which made it big in Silicon Valley, <a href="/news/it-s-official-ai-powered-legal-research-firm-ross-opens-rd-lab-toronto">return to Toronto </a>to open up a research and development lab.</p> <p dir="ltr">While startups are returning home, Թϱ’s&nbsp;Creative Destruction Lab accelerator is <a href="/news/scaling-u-t-accelerator-undertake-massive-canadian-expansion">expanding across the country</a>. It’s already set up shop at the University of British Columbia and will soon appear in business schools in Calgary, Montreal and Halifax.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Campus life&nbsp;</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Women made up <a href="/news/women-make-more-40-cent-u-t-engineering-s-first-year-class">40.1 per cent of students in first-year</a> engineering classes, the highest share in university engineering programs province-wide. Meanwhile, <strong>Bruce Kidd</strong>, principal of Թϱ Scarborough and former Olympian,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aboutus/blog/2017/03/08/keeping-score">saluted a move</a> by the Ontario government to ease women’s path into sports.</p> <p dir="ltr">Թϱ students led the charge for more diversity.</p> <p dir="ltr">They hosted the <a href="/news/u-t-s-giant-powwow-draws-hundreds-people-across-province">university’s first powwow in two decades</a> at the Athletic Centre. And in June, <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-u-t-s-black-graduation-first-its-kind-canada">black students held a special graduation ceremony for their peers</a>&nbsp;to add to the&nbsp;convocation experience. “To see our Black grads celebrated with their family, friends and faculty to support them was really beautiful,” said <strong>Nasma Ahmed</strong>, one of the organizers.</p> <p dir="ltr">In another first for the university, Թϱ <a href="/news/u-t-launches-class-ancient-ethiopian-language-very-nature-university">began teaching the ancient Ethiopic language</a> of Ge’ez thanks to donations from the local community, History Professor <a href="/news/swinging-ropes-matching-funds"><strong>Michael Gervers</strong></a> and <a href="/news/weeknd-backs-u-t-s-bid-launch-north-america-s-first-ethiopian-studies-program">Grammy-winning singer The Weeknd</a>. A&nbsp;Թϱ&nbsp;alumnus,&nbsp;<strong><a href="/news/scarborough-business-owner-donates-2-million-u-t-tamil-studies">Ravi Gukathasan</a></strong>, CEO of Digital Specialty Chemicals Ltd. in Scarborough, also gave&nbsp;a historic donation of $2 million to Թϱ Scarborough to support a new&nbsp;Tamil studies program.&nbsp;“I want UTSC to be a star when it comes to the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, its culture, its language, its perspective in the world,” says Gukathasan. “We have the biggest Tamil diaspora in the world in Scarborough. They need to be proud.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5215 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Iron%20chef%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em><strong>Felipe Branco </strong>and <strong>Brettany Colette </strong>plate a dish during a practice session for Iron Chef 2017 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)<a id="city" name="city"></a></em></p> <p dir="ltr">It was also a year for ripening&nbsp;taste buds. For the first time, Թϱ hosted <a href="/ironchef">the inter-university Iron Chef culinary competition</a>, finishing second. Over at Թϱ Scarborough, Professor <strong>Dan Bender</strong> gave his students food for thought, <a href="/news/edible-midterm-u-t-history-students-serve-curry-their-final-history-grade">asking them to cook curries from different eras for their midterm</a> in “Edible History.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Here's a stunning fact: students learned this year that even in university, there’s room for fun.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="/news/u-t-students-bring-their-game-level-video-game-showcase">Թϱ students showed off video games</a> that they designed at the Level Up Showcase. In the first-ever&nbsp;Entrepreneurship@UofT Week, students&nbsp;pitched, networked&nbsp;and demoed&nbsp;at the Startup Showcase.&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Թϱ in the city</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">From our pop star exports to our sports teams making the playoffs, this year&nbsp;all eyes are on Toronto – and our scientific community is no exception.</p> <p dir="ltr">In December, pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG and venture capital firm Versant Ventures announced a <a href="/news/bayer-versant-back-commercialization-stem-cell-therapies-toronto-we-go-where-science-best">$225 million investment</a> to help turn stem cell science into real-world treatments in Toronto. The investors said they were attracted to the city because of Թϱ’s regenerative medicine “dream team” of <strong>Gordon Keller</strong> and <strong>Michael Laflamme</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We go where the science is best,” said Jerel Davis, a managing director at Versant Ventures.