NJSC contestants, who are the first-prize winners in each category of the year’s respective provincial Japanese speech contests, travelled from all across the country to compete together. This year, 25 contestants in four levels of proficiency faced off at the national contest, which took place at the Toronto branch of the Japan Foundation on March 26. The three York students who finished in prize-winning positions were:
Grand prize (advanced first): Risha Pelchat (AP/JP2010)
Intermediate first: Ava-karie Hislop (AP/JP2000)
Beginners third: Arman Ahmed (AP/JP1000)
Pelchat – a translation student who also won the grand prize at the Ontario Japanese Speech Contest (OJSC) at the University of Toronto on March 4 – flawlessly delivered her speech entitled “Me? ‘Mademoiselle’? ‘Xiao Jie’?” in which she emphasized the importance of small gestures that could evoke feelings of “gender euphoria” among transgender people.
Hislop, a School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design student, presented her speech “Current Artists and Social Media.” She spoke about the negative influence of online reactions to, and evaluations of, art works, arguing that artists should – above all else – strive to maintain their integrity, originality and creativity.
Ahmed, a computer science student, delivered his speech titled “Break the Shell!” in which he used the metaphor of turtles and dragons to illustrate the experience of coming out of his shell following a long-COVID hiatus and discovering new friendships by taking up competitive dragon boating.
From left: Ava-karie Hislop, Noriko Yabuki-Soh, Risha Pelchat, Arman Ahmed and Eri Takahashi
“York students in the Japanese Studies Program have won many top prizes at both the provincial and national speech contests in the past. This year is no exception,” said DLLL Associate Professor Noriko Yabuki-Soh.
Yabuki-Soh, along with department colleague Associate Professor Norio Ota and faculty members Kumiko Inutsuka, Akiko Mitsui and Eri Takahashi, coached the students leading up to the national contest. Yabuki-Soh also served on the 2023 NJSC’s organizing committee.
“We are so proud of those students who worked so hard for this competition,” she added. “I am sure they will endeavour to become ‘ambassadors’ of Canada to Japan in the future.”
E-cargo cycle rides offer closer look at sustainability at Congress 2023
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By Elaine Smith
Those coming to Congress will have a chance to experience a special group trishaw ride through York University between May 29 to June 1. Rolling Toward Collective Change: Our Greenway’s E-Cargo Cycle Ride invites participants to consider how current social and ecological events have impacted northwest Toronto and how Greenway e-cargo cycles can be used to bring sustainable change to their communities.
Darnel Harris, a York University alumnus (BA ’12, MES ’15), visiting scholar at York’s CITY Institute and founder of Our Greenway, believes that cycling can serve both practical and recreational purposes, especially through electric cycles.
Our Greenway’s trishaw
Its two-seater, three-wheel vehicles are powered by an electricity-assisted cycle and driven by a pilot who pedals and steers from behind. Passengers and pilots are both fully able to experience the benefits of being outdoors together – from the sights and sounds to sunshine.
The e-assist trishaws are essential features of Our Greenway’s Cycling Without Age program – an initiative that offers outdoor experiences to seniors, individuals with various physical abilities and the general public.
While the program is found in 37 countries, the North Toronto Chapter operates in Toronto’s Downsview Park. For Congress 2023, the local chapter will bring four of its trishaws to York. Registration will be required due to limited seats, but anyone with a bike is welcome to ride along.
“It is meant to be a slow experience that allows the riders to chat with the driver,” says Harris. “You can only do that at a slow speed. Usually, people picture cycling being all about young men and speed. It’s an entirely different reality than what we see in action here. We’re trying to show what is possible.”
Harris notes that Europe is far ahead of North America in lowering greenhouse gas emissions through the use of cargo cycles. “If you move goods and people by cargo cycle, a lot of training and education is required and there may be cycle and part supply issues, but, fundamentally, there’s a lot of potential here,” he says.
A trishaw at Downsview Park in Toronto
Harris works with researchers, including Assistant Professor Kevin Gingerich from York’s Lassonde School of Engineering and uses an action-based research approach to examining future opportunities for the use of e-cycles.
