Work-integrated learning for Black students in health breaks down barriers

Health care student Black woman Nurse doctor

This summer, 18 Black undergraduate students from three units in the Faculty of Health (Psychology, Global Health and Kinesiology) will participate in work-integrated learning opportunities across six health-sector organizations, where they will support diverse programs, services, research and other organizational priorities.

Funded by a Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada iHub grant, this initiative helps students gain real-world experience in their field of interest and develop knowledge and skills to support their academic and professional journeys. It is uniquely positioned to address notable gaps in representation among Black professionals in the health sector – a vision that is shared by the placement organizations. “These future leaders will be poised to improve research and service delivery for Black communities overall,” said Monique Herbert, associate professor of psychology.

Integrating culturally relevant training

Before students set off on their placements, they participated in preparatory workshops focused on skill-building for a successful experience. A highlight of this process was a workshop with a special focus on navigating the workplace as a Black individual, which was developed and conducted by two guest facilitators, Karlyn Percil-Mercieca of KDPM Consulting Group and York alum Shereen Ashman of SACCAE Social Innovation Studio.

“The presenters applied a holistic lens to the discussion of professionalism skills, allowing both culture and race to infuse the conversation in a meaningful and tangible way. Grounding ‘professionalism’ in this context allows students to adopt a strength-based approach to their field placements,” said Paola Calderon-Valdivia, experiential education co-ordinator, Faculty of Health.

“Students were encouraged to draw wisdom from their lived experiences, to embrace their collective truth and to rely on their racial heritage as a source of empowerment – reminding them of their inherent value and the meaningful contributions they would be making to their host organizations; a message that was well received by the students.”

It is this type of culturally relevant training that is very much needed because representation matters, added Herbert. “Seeing, hearing and learning from someone who looks like you makes it more tangible, more achievable. We need more of this; it empowers our students,” said Herbert.

Focusing on a well-rounded support system for students

During their 100-hour placement in a health-related setting, students will be supervised by a placement supervisor and benefit from networking and relationship-building opportunities with health professionals and mentors in the field. Alongside work experience, students will receive academic oversight and learning guidance from volunteer faculty advisors from each unit. Calderon-Valdivia will offer ongoing support, guidance and troubleshooting to students, faculty and placement organizations. Three student mentors who previously participated in the initiative will also offer peer-informed support to students throughout the experience.

A further source of support for students will be a stipend offered through the CEWIL iHub grant, which will offset any associated costs for their participation in the initiative, such as transportation, time away from jobs and more. This aligns with the University Academic Plan in providing experiential learning opportunities and offering supports for students who face systemic barriers.

Building on the legacy of student-led advocacy

Black student advocacy around systemic barriers led to the development of the Summer 2022 pilot phase of this initiative in the Department of Psychology. Two Black student-led groups (Black Students in Psychology and the Black Students Mentorship Program) with missions to address the lack of representation of Black professionals and academics in health-related fields spearheaded a collaboration between the Department of Psychology and the experiential education (EE) team in the Faculty of Health, led by Anda Petro.

Celebrating successful completion of Summer 2022 WIL initiative with students, staff, and faculty
Celebrating the successful completion of the Summer 2022 work-integrated learning initiative with students, staff and faculty

Psychology students who participated in the pilot praise the program for offering hands-on experience beyond the traditional classroom and the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.

“…it provided me with a chance to step outside of my comfort zone and grow as an individual, student and professional,” said Nichol Edwards Snagg, psychology undergraduate student. “Throughout my placement, I developed and strengthened my initiative, group facilitation and communication skills, all while contributing to a project that benefitted the Black community.”

The success of this initiative and future initiatives is contingent on having a strong support system and funding, said Herbert.

“We are grateful to the EE staff, faculty and student mentors in the Faculty of Health and CEWIL for their support; this initiative would not have been possible without them. These experiences are invaluable for our Black students, and we hope that there will be further funding opportunities to continue this important work,” said Herbert.

Schulich receives legacy gift to support health industry students

Medical,Healthcare,Research,And,Development,Concept.,Doctor,In,Hospital,Lab

Inspired by the Schulich School of Business’s Health Industry Management programs, Dr. Leonard Orville “Brad” Bradley’s family has chosen to honour their late father by creating the Dr. L. O. Bradley Leadership Entrance Award with a $250,000 legacy gift to support incoming students to Schulich’s Master of Health Industry Administration program.

