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Facility renaming honours long-serving Schulich dean

Dezsö J. Horváth Executive Learning Centre

On Sept. 28, York University’s Schulich School of Business hosted a milestone event celebrating the renaming of the school’s Executive Learning Centre in honour of Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth.

Dezsö J. Horváth
Dezsö J. Horváth

Horváth led the school for 32 years, making him the longest-serving dean of any major business school in the world. As dean, Horváth helped Schulich attain international prominence and renown. He transformed Schulich into a global business school and expanded its reach and influence around the world. He also spearheaded the development of innovative degrees and pioneering programs and helped make Schulich a world leader in the field of responsible business, among others.

The renaming of the Executive Learning Centre as the Dezsö J. Horváth Executive Learning Centre is the latest of many honours for the former dean. Other awards and recognitions he has received over the course of his career include being named International Dean of the Year in 2004 by the Academy of International Business in recognition of his “outstanding leadership in various aspects of internationalization” and being appointed to the Order of Canada in 2008 for his academic leadership and sustained commitment to business education.

“Serving as dean of the Schulich School of Business was the greatest accomplishment of my career – and also the most satisfying and enriching,” said Horváth in his keynote address. “Throughout my career, I was fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly talented and capable people. I had a strong faculty, tremendous advisory boards, a loyal and successful alumni network and, most of all, a dedicated and highly professional team of staff members.”

He concluded his remarks by addressing the members of the Schulich global community: “You cared about our school. You believed in what we were trying to achieve. And you made us successful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Current Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick presented Horváth with a plaque in recognition of the honorific naming, describing it as “a proclamation of the high esteem in which you are held by the Schulich and York communities and as a sign of the sincere gratitude we share for all that you have done.”

Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick presents Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth with a replica plaque in recognition of the honorific naming.

A number of leading members of the Schulich community attended the event and paid tribute to Horváth, including: Seymour Schulich, OC (Hon. LLD ’03), the school’s chief benefactor and one of Canada’s greatest entrepreneurs; Robert Krembil, CM (MBA ’71, Hon. LLD ’00), an individual synonymous with health-care research and philanthropy in Canada; Rob McEwen, CM (MBA ’78, Hon. LLD ‘05) and Cheryl McEwen (Hon. LLD ’19), benefactors of the school’s Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building; Leslie Dan, CM, O Ont (Hon. LLD ’10), one of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs in the field of health and medicine; Bill Graham (MBA ’86), former president of Schulich’s Global Alumni Network; and Paul Tsaparis (MBA ’84), Chair of York University’s Board of Governors. Other prominent members of the Schulich community who attended the event include Rick Waugh, OC (MBA ’74, Hon. LLD ’07), former deputy Chair, president and chief executive officer of Scotiabank.

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, who was on business overseas, provided a special videotaped message, as did a number of other individuals who worked closely with Horváth, including: John Hunkin (MBA ’69, Hon. LLD ’04), former Chair of the Schulich Dean’s Advisory Council; G.M. Rao (Hon. LLD ’11), Chair of the School’s India Advisory Council; and, representing Schulich students from over the years, former Graduate Business Council President Kiki Oyerinde (IMBA ’20). Lisa Philipps, York University provost and vice-president, academic, gave a toast at a special private luncheon following the naming celebration.

One of the highlights of the naming ceremony was the announcement of the prestigious Dezsö J. Horváth Visionary Leadership Award, to be awarded annually to an entering Schulich MBA or Tech MBA student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership and potential. The inaugural recipient of the award, Asma Afrin Hassan, a student in Schulich’s new Tech MBA program, was announced during the ceremony.

The building renaming was made possible thanks to the generous support provided by Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation, Robert Krembil and the Krembil Foundation, Rob and Cheryl McEwen, and Leslie Dan, among others. Zwick and Tsaparis co-chaired the event. Marcia Annisette, professor of accounting at Schulich and York’s newly named vice-provost academic, served as the master of ceremonies.

The newly renamed Dezsö J. Horváth Executive Learning Centre first opened in 2003 and includes an 11-storey hotel, lecture halls, breakout rooms, a fireside lounge, a penthouse boardroom and an 80-seat private dining room.

School of Continuing Studies launches new certificate

happy customers

In January 2024, the York University School of Continuing Studies will launch the Certificate in Customer Success Management, a five-week, part-time program allowing aspiring or current customer success managers to quickly upskill and pursue new roles or advance within their organization.

