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York hosts week of virtual events to mark Bell Let’s Talk campaign

File photo of previous Bell Let's Talk activities at York University

Members of the York University community are invited to join Athletics & Recreation for a week of virtual events during the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. The University will host events Jan. 25 to 28 that are free and open to students, staff and faculty. Help end the stigma surrounding mental illness by sharing thoughts, experiences and support through virtual events and on social media.

Bell Let’s Talk Day will officially take place on Thursday, Jan. 28, but Athletics & Recreation have scheduled a number of events through the week to raise awareness for this important issue.

A Talk bubble indicated all of the events planned for the Bell Let's Talk campaignMonday, Jan. 25 

Valuing your Mental Health Seminar, 5 to 6 p.m.
Learn from guest speakers and special panelists from York’s clinical Psychology Department on how to improve mental health during the pandemic. Topics include, but are not limited to, work-life balance, stress and anxiety management. Spaces are limited. Register today at reconline.yorkulions.ca.

Tuesday, Jan. 26  

Instagram Talk to us!, 11 a.m. 
Join this ‘talk to us; hour @yorkulions Instagram.’ We will be asking students “How do you prioritize self care during the school year?” and will be sharing responses throughout the afternoon. Participate for a chance to win a Bell Let’s Talk toque.

Colouring Hangout, 1 to 2 p.m.
Join us for an hour of colouring while learning how to journal, a great way to manage stress and mental health. Learn how to get started and why journalling can be helpful. Colouring is used to explore feelings, foster self-awareness, manage behaviour and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. Yet, art therapy is not only about learning and improving yourself – it’s a means of personal expression, too. Download a virtual colouring sheet and bring some art supplies and/or a pencil.

Zoom Link: https://yorku.zoom.us/j/95865444232?pwd=WnRZRnZtYjl6bWdjYndJVWQ0RUdEZz09&from=addon.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Healthy Meals with a Nutritionist, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Join Sport Dietitian Katie Jessop in this session to learn about low-budget, high-quality protein meals and when it really matters for your sport (and doesn’t matter as much). Any and all questions about nutrition are encouraged.

Join us as we make overnight oats. You will need:

  • 1 cup oats
  • Greek yogurt or soft tofu
  • Milk or milk alternative

Jessop is a registered dietitian specializing in sport nutrition. She works with athletes from varsity to elite level in endurance, team and weight class sports.

Join this event on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 959 9534 1909
Passcode: 522445

Wellness Wednesday 
Check back online at https://yorkulions.ca/sports/2018/1/10/bell-lets-talk.aspx on Jan. 27 for Wellness Wednesday.

Hatha Yoga & Meditation Class in collaboration with Jack.org YorkU Chapter and Peace by PEACE, 6 to 7 p.m.
Join the YorkU chapter of Jack.org and Athletics & Recreation in an all-levels Vinyasa session to help support your self-care routine to prioritize student mental health. This medium intensity session will involve a flowing style class to deepen your understanding of postures, breathing, and relaxation to strengthen the body and to reduce stress. Link movement with breathing to help guide your body into a moving meditation to allow for deeper presence and confidence on and off the mat. Learn more about Peace by PEACE.
Register today at reconline.yorkulions.ca.

Thursday, Jan. 28: Bell Let’s Talk Day! 

File photo of previous Bell Let's Talk activities at York University
File photo of previous Bell Let’s Talk activities at York University

Share your Bubble!  
Share your virtual Bell Let’s Talk bubble and tag @yorkulions. Participate for a chance to win a Bell Let’s Talk toque.

Complete your Bell Let’s Talk bubble at Virtual Photobooth; view the Athletics & Recreation Bell Let’s Talk gallery online at Virtual Gallery.

I AM A LION Ambassador Program – All ambassador students that share their bubble and hashtag #LionsAmbassador will receive an ambassador virtual stamp and be entered to win a Bell Let’s Talk toque. Not a member? Register for the Ambassador Program here.