Dr. Leonard Orville Bradley

Over the next 10 years, two recipients who have shown outstanding leadership potential, innovative thinking and community involvement will be awarded $12,500. This prestigious award will attract top health industry students to Schulich, while helping to alleviate financial stress.

Bradley was recognized as a leader in health institution management and his career included many senior positions. He received several honours for his work, including the George Findlay Stephens Memorial Award, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Medical Alumni Association of the University of Alberta and the Extendicare Award from the Canadian College of Health Service Executives. Bradley also believed in lifelong learning, earning his doctor of medicine degree in 1938 and receiving his final university degree at the age of 86.

“He had a complete commitment to hospital administration and learning, and that commitment never waned,” said Bradley’s son, Tom Bradley. “Dad’s passion in life was his profession. I can’t think of a better way of honouring his memory than by helping the future generation pick up from where he left off.”

The two inaugural recipients will be announced in Fall 2023. To learn more about planned gifts, visit this link.

York Libraries houses collection by Caribana founding member

Photo credit: Kenneth Shah with Cult of the Leopards Band King, 1980. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-002/024 (07)

As Toronto hosts the annual Caribbean Carnival that began more than 60 years ago to recognize Black emancipation from slavery, York University Libraries (YUL) celebrates its role in preserving and sharing the historic origins of the festival.

Photo credit: Kenneth Shah in costume for the Caribana parade, 1970. ASC, )Shah fonds, 2020-002/021 (15
Photo credit: Kenneth Shah in costume for the Caribana parade, 1970. ASC, Shah fonds, 2020-002/021 (15)

The archives of Kenneth Shah, a founding organizer of the event originally known as Caribana, capture the enthusiastic embrace of the event’s masquerade, dancing and music through 30 years of text, photographs and film – all of which provide unique insights into the cultural contributions of the Black and Caribbean communities. Shah is a founding member of Caribana and the Caribbean Cultural Committee, and was involved for more than 30 years with the festival celebrating Black emancipation from slavery, which this year runs Aug. 3 to 7.

Caribana arose out of a desire by West Indian immigrants to share the festival culture of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean with the dominantly white British and European population of Toronto and to educate Canadians. The event celebrates the emancipation of Black people from slavery through Calypso music, dance and masquerade, and provides an opportunity for Caribbean communities to have a voice in the Canadian focus on multiculturalism during the 1970s. Today, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an annual event, the largest of its kind in North America.

Born in San Fernando, Trinidad, Shah moved to Canada in 1965 to pursue a career in petroleum engineering. He eventually left this profession to focus on carnival arts, designing and making costumes, managing mas bands and taking a leadership role in programming from the first festival held in 1967 until his death in 2002.

Photo credit: Kenneth Shah with Cult of the Leopards Band King, 1980. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-002/024 (07)
Photo credit: Kenneth Shah with Cult of the Leopards Band King, 1980. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-002/024 (07)

Shah’s archives were gathered after his passing by the late Professor Christopher Innes, a Canada Research Chair in Theatre and Performance at York University, initially deposited with York University’s Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas.

The Kenneth Shah archives, also known as a fonds, were transferred to York University Libraries in 2019. These documents consist of almost four metres of textual records, 4,000 photographs of festivals in Toronto, Montreal, New York and Trinidad, and 51 sound and moving-image recordings. They include meeting minutes and financial records for the Caribbean Cultural Committee (early organizers of the festival), correspondence with participants and other Caribbean festivals, Shah’s sketches for parade costume designs and his program proposals, regulations and registrations for band competitions, as well as brochures and coverage of the festival by Black community newspapers.

Photo credit: A large mas costume, 1972. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-002/021 (14)
Photo credit: A large mas costume, 1972. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-002/021 (14)

University archivist Michael Moir says the records are very rare in the context of carnival arts, immigration and multiculturalism, and are remarkable as the result of Shah’s decision to include the roles of observer and recorder with those of festival organizer and participant.

“These records are now available for research, providing a rare opportunity to bring life to a generation of Black performers who connected with large international and multicultural audiences drawn to Toronto by its Caribbean festival,” says Moir.