Christine Brooks-Cappadocia
Christine Brooks-Cappadocia.

Customer success management is a rapidly growing field, as many businesses shift from product-centric to service-based models, creating a need to focus on engaging and retaining customers. This has led to significant growth for this role in Ontario, with organizations requiring more skilled, personable professionals who can nurture customer relationships, maximize the value of purchases and gain new business.

“In our research phase for the Certificate in Customer Success Management, we spoke with Canadian leaders in the industry, and what they told us is there is little formal training in this field,” says Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, interim assistant vice-president of continuing studies. “Our program, which develops new, highly skilled talent, really resonated with employers.”

The program’s curriculum was created in partnership with leading Canadian customer success managers. Learners in this program will develop business acumen, problem-solving and communication skills to strengthen the relationship between an organization and its customers.

The new program will be highly experiential and will feature workshops and simulations that mirror the duties of a customer success manager. Instructors who work full-time as customer success managers will bring their real-world expertise and insights to every course. 

“Learners will practise their skills in real and simulated business scenarios and will complete the program in five weeks, graduating with skills they can immediately apply in the workplace,” says Brooks-Cappadocia. “In a little over a month, they will be prepared to enter a customer success role or pursue new opportunities at their current work, accelerating success for both them and their employer.”

“In today’s dynamic business landscape, where success hinges on fostering lasting relationships, the demand for professionals skilled in customer success management has never been more vital,” says Michael Hsu, senior vice-president of client services at Achēv, a leading employment services non-profit. “The School of Continuing Studies’ specialized program not only meets this industry need but also equips learners with the strategic insights and practical skills, positioning them to excel in the competitive field of customer success.”

For more information on this program starting in January 2024, visit the School of Continuing Studies web page. Registration is now open. 

Join discussion on complexities of police militarization

British police officer photographed from behind, standing in the middle of a street with his arms behind his back

The 2023 Sociology Annual Lecture, titled “Policing Empires: Militarization, Race and the Imperial Boomerang in Britain and the U.S.,” will take place on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Founders College Assembly Hall (FC 152) on York University’s Keele Campus.

Julian Go
Julian Go

The lecture’s featured speaker is Julian Go, a professor of sociology and a faculty affiliate of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture and the Committee on International Relations at the University of Chicago.

The police response to protests erupting on America’s streets in recent years has made the militarization of policing painfully transparent. Yet, properly demilitarizing the police requires a deeper understanding of its historical development, causes and social logics. This talk offers a post-colonial historical sociology of police militarization in the U.K. and the U.S. to aid that effort. It theorizes the racialized imperiality of modern policing, showing that police militarization has occurred since the very founding of modern policing in the 19th century into the present, and that it is an effect of the “imperial boomerang.”

This event is sponsored by York University’s Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, the Department of Sociology Maurice Manel Colloquium Fund and the Graduate Program in Sociology. The event is open to all York community members, but space is limited. Register by Oct. 13 at forms.office.com/r/t2QALULE2t.

For more information, contact sociolog@yorku.ca.

Watching mushrooms grow: a new lesson in communications

oyster mushrooms

By Ashley Goodfellow Craig, editor, YFile

A cohort of Glendon College students will explore digital innovations in the context of interpersonal and mobile communications through an unexpected pedagogy – a living art installation containing a variety of mushrooms.

Students enrolled this fall in Dreaming of Electric Sheep: Emerging Practices in Communication, a course led by Glendon faculty member Roberta Buiani, will document and care for the installation as part of their curriculum.

The art project, titled Mycosymbiosis and designed by Chinese-Canadian artist Xiaojing Yan, is a time-based and site-specific installation located on the balcony adjacent to Glendon Manor’s ballroom. It will launch on Oct. 2 at 5 p.m., with a viewing event and reception to follow.

Oyster mushrooms in the mobile gallery
Oyster mushrooms growing in the mobile gallery.

“The installation consists of a mobile gallery (Emergent) containing a variety of mushrooms which grow, decay and renew, weaving their intricate forms through its interstitial space and responding to the surrounding natural environment,” explains Buiani.

Emergent – a Living Mobile Gallery is a mobile gallery featuring artworks at the intersection of science and the arts. The goal is to understand and address how life evolves and adapts due to climate change, global mobility, experiments and the shaping of the world. The mobile gallery itself is a porous object, and is designed to explore the role of exhibition spaces.