Harris is open to new research partnerships from across all disciplines. “We’re trying to plant a seed,” Harris says. “Cycling supports 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), providing fertile ground for transdisciplinary research.”
York University and the Federation for Humanities and Social Sciences will host Congress 2023 from May 27 to June 2. Register here to attend and as a reminder, term dates have been adjusted to align with timelines for this year’s event.
York University announces its 2023 Top 30 Alumni Under 30
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La version française suit la version anglaise.
York University has announced its Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2023. This distinguished group of York University alumni, under the age of 30, is recognized for exemplary leadership and volunteerism to address deep and complex social challenges both locally and globally.
“The York University Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program recognizes the significant accomplishments that York’s young alumni have achieved to right the future,” says Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement. “This year’s cohort includes equity, diversity and inclusion advocates, social entrepreneurs, artists and community leaders who create significant positive change in their communities and beyond.”
The 2023 recipients represent each Faculty at the University and have applied the skills, knowledge and learning experiences gained at York towards community service that benefits the public good.
Maseh Hadaf
“To be acknowledged with this honour is a gift,” says Maseh Hadaf (BSc ’18), entrepreneur and co-founder of Sinbad, a stablecoin payments app aimed at promoting financial stability in the Middle East and North Africa region. “I feel a sense of shared direction with this cohort, that in a trying time we are all working in earnest to make the world a better place. In our own courageous ways, we are taking what York gave us and sharing it to create positive change.”
L’Université York annonce ses 30 meilleurs diplômés de moins de 30 ans pour 2023
L’Université York annonce ses 30 meilleurs diplômés de moins de 30 ans pour 2023. Ce groupe distingué de diplômés de l’Université York âgés de moins de 30 ans est reconnu pour son leadership et son bénévolat exemplaires pour relever des défis sociaux profonds et complexes, tant au niveau local que mondial.
« Le programme 30 meilleurs diplômés de moins de 30 ans de l’Université York reconnaît les réalisations importantes des jeunes diplômés de York pour préparer l’avenir », a déclaré Julie Lafford, vice-présidente adjointe, engagement des diplômés. « La cohorte de cette année comprend des défenseurs de l’équité, de la diversité et de l’inclusion, des entrepreneurs sociaux, des artistes et des leaders communautaires, qui suscitent des changements positifs importants dans leurs communautés et au-delà. »
Les lauréats de 2023 représente chaque faculté de l’Université et applique les compétences, les connaissances et les expériences d’apprentissage acquises à York à des services communautaires qui profitent au bien public.
Maseh Hadaf
« C’est un véritable cadeau que de recevoir cet honneur », déclare Maseh Hadaf (B.Sc. 2018), entrepreneur et cofondateur de Sinbad, une application de paiement en cryptomonnaie stable visant à promouvoir la stabilité financière au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord. « Je ressens un sentiment de communauté avec cette cohorte, ce qui démontre qu’en ces temps difficiles, nous travaillons à améliorer le monde. Avec courage, en prenant ce que York nous a donné et en le partageant pour créer des changements positifs. »
Lancé en 2021, le programme des 30 meilleurs diplômés de moins de 30 ans de York vise à mettre en évidence le succès et la diversité de la communauté des jeunes diplômés de l’Université, tout en inspirant la prochaine génération de leaders.
Averting ecological ruin topic of upcoming EUC book launch
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York University’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC) will celebrate the launch of Professor Emeritus Peter A. Victor’s latest book, Escape from Overshoot: Economics for a Planet in Peril (2023), on Wednesday, April 12.
Faculty members and students are welcome to attend the book launch event from 5 to 7 p.m., either in person at the Centre for Social Innovation located at 192 Spadina Ave., or virtually via livestream. To attend, register for the event here.
As a precursor to the event, Victor met with graduate student researcher Danielle Legault to answer questions about the new book.
Peter A. Victor
Q: Can you speak to how the longer trajectory of your academic work inspired you to write Escape from Overshoot?
A: I began exploring the dependency of the economy on the environment for all its materials and energy requirements as a student at the University of British Columbia in the late 1960s and have continued with that theme ever since then. My work on alternative economic futures during the past two decades suggests that an intentional escape from overshoot will be a lot more attractive than continuing to over stress nature and suffer the consequences.