Materials are showcased in the York University Digital Library platform.

Due to the pandemic, processing of these unique and significant archives, which began in 2020, was delayed. The project has now been completed by YUL archivist Emma Thomas.

“As an archivist, sorting through material that encapsulates the activities and achievements of someone’s life is a privilege,” says Thomas. “In Shah’s archives I found reflected the importance and value of his community. Shah’s love for costume arts, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and his joy in having the opportunity to share it with others is palpable. It provides a unique insight into the Caribbean Carnival in its earliest years, as a gift from the Caribbean people to share their culture with others.”

The finding aid can be found here.

Access to the Kenneth Shah fonds reconnects the Trinbagonian and Caribbean diaspora in Toronto and on both sides of the Atlantic with the festival in its heyday, when the parade dominated the city’s downtown. The documents preserve the legacy of Black artists who found self-expression through carnival to celebrate the abolition of slavery.

Photo credit: Celebrating Black Emancipation through Caribana Festival, 1972. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-001/025 (25)
Photo credit: Celebrating Black emancipation through Caribana Festival, 1972. ASC, Kenneth Shah fonds, 2020-001/025 (25)

Moir says that in his conversations with students and the Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association, he found there was an increasing interest in Toronto’s Caribbean festival and its place in understanding the heritage of this diaspora. The community-based group in Markham, Ont., passes down the traditions of carnival and mas bands from older to younger generations.

“The Kenneth Shah fonds can play an important role in this process by providing unique insights into the celebrations of the Caribbean diaspora whose experiences and culture have yet to see broader representation in public libraries and archives,” says Moir.

Learn more about the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections and read the blog.

Women entrepreneurs thrive thanks to York, Visa Canada partnership

Two Black women at a boardroom table

By Lindsay MacAdam, communications officer, YFile

Last month, Visa Canada announced the 10 recipients of its 2023 She’s Next Grant Program in partnership with York University, supporting women-owned businesses spanning a wide range of consumer products and services. The program rewards business owners with a $10,000 grant and a four-month mentorship from York’s YSpace ELLA accelerator program.

David Kwok
David Kwok

“We are so excited to be partnering with Visa and their She’s Next program to support women entrepreneurs across the country,” said David Kwok, associate director of entrepreneurship at Innovation York. “By pairing the $10,000 grant with expertise mentorship that is catered to business needs, we are driving tangible impacts with each business we support. This partnership will not only elevate York University’s brand as a premier entrepreneurial hub, but also position YSpace ELLA, our women’s accelerator program, as an exceptional resource for women entrepreneurs.”

ELLA is providing the Visa She’s Next Grant Program recipients with valuable mentorship, access to educational resources and networking opportunities. “We offer a bespoke experience by ensuring each participant sets up objectives and key results, and uses the mentorship to drive those,” said Kwok. “The participant connects with the mentors on a biweekly basis to drive through strategic elements, while working with our team to ensure progress and accountability.”

Out of the thousands of applicants to this year’s Visa She’s Next Grant Program, 10 inspiring entrepreneurs were selected as winners, and here are three of their stories.

Nuria Madrenas

Nuria Madrenas
Nuria Madrenas

Nuria Madrenas is the founder of Tacit, an online art gallery and consultancy dedicated to amplifying female creatives to the emerging art collector. Madrenas graduated from York with a bachelor of arts in communications in 2016 and worked in public relations and marketing for various fashion and lifestyle brands before her foray into entrepreneurship. As an artist herself, and having worked with many artists on campaigns and events, she recognized a gap in the market between the entry-level art marketplaces and the often intimidating world of high-end art. Tacit occupies that space in between.

“I would always ask [artists], ‘Where do you sell your work?,’ ” she said. “It felt like there was no suitable platform. It was either these entry-level, oversaturated marketplaces, where you’re competing with makers of all kinds, or the intimidating world of blue-chip art that felt out of reach at the time.”

After doing some research, Madrenas discovered a disturbing disparity between women and men in the visual arts: women account for a mere two per cent of all art sold. “So I set out to create this platform that solved the many pain points I found,” she said.