Yan’s installation combines the complex concept of identity with a perspective on nature that transcends conventional boundaries. Including three types of oyster mushrooms planted along the exterior walls of the mobile gallery, the living art project will showcase how these mushrooms grow through a time-lapse projection inside. This evolving living sculpture will change with varying temperature and humidity, inviting a range of symbiotic organisms that interact with the mushrooms.

Mycosymbiosis art installation
Mycosymbiosis art installation in full.

This installation of Mycosymbiosis represents the second phase of a long-term collaboration between Yan and the team behind Emergent: Buiani (Glendon/University of Toronto), Lorella di Cintio (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Ilze Briede [kavi] (York University, PhD student), with scientific advising from James Scott (University of Toronto).

Buiani’s course, which is a recipient of an Academic Innovation Fund grant, presents an examination of emerging trends in communication and media technologies, delving into web-based advancements and exploring novel modes of interpersonal and mobile communication.

Specifically, interacting with and documenting this installation is an important opportunity for students to not only achieve a better and more nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in interspecies communication in relation to our technological networks, but also to develop a better appreciation for responsible consumption and production, collaborative and collective work, communication with different forms of knowledge and ultimately, care, says Buiani.

The installation will be on view throughout the fall semester, and the Oct. 2 launch will kick off a series of public engagements on networks, care and land-based community building and artistic practice. More information will be available at artscisalon.com/COMS4208.

COVID-19 and respiratory viruses: what to know on campus

Students wearing branded masks while socially distancing in the common

La version française suit la version anglaise. 

The risks for respiratory illness such as COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increase as we move into fall and indoor spaces.

Here is an overview of current public health guidelines and available resources to make this transition safer for the York community.

If you are symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19:

  • Toronto Public Health recommends you stay home if you are sick or have symptoms of illness, even if your symptoms are mild.
  • Anyone with new or worsening symptoms or who tests positive for COVID-19 should complete the provincial self-assessment and follow directions for self-isolation or self-monitoring.
  • Affected faculty, staff or instructors should inform their manager or associate dean of their absence and follow regular sick leave processes.

Close contact guidelines:

If you were a close contact of somebody with COVID-19, please review Toronto Public Health’s guidance page: COVID-19: What to Do if You Are a Close Contact.

Vaccination:

An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Health Canada. COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness, death and post-COVID-19 condition (“long COVID”).

Visit the Ontario Health COVID-19 Vaccination Portal to book a vaccination appointment. York will share information about vaccination clinics taking place at York University campuses in the coming weeks.

Health Canada recommends an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose for those who:

  • had their last COVID-19 vaccine dose over six months ago; or
  • last had COVID-19 six months ago (whichever happened later).

Rapid antigen tests:

York University has a limited supply of free rapid antigen test kits. Visit the community health website for more information.

Masking

York is a mask-friendly environment. You may wish to consider wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask in crowded indoor public settings. York University has mask vending machines where Level 3 masks and N95 masks may be purchased.

Wearing a mask, keeping your distance where possible, practising hand hygiene, getting vaccinated and other public health measures can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

For more resources, visit the Community Health page for staff, faculty and instructors. For questions related to COVID-19 or other respiratory virus, email sfccm@yorku.ca.

Information for students is available on the Student Health page and questions can be emailed to schw@yorku.ca.

COVID-19 et les virus respiratoires : ce qu’il faut savoir

Le risque de maladies respiratoires comme la COVID-19, la grippe et le virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS) est en hausse avec l’arrivée de l’automne et le retour dans les bâtiments.

Voici un aperçu des lignes directrices actuelles en matière de santé publique ainsi que des ressources pour rendre cette transition plus sûre pour la communauté de York.

Si vous présentez des symptômes ou si vous avez obtenu un résultat positif au test de dépistage de la COVID-19 :

  • Le Bureau de santé publique de Toronto recommande aux personnes de rester à la maison si elles sont malades ou si elles ont des symptômes, même légers.
  • Toute personne présentant des symptômes nouveaux ou s’aggravant, ou dont le test de dépistage de COVID-19 était positif, doit remplir l’auto-évaluation provinciale et suivre les instructions relatives à l’auto-isolement ou à l’autosurveillance.
  • Les membres concernés du corps professoral, du personnel ou du corps enseignant doivent informer leur gestionnaire ou doyen(ne) associé(e) de leur absence et suivre les procédures habituelles en matière de congé de maladie.