Q: What is “Earth overshoot,” and how does your book tackle the challenges associated with it?
A: When any organism, including humans, exceeds the capacity of its environment to sustain it, it is in overshoot. The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that could be irreversibly changing the climate means we are in overshoot. If more fish are caught than are reproduced by the remaining stock, we have overshot. Overshoot can happen to ecosystems at all scales from a single pond to the entire planet and to any species. Humans are no exception.
To tackle the challenges associated with Earth overshoot, my book summarizes the evidence for overshoot, gives an approach to thinking about the future, draws from relevant insights by leading economists, explains how the current economic system works, describes trends that are leading us into an uncertain future, explains why “green growth” is a dangerous distraction, looks at post-growth possibilities, presents an escape scenario for the Canadian economy over the next 50 years and closes with ideas and examples for planning an escape from overshoot.
Q: Why is your book a must-read for York students and faculty?
A: This is a book for the general reader. It is highly illustrated and avoids technical language. We are all threatened by overshoot, and we all contribute to it. If we are to escape from overshoot, everyone has a part to play.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book in terms of actionable steps for promoting a more sustainable and equitable future on Earth?
Escape from Earth Overshoot (2023) by Peter A. Victor
A: I hope that readers find the book useful for understanding overshoot and its implications for all species including humans; that they appreciate the seriousness of the risks we are facing, and that they discover useful ideas about what can be done to escape from overshot that recognizes differences in culpability and vulnerability. I would also like them to come away with a sense of hope and a commitment to help.
Q: Having completed this book, how do you see your work moving forward in the future?
A: My immediate focus will be a resumption of my work on modelling alternative economic/environmental futures, collaborating with the excellent team at York that produces the annual National Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts for more than 200 countries, and working with as many people as I can on finding an escape from overshoot.
About Peter A. Victor
Victor is a professor emeritus and senior scholar at York University with 50 years of experience in ecological economics, alternatives to economic growth. He served as dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University from 1996 to 2001. He has authored six books, including Managing without Growth, and is a member of the Honorary Board of the David Suzuki Foundation and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Molson Prize in Social Sciences and the Boulding Memorial Prize.
Budding scientists compete for best STEM project at Keele Campus
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Using neural networks to detect disease, creating alternative energy sources, and improving quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities are some of the STEM projects young scientists will show off at York University during the York Region Science and Technology Fair (YRSTF) this Saturday, April 1.
Top projects will receive gold, silver and bronze medals.
While this is the eighth year York will host the event, this year is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic started that the students will be back on the Keele campus.
More than 100 York Region science students in grades 7 through 12 have prepared 63 projects – either an innovation or discovery. This year sees more senior projects than usual, and many returning silver and bronze medalists, with many students showing off new apps this year.
The projects fit into eight categories: agriculture, food and fisheries, curiosity and ingenuity, digital technology, disease and illness, energy, environment and climate change, health and wellness and natural resources.
During the fair, students will display their work in Vari Hall, with a public viewing from 1 to 5 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place immediately following the display.
The science fair will also include an activity – Science Adventures with York University scientists.
York University Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell, of the Faculty of Health, is co-director of the YRSTF@York partnership, and was instrumental in bringing the event to York’s Keele Campus in 2016. Fellow co-directors are Professor Robert Tsushima, Faculty of Science, and Professor Regina S.K. Lee, from the Lassonde School of Engineering.
Dozens of judges, including York professors and PhD candidates, will review the submissions and the gold-medal winners will move on to represent the region and compete at the national level at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. The winners will be among 500 students from across the country vying for the title of Canada’s best science fair project.
Participation in the fair is open to all students currently attending a York Region public, Catholic, or private school; who are homeschooled; or who reside in York Region.
York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board are among the major sponsors of the fair, which is a partnership effort between York University and the York Region Science and Technology Fair Organizing Committee.
Passings: Michelle Hughes
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The Schulich School of Business has announced that dedicated recruitment coordinator and proud York alumna Michelle Hughes passed away on Tuesday, March 21 after a long battle with cancer, with her family by her side.
A loving and beloved mother, wife and daughter, Hughes leaves behind her husband, John; her children, Christopher, Johan and Samantha (Sage); and her mother, Violet.