Madrenas started her business back in 2019 with 10 local artists, and has since expanded to upwards of 70 – from Canada, the U.S., Europe and Australia. Beyond the e-commerce site, Tacit also provides art consultancy services for both residential and commercial clients.

This was Madrenas’s third time applying to the Visa She’s Next Grant Program, and her persistence finally paid off with this full-circle moment: “I graduated seven years ago, and now to get that mentorship from my alma mater, it’s really exciting,” she said. “I’ve been on my own throughout this process, and I find that sometimes it’s a bit isolating. I’m excited to get some fresh, new perspectives, and to get support from somebody with B2B experience…. I’ve identified that as an area of focus.”

Natalie Sabri

Natalie Sabri
Natalie Sabri

Natalie Sabri is the founder of The Dough Parlour, which manufactures sweet, fruit-scented play dough made from non-toxic, all-natural, food-grade ingredients. The mother of four has an undergraduate degree in political science, and studied early childhood education before becoming a preschool teacher and eventually opening her own preschool business.

But after spending nearly a decade experimenting with homemade play dough recipes for her children that other parents would always ask about, Sabri decided to pivot into consumer packaged goods. She branded her sweet-smelling play dough around the idea of an old-fashioned ice-cream parlour, where customers choose their own scents, and that has been her main differentiator in the market.

“Everything that goes into our play dough is food grade,” said Sabri, “so if a child puts it in their mouth by mistake, it’s it’s 100 per cent safe.”

Based in Oakville, Ont., the company launched in 2017, and Sabri made an appearance on CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” just four months later, where she happily accepted a business deal from Boston Pizza founder Jim Treliving.

Her e-commerce business has been steadily growing ever since, with a recent, unexpected boost from famous moms Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen, who accepted her unsponsored product gifting and decided to share their delight on Instagram. “[Kardashian] called it the best-smelling, cutest play dough she’s ever seen,” said Sabri, “and our business saw $25,000 in sales overnight. That’s why they call them influencers, right?”

The Dough Parlour also has a presence in well-known retailers such as Indigo and Anthropologie, and Sabri hopes to take the business overseas in the coming years with the help of the Visa She’s Next Grant Program and the accompanying YSpace ELLA mentorship.

Coincidentally, Sabri enrolled in the ELLA Ascend program in June, just two weeks before finding out she had been selected as a recipient of the Visa grant. The win will extend the length of her existing mentorship by four months, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

“I have three amazing mentors in the ELLA program,” said Sabri. “They have a wealth of knowledge that they so lovingly give to to us. The mentorship has really helped with structuring my business and directing me to loans and government programs. And even from a therapeutic perspective, having them listen to the daily struggles that [women entrepreneurs] go through and offering support has been so valuable.”

Chantal Bekhor

Chantal Bekhor
Chantal Bekhor

Born and raised in Montreal, Chantal Bekhor, founder of VG Gourmet Vegetarian Foods, worked as an elementary school teacher for a decade before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey in 2015.

As a consumer of plant-based products for many years, Bekhor saw a gap in the market for a burger made with fresh, gourmet ingredients and without the preservatives and fillers that are all-too common in meat alternatives. She decided to set out to find a partner kitchen to produce her vegan burger recipes, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Today, VG Gourmet has over 13 products available in more than 1,500 grocery stores and restaurants throughout Canada, including Whole Foods and Farm Boy, and she’s hoping to expand to new markets with the help of the the Visa She’s Next Grant.

“I was specifically interested in the mentorship that Visa was offering,” said Bekhor. “I thought this could be a really great opportunity for me to grow personally. I find, as an entrepreneur, it’s a little bit lonely. I’m hoping to learn a lot, and to be able to connect with the other entrepreneurs.”

And even though the program has barely kicked off, Bekhor has already benefited from the supportive community it has provided: “We had an event in Toronto a couple weeks ago,” she said, “and it was so refreshing to talk to other women entrepreneurs. We’ve built a little community after spending only one day together – we clicked.”

About YSpace ELLA

ELLA is the women’s accelerator program offered by YSpace, York University’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub, with funding from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. The ELLA team consists of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds in business and entrepreneurship, who provide the tailored support that women entrepreneurs need to be successful.  

