2021 Goldfarb Lecture in Visual Arts explores role of visual art in palliative care
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Rice University Professor Marcia Brennan will present the Goldfarb Lecture at York University
Marcia Brennan, the Carolyn and Fred McManis Professor of Humanities at Rice University, is the featured speaker for the 2021 Goldfarb Lecture in Visual Arts presented by York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD).
The lecture will take place Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. Interested participants are encouraged to register by sending an email to sensinfo@yorku.ca and a Zoom Link will be sent out prior to the event.
Drawing on her creative clinical experiences in Acute Palliative Care, Brennan will examine the ways in which the curatorial model might be expanded to consider how aesthetics can serve as a form of care for people facing the end of life. Just as the artworks are produced during critical junctures of transition, they often appear as meditations on multiplicity as people imagine various forms of presence. Brennan’s talk will be followed by a public conversation with Jennifer Fisher, professor in the Department of Visual Art & Art History at York University and there will be an opportunity for a Q-and-A session with the audience.
Brennan in the Carolyn and Fred McManis Professor of Humanities at Rice University, where she works in the fields of Art History, Religious Studies and the Medical Humanities. She also serves as a literary Artist-in-Residence in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Her books include Life at the End of Life: Finding Words Beyond Words (Intellect), Curating Consciousness: Mysticism and the Modern Museum (MIT Press), Modernism’s Masculine Subjects: Matisse, the New York School and Post-Painterly Abstraction (MIT Press), and Painting Gender, Constructing Theory: The Alfred Stieglitz Circle and American Formalist Aesthetics (MIT Press).
This event is presented in conjunction with the nascent Art and Wellness initiative in AMPD. Brennan’s work exemplifies the important role that artist and curatorial residencies can bring to practices of caring and curing in hospitals and other health care contexts.
Brennan’s lecture is organized by the Department of Visual Art and Art History in conjunction with Sensorium: The Center for Digital Art and Technology. The Goldfarb Lecture in Visual Arts is made possible through the generous support of Joan and Martin Goldfarb, longstanding benefactors of York University’s Department of Visual Art and Art History and AMPD. This lecture is free to attend and all are welcome.
York professor speaks on communities, mutual aid and social change during Black History Month
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Caroline Shenaz Hossein, from the Department of Social Science
York University Associate Professor Caroline Shenaz Hossein will be the first guest speaker for a new speaker series developed by CLLCTIVLY, a group in Baltimore, Maryland that seeks to partner with Black social change organizations.
Hossein, who teaches in the Department of Social Science in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LAPS), will deliver a talk Feb. 4 as part of the CLLCTIV Conversations. The event also aims to raise awareness on Black social justice and economic issues during Black History Month.
“African Americans want to hear from a Black Canadian feminist scholar about self-help, mutual aid and collectivity in the Caribbean and among Black Canadians as a way to local development on people’s own terms,” says Hossein.
Her talk “The Black Social Economy: African Origins in Collectivity” will focus on mutual aid, cooperativism, and self-help, which have been cornerstones of the African world for generations.
Baltimore also has a long history of self-help; W.E.B. Dubois wrote about the Galilean Fishermen, a benevolent society that was founded in Baltimore and incorporated in 1869 and became one of the largest African American organizations with over 5,000 members in Maryland by 1890.
Hossein will also take participants through the history of cooperatives throughout the African diasporic world with a focus on rotating savings and credit associations, as well as her empirical findings with hundreds of Banker Ladies.
Hossein’s research focuses on the Black social and solidarity economies, and her publications include the edited collection, The Black Social Economy in the Americas: Exploring Diverse Community-Based Markets. Her upcoming book Community economies in the Global South is written with Professor Christabell PJ at the University of Kerala and will be published by Oxford University Press. Hossein is the founder of the Diverse Solidarity Economies Collective made up of 20-plus feminist scholars writing on decolonizing the economy.
Celebrating Black History Month and recommitting to action
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Feet forward, head turned backward, the Sankofa bird reflects on the past to build a successful future. Image: Government of Canada
The following is a message to the York University community from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, and Vice-President Equity, People & Culture Sheila Cote-Meek:
Dear Colleagues,
This February marks the 25th anniversary of the first time Black History Month was officially commemorated in Canada. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate Black culture, and recognize the contributions made by the Black students, staff, instructors, and alumni of York University.
Indeed, we are grateful to Black community members for their insights and innovations in programming and research, which have helped us uphold the University’s mission to serve and reflect a broad diversity of lived realities. The Certificate in Black Canadian Studies, for example, was the result of advocacy from undergraduate and graduate students.