Resources for Bell Let’s Talk events can be found here:

York University, Mackenzie Health launch innovative health collaboration in York Region

Featured image for Mackenzie Health and York U MOU signing shows a medical worker with a chart

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, York University joined forces with Mackenzie Health in an innovative new community-focused health collaboration that will aim to enhance health services, training of highly qualified personnel, research and innovation and healthier outcomes for York Region residents, and beyond.

During a virtual signing event on Wednesday, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton was joined by the President and CEO of Mackenzie Health, Altaf Stationwala, the Mayor of Vaughan, Maurizio Bevilacqua, and the Mayor of Richmond Hill, David Barrow, to celebrate this important milestone and discuss their shared vision and opportunities that lie ahead.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a two-year agreement that sets out the strategic areas of focus for engagement and cooperation: 1.) Education, Professional, and Community Development, and 2.) Health Research and Innovation. The MOU identifies specific areas of mutual interest that will be explored, including health related research, epidemiology and data sharing, clinical placements and training, professional development education for health sector workers, digital health solutions, and more.

“As we find ourselves amid the second wave of a global pandemic, the questions we are asking about the future of local and global healthcare have very real and timely implications,” said Lenton. “This Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen the partnership between York University and Mackenzie Health, and allow us to contribute toward advancements in research, management, and policy that create healthier communities in York Region and drive positive change both locally and globally.”

Recently, York U has strengthened ties within the York Region health community, including through a 2019 agreement with the City of Vaughan to collaborate on a new Healthcare Centre Precinct.

“Mackenzie Health has enjoyed a long-standing collaborative partnership with York University and the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is yet another way to formalize this partnership,” said Stationwala. “We look forward to finding new ways to work together with the ultimate goal of improving the way we deliver care to residents across western York Region.”

Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider, which includes the existing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and the future Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, as well as a comprehensive network of community-based services.

Conference will focus on international higher education that is sustainable and inclusive

Glass planet in the sunshine

Scholars, educators and policymakers from around the world will join a global conference hosted by York University, to reimagine international learning opportunities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of York’s Sustainable on the Go initiative to support study-abroad opportunities that promote sustainability, the conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization is expected to attract more than 600 participants from 65 countries.

Scholars, educators and policymakers from around the world will join a global conference hosted by York University, to reimagine international learning opportunities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
The conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization is expected to attract more than 600 participants from 65 countries

The three-day international conference, from Jan. 20 to 22, will be co-hosted by York International and the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability at York University, in collaboration with the International Association of Universities, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and Okayama University, Japan.

“It is crucial that today’s leaders and those in the future understand global contexts and working in transdisciplinary and intercultural teams towards the common goal of a sustainable future,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “York University is very pleased to host this important conversation among colleagues and partners, as we all look forward to a better and safer 2021 and beyond.”

“Higher education has long been a force for cross-cultural exchange, and advancing global cooperation for education and research, but there are barriers to creating equitable access for all to these opportunities,” said Vinitha Gengatharan, executive director, York International. “The global pandemic has led to an unprecedented pause in international student and faculty travel that warrants universities to examine their policies and practices.”

The Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization conference will be an open forum that will allow participants to tackle these vital questions and related concerns and find workable solutions. It will bring together scholars, international mobility professionals and practitioners, policymakers, sustainability experts and other stakeholders to discuss the evolving status of international mobility in higher education in Canada and globally.

“Issues such as global geopolitical tensions, economic strains, climate change concerns and systemic racism and exclusion continue to limit the participants in these initiatives,” says Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair at York University. “Further, the growing concern around the ecological footprint of higher education mobility and the exclusiveness of opportunities has already caused fundamental discussions on the future of international student mobility.”

To learn more about the conference, visit the Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization website.

York Lions’ digital holiday drive smashes donation record

Lions logo
York U Lions

In a year where families needed it the most, the York University Lions banded together to create a new, 2020-friendly system to give back to local families this past holiday season through the Adopt-a-Family program.

The initiative returned for its sixth year of operation with modified goals in order to safely carry out the program in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since the program’s inception, both physical and online monetary donations were taken this year.