YSpace works to facilitate and maximize the commercial, economic, and social impacts of research and innovation, and to create a culture of engaged scholarship and experiential learning. To learn more about YSpace and its initiatives, visit yorku.ca/yspace.

National Bank Tennis Open parking, traffic modifications until Aug. 13

Arboretum parking garage on the Keele campus

The 2023 National Bank Open tennis tournament will take place at the Sobeys Stadium, on York University’s Keele Campus, from Saturday, Aug. 5 to Sunday, Aug. 13. While every effort is made to minimize the disruption of operations on the Keele Campus, the following parking and traffic modifications will be in effect.

Reserved parking for tennis pass holders:

  • Founders Road West Lot
  • Northwest Gate Lot (north/middle)
  • Arboretum Lane Parking Garage
  • Student Services Parking Garage
  • Shoreham Drive Lot

Patrons and participants are required to have a virtual Tennis Parking Pass to access these lots/garages. All lots, with the exception of the Shoreham Drive Lot, will be occupied for this event from Saturday, Aug. 5 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, Aug. 13. at midnight. The Shoreham Drive Lot will be closed for this event from Friday, Aug. 4 at 6 a.m. until Monday, Aug. 14 at 6 a.m.

York parking permit holders

Permit holders, with the exception of Shoreham Lot permit holders, will not be displaced during this event. A predetermined quantity of parking spaces have been reserved for community members who must be on campus during this time. Shoreham Lot permit holders will be moved to Arboretum Lane Parking Garage starting on Friday, Aug. 4 until Tuesday, Aug. 15 inclusive.

York visitor/short-term parking

Visitor and short-term parking will be available in the following places:

  • Vanier Lot
  • Founders Road East Visitor Lot ($10 flat rate)
  • Northwest Gate South Lot ($10 flat rate)
  • Calumet Lot ($15 flat rate)
  • York Lanes Parking Garage
  • Atkinson Lot
  • Passy Crescent
  • Assiniboine Road
  • Fine Arts Road
  • Physical Resources Building Lot South
  • Thompson Road Lot West
  • Thompson Road Lot East
  • University Street
  • Lumbers Visitor Lot
  • Student Services Parking Garage

There will be no short-term parking in the following places:

  • Arboretum Lane Parking Garage
  • Northwest Gate Lot (north/middle)
  • Shoreham Lot

Traffic restrictions on campus

The following road restrictions will be in place from 9 a.m. to midnight, from Saturday, Aug. 5 to Sunday, Aug. 13 inclusive:

  • Shoreham Drive will be closed for the duration of the event.

For more information or if any special parking arrangements are required, contact Parking Services at parking@yorku.ca.

York University recognizes Emancipation Day

Students walking outside Vari Hall

La version française suit la version anglaise. 

On this Emancipation Day, York University recognizes and honours the unwavering resistance and strength of Black communities. Emancipation Day recognizes the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which took effect on Aug. 1, 1834, making the purchase or ownership of slaves illegal within most parts of the British Empire, including Canada. The symbolism behind this historical date represents a resounding reclamation and call for change. This call is never far removed from the daily experiences of people of African descent as they continue to grapple with anti-Black racism, one of many lasting legacies of the transatlantic slave trade.

As we commemorate Emancipation Day, we must also recognize Canada’s long historical role in the enslavement of people of African descent and Indigenous Peoples, as well as the ways these legacies remain active in our everyday interactions. Slavery in Canada was practised for two centuries, and Canada’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade can be linked to our history of international trade. It is important that we understand how these occurrences are inextricable and that our lack of awareness and silences are in service of attempts to erase or dismiss the realities of Black and Indigenous communities and individual experiences in Canada.

Black liberation is deeply connected to the liberation of all other groups, and this calls for a collective response to anti-Black racism and other forms of racial inequities. Black scholarship, research, innovation and social activism have made significant contributions to Canadian society, culture and economy. York University recognizes the obligation to counter anti-Black racism with numerous initiatives, including the creation of funding research mechanisms that affirm Black identities and offer counternarrative tools that disrupt harmful approaches to help create a more just and equitable world.