We recognize that on top of the inequities created and exposed by the pandemic last year, other forms of violent and systemic anti-Black racism have caused additional grief, pain, and frustration for Black community members. We have been undertaking community consultations to re-examine our own role in creating safer, more inclusive spaces for teaching, learning and professional work, as well as the role we must play in countering anti-Black racism more broadly.
We are grateful to community members for their willingness to share their experiences, concerns and questions with us. These honest insights on representation, knowledge creation, mental health supports, community engagement, data collection, decision-making and accountability have directly informed a Framework and Action Plan that will guide the University’s efforts in addressing anti-Black racism.
We look forward to sharing further updates on these initiatives shortly, and will continue to engage with community members for input and feedback in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Combatting anti-Black racism requires sustained effort, and the University is fully committed to this work.
We encourage all community members to find out more about the Black History Month virtual events and initiatives taking place at York, and to continue to engage with and learn about Black history, culture, and the contributions of Black people throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Rhonda L. Lenton President and Vice-Chancellor
Sheila Cote-Meek Vice President, Equity, People & Culture
Célébrons le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs et renouvelons notre engagement
Chers collègues,
Ce mois de février marque le 25e anniversaire de la première commémoration officielle du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs au Canada. Le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs est l’occasion de célébrer la culture noire et de reconnaître les contributions des étudiantes et des étudiants, du personnel et du corps professoral ainsi que des diplômées et diplômés noirs de l’Université York.
Nous sommes reconnaissants envers les membres de la communauté noire pour leurs contributions et leurs innovations en matière de programmation et de recherche, qui nous ont aidés à appuyer la mission de l’Université de servir et de refléter une grande diversité de réalités vécues. Le Certificat en études canadiennes noires, par exemple, a été créé en réponse aux demandes des étudiantes et étudiants de premier cycle et de cycle supérieur.
Nous reconnaissons qu’en plus des inégalités créées et exposées par la pandémie l’an dernier, d’autres formes de racisme violent et systémique anti-Noirs ont causé encore plus de chagrin, de douleur et de frustration pour les membres de la communauté noire. Nous avons entrepris des consultations communautaires afin de réexaminer notre propre rôle dans la création d’espaces plus sûrs et plus inclusifs pour l’enseignement, l’apprentissage et le travail professionnel, ainsi que le rôle que nous devons jouer dans la lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs en général.
Nous sommes reconnaissants envers les membres de la communauté d’avoir accepté de partager avec nous leurs expériences, leurs préoccupations et leurs questions. Leurs contributions sincères sur la représentation, la création de connaissances, les soutiens à la santé mentale, l’engagement communautaire, la collecte de données, la prise de décision et la responsabilité ont directement inspiré un cadre et un plan d’action qui guideront les efforts de l’Université dans la lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs.
Nous avons hâte de partager prochainement d’autres informations sur ces initiatives. Nous continuerons de communiquer avec les membres de la communauté pour obtenir des commentaires et de la rétroaction dans les semaines, les mois et les années à venir. La lutte contre le racisme anti-Noirs exige des efforts soutenus et l’Université est pleinement engagée dans ce travail.
Nous encourageons tous les membres de la communauté à se renseigner sur les initiatives et événements virtuels qui auront lieu à l’Université York au cours du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs [https://www.yorku.ca/about/blackhistorymonth/] et à continuer à s’engager et à en apprendre davantage sur l’histoire et la culture des Noirs ainsi que sur leurs contributions, tout au long de l’année.
Sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
Sheila Cote-Meek Vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture
The Centre presents ‘Sexual Violence Response Education Week,’ Feb. 5 to 12
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Join the Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education (The Centre) as they raise awareness about Sexual Violence Response during a special week of informative events, Feb. 5 to 12. Due to COVID-19, all events will take place online.
Trauma Informed Investigations
When: Friday, Feb. 5
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon)
Where: Online (Zoom details will be provided after registration details are submitted)
Register by email to: thecentre@yorku.ca
This session is for staff and faculty only. Dr. Lori Haskall, a clinical psychologist and researcher into the effects of trauma, will discuss the neurobiological nature of trauma on survivors of sexual violence, understanding the nature of traumatic memories, and learning trauma-informed techniques for interviewing and evidence collection.
Discovering Careers in Sexual Violence Prevention & Support
When: Monday, Feb. 8
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Online
Steps to register for this session:
Sign into Experience York with your PPY
Once logged in copy the event link into your URL https://experience.yorku.ca/events.htm?evtId=1162.