</p> <p dir="ltr">This spring, the university invited the public to explore its architectural gems including the newly opened One Spadina building on its downtown Toronto campus during&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-s-one-spadina-front-and-centre-toronto-s-doors-open">Doors Open</a>, and helped kids and families to learn about science in fun and interactive ways during <a href="/news/u-t-takes-science-street-creepy-crawlies-and-candy-rockets-science-rendezvous">Science Rendezvous</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Թϱ’s army of city builders remain hard at work, finding ways to improve urban life in Toronto and globally.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Թϱ</em> has been telling their stories in a new video series called On Location. Check out the first two episodes – one on <a href="/news/u-t-s-winter-stations-warm-toronto-s-beaches">Թϱ's debut at Winter Stations</a>,&nbsp;the&nbsp;annual design competition where teams from all over the world build art installations across Toronto's east-end beaches, and the <a href="/news/u-t-experts-creative-solution-toronto-s-housing-problems-laneway-homes">Թϱ architecture professor</a> who is an advocate for laneway housing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5216 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/one%20spadina%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>One Spadina was in the spotlight at this year's Doors Open&nbsp;(photo by Peter MacCallum)<a id="global" name="global"></a></em></p> <p dir="ltr">So how can we improve our cities? University Professor and director of Rotman School of Management’s Martin Prosperity Institute (MPI) <strong>Richard Florida</strong> says <a href="/news/taking-inequality-richard-florida-talks-new-urban-crisis-u-t-event">it starts with tackling inequality</a>. His new book, <em>The New Urban Crisis</em>,&nbsp;explores how&nbsp;the back-to-the-city movement has led to rising housing prices,&nbsp;economic disparity and the decline of middle-class neighbourhoods. He and his team have launched <a href="/news/u-t-s-richard-florida-wants-help-you-find-best-place-live">a&nbsp;massive online open course (MOOC)</a> to teach the public about cities.</p> <p dir="ltr">But perhaps we can also look to the future to&nbsp;ensure we’re on the right path. That was the aim of a <em>Toronto Life</em> feature that imagines <a href="/news/u-t-experts-imagine-city-50-years-toronto-life-anniversary-issue">t</a><a href="/news/u-t-experts-imagine-city-50-years-toronto-life-anniversary-issue">he city in 50 years</a>, using data collected by Թϱ's Martin Prosperity Institute and interviews with Թϱ’s cities experts including <strong>Mark Fox</strong> and <strong>Shauna Brail</strong>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile at the St. George campus, work has begun to <a href="/news/u-t-alumni-make-first-gift-support-landmark">raise funds for the Landmark project</a>, which hopes to make the campus more pedestrian friendly and accessible. Թϱ Mississauga is also looking ahead with <a href="http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/main-news/consultations-begin-new-vision-plan-utm">a vision plan</a> for the future of its campus.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Going global</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Even as Europe and the United States became more isolationist with Brexit and U.S. President Donald Trump, Թϱ opened itself up to students from around the globe.</p> <p dir="ltr">University officials <a href="/news/university-toronto-keeping-close-watch-impact-us-travel-restrictions">kept an eye on U.S. travel restrictions</a>, and faculties and departments&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-community-gathers-bordering-injustice-how-should-we-respond-trump-ban">organized town halls</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-phd-student-detained-hours-american-airport-weekend">supported international students</a><a href="/news/u-t-phd-student-detained-hours-american-airport-weekend"> and scholars </a>who were <a href="/news/university-toronto-faculty-experts-and-students-respond-trump-s-travel-ban">affected by America's&nbsp;new travel policy</a>. <strong>Khaled Almailaji</strong>, a Syrian doctor stranded by the U.S.&nbsp;travel ban, <a href="/news/stranded-trump-travel-ban-syrian-doctor-begins-studies-university-toronto">was invited to continue his studies</a> in public health at Թϱ while the university covers his tuition.</p> <p dir="ltr">International students seemed keener than ever to study in Canada and at Թϱ. From Australia to Zimbabwe, they <a href="/news/surge-international-applications-continues-u-t">applied to the university in record numbers</a>. There was a flurry of interest from American students, especially <a href="/news/after-trump-win-surge-visits-u-t-web-site-american-international-students">after the presidential election</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Թϱ held events in the U.S. and India this year to give students a glimpse of the university and Toronto. <em>Saturday Night Live</em> producer <strong>Lorne Michaels</strong>, who graduated from Թϱ in 1966,&nbsp;<a href="/news/live-new-york-its-u-t-alum-and-saturday-night-live-producer-lorne-michaels">spoke to prospective students in New York.