One of the primary ways York University recognizes the work of reclamation across the community is through the documents Addressing Anti-Black Racism: A Framework on Black Inclusion and the accompanying Action Plan on Black Inclusion: A Living Document for Action (2021), which put forward a road map for the ways that York should respond and situate itself in the various contexts and processes in which anti-Black racism, colonialism and other forms of oppression operate. Many new and ongoing initiatives have been documented in the 2022-23 Annual Report on Black Inclusion, and all community members are encouraged to read this annual report. Members of the community are also encouraged to engage in the important work of the Harriet Tubman Institute through watching the Tubman Talks series on the Tubman Talks YouTube channel.

Thank you, Merci, Miigwech,

Alice Pitt
Interim Vice-President Equity, People and Culture


Déclaration à l’occasion du Jour de l’émancipation 2023

À l’occasion du Jour de l’émancipation, l’Université York reconnaît et honore la résistance et la force inébranlables des communautés noires. Le Jour de l’émancipation commémore la Loi de 1833 sur l’abolition de l’esclavage qui a été promulguée le 1er août 1834; cette loi rendait l’achat ou la possession d’esclaves illicites dans la plupart des territoires de l’Empire britannique, y compris le Canada. Cette date historique symbolise une revendication sans équivoque et un appel au changement. Cet appel n’est jamais très éloigné des expériences quotidiennes des personnes d’ascendance africaine qui continuent à lutter contre le racisme anti-Noirs, l’un des nombreux vestiges de la traite transatlantique des esclaves.

Dans le cadre de la commémoration du Jour de l’émancipation, nous devons également reconnaître le rôle que le Canada a joué pendant longtemps dans l’asservissement des personnes d’ascendance africaine et des peuples autochtones, ainsi que les traces de ce passé qui subsistent dans nos interactions quotidiennes. L’esclavage a sévi au Canada pendant deux siècles, et la participation du pays à la traite transatlantique des esclaves peut être imputée à son historique de commerce international. Il est important de comprendre que ces faits sont inextricablement liés et que notre manque de sensibilisation et nos silences favorisent les tentatives d’effacer ou de balayer les réalités des communautés noires et autochtones et les expériences individuelles au Canada.

La libération des Noirs est étroitement liée à la libération de tous les autres groupes, ce qui nécessite une réponse collective au racisme anti-Noirs et à d’autres formes d’inégalités raciales. L’érudition, la recherche, l’innovation et l’activisme social des Noirs ont largement contribué à la société, à la culture et à l’économie canadiennes. L’Université York est consciente de son obligation de lutter contre le racisme anti-Noirs grâce à de nombreuses initiatives, notamment la création de mécanismes de recherche de financement qui renforcent les identités noires et offrent des récits à contre-courant qui perturbent les approches dommageables afin de contribuer à la création d’un monde plus juste et plus équitable.

L’une des principales façons de valoriser le travail de revendication réalisé dans la communauté se traduit par la publication par York des documents suivants : Lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs : Un cadre d’inclusion des personnes noires et son compagnon, le Plan d’action pour l’inclusion des personnes noires : Un document évolutif pour passer à l’action (2021); ces deux publications présentent le plan d’action de l’Université pour réagir et se situer dans les divers contextes et processus où le racisme anti-Noirs, le colonialisme et d’autres formes d’oppression sont présents. De nombreuses initiatives récentes et en cours sont décrites dans le Rapport annuel 2022-2023 sur l’inclusion des personnes noires et nous encourageons tous les membres de la communauté à le lire. Nous invitons aussi les membres de la communauté à suivre les travaux importants de l’Institut Harriet Tubman, en regardant la série Tubman Talks sur la chaîne YouTube Tubman Talks.

Merci, thank you, Miigwech.

Alice Pitt
Vice-présidente intérimaire de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture

k2i receives $400K donation from 407 ETR

Two Female Students Building Machine In Science Robotics Or Engineering Class

York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering k2i (kindergarten to industry) academy will put a $400,000 donation from the 407 ETR towards programming that will help dismantle systemic barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and prepare the next generation for careers in these fields.

The donation was announced at an on-campus event at the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, where leadership from Lassonde and 407 ETR were on hand to speak to the importance of the initiative and what this gift would mean for the programming offered through k2i.