Review the event details and click register.
This event will be moderated by representatives from the York University Career Education and Development Centre. It features a panel discussion that is focused on careers in Sexual Violence Prevention & Support. The panelists participating in this event are Jennifer Keeler, who is the coordinator/nurse practitioner for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga; Shannon Seeraj, the public education coordinator for the Women’s Support Network York Region; Jacqueline Benn-John, who is the executive director of the Women’s Support Network York Region.
The panelists will discuss career paths, strategies and tips along with opportunities and challenges of the industry. This event is co-organized by the York University Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education and York University’s Career Education and Development Centre.
Join panelists Breanna Berry, the Indigenous Recruitment Officer at the Centre for Aboriginal Student Services at York University, and Nneka McGregor, the executive director of WomenatthecentrE, for a conversation inspired by the “Broken Dreams, Broken Lives” Merlo Davidson Class-Action Settlement Agreement Report. The report highlighted the ongoing sexual violence within the RCMP and made 52 recommendations to address aspects of the systemic sexism and homophobia embedded in the RCMP’s culture. This event aims to build a conversation about the report and how the culture it documents has an impact on vulnerable and marginalized community members who access supports.
Join panelists Christine Sinclair from the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, Nneka McGregor, the executive director of WomenatthecentrE, Paula Gowdie Rose, who is an administrative assistant in the Schulich School of Business, and the President of the York Federation of Students, Azinwi Kien, for the continuation of a conversation that began in November 202. The panelists will address “misogynoir,” the term coined by queer Black feminist Moya Bailey to describe the experiences of prejudice and harassment directed at Black women. The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion will deliver a presentation that will be followed by the returning panelists who will share their experiences and challenges addressing misogynoir. This will be followed by a one-hour healing and support space dedicated to Black women to address the issues and impacts of misogynoir.
The Native Child & Family Services Bekaadendang (Being Peaceful) program is dedicated to prevention work and supporting survivors of exploitation at all stages of their healing journey. The Bekaadendang team offers case-management support and intensive counselling support to survivors, conducts outreach, provides psycho-education to community around healthy relationship development and offers training to other agencies on how to better support Indigenous survivors. Their presentation will cover the intersections between colonialism and trafficking, how human trafficking affects Indigenous community members in the GTA, challenges the community members’ experience and the Bekaadendang team’s approach to service provision.
COVID-19 response and lockdowns: Strategies for low- and middle-income countries
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A new paper published in the journal Globalization and Health provides a commentary proposing strategies that low- and middle-income countries could adopt for a safe and responsible COVID-19 response, especially as it pertains to the use of lockdown.
Oghenowede EyawoA.M. Viens
The paper is co-authored by Oghenowede Eyawo, a York University assistant professor in the Faculty of Health’s School of Global Health/Kinesiology and Health Science; A.M. Viens, a York University associate professor in the Faculty of Health’s School of Global Health/Health Policy and Management; and Uchechukwu Chidiebere Ugoji, from the Salem Clinic and Maternity, Salem City, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
In the paper, the authors note that lockdowns can be an effective pandemic response strategy to “buy time” to slow disease transmission and increase responses with respect to prevention, diagnoses and treatment. However, imposing broad and coercive restrictive measures come at a cost and impose social and economic burdens on both individuals and societies, in particular for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many LMICs adopted broad lockdown strategies – as did high-income countries (HICs). However, during subsequent waves LMICs are left more vulnerable; while HICs have returned to lockdown strategies until they can receive the vaccine, many LMICs will be waiting much longer to get comparable access to the vaccine.
This, say the authors, leaves LMICs vulnerable to subsequent waves for a longer period of time and increases the potential for longer lockdown periods.
With an inability to sustain long-term lockdowns, given their severe economic, social, and health impacts, countries continue to struggle with formulating adequate strategies for deciding when and how to enter and exit lockdowns in a safe and responsible way, states the paper.
In response to the need for more policy development around contextual challenges involved in imposing such measures, the authors proposed strategies LMICs could adopt to balance safety while avoiding and/alleviating coercive restrictive lockdown measures.
“While the proposed strategies will be critical for LMICs who may have to deal with the COVID-19 crisis for much longer than HICs – who will receive vaccines earlier – we believe some of our recommendations are arguably equally applicable to HICs, including Canada,” says Eyawo.