The new program resulted in a record-breaking donation total, with $6,500 raised for nine different families in the community.

“This year, we wanted to ensure we could still facilitate the Adopt-a-Family program and brighten the holiday season of less fortunate members of our community even with the onset of the pandemic,” said Tara Leithead, president of the York Sport Council. “We actually ended up fundraising even more than last year. We hope that we helped families in need have an amazing holiday season after this unprecedented year.”

Adopt-a-Family recipient family (photo courtesy Jane/Finch Community Cntre)
Adopt-a-Family recipient family (photo courtesy Jane/Finch Community Centre)

As with any new initiative, the Adopt-a-Family program required multiple different departments across campus to come together as a group and execute the modified program.

Leithead thanks all the contributing members of the York family – Athletics & Recreation, Community Support Services, Student Engagement, Student Accessibility Services and Student Counselling and Development – for their support and guidance in pulling off the holiday drive during an extraordinary year.

“Our partner departments were instrumental for the program’s execution in a time where champions were needed in order to carry out the program effectively,” Leithead said.

York Sport Council also sends out a special thanks to Sport Council member Frankie St. Louis for her valuable contributions to the project, and to community outreach coordinator Lauren Walter for her diligence in keeping social media followers updated and informed.

Of the many generous contributions to the drive, York men’s volleyball was the most notable, raising a total of $150.

Run through the Jane/Finch Centre, the Adopt-a-Family program focuses on helping families in need enjoy a special holiday season. The focus of the program is to provide warm clothing, bedding, boots, cooking items and toys for children.

The York Sport Council has worked tirelessly to connect with community members in the neighbourhoods immediately surrounding the University. The Adopt-a-Family program is another example of the great community leadership on display across the GTA by so many Lions student-athletes.

Those interested in learning more about the Jane/Finch Centre’s community support initiatives can visit their website at www.janefinchcentre.org.

Northern lakes at risk of losing ice cover permanently, impacting drinking water

Cool Arctic lake, Cape Herschel (image: Katie Griffiths)
Cool Arctic lake, Cape Herschel (image: Katie Griffiths)

Close to 5,700 lakes in the Northern Hemisphere may permanently lose ice cover this century – 179 of them in the next decade – at current greenhouse gas emissions, despite a possible polar vortex this year, researchers at York University have found.

Those lakes include large bays in some of the deepest of the Great Lakes, such as Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, which could permanently become ice free by 2055 if nothing is done to curb greenhouse gas emissions or by 2085 with moderate changes.

Many of these lakes that are predicted to stop freezing over are near large human populations and are an important source of drinking water. A loss of ice could affect the quantity and quality of the water.

“We need ice on lakes to curtail and minimize evaporation rates in the winter,” says lead researcher Sapna Sharma, an associate professor in the Faculty of Science. “Without ice cover, evaporation rates would increase, and water levels could decline. We would lose freshwater, which we need for drinking and everyday activities. Ice cover is extremely important both ecologically and socio-economically.”

The researchers, including Postdoctoral Fellows Kevin Blagrave and Alessandro Filazzola, looked at 51,000 lakes in the Northern Hemisphere to forecast whether those lakes would become ice-free using annual winter temperature projections from 2020 to 2098 with 12 climate change scenarios.

“With increased greenhouse gas emissions, we expect greater increases in winter air temperatures, which are expected to increase much more than summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere,” says Filazzola. “It’s this warming of a couple of degrees, as result of carbon emissions, that will cause the loss of lake ice into the future.”

The most at-risk lakes are those in southern and coastal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, some of which are amongst the largest lakes in the world.

“It is quite dramatic for some of these lakes, that froze often, but within a few decades they stop freezing indefinitely,” says Filazzola. “It’s pretty shocking to imagine a lake that would normally freeze no longer doing so.”

The researchers found that when the air temperature was above -0.9 degrees C, most lakes no longer froze. For shallow lakes, the air temperature could be zero or a bit above. Larger and deeper lakes need colder temperatures to freeze – some as cold as -4.8 degrees C – than shallow lakes.