</a> “When I went (to Թϱ), it was very, very conducive to learning,”&nbsp;he said. “Also winter helps because it narrows your choices and you’re perfectly happy to be reading a book when it’s cold and snowy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The university welcomed the first generation of <a href="/news/u-t-welcomes-inaugural-pearson-scholars-around-globe"><strong>Lester B. Pearson</strong> international scholars</a>, an award named after the former prime minister, Nobel Laureate and Թϱ alumnus. At the same time, Թϱ said goodbye to the <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-first-mastercard-foundation-scholars-sub-saharan-africa-set-graduate">first graduating class of MasterCard Foundation Scholars</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Where do Թϱ graduate students go after convocation? <em>Թϱ </em>checked in with former PhD and postdoctoral students. One <a href="/news/linguist-ail-s-cournane-leads-child-language-lab-new-york-university">founded a child language lab</a> at New York University, another <a href="/news/electrical-engineer-susanna-thon-harnesses-power-solar-energy">started a nanoenergy lab</a> at Johns Hopkins and a <a href="/news/engineer-kai-james-designs-tools-aerospace-structures">third designs aerospace software</a>&nbsp;simulating how materials bend, break or vibrate.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Selfie Moments</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While convocation with this year's <a href="/news/uoftgrad17-27-ceremonies-and-thousands-hugs-later-one-last-look-convocation-social-media">popular frame was a huge hit</a>&nbsp;with grads and their families, it was <a href="/news/trudeau-u-t-canada-and-us-are-two-countries-have-grown-together">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's appearance for a Rotman event</a>&nbsp;last month&nbsp;that drew the most snaps.</p> <p dir="ltr">The event, co-organized with the <em>New York Times</em> and MPI, marked the first major sit-down interview with Trudeau on Canadian foreign policy following Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister (and Թϱ area member of Parliament) Chrystia Freeland's June 6 speech to the House of Commons about Canada’s changing role and position in geo-politics.</p> <p dir="ltr">Students lined up outside Desautels Hall and cheered as Trudeau&nbsp;entered. As he exited, they flocked to the back of the room for selfies.&nbsp;</p> <div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c668f4d2-f92a-3f2d-11a2-74c8daad86e1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:23:37 +0000 Romi Levine 109020 at #UofTGrad17: You Give Us Hope /news/uoftgrad17-you-give-us-hope <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: You Give Us Hope</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mdipaul</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-06-29T12:01:09-04:00" title="Thursday, June 29, 2017 - 12:01" class="datetime">Thu, 06/29/2017 - 12:01</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-youtube field--type-youtube field--label-hidden field__item"><figure class="youtube-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5qeICXBZlU?wmode=opaque" width="450" height="315" id="youtube-field-player" class="youtube-field-player" title="Embedded video for #UofTGrad17: You Give Us Hope" aria-label="Embedded video for #UofTGrad17: You Give Us Hope: https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5qeICXBZlU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </figure> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation" hreflang="en">Convocation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/video" hreflang="en">Video</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:01:09 +0000 mdipaul 108889 at #UofTGrad17: Munk One celebrates its first cohort of Թϱ graduates /news/uoftgrad17-munk-one-celebrates-its-first-cohort-u-t-graduates <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTGrad17: Munk One celebrates its first cohort of Թϱ graduates</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Nicoli%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_xk4pE76 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Nicoli%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XgcGogl0 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Nicoli%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TArmj5Ct 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Nicoli%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_xk4pE76" alt="photo of Munk One student Nicoli Dos Santos"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Romi Levine</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-06-22T11:35:31-04:00" title="Thursday, June 22, 2017 - 11:35" class="datetime">Thu, 06/22/2017 - 11:35</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Munk One grad Nicoli Dos Santos</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/adrienne-harry" hreflang="en">Adrienne Harry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Adrienne Harry</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/munk-one" hreflang="en">Munk One</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftgrad17" hreflang="en">#UofTGrad17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2017" hreflang="en">Convocation 2017</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Since it launched&nbsp;in 2013, <a href="http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/one/">the Munk One foundation program</a> for students in their first year has attracted and taught some of the University of Toronto’s most audacious students.