The key challenge for policymakers is achieving a lockdown strategy that is feasible, effective and ethical, and the acknowledgement that pandemic response strategies are not a one-size-fits-all approach.
A summary of the authors’ proposals include:
Follow the science
There is evidence that politicians who used science to guide strategy were less likely to have infection, death, and economic destabilization. Breaking the chain of infection is crucial in curbing the spread of COVID-19 and should be considered first in response measures including advice on testing, quarantine, contact tracing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, use of masks, and how to open up schools and businesses safely.
Adopt strategies of adherence rather than compliance
Rather than a compliance approach to lockdown measures, which seek to produce passive behaviours through prohibition and punishments, LMICs should move toward an adherence approach that continues to reduce people coming into close contact, but instead focuses on encouraging enabling and supportive behaviour. Examples of this include health education and government-led infrastructure development projects to improve access to clean water.
Community engagement and trust building
Increased engagement with communities can create an opportunity to address issues of misinformation that is fuelling stigma and discrimination against people infected with COVID-19, including impeding testing and care-seeking behaviour.
LMICs should take a targeted approach to testing
LMICs should focus on free, point-of-care targeted testing – demand-driven by jurisdictional epidemiological reports/statistics – among symptomatic individuals.
Recruit and train more healthcare and support workers in the short term
LMICs should focus on practical, short-term solutions, including: (i) fast-track medical/nursing students to start now in the field and then return to finish up their degrees later; (ii) organize short infection control courses for other allied health professionals to provide support on small non-technical tasks; and (iii) task-shift and train local community members who can be gainfully engaged to carry out contact tracing activities with some oversight.
“The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of the political determinants of health. Political decisions should target a combination of science-based and context-informed strategies for a safe and responsible lockdown entrance, exit, or to prevent the need for a restrictive lockdown measure altogether,” says Viens.
Study examines whether corporate social responsibility matters in times of crisis
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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not effective at shielding shareholder wealth from the adverse effects of a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a potential disconnect between a company’s CSR orientation (what it believes) and its actual actions (what it does), according to a new study in the Journal of Corporate Finance.
Kee-Hong Bae
The research paper, which examines the relation between CSR activities and shareholder value during the COVID-19 stock market crash, was co-authored by Kee-Hong Bae, professor of finance and Bob Finlayson Chair in International Finance at York University’s Schulich School of Business; Sadok El Ghoul, from Campus Saint-Jean at the University of Alberta; Zhaoran (Jason) Gong, from Lingnan University in Hong Kong; and Omrane Guedhami, from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
The researchers studied 1,750 U.S. firms and two major sources of CSR ratings, and found no evidence that CSR affected stock returns during the period immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic when the stock market crashed. In addition, the researchers found that Business Roundtable companies, an association representing CEOs from many of America’s largest corporations, did not attain better stock performance during the crisis.
“Business Roundtable companies that powerfully demonstrated a CSR commitment to stakeholders just prior to the crisis did not perform any differently during the crisis,” said Bae.
Bae also said the pandemic exposed some companies’ avowed CSR values and principles as being mostly a public relations exercise. While some companies stepped up to the plate by helping employees (e.g., increasing their hourly wage), customers (e.g., offering unlimited mobile data), and suppliers (e.g., accelerating payments), other companies with strong CSR reputations laid off a significant percentage of their workforce, jeopardizing employees’ healthcare benefits at a time when they were arguably needed the most.
REI hosting REDI anti-racism workshops every Tuesday in February
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The Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (REI) will be hosting its special REDI Anti-Racism Workshop Series this Black History Month, on every Tuesday in February.
The online sessions will cover the fundamentals of what racism is, how it manifests and what its impacts are, as well as offer tools to intervene and opportunities to work with others on overcoming barriers to using those tools in real-life situations, with the ultimate goal of promoting belonging.
Within the global context of ongoing systemic racism, economic disparities, state violence and colonialism, these workshops offer an entry point into considerations of accountability and change that individuals and institutions must embark on to build a more just and safe society.
Developed within the framework of the Ontario Human Rights Code, these sessions are not designed to be the end goal of anti-racism work, but rather as a complement to ongoing efforts to be more inclusive and dismantle inequitable systems that perpetuate harm. Participants may leave with more questions than answers, and can expect to experience some discomfort, and hopefully growth. The workshops are designed to speak to the experience of the York University community, and will address scenarios from the workplace, classroom, personal and public spheres.
Participation in this series will count towards the completion of a REDI Certificate from REI. Attendees will be offered several opportunities to participate via annotation, chat, large group discussion and breakout rooms.