“Ice cover is also important for maintaining the quality of our freshwater,” says Sharma. “In years where there isn’t ice cover or when the ice melts earlier, there have been observations that water temperatures are warmer in the summer, there are increased rates of primary production, plant growth, as well as an increased presence of algal blooms, some of which may be toxic.”

To preserve lake ice cover, more aggressive measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are needed now, says Sharma. “I was surprised at how quickly we may see this transition to permanent loss of ice cover in lakes that had previously frozen near consistently for centuries.”

The paper, “Forecasting the permanent loss of lake ice in the Northern Hemisphere within the 21st century,” was published in Geophysical Research Letters.

York University has a new COVID-19 planning and response team

Featured illustration of the novel coronavirus

The following is an important message to the community from York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton.

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear Colleagues,

As we begin a new year at York University, supporting our community through the pandemic remains our top priority. As public health guidance continues to evolve alongside the rollout of vaccines, we have made some adjustments to the organization of our institutional response.

I am pleased to announce that Parissa Safai has been appointed as Special Advisor to the President for Academic Continuity Planning and COVID-19 Response. Safai is associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and a former associate dean (Interim), Teaching, Learning and Student Affairs in the Faculty of Health. She will lead a small, dedicated team of staff members who will be focused on managing the University’s response to COVID in 2021. I am grateful that the following individuals will be joining this team:

  • Peter Aylan-Parker will be stepping away from his role as associate director, University Events & Ceremonies, to serve as Project Manager, COVID-19 Planning & Response.
  • Octavio Colantonio, coordinator CCTV & Access Control Technologies in Community Safety, will be seconded into the role of Campus Access Planning Advisor.
  • Jennifer Lee, associate director of Communications, Office of the Provost & Vice-President Academic, will serve as Communications Advisor to the team.

The President and Vice-Presidents group will continue to provide overall policy guidance to keep our community safe, while ensuring academic and research continuity. Planning will be informed by priorities identified at the Academic Continuity Table led by the Provost & Vice-President Academic, and the Research Continuity Table led by the Vice-President Research & Innovation.

I want to extend special thanks to Samina Sami, executive director, Community Safety for her leadership at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and the many other staff from across the University who have volunteered their time and worked tirelessly as members of the Emergency Management Team and EOC to support COVID-19 response planning since January 2020. Many of these staff members will remain involved in supporting the work of the COVID Planning and Response Group, while also recovering some time to devote to their regular roles. The University owes a great deal of its success in managing the pandemic to the dedication, personal commitment, and outstanding teamwork demonstrated by our professional staff colleagues, our administrative staff and on-the-ground workers.

We continue to actively monitor the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to inform planning for the Summer and Fall 2021 terms. As announcements on vaccine availability continue to be made, the team will update the community regularly. For the latest developments and the University’s approach to supporting our community, please continue to monitor YU Better Together.

We welcome these changes to support smooth operational planning at York University this year and appreciate the ongoing patience of our students, faculty and staff. With many supports in place to facilitate remote learning, we know that we will make both the current and upcoming term a success.

Sincerely,

Rhonda L Lenton
President and Vice Chancellor

Nouvelle équipe de l’Université York pour la planification et la réponse à la COVID-19

Chers collègues,

Alors qu’une nouvelle année commence à l’Université York, le soutien de notre communauté durant la pandémie demeure notre priorité absolue. Comme les directives en matière de santé publique continuent d’évoluer parallèlement au déploiement des vaccins, nous avons modifié la structure de notre réponse institutionnelle.