Michelle Hughes
In his recent statement honouring Hughes’ memory, Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick wrote, “Michelle was the recruitment and communications coordinator for the Master of Management Program and the Master of Accounting Program. She joined Schulich in 2009 after having worked for nearly a decade as a career advisor at Humber College and DeVry Institute of Technology. She graduated from York University in 1994 with a BA in psychology, and during her time as a student, was elected president of the York Federation of Students (YFS) – a testament to the high esteem in which she was held by her peers.”
Hughes’ steadfast commitment to bettering her community and creating opportunities for others was not only demonstrated in her election as the first Black YFS president, but also through the work she carried out with myriad charities and fundraising initiatives, including: Bring Back our Girls; The Black Link; and Ebony Toastmasters, which she co-founded.
“Michelle was the consummate people person – engaging and caring,” Zwick continued. “She was known for her infectious enthusiasm and energy; her sense of humour; and her positive, can-do disposition. Her motto – proudly displayed as an icon next to her Schulich email – was ‘Work hard and be nice to people.’ When Michelle was hospitalized due to her illness, her colleagues described her as an inspiration to others, and remarked on her strength, grace and sense of compassion.”
Among the many co-workers and alumni whose lives were touched by Hughes, a common refrain has been that her welcoming presence greatly influenced the decisions of many to join the Schulich community.
Zwick noted that, “In her spare time, Michelle worked as a motivational speaker and developed a public speaking program to assist young people in finding their voice and gaining confidence. She was also deeply committed to advocacy on behalf of Black youth and devoted a lot of time and energy to inspiring and mentoring Black students at Schulich. She took great satisfaction in sharing stories about some of the students whose life path and career prospects changed, and she would often say, ‘Changing lives – one or 101 at a time.’”
Hughes’ visitation ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Turner & Porter’s Butler Chapel in Etobicoke. Her funeral service will follow on Friday, March 31 at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Humber Heights in Etobicoke.
In memory of Hughes, and in observance of her funeral service, the University flag will be lowered to half-mast on Friday.
“Our School will also host a memorial service at a later date to bring together family, friends and colleagues to share our memories and celebrate Michelle’s life,” Zwick said. “Donations received in support of the Michelle Hughes Memorial Fund will allow us to create a new student award in Michelle’s honour.
“The award will be given annually to an incoming Black student in our Master of Management Program with demonstrated community leadership. It is a fitting legacy for Michelle, who was committed to making business education more inclusive and accessible for individuals from Black communities,” he added.
Those wishing to make a donation can do so here; messages of condolences and memories of Michelle, can be shared here.
Dance students highlight human resilience in ‘Convergence’
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York Dances 2023: Convergence features new choreographic works of 27 third-year BFA majors performed by students engaged in all levels of York’s programs in dance.
In addition to steering their own creative processes, students led every facet of the production of Convergence, including costumes, lighting design, poster design and front of house. Supported by faculty and students – including guest artist and student Maxine Heppner, and current work-studies technicians – the show celebrates togetherness, individuality and the positive power of community.
“TBD” by Ella Booth-Doris
Ella Booth-Doris’s “TBD,” focuses on the strength needed to overcome life’s obstacles. Performed by Kian Hern, Maddy Moneypenny, Morgan Janes, Jessika Tafolla and Charlize Greaves, this work highlights ways in which people can work together to face challenges. “Relying on one another for support in these times of hesitation, lack of self-confidence, fear and vulnerability is crucial,” Booth-Doris says. Her choreography features a blend of movement genres, showcasing each dancer’s unique style and further proving that, despite their differences, they can help each other to reach a common goal.
“Ingress” by Ria Kerekes
Ria Kerekes’s “Ingress” also addresses themes of personal resilience. In their work, dancers Isabella Castro, Danika Geen, Sarah Goncalves, Annie Spence and Katie Waters portray various types of mental illness and neurodivergence. By shedding light on this aspect of the human experience, Kerekes brings awareness to the effects they have on day-to-day life. “I want to display how much of a struggle it is to deal with [mental illnesses and neurodivergence] every single day, and to hopefully teach those who do not understand how uncontrollable and difficult it is,” he says.