All sessions are free to attend and take place online via Zoom from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
The series includes four workshops:
Acknowledging and Addressing Racism – Feb. 2
This workshop will help participants gain an understanding of how to recognize racism, how it can manifest, and what its impacts are. Participants will learn about strategies to address barriers to inclusive spaces, and become familiar with relevant tools, policies and legislation within the York context. Register at: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMld-morz0uEt0AYUiCXo0isdZw3oZd7Dgt.
Challenging Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions – Feb. 9
This workshop will take a deep dive into forms of unconscious bias and stereotyping that lead to microaggressions and discriminatory behaviour. Participants will explore effective strategies to challenge our biases, reframing our ways of thinking, and strengthen the experience of inclusion for all. Register at: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pdeuorzIjHNHbu1dAK6nSZxQhjGgLIDME.
Racial Inclusion and Employment Equity – Feb. 16
This workshop focuses on racism and discrimination in the workplace, highlighting the relevant policies and laws in place to support efforts that build healthy and inclusive workplace environments and culture. Register at: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqd–trzosG9cw0JmSomfzfJcA6w1je_PW.
Intervening on Racism – Feb. 23
Please note that REI strongly recommends participants to have attended at least one of the workshops above before attending this session.
This workshop will be highly participation-based, and ask attendees to design strategies and practice tools to intervene on moments of racial discrimination, harassment and microaggressions. Prior familiarity with these concepts is recommended. Register at: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvceqtrT8iHdRrWWZOzgrhG_9sEUsiZ546.
IP Osgoode Innovation Clinic’s ChatBot ‘Isaac Pewton’ makes his official debut
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His name is Isaac Pewton, and he is a ChatBot that can provide basic intellectual property (IP) information and assistance with IP-related matters.
Isaac won’t mind, though, if you don’t call him by name, but simply think of him as a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet.
Isaac will be the star of the show this Friday, Jan. 29 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. when the IP Osgoode Innovation Clinic officially launches the AI-powered ChatBot in Intellectual Property at an online celebration via Zoom.
Giuseppina “Pina” D’Agostino
Isaac’s debut represents more than a year of hard work by the Innovation Clinic team under the leadership of IP Osgoode founder and director, Professor Pina D’Agostino, in collaboration with Maya Medeiros and Anthony de Fazekas, Partners at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and the legal supervisors for the Innovation Clinic, and technical experts in the Legal Technology Group at Norton Rose.
“The IP Innovation ChatBot provides free access to credible IP information in a timely, effective and user-friendly way to foster greater innovation in Canadian society,” D’Agostino says.
“Start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators need IP information, but don’t always have the necessary funds and resources. The IP Innovation ChatBot will alleviate some expenses and make vital IP information more accessible.”
D’Agostino said Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) provided funding assistance to develop the IP Innovation ChatBot. “This project supports the Canadian government’s National IP Strategy to increase IP awareness and education by making IP advice more accessible.”
As part of Friday’s launch celebration, there will also be a panel discussion. Nikita Iliushkin, CEO of Skygauge Robotics, the York University student start-up that the IP Innovation Clinic helped on the patent front and which just received $3.3 million in funding, will be among the leaders in Canada’s innovation space who will speak. York Vice-President of Research & Innovation Amir Asif will kick off the event with opening remarks. Innovation York has been one of the IP Innovation Clinic’s founding partners, and would not exist without its “unrelenting support,” D’Agostino noted.
The IP Innovation Clinic is a year-round, needs-based innovation-to-society intellectual property (IP) legal clinic operated in collaboration with Innovation York and supervising law firms Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Bereskin & Parr LLP and Own Innovation. Under the guidance and mentorship of the Clinic Director and supervising lawyers, law students provide one-to-one legal information services (not legal advice) to inventors, entrepreneurs, and start-up companies to assist with the commercialization processes. Through this hands-on practical experience, law students learn about common early-stage IP and business issues facing actors in the innovation ecosystem.
Save the date: First Virtual Town Hall of 2021 will take place Monday, Feb. 8
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The following is a message to the community from York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:
La version française suit la version anglaise.
As we begin the new year, we know that many students, staff, faculty members and instructors may have questions about what the changing provincial public health regulations mean for the University’s on- and off-campus programming, research and professional work. We also know that many community members are interested in learning more about York’s current plans and priorities for both the current winter semester and the upcoming summer semester.
On Monday, Feb. 8, we will be bringing the York community together for a virtual town hall, where our senior leadership team will provide updates on University operations and directly address your questions. As always, we encourage you to submit questions in advance of the event using this form.