“We launched the k2i academy three years ago with the idea of bringing STEM learning to life,” says Jane Goodyer, dean of Lassonde. “The k2i academy is a sandbox for innovation in STEM education, building a network of collaborative partners, committed to creating systemic change in our education system. With this gift, Lassonde will continue our work to increase equity, diversity and inclusion, and create a talent pipeline in STEM through job-ready training and innovative learning models.”

K2i academy Lisa Cole
Lisa Cole

The donation will be divided equally between two programs, administered by Lisa Cole, director of the k2i academy.

The first program, the 407 ETR Path2STEM Fund, will support a micro-credentialled Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program. SHSMs allow students to gain experiences and develop skills toward their high-school diploma in Ontario while focusing on a specific economic sector. The 407 ETR Path2STEM Fund will be used to create a series of innovative SHSM experiences in engineering and digital technologies. Geared toward diverse learners, the program will prepare students for innovative post-secondary programs and meaningful STEM careers.

407 ETR President and CEO Javier Tamargo says his organization is keen to invest in a highly skilled and diverse workforce that can meet the challenges of tomorrow.

“407 ETR is a company rooted in STEM. In fact, about half of our workforce is employed in a STEM-related position ranging from data analytics and IT to traffic and tolling. These professionals are integral to our business, and so is ensuring that our team is reflective of the vibrant communities we serve,” says Tamargo. “That starts with doing our part to help foster a diverse talent pool, which is why we’re so proud to support the Lassonde School and York University’s work to move more youth into the pipeline towards rewarding academic and professional careers in STEM.”

The second program, the 407 ETR Work Integrated Learning Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Fund, will specifically be geared to help k2i expand its offerings to students underrepresented in STEM, including women, Black and Indigenous youth, and those from low-income communities. Since 2020, k2i has been offering paid summer work opportunities for students in grades 10, 11 and 12 while gaining school credit. The programming is done in partnership with the Toronto District School Board, York Region District School Board and Peel District School Board. Students receive 140 hours of paid work with an added opportunity to earn a high-school prerequisite credit for STEM pathways while learning skills in coding, design, electronics and more. This year’s on-campus program offered a unique Grade 12 English credit, rooting language and communication in hands-on science and engineering experiences.

Lassonde, 407 ETR, and k2i academy teams

Students are empowered to explore, question, wonder and discover through interactive learning experiences to strengthen skills in computational thinking, coding, electronics, engineering design, 3D modelling and creativity. Combining work and learning provides an innovative way for students to explore possibilities in STEM careers, connect with networks and mentors to launch their interests in post-secondary studies, gain experience in developing STEM skills, and strengthen professional skills in communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

“With this generous donation from 407 ETR, we will continue our journey of offering paid educational experiences to underrepresented students in environments that are dynamic, innovative and collaborative,” says Cole. “We’ve already reached 6,000-plus youth and offered more than 175,000 hours of learning, and we’re thrilled to be able to expand this work and hit our next milestones.”

407 ETR has been a supporter of the Lassonde School of Engineering and York for over a decade. In 2013, a donation was made to support the 407 ETR Learning Laboratory, home to pre-laboratory training, theory and application for a generation of civil engineering students.

Learn more at News @ York.

Summer program welcomes STEAM high school students

Two Female Students Building Machine In Science Robotics Or Engineering Class

From July 9 to 27, York University is hosting 64 high school students living on campus who are participating in the SHAD program, which looks to provide challenging and transformational opportunities focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), business and design thinking.

SHAD is an inclusive month-long national summer program open to high school students in grades 10 and 11, which aims to cultivate the next generation of preeminent leaders in STEAM, business, social justice and entrepreneurship.

York University has been designated a SHAD campus since 2019, and the program echoes the experiential education York University aims to deliver its students, instilling self-confidence, entrepreneurial and workforce skills, and a network for life into all participating students.

An element of the program is to offers exposure to big ideas, and this summer students are being introduced to a broad cross-section of subjects through lectures with titles like: “Women in Leadership Sports,” “Indigenous and Refugee,” “Neuroscience Research at York,” and more. Lecturers include several York-affiliated professors.

Upon completing the program, participants are designated SHAD Fellows and become respected members of SHAD’s network for life. SHAD Fellows are described by the organization as being leaders and changemakers committed to the values of community, diversity, creativity, responsibility and excellence. They create positive change where they live, study and work, across the country and around the world.