Directives relatives aux contacts étroits :

Si vous avez été en contact étroit avec une personne ayant la COVID-19, veuillez consulter la page de conseils du Bureau de santé publique de Toronto : COVID-19 : What to Do if You Are a Close Contact.

Vaccination :

Un vaccin actualisé contre la COVID-19 a été approuvé par Santé Canada. La vaccination contre la COVID-19 réduit le risque de maladie grave, de décès et du syndrome post-COVID-19 (« COVID longue »).

Visitez le portail de vaccination contre la COVID-19 de Santé Ontario pour prendre un rendez-vous de vaccination. York communiquera des informations sur les cliniques de vaccination qui se tiendront sur les campus de l’Université York dans les semaines à venir.

Santé Canada recommande une mise à jour de la dose du vaccin contre la COVID-19 dans les cas suivants :

  • La dernière dose de vaccin COVID-19 a été administrée il y a plus de six mois; ou
  • Vous avez eu la COVID-19 il y a plus de six mois (la date la plus récente étant retenue).

Tests antigéniques rapides :

L’Université York dispose d’un nombre limité de trousses de tests antigéniques rapides gratuites. Visitez le site Web de la santé communautaire pour plus d’informations.

Port du masque

York encourage le port d’un masque. Vous pouvez envisager de porter un masque bien ajusté et de bonne qualité dans les lieux publics intérieurs très fréquentés. L’Université York a des distributeurs automatiques de masques où l’on peut acheter des masques de niveau 3 et des masques N95.

Le port d’un masque, le maintien d’une distance suffisante, l’hygiène des mains, la vaccination et d’autres mesures de santé publique peuvent réduire la propagation des virus respiratoires.

Pour plus de ressources, consultez la page Community Health destinée au personnel et aux corps professoral et enseignant. Pour toute question relative à la COVID-19 ou à d’autres virus respiratoires, envoyez un courriel à sfccm@yorku.ca.

Les informations destinées à la population étudiante se trouvent sur la page Santé étudiante. Les questions peuvent être envoyées par courriel à schw@yorku.ca.

York to test emergency notification system Oct. 3

York University prioritizes the safety and security of its community across campuses. To ensure that all community members know what to expect and what to do in an emergency situation, the Department of Community Safety will conduct a test of York University’s Emergency Notification System on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at noon.

This test is taking place in accordance with York’s emergency management policy with the intent to promote the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors and help ensure the continuance of critical University operations during emergency scenarios. 

It will include email, push notifications and alerts through the YorkU Safety App, digital messaging screens on campus, and the public announcement system. To clearly indicate that it is a test, the word “test” will precede the alert on all devices. In case of a real emergency, the test will be cancelled and the community will be notified. 

Testing the emergency notification system may cause anxiety or stress for some members of our campus community. If you are experiencing difficulties or need support, visit yorku.ca/well-being/finding-help.

Download the York U Safety App to ensure you receive timely and important community safety notices. More resources are available for faculty, staff and students.

FAQs 

Why is York testing the emergency notification system?
York is testing the emergency notification system to ensure community members know how they will be notified in the event of an emergency situation. This test will also confirm functionality of all components of the system as part of regular emergency preparedness activities.  

How long will the test be?
The test is scheduled to last for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. It is important to note that while efforts will be made to ensure the test runs on schedule, there may be slight variations to the anticipated timing.  

Will the test take place at all of York’s campuses? 
Email and YorkU Safety App notification will occur for community members across all campuses. Testing of the public address system and digital messaging screens will take place on Keele and Glendon campuses only.  

Will the public address system be heard in classrooms?
The public address system test will be heard anywhere there are speakers installed, including hallways, common areas and large classrooms.  

Calling all adventure seekers: explore outdoors through new recreation program

For York University students and community members looking to get active this semester, but don’t want to commit to the gym or a sports team, check out Athletics & Recreation’s new Outdoor Experience Program. Adventure seekers are invited to immerse themselves in Canadian culture beyond the York campuses, with staff taking participants by bus to off-campus locations to participate in a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking, treetop trekking and zip lining to horseback riding, skating and more.