To help answer your questions, I will be joined by:
Lisa Philipps, vice-president academic and provost,
Carol McAulay, vice-president finance and administration,
Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation,
Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-president equity, people & culture,
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president advancement, and
Lucy Fromowitz, vice-provost students.
If you have any accessibility needs, notes or comments, please let us know.
We will be hosting this Town Hall via the video conferencing platform Zoom Webinar. You can learn about downloading and using Zoom here. The Webinar will also be livestreamed on the Town Hall website.
If you have attended a past Town Hall, we would like your feedback through this short survey. If you were unable to attend previous town halls, you can access all of them here.
The latest community updates, resources and answers to frequently asked questions can always be found on our YU Better Together website.
I look forward to your questions.
Sincerely,
Rhonda L. Lenton President & Vice-Chancellor
RÉSERVEZ LA DATE : La première conversation communautaire virtuelle de 2021 aura lieu le lundi 8 février
En ce début d’année, nous sommes conscients que beaucoup d’étudiants, de membres du personnel, du corps professoral et du corps enseignant ont sans doute des questions au sujet des répercussions des changements des règlements provinciaux sanitaires sur les programmes, la recherche et le travail professionnel de l’université sur le campus et hors campus. Nous comprenons aussi que de nombreux membres de la communauté aimeraient en savoir plus sur les plans et priorités actuels de York, tant pour le trimestre d’hiver en cours que pour le trimestre d’été prochain.
Le lundi 8 février, nous réunirons la communauté de York pour une conversation communautaire virtuelle durant laquelle la haute direction fournira des mises à jour sur les opérations de l’Université et répondra directement à vos questions. Comme toujours, nous vous encourageons à soumettre vos questions à l’avance à l’aide de ce formulaire.
Pour m’aider à répondre à vos questions, je serai accompagnée de :
Lisa Philipps, rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques
Carol McAulay, vice-présidente aux finances et à l’administration
Amir Asif, vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation
Sheila Cote-Meek, vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture
Jeff O’Hagan, vice-président à la promotion
Lucy Fromowitz, vice-rectrice aux affaires étudiantes
Si vous avez des besoins, des remarques ou des commentaires en matière d’accessibilité, veuillez nous le faire savoir.
Cette conversation communautaire aura lieu grâce à la plateforme de visioconférence Zoom Webinar. Vous pouvez télécharger Zoom et apprendre à l’utiliser ici. Le webinaire sera également diffusé en direct sur le site Web des conversations communautaires.
Si vous avez déjà assisté à une conversation communautaire, nous aimerions connaître votre opinion avec ce bref sondage. Si vous n’avez pas pu assister aux conversations précédentes, elles sont affichées ici.
Vous trouverez les dernières mises à jour, ressources et réponses aux questions fréquemment posées sur notre site Web YU Better Together.
J’attends vos questions avec impatience.
Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,
Rhonda L. Lenton Présidente et vice-chancelière
Recognizing hard work and dedication in York University’s 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Management Team
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Centre for Disease Control image of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the outbreak of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly impacted all aspects of daily life early last year, York University moved quickly to assemble an emergency team that would prove instrumental in its ability to respond to the crisis.
Samina Sami
Throughout the pandemic, the emergency team managed preparedness and response efforts. The Emergency Policy Group (EPG), led by the president and vice-presidents, oversaw strategic and policy decisions to safeguard the University community and ensure continuity of operations. In January 2020, a pan-University Emergency Management Team (EMT) was established under the leadership of Samina Sami, executive director of the Department of Community Safety.
York’s emergency team and efforts were in play before the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. “We were watching the progress of this virus closely from the outset and assessing the risks,” recalls Sami. “As the radius of transmission was broadening, I felt it was important to activate our emergency preparedness plan and team.” She credits York University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, Vice-President Finance and Administration Carol McAulay, and other senior leaders, for supporting the implementation of the EMT in January 2020, and for activating the University’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in early March 2020. “As a result of their decisions, York was able to seamlessly activate the remote Emergency Operations Centre to safeguard against the transmission of the virus,” says Sami.
As COVID-19 spread globally, the province declared a state of emergency on March 17, 2020 and announced the closure of non-essential workplaces the following week. Drawing on the expertise of the Academic Planning Table, chaired by Provost and Vice-President Lisa Philipps, the University was able to quickly pivot to remote learning and work, with members of the emergency team playing a significant role in these efforts to ensure the continuity of York’s academic mission.