York students organize Ontario Exercise Physiology Conference

marathon_runners

Students from both York University and Queen’s University, with faculty input, organized the annual Ontario Exercise Physiology (OEP) Conference, which will bring together over 180 trainees from Ontario and Quebec to share their passion and research in exercise physiology and related fields.

The core purpose of the OEP Conference, running July 25 to 27, is to help trainees develop their research aptitude, presentation skills, career development strategies and build a network through a program that gives them time to talk and have discussions about their work and common interests.

A fundamental characteristic of the conference is that it is student organized and oriented, intent on creating something that benefits their peers across the province. (Input from Associate Professor Christopher Perry from the School of Kinesiology & Health Science at York and Christopher McGlory in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University was provided).

Instead of principal investigators, only undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral Fellows, present their research to their peers and to volunteer faculty in attendance. Trainees receive feedback on their theses to help develop their perspectives and stimulate new ideas. Feedback is provided during a standard question-and-answer period, but also through the structured program that brings students and faculty together through additional activities.

OEP student organizing committee

The conference also features two keynote faculty speakers to serve as an early career and established career mentor at the meeting. Rather than present their research, both mentors will share their path from undergraduate studies to their present-day roles as faculty, including their experience of journeying through uncertainties and identifying passions through each step of their process.

The CEO of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology will also provide an exciting presentation on careers that can be pursued with a kinesiology and health studies degree. This talk will emphasize the many ways that trainees can make an impact on improving the lives of people through exercise prescription and related professions. There will also be a mentor from industry to talk about the experience of transitioning from graduate school to a career outside of academia.

The event wasn’t just organized, in part, by York students, but the University helped sponsor the event, spanning all major tiers of the institution including the School of Kinesiology & Health Science, the Faculty of Health and the Office of the Vice-President, Research.

Further information about OEP can be found here.

$40K donation from Nick Nurse supports AMPD high school initiative

Students gathered around one presenter and microphone against foggy background for open mic

Fifty high school students will have the rare opportunity of learning from Juno-winning artists at York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD), thanks to a $40,000 donation from the Nick Nurse Foundation (NNF), July 24 to 28.  

Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse

“I’ve always been a passionate advocate for equitable access in both sports and the arts. Success, regardless of discipline, should be a testament of merit, discipline and ingenuity – not a question of access or resources,” says Nick Nurse, co-founder of NNF and head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. “I know with the support of a globally recognized, academically and socially responsible school like AMPD, this donation can help eliminate barriers, level the playing field and empower the next generation of creative leaders in a city that has a special place in my heart.”

The donation will support bursaries for equity-seeking students, classes, workshops and guest artist visits to the newly renamed the Nick Nurse Foundation Summer Jazz & Groove Lab. A portion of the donation will fund participation bursaries for high school students who are Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour as well as young women.

Participants will work closely with Juno-winning and internationally recognized jazz and gospel artists including AMPD faculty members Professor Sundar Viswanathan, Professor Karen Burke and Lorne Lofsky during the week-long intensive, culminating in a public performance.

“We are extremely grateful for the donation and Nurse’s commitment to improving the lives and futures of Toronto’s young people through the arts,” says AMPD Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng. “With the Nick Nurse Foundation Summer Jazz & Groove Lab, we can provide youth with the necessary resources to positively contribute to society through music and jazz. We are tremendously excited by the opportunities this gift will open for BIPOC students and young women in the local community.”

Mike Cadó
Noam Lemish
Noam Lemish

“The Nick Nurse Foundation’s generous donation will fuel creative opportunities for young musicians to deepen their interest in contemporary styles of music,” say Lab founders and coordinators Professor Mike Cadó and Professor Noam Lemish. “The Lab will provide a vibrant environment for young people to grow and discover. Hopefully, it will inspire the next generation to create in the pursuit of an inclusive and innovative future.”

The Lab began as an online opportunity for high school students in the Summer of 2021 as the vision of music professors Cadó and Lemish. Now, the Lab is a cornerstone at the University that pioneered the inclusion of jazz and gospel in its music degree program.

Click here for more information on the Nick Nurse Foundation Summer Jazz & Groove Lab.

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