The program’s first event, a hike at Crawford Lake, takes place on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with the hike itself lasting 90 minutes. Travelling by bus, participants will head to Crawford Lake, part of Conservation Halton Parks, where they will explore the 15th-century Longhouse Village and experience what daily life was like for Indigenous people in the area over 600 years ago. Hikers can expect to see a variety of plants and animals, as well as the unique body of water of Crawford Lake. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, try something new, and get the health and well-being benefits of being active outdoors.

Other upcoming events in the series include:

  • Treetop Trekking, Oct. 27 (register by Oct. 13);
  • Horseback Riding, Nov. 12 (register by Oct. 29); and
  • Christmas Market and Skating, Dec. 8 (register by Nov. 24).

For more information about the Outdoor Experience Program, including pricing, and to register, visit the program website. The prices of the events cover transportation, entry to the experience, required equipment and a snack. All York University community members are welcome to participate.

YURA walk to fundraise for student food support

Image shows people wearing running shoes

On Oct. 3, members of the York University Retirees’ Association (YURA) will walk five kilometres through the University’s Keele Campus to raise funds for the York Federation of Students (YFS) Food Support Centre, more commonly known as the student food bank on campus.

Earlier this year, the YURA executive committee voted unanimously to assist the YFS Food Support Centre, as one in four students at York struggles to afford food, according to a Campus Well-Being Survey conducted during the past winter term. It also stated more than 2,500 students were relying on the YFS Food Support Centre.

The fundraising walk on Oct. 3 will take place at 1 p.m., starting at the Lorna Marsden Honour Court (north of the Schulich School of Business building, east of the York University subway station), the new location of the YURA office. The route through the Keele Campus was developed with Recreation York, and all members of the University community – faculty, staff and students – are welcome to participate in all or part of the approximately one-hour walk, to show their support for this important cause.

To date, YURA’s Charity Challenge team has already raised more than $18,000 in sponsor donations from friends, family, and former York colleagues and co-workers. YURA welcomes further contributions from faculty, staff and others who are also concerned about student food insecurity at the University. To sponsor the YURA team or any of its members, tax-deductible online donations can be made here: raceroster.com/events/2023/65909/2023-tcs-toronto-waterfront-marathon/pledge/team/528606.

For further assistance, contact the YURA office at yura@yorku.ca or call 416-736-2100 ext. 70664. 

The YURA team consists of eight members registered officially as fundraisers and a larger contingent of York retirees who wish to support this cause. 

This is the fifth year that YURA is taking part in the Charity Challenge. In previous years, YURA’s participation helped raise sufficient funds to endow in perpetuity three graduate student awards given annually at York University.

The upcoming YURA fundraising walk is being held in conjunction with the Toronto Waterfront Marathon Charity Challenge, which offers the option of a “virtual” Charity Challenge, allowing registrants to do the five kilometres on their own or with others.

Show your York U pride, join Spirit Day Oct. 4

SpiritDay YFile Banner

La version française suit la version anglaise.

President Rhonda Lenton invites all students, staff, faculty members and course instructors to a day of festivities and celebration of York community excellence at Spirit Day on Oct. 4, taking place at our Keele and Glendon campuses.

Get ready to show your York U pride by wearing York University colours (red, white or blue) and connect with us for a day of activities, treats, and giveaways to celebrate and recognize York community members who continue to make positive change.

For more information, visit: yorku.ca/events/spiritday.

Glendon Campus
Wednesday, Oct. 4
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Key events:

Giant Flag Drone Photo
10 to 10:30 a.m.
West Quad, beside Centre of Excellence

Ceremonial Large Tree Planting
10:30 to 10:40 a.m.
Large area behind Hilliard Residence

—————

Keele Campus
Wednesday, Oct. 4
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Key events:

Community Tree Planting
Noon to 2 p.m.
Nelson Road, behind Osgoode Hall Law School

Giant Flag Drone Photo
2 to 2:30 p.m.
Harry W. Arthurs Common

Please note that in the event of inclement weather, an alternate location will be arranged indoors and you will be notified by email.

Joignez-vous à nous pour la Journée des couleurs de York le 4 octobre et affichez votre fierté

La présidente Rhonda Lenton invite tous les membres du corps étudiant, du personnel et des corps professoral et enseignant à une journée de festivités et de célébration de l’excellence de la communauté sur les campus Keele et Glendon à l’occasion de la Journée des couleurs de York (Spirit Day) le 4 octobre.