“In the very beginning there was limited government information and the emergency team swiftly utilized public health best practices and principles to guide preparedness and response efforts,” recalls Helen Lee, York’s public health liaison lead.
Staff worked around the clock as they assumed their EOC roles in addition to regular responsibilities. As a succession of government and public health measures and guidelines came into effect, the team met regularly over evenings and weekends to plan and implement changes quickly for the community.
Overall, the team drew on expertise from academic planning and research, student affairs, York International, human resources, facilities services, safety and security, communications, administrative services, legal, health and safety, labour and government relations. It also called on the expertise of academic health experts, including Faculty of Health Dean Paul McDonald, Dr. James Orbinski, M.D., who is director of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, and Professor Steven Hoffman, Dahdaleh Distinguished Chair and the director of the Global Strategy Lab, who gave generously of their time and knowledge to inform the emergency team’s efforts.
A Zoom screen capture of the last meeting of York University’s 2020 Emergency Operations Team
Administrative staff worked continuously to ensure the University had the infrastructure in place to remain nimble in these response efforts. The communications team developed community-wide communications almost daily, under tight timelines while providing rapid French-language translation for every piece. The academic team also worked day and night to pivot to remote learning and support many faculty and students through this change.
Supporting students and work from home efforts
Students in residence and international students required unique care and support as borders closed and travel was restricted. Public health guidelines and directives had to be implemented quickly and protocols put in place to mitigate the transmission of the virus, while all on-campus services had to be delivered in new and safer formats. Required services staff have played a critical role in supporting on-campus operations and services throughout the pandemic.
“The Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR) within Community Support and Services was instrumental in supporting students who were living in the community,” notes Debbie Hansen, operations lead on the EOC team. “Help with finances, housing, academic considerations, case/contact management and support with other needs was offered.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, one other big concern was ensuring that students who had been studying abroad could safely return home. With borders closing, and shelter-in-place orders rolling out in numerous countries, a team from York International and various Faculties worked to connect with all of these students to ensure their safe return as they completed studies.
Throughout the pandemic, a group of dedicated staff from the Division of Students, the Faculties and York International even developed and supported a quarantine plan, which was approved by both the provincial and federal governments. The plan involved having students quarantine in a hotel for 14 days, while meals and wellness supports were provided. To date, this team has supported more than 500 students who have travelled to Canada.
Locally, faculty, staff and instructors also needed help with the move to remote teaching and work. A Business Continuity Planning Table (BCP) became a source of advice for the EOC on COVID-19 related protocols such as return to work policies, equipment and furniture policies for home offices, among other financial matters. The executive officers from various faculties and divisions were instrumental in providing regular advice to the EOC members and supporting the development of EOC initiatives.
“Despite being under tremendous pressure, it was remarkable how fast everyone came together to manage the circumstances surrounding the pandemic and that is only a testament to everyone’s commitment and dedication to the University,” recalled BCP Chair and Lead Richard Ooi.
As everyone worked to support the University through such an unprecedented shift, they also weathered the impacts of the pandemic closer to home. As schools and daycares closed, many staff balanced work and caregiving responsibilities, some as single parents. “Some EOC team members experienced loss or had family members and friends who were directly impacted by COVID-19,” recalls Sami.
The emergency team knew that these challenges and the traumatic effects of the pandemic extended to the entire York community, including faculty, staff and students. As a result, the provision of mental health and wellness supports were prioritized at the onset and the team intentionally took an inclusive lens in its approach to serving York’s diverse community. Noting the importance of equity and inclusion, Sami says “we knew we had to do outreach and support our diverse, international community from the beginning.”
While not an exhaustive list, the individuals named below played an essential role on the University’s emergency team over the past year, as the EOC and the BCP table have now pivoted to a new COVID-19 Planning and Response Group. Many of the members cycled in and out of roles in order to sustain efforts over the course of year. Collectively, they made a significant and lasting contribution to the University’s COVID-19 emergency management response that they can be proud of.