</p> <p>After their time in Munk One, students have gone on to create an app that reduces food waste on university campuses, launch an <a href="/news/beating-heat-u-t-students-address-working-conditions-qatar">initiative to prevent heat-related deaths on construction sites in Qatar</a>, and conduct <a href="/news/u-t-undergrads-brazil-research-poverty">field research on poverty in Brazil</a>.</p> <p>Now, the program is celebrating its first cohort of students to graduate from Թϱ.</p> <p>&nbsp;“The first cohort was the one that set the bar for me,” says <strong>Teresa Kramarz</strong>, director of the Munk One program. “They made me realize what untapped potential the University of Toronto had in its first-year students. I came to fully understand the hunger that these students brought to Թϱ.”</p> <p>Offered by the Munk School of Global Affairs, Munk One teaches first-year undergraduate students how to take their hunger and curiosity and apply it to some of the world’s most complex challenges. The small classroom environment allows students to network closely with their peers and professors, and the seminars and labs help to prepare students for the rest of their Թϱ experience, and beyond.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5103 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/nicholas%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>“Munk One was a good experience. First year can be a very isolating time and Munk One was a good way to get to know people and build a social group,” says <strong>Nicholas Sopuch&nbsp;</strong>(pictured above). The&nbsp;peace, conflict and justice major graduated&nbsp;on June 21.</p> <p>Set to begin his master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the fall, Sopuch&nbsp;credits Munk One with shaping the rest of his academic experience. “The workload and the readings helped me become comfortable in a seminar setting. It was good to work with these really bright students in such a collaborative environment.</p> <p>“Munk One was an intensive warm-up for the rest of my undergrad.”</p> <p><strong>Nicoli Dos Santos</strong>, another of the program’s very first students, agrees.</p> <p>“Munk One gave me my first real taste of what research looks like in academia. Not just theory, but also field research,” says Dos Santos, who, through her Munk One professors, had the opportunity to spend six weeks in Northern Ireland advising on an <a href="http://munkschool.utoronto.ca/one/student-blog/ireland-app-development-group/">app that diagnoses post-traumatic stress disorder</a>.</p> <p>“The program helped me to see problems differently and examine my approach. I gained the confidence to seek out more research opportunities.”</p> <p>Dos Santos, along with other Munk One alumni, went on to study Brazil’s Bolsa Familia social welfare program with <a href="http://reachprojectuoft.com/">the Reach Project</a>, an initiative led by Professor <strong>Joseph Wong</strong>, who teaches a seminar course in the Munk One program. This trip helped Dos Santos, an aspiring doctor, to think about health and medicine from a more social perspective. She writes her MCAT in August and begins a master of social work at Թϱ in the fall.</p> <p>“In Munk One, I realized how crucial it is to think about the socio-political context in which diseases emerge, spread and are treated. I’m interested in family medicine and I want the skills to be able to address the social issues that may contribute to physical and mental health.”</p> <p>Sopuch recommends Munk One to anyone hoping to make valuable connections with their peers and professors. “A lot of my friends today are people I met in Munk One. It was useful to have that initial connection,” says Sopuch. “And in terms of academic preparation, Munk One is great. The connections you build really do last throughout your undergrad.”</p> <p>Kramarz is excited to see Munk One students now becoming Թϱ alumni, and sees them making a profound impact as they move on to other pursuits.</p> <p>“Over the last four years, I have watched these students grow as scholars and as people. I have this sense of wonder as I look at their trajectory. I’m proud of our students and happy that Munk One has helped prepare them to be engaged global citizens.”&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 22 Jun 2017 15:35:31 +0000 Romi Levine 108570 at