J’ai le plaisir d’annoncer que Dre Parissa Safai a été nommée conseillère spéciale de la présidente pour la planification de la continuité académique et la réponse à la COVID-19. Dre Safai est professeure agrégée de l’École de kinésiologie et des sciences de la santé et ancienne doyenne associée (par intérim) de l’enseignement, de l’apprentissage et des affaires étudiantes de la Faculté de la santé. Elle dirigera une petite équipe de membres du personnel qui se concentreront sur la gestion de la réponse de l’Université à la COVID en 2021. Je me réjouis que les personnes suivantes se joignent à cette équipe :

 

  • Peter Aylan-Parker quittera son poste de directeur adjoint des événements et cérémonies de l’Université pour le poste de gestionnaire de projet, planification et réponse à la COVID-19. 
  • Octavio Colantonio, coordonnateur des systèmes CCTV et des technologies de contrôle d’accès du Service de sécurité communautaire, sera détaché à titre de conseiller en planification de l’accès au campus.
  • Jennifer Lee, directrice adjointe des communications au bureau de la rectrice et de la vice-présidente aux affaires académiques, sera la conseillère en communications de l’équipe.

Le groupe composé de la présidente et des vice-présidents et vice-présidentes continuera à fournir des orientations stratégiques générales pour assurer la sécurité de notre communauté, tout en garantissant la continuité des activités académiques et de la recherche. La planification sera basée sur les priorités définies par la Table de continuité académique dirigée par la rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques et la Table de continuité de la recherche dirigée par le vice-président de la recherche et de l’innovation.

Je tiens tout particulièrement à remercier Samina Sami, directrice principale de la sécurité communautaire, pour son leadership au Centre des opérations d’urgence (EOC) ainsi que plusieurs autres membres du personnel de l’Université, qui ont consacré leur temps et leurs efforts pour appuyer la planification de la réponse à la COVID-19 depuis janvier 2020, en tant que membres de l’équipe de gestion des situations d’urgence et du EOC. Bon nombre de ces membres du personnel continueront à apporter leur soutien au travail du groupe de planification et de réponse à la COVID tout en retrouvant une certaine disponibilité pour leurs rôles habituels. Le succès de l’Université dans la gestion de la pandémie résulte en grande partie du dévouement, de l’engagement personnel et du travail d’équipe exceptionnel dont les membres du personnel professionnel et administratif et nos travailleurs sur le terrain ont fait preuve.

Nous continuons à surveiller activement la réponse de la santé publique à la pandémie de la COVID-19 afin d’orienter la planification des trimestres d’été et d’automne 2021. Au fur et à mesure des annonces sur la disponibilité des vaccins, l’équipe informera régulièrement la communauté. Pour connaître les derniers développements et l’approche de l’université en matière de soutien à notre communauté, veuillez consulter le site YU Better Together.

Nous sommes heureux de ces changements qui permettront une planification opérationnelle harmonieuse à l’Université York cette année et nous remercions les membres du corps étudiant, du corps professoral et du personnel pour leur patience. Grâce aux nombreuses ressources mises en place pour appuyer l’apprentissage à distance, nous sommes convaincus de pouvoir assurer le succès du trimestre en cours et de celui à venir.

Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,

Rhonda L. Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière 

York University launches new international Indigenous Student Exchange Program with virtual pilot

Artwork by Métis (Otipemisiwak) artist Christi Belcourt

Pandemic restrictions haven’t dampened the spirits of the team behind York University’s new Indigenous Student Exchange Program; they have simply decided to begin the program virtually.

“Student exchanges enrich the lives of York students by deepening their experience and understanding of the wider world and offer a comparative perspective on the issues facing people here and elsewhere,” said Vinitha Gengatharan, executive director of York International, whose team is organizing the program along with the Centre for Aboriginal Student Services (CASS), the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, Schulich School of Business, the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) – including the vision and ongoing support of Professor Lily Cho.

“We wanted to ensure that our Indigenous students had exchange opportunities that were co-created and offered connections to the global Indigenous community,” said Gengatharan.