EOC Section Leads (Teams A and B):
Samina Sami – Director, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
Vinitha Gengatharan – Planning Lead and International Subject Matter Expert
Richard Silva – Planning Lead
Mary Catherine Masciangelo – Planning Lead and HR Officer
Helen Lee – Public Health Liaison Lead and Subject Matter Expert
Humaira Pirooz – Health and Safety Officer and Subject Matter Expert
Teresa DuCroix – Health and Safety Officer and Subject Matter Expert
Alice Pitt – Academic Lead
Lyndon Martin – Academic Lead
Sarah Whitaker– Academic Lead
Richard Ooi – BCP/Academic Lead
Celia Haig-Brown – Research Lead
David J Phipps – Research Lead
Felix R. Moses – Research Lead
Debbie L. Hansen – Operations Lead
Brendan Schulz – Operations Lead
Anthony Barbisan – Operations Lead
Kelly Young – Operations/Logistics Lead
Aldo Altomare – Operations Lead, (Designate Director EOC)
Ross McMillan – Operations Lead
Yanni Dagonas – Communications Lead
Roderick Thornton – Communications Lead
Donna Cope – Communications Lead
Karen Traboulay – Communications Lead
Charles Frosst – Logistics Lead
Meagan Heath – Logistics Lead
Tom Watt – Logistics Lead
Stewart Evan Dankner – Logistics Lead
Patrick Banville – Glendon Lead
Marion Frankian – French Language Communications Lead
Susan Seaby – Policy Analysis /Project Management, (Designate Director EOC)
Leanne De Filippis – Legal Officer
Joanna S. Rainbow – Legal Officer
Donald Ipperciel – CIO
Aldo DiMarcantonio – Finance Lead
Ran Lewin – Finance Lead
Dan Bradshaw – Labour Relations Advisor
Shawna Teper – Government Relations
Neville McGuire – Liaison Officer
Graeme Stewart – Liaison Officer
Steve Matterson – Risk Management
EMT/EOC Academic subject matter experts:
Professor Paul W. McDonald
Dr. James Orbinski, M.D.
Professor Steven Hoffman
EMT/EOC Administrative coordination & support:
Cameron Baguley – Administrative Coordinator
Maria Aurora Nunez – Policy Assistant/Scribe
Zina DiFranco – Scribe
Patricia A. Gagliardi-Ursua – Scribe
Maximilian Mackenzie Fantuz – Project Tracker
Peter Aylan-Parker – Administrative Coordinator/Scribe
Mike O’Brien – EOC Management
EOC members who provided subject matter expertise and/or were designates for other leads:
Isaac Garcia-Sitton
Lauri Green
Richard Piticco
Nick Valentino
Joseph Yun
Daryl Nauman
Aladin Alaily
Crista MacArthur
Ron Tapley
Pascal Robichaud
Olga Carew
Joseph Sanguedolce
Jan S. Oliver
Octavio Colantonio
Lawrence Ratchford
Dragan Spasojevic
Joanie Cameron Pritchett
Helen Psathas
Woo Kim
Donna Ptak
Darran Fernandez
Gary Brewer
Dexter King
Eric Mezin
Sue Bulof
Ramon Kagan
Karen Drysdale Chung
Aliya Ramji
Pam Persaud
Shirley Davidson Ashfield
Natacha Sam
Paul Campbell
Samara Barak
Amal Awini
Business Continuity Planning table members:
Richard Ooi – Lead/Chair
Aldo Altomare
Jennifer Ankrett
Patrick Banville
Anthony Barbisan
Paul Battistuzzi
Adam Bereza
Dan Bradshaw
Sarah Cantrell
Stewart Evan Danker
Shirley Davidson Ashfield
Aldo DiMarcantonio
Teresa DuCroix
Paul Elliott
Darran Fernandez
Chuck Frosst
Amy Gaukel
Vinitha Gengatharan
Debbie Hansen
Donald Ipperciel
Sarah Jordan
Helen Lee
Colette Leier
Phyllis Lepore Babcock
Ran Lewin
Mary Catherine Masciangelo
Alex Matos
Helen McLellan
Debbie Montanera-Bojda
Felix Moses
Anwar Mustapha
Diana Nuredini
Humaira Pirooz
Richard Piticco
Donna Ptak
Samina Sami
Richard Silva
Edward Secnik
Graeme Stewart
Darus Suharto
Jodi Tavares
Rod Thornton
Andrea Torre
Mario Verrilli
Mary Verrilli
Sarah Whitaker
Audrey Yee
Jessica Yeh
Meagan Heath
Helen Psathas
Business Continuity Plan table alternates or subject matter experts:
“African Americans want to hear from a Black Canadian feminist scholar about self-help, mutual aid and collectivity in the Caribbean and among Black Canadians as a way to local development on people’s own terms,” says Hossein.
Join the Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education (The Centre) as they raise awareness about Sexual Violence Response during a special week of informative events, Feb. 5 to 12. Due to COVID-19, all events will take place online.