“Emergence” by Danika Geen
Another work that accentuates personal challenges and how to manage them is Leah Rodgers’ “Remember Who You Are.” Her work explores the complexity of finding one’s true identity within a society full of expectations. “I would like not only the audience, but the dancers themselves, in their own interpretation, to feel empowered to take on life with a new outlook and to do what makes them happy,” she says. Dancers Irene Leung, Amelia Mazza, Morgan McCarthy, Drake McKever, Elizabeth South, Katie Waters and Alex Woodley skillfully perform Rodgers’ choreography to show how a positive mindset can inspire them to find and celebrate what makes them unique.
“Emergence” by Geen, also addresses the difficulties inherent to being one’s authentic self. Their piece brings attention to transgender and nonbinary people, highlighting their ability to stay true to themselves, regardless of the negativity that may surround them. On the topic of transgender visibility, Geen says, “I wish I had this sort of representation growing up, especially in dance, which is an extremely gendered art form.” Through the emotionally charged choreography, performers Clara Chemtov and Jules Vance paint a stunning tribute to the transgender community by expressing feelings of gender dysphoria, confusion and, ultimately, radical self-acceptance.
“Collapse” by Travis Keith
Travis Keith’s work, “Collapse,” deals with the physical and mental manifestations of overwork and stress. Performed by Maya Erwin, Taylor Hooey, Tehillah Riley and Victoria Sharp, this piece addresses the experience of burnout. Through the dancers’ vulnerable performance, Keith questions the elements in our environment that push us toward collapse, and how we can draw strength to overcome them.
Isabella Sgambelluri’s “9-5 pm” examines the monotony of daily life, and tells the story of three dancers, Julianna Greco, Kiara Sinclair and Melissa Harve, who break out of their daily cycle to pursue a more fulfilling life. As the dancers take the courageous leap toward freeing themselves of their routine, they explore their true needs and desires. Through her powerful choreography, Sgambelluri asks the audience, “Are you tired of living a life that does not fulfill your innermost dreams?”
“9-5 pm” by Isabella Sgambelluri
“Obscured” by Sahara Shwed explores visual disabilities and how they can affect individuals. Inspired by her grandmother, Shwed uses her choreography to bring awareness to blindness, and how people with visual impairments can use their other senses to live fulfilling lives. Dancers Sherry Boamah, Jaelyn Jones and Tehillah Riley beautifully depict the struggles and victories of a blind person.
“Obscured” by Sahara Shwed
Convergence, presented across two series, features 27 short works staged in the McLean Performance Studio, (second floor Accolade Centre East), March 30 and 31, at 7 and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online and in person at the AMPD box office. To reserve, call 416-736-5888 or click here.
Lassonde’s STEM programs reflect changing world
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By Elaine Smith
The Lassonde School of Engineering is changing the face of STEM education to ensure it aligns with the world of the future by breaking down systemic barriers and offering opportunities for inclusion, while building excitement about STEM throughout.
The journey begins with Lassonde’s k2i academy, an initiative that launched in 2020 and brings together an ecosystem of diverse partners to create more equitable outcomes for underrepresented youth (kindergarten to high school) in STEM.
“The k2i academy works intentionally with partners, including the K12 sector, to address systemic barriers that hinder students and staff in engaging with STEM,” said Lisa Cole, director of programming for k2i. “We bring people together to create an ecosystem for equity-focused innovation.”
Students at a previous UNHack event
k2i has received more than $5 million in funding from a variety of partners in government and the private sector. It works alongside publicly funded school boards and community organizations to leverage collective resources to create and implement programs that strategically remove roadblocks for students and families, inspire future innovators and creators, and build capacity for others to engage in this work.
“For example, the Bringing STEM to Life: Work-Integrated Learning program works with school board leaders to employ high school students while also working towards a high school physics credit,” said Michelle Tsui-Woods, k2i’s associate director of operations and development. “We know that students are not always taking the prerequisite courses they need to pursue STEM post-secondary studies and, at times, have to choose between work and learning. This program removes that barrier.”
Cole notes, “We are always working alongside educators, exploring how to push boundaries with cost-effective, flexible tools so schools can update their programs and invest to get beyond the status quo.”