Venez afficher votre fierté d’appartenir à York en portant les couleurs de l’Université (rouge, blanc ou bleu) et joignez-vous à nous pour des petits cadeaux, des friandises et des activités sur les campus Keele et Glendon pour célébrer et reconnaître les membres de la communauté de York qui ne cessent de créer des changements positifs.

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez visiter : https://www.yorku.ca/events/spiritday/.

Campus Glendon
Mercredi 4 octobre 2023
De 10 h à 15 h

Événements-clés :

Photo avec le drapeau géant prise par un drone
10 h à 10 h 30
Quadrilatère ouest, à côté du Centre d’excellence

Plantation cérémonielle d’un grand arbre
10 h 30 à 10 h 40
Grand espace derrière la résidence Hilliard

—————

Campus Keele
Mercredi 4 octobre 2023
De 10 h à 15 h

Événements-clés :

Plantation communautaire d’arbres
12 h à 14 h
Nelson Road, derrière l’École de droit Osgoode Hall

Photo avec le drapeau géant prise par un drone
14 h à 14 h 30
Harry W. Arthurs Common

Veuillez noter qu’en cas de mauvais temps, les événements se tiendront à un autre emplacement. Vous recevrez un avis par courriel.

New online database makes York’s art collection accessible

Three paintings hung on an orange wall, part of the York University art collection

The Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) recently announced the official launch of the York University Art Collection Online, a searchable database providing students, scholars and the public with access to York’s valued art collection. This digital resource houses nearly 2,000 artworks by local, national and international artists, spanning a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, prints, photography and new media.

The launch of the online database signifies a milestone in York’s commitment to making its art collection accessible to a broader audience. The user-friendly digital platform allows students, faculty, art historians and art enthusiasts to explore the collection’s holdings.

Jenifer Papararo, director and curator of the AGYU, remarks that “making the University’s collection accessible for research has been an important priority over the last three years and marks a future-oriented vision of art acquisition that is tied not only to building legacy for the University but also with a responsibility to assemble a pedagogical resource.”

Access to the online database is free and open to the public, aligning with the AGYU’s commitment to fostering cultural appreciation and accessibility.

Corresponding with the founding of the University, the York University art collection has played a pivotal role in enriching the academic and cultural experience at York. With the transformation of the AGYU into a publicly funded gallery in the late ’80s, the collection came under the gallery’s supervision and care, and with its transformation into the Joan & Martin Goldfarb Gallery in Fall 2024, the University’s art collection will be further elevated, as the new stand-alone building allows for the transformation of the current gallery space into a visible vault for the art collection, increasing its accessibility and significance within the University’s cultural landscape.

The University’s commitment to collecting and preserving art is reflected in the diverse and eclectic range of artworks found within the collection. In the late 1960s, York University made significant acquisitions, adding pioneering works by Canadian abstractionists to its holdings, including iconic pieces by Montreal-based non-figurative artists such as Guido Molinari, Claude Tousignant and Yves Gaucher. York is also home to an impressive collection of over 300 Inuit prints and stone carvings produced in the 1960s by artists from the Kinngait Co-operative (Cape Dorset) in Nunavut, acquired in the early ’70s. Featuring work by Pitseolak Ashoona, Kenojuak Ashevak, Johnny Inukpuk and Qaqak Ashoona, among others, these prints and sculptures represent an important body of work produced by founding artists of the longest running and most influential artists co-operative in the North.

The collection has continued to expand over the years with generous donations, notably a major gift of sculptures, paintings, and works on paper by Joan and Martin Goldfarb. That significant donation of 65 artworks includes a selection of Andy Warhol silk screen portraits, an iconic painting by Helen Frankenthaler and paradigmatic works by Norval Morrisseau, founder of the Woodland School. The collection also reflects the AGYU’s program, including commissioned works such as RISE by Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca, a film featuring 30 performers from Toronto’s Jane-Finch and Scarborough neighbourhoods, as well as an LED sculpture, Politics, that was part of Hannah Black’s exhibition, The Meaning of Life.

To explore the York University Art Collection Online, visit collection.ggyu.art. For more information about the database, contact Michael Maranda, assistant curator of publications, at mmarand@yorku.ca. For queries related to the collection, contact Allyson Adley, education and community engagement coordinator, at aadley@yorku.ca.