The exchange program, which launches this month, is funded by the federal government-sponsored Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program. Ten Indigenous students at York University will join Indigenous students from partner universities worldwide to participate in a series of facilitated online workshops on the following themes:

  • What does Global Indigeneity mean? Ethics, Definitions, and UNDRIP
  • Knowledge Keeping and Sharing: Similarities and Convergences
  • Spirituality, World Views, and Environments
  • Disrupting Colonial Spaces and Re-Indigenizations: Political Movements
  • Language, Communication, and Cultural Expressions
  • Land, Cultures, and Identities: Diversity Around the World
  • Food Sovereignty
  • Navigating Identity in a Globalized World

Each York student will be paired with an Indigenous student(s) from another institution to complete a project – an essay, podcast, video, poster or other creative efforts — based on any aspect of the workshop themes. There are students participating from six York partner universities: Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia), Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico), Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador), University of Costa Rica (Costa Rica), University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) and University of the Philippines (Philippines). Faculty members from Ecuador, Mexico and the Philippines will also serve as guest facilitators.

“In an unprecedented way at York, this program will create a knowledge exchange platform that allows each student to share their unique knowledge based on the Indigenous nation which they come from, while also drawing attention to the fact that there exists a multiplicity of Indigenous perspectives and experiences,” says Breanna Berry, the Indigenous recruitment officer who is the CASS representative to the organizing team.

Professor Carolyn Podruchny, the course director and a historian who runs a summer institute for students in conjunction with the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, adds, “We will be exploring international Indigeneity as experiential education by enabling students to share their dramatically different lived experiences. It’s very exciting.”

She is hoping to begin each session with a prayer from an Elder to ensure that the sessions are grounded in spirituality and ceremony. The program organizers have also arranged to have counselling available for the participants if the discussions bring feelings of trauma to the surface.

Participation in the eight-week program is voluntary and students will earn a certificate of completion. However, York University students are also offered the option of course credits. They can register for the program as a course, “Experiential Education in Global Indigenous Histories,” and will participate for 11 weeks, rather than eight, requiring additional reading and an added essay.

“An objective of the program is to create a space that highlights the brilliance and ingenuity of global Indigenous educators, community members, activists and students,” said Berry.

It is also an opportunity showcase globally networked learning in another context.

“York professors have already demonstrated that virtual learning is a viable way to connect students from different countries and cultures, so we are confident that the students participating in this Indigenous Exchange pilot program will have a rich, rewarding experience,” said Helen Balderama, York International’s associate director of international programs and partnerships and one of the program’s organizers.

Podruchny is enthusiastic and sees real growth potential in the program.

“It’s a very neat model and the fact that it’s being delivered online will allow us to also bring in speakers from remote reserves in Canada,” she said. “It’s a way to learn about international Indigeneity in a very accessible way.”

By Elaine Smith, special contributing writer, York International

Bootcamp, venture competition ignites student entrepreneurs in Canada, India

laptop webinar computer virtual

York University’s Schulich School of Business and Lassonde School of Engineering partnered with Startup India to kick off TOGETHER 2021, a seven-day virtual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Venture Competition in early January.

Backed by global organizations, leading entrepreneurs and top venture capitalists, 250 student entrepreneurs from Canada and India formed teams and were challenged to come up with potential solutions in line with this year’s values of self-reliability, sustainability and social purpose.

laptop webinar computer virtual
Student entrepreneurs from Canada and India participated in the week-long TOGETHER 2021 virtual bootcamp

Throughout the week, the 50 teams had the opportunity to consult with various mentors from Canada and India to refine their ideas before the judging round. Through three judging rounds, leading venture capitalists and investors chose the top three venture ideas.

“Congratulations to all of the students who have shown the courage and creativity to build something new and amazing and to bring their startup to life,” said Chris Carder, executive director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Schulich. “In a year where we were faced with many challenges and hardships around the world, this global project is testament to how we can still work closely together as we continue into 2021.”

Congratulations went to iBeta (first place), Wricks (second place) and GenFlow AI (third place) for winning the inaugural competition. The winning teams were rewarded with powerful startup tools, global networks and monetary support to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

“You should be proud of the work you did, the teamwork you learned and the experience of being in this competition,” Toronto Mayor John Tory told the students at the Championship Finals. “Pandemic or not, we can’t lose sight of encouraging entrepreneurs and