As students consider their university options, the Lassonde Academy is on hand with a pre-university program that assists students in meeting the admissions requirements for STEM programs.
“The program began in 2015 and has evolved over time,” said Sean Billingsley, director of recruitment and admissions, who leads the Lassonde Academy. “Initially, it expanded the number of students to whom we could make offers and has pivoted to become a tool to help increase access for underrepresented students, especially those who identify as female.”
The Academy offers free, fully virtual, self-paced summer courses in chemistry, math and physics that students can pursue to boost their skills, build confidence in their capability and earn an offer from Lassonde. Although women were the initial target audience, the Academy is expanding to support other groups underrepresented in STEM fields.
“The courses are tools designed to help students be successful going forward,” Billingsley said. “We are not replicating high school courses; the content was designed to strengthen transitions to first year while also engaging diverse learners.”
The program courses are intentionally self-paced so prospective students can work around their other commitments. To date, more than 250 students have successfully completed the courses and proceeded to join Lassonde programs.
Once students enter Lassonde, administrators, faculty and staff are committed to keeping them engaged and inspired. Jeffrey Harris, an associate professor, is leading a project redesign of the common core of engineering courses, including the first year.
“These courses – about 30 credits – form a substantial part of the curriculum,” Harris said. “We’ve found that it’s not just about the curriculum; we need to think about the student experience and about education as an experiential journey for the learner.”
With the support of the Lassonde Educational Innovation Studio, he and a working group have spent two years researching and redesigning the common core using design principles, interviewing students, doing a global environmental scan, incorporating innovations and adjusting procedures. They’re looking toward a more project-based experience for their students and will run a pilot program in Fall 2023 for 70 first-year students.
The pilot will feature one course that runs throughout the semester with all the other courses offered sequentially in a more intensive fashion.
“We’ll pilot this with existing courses and it will inform larger change,” said Harris. “We’re evolving the way we think about higher education and setting a new standard.”
Lassonde students have other opportunities for enrichment, including the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST) program, administered by program manager Maedeh Sedaghat.
The BEST Program offers students the environment, culture and resources to learn how they can use technology to solve societal challenges, become creators and grow as entrepreneurs. One of its main pillars is experiential education, such as UNHack and BEST Startup Experience (BSE); both are designed to empower students to develop essential skills like teamwork, critical thinking, creative problem solving, communications and decision-making.
UNHack revolves around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), challenges that underpin the University Academic Plan. During UNHack and BSE, students go through a structured learning journey using design sprint methodology and work in multi-disciplinary teams over a weekend to create innovative solutions to sustainability challenges proposed by community partners from across York University and beyond. All student teams get supports from their dedicated mentors throughout the experience and present their solution ideas to a panel of judges. Winning projects will have access to additional supports like coaching, resources for prototyping, and lab space to take their project to the next level and turn it into a startup.
Other opportunities offered by the BEST Program include the BEST Certificate, BEST entrepreneurial co-op, and the BEST entrepreneurial Work Integrated Learning where students get to develop entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to play a greater role in the management of technological innovation in larger organizations or start their own ventures.
“This is a safe space for students to experiment, explore their passions and strengths and achieve their full potential,” said Sedaghat. “Our programs provide students with multi-disciplinary education and experiences so they have the foundation, skills, knowledge and tools to feel confident in making big impacts in their communities and beyond.”
Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, is justifiably proud of this suite of programs.
“The work we do to increase engagement and interest in STEM is incredibly rewarding – whether it’s sparking initial interest among youngsters who never dreamed they could be engineers; providing a helping hand to prospective students; or facilitating the richest possible educational experiences for our current students,” Goodyer said.
“To improve the world for everyone – our ultimate goal – we need different perspectives and approaches to global engineering and science problems. That only begins by making STEM education accessible to all and cultivating interdisciplinary connections through which our diverse creators can collaborate in making positive change.”
Professor Emeritus Tim Whiten earns prestigious Gershon Iskowitz Prize
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The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) named Tim Whiten, professor emeritus at York’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) and founding member of the visual arts program, winner of this year’s Gershon Iskowitz Prize.
Tim Whiten, photo courtesy of Mehraban Mehrabani
As the most recent Gershon Iskowitz artist at the AGO, Whiten will receive a $75,000 cash prize and have his works featured in a solo exhibit hosted at the gallery throughout 2025.
The prize, created and funded by the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation, has been awarded via the AGO every year since 1986 to “a professional Canadian visual artist who has achieved maturity… and who is on the verge of using their creative energy to produce a significant body of work, or to continue their research.”
During deliberations, the Gershon Iskowitz Prize jury commended Whiten for the innate quality of his work to go beyond mere physical presentation and offer an ethereal experience to his audience.
Throughout his five-decade career, self-described image-maker Whiten has used everyday objects as foundational materials, the bases of his poignant multimedia projects. Through Whiten’s installations, simple household items such as clothing, furniture, food, tools or dishes are recontextualized and given meaning, often for the purpose of spiritual or metaphysical commentary.
Himself a student of accomplished philosopher Oscar Oppenheimer, Whiten’s style is inspired and informed by his own quandaries, as well as those that so enraptured his mentor and colleague.
Born, raised and educated in Michigan, Whiten eventually attended the University of Oregon, where he received his MFA, before his path towards a teaching practice was interrupted by military service. Whiten then moved to Canada in 1968, becoming a highly respected fine arts pedagogue and instructing at York until his retirement in 2009. During his tenure at the University, Whiten was the recipient of the 1999-2000 Dean’s Teaching Award in what was then the Faculty of Fine Arts.
From North America to Asia and beyond, Whiten’s work has been featured in collections – both public and private – at galleries around the world. In addition to the AGO in Toronto, Whiten is also featured at Canada’s National Gallery in Ottawa.
To learn more about Whiten and the Gershon Iskowitz Prize, click here.
York mourns loss of visionary philanthropist Helen Vari
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The York University community is mourning the loss of Helen Vari whose many contributions to the University had transformational impact. A visionary philanthropist dedicated to supporting students, Helen and her husband George William Vari, PC CM (Aug. 14, 1923 – Dec. 9, 2010) created an outstanding record of philanthropic activity.
Among countless charitable contributions spanning decades, their passion for education and research led them to become patrons of some of Toronto’s greatest institutions.
Helen Vari and York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton
“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the loss of philanthropist Helen Vari,” says York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “On behalf of York University, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the many friends, family and supporters of Helen. She was a dear friend and will be greatly missed.
“Helen and her late husband George were passionate supporters of York and of higher education institutions across Canada. Their contributions have made a profound and lasting impact at York University and have played a significant role in enhancing the learning environment for York’s diverse body of students. They have been pivotal in York’s success as a leading international teaching and research university.”
Helen helped bring to fruition several building projects – among them Vari Hall, the nucleus of the Keele Campus – to the University. Often referred to as the “front door” of the University, Vari Hall is an iconic building at the heart of Keele Campus. Home to several lecture halls and other spaces, its three-storey rotunda has become the main gathering place on campus, a busy hub bringing community members together.
Helen received an honorary doctorate from York in 2003 where she gave her perspective as the longest-serving York board member. “I always emphasized, and it is the philosophy of the board, that…in essence, all the intellectual and material riches of York University should serve only one purpose: the interest and well-being of our students, to make their life richer intellectually, and to provide the best possible learning, recreational and living conditions for our students.”
She was appointed to York’s Board of Governors in 1990 and served until 2002, at which point she was made an honorary governor. She also served on the boards of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Canada Council, Canadian Scene, The Council for Canadian Unity, Canada House at the Université de Paris, and the World Monuments Fund. A member of the Order of Canada, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003.
Dedicated to supporting students, the Varis also established numerous student awards at York, including: the Helen Vari Award in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, given in recognition of outstanding creative or scholarly achievement and overall academic excellence to a third- or fourth-year film and video student; the Helen Vari Award for Excellence and Good Citizenship, recognizing a graduating student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies for their outstanding academic achievement and community service; and the George and Helen Vari Foundation Entrance Award (Environmental Studies), supporting graduate students entering their first year of the Master in Environmental Studies program at York.
The York community will be forever grateful to the legacy that Helen and George Vari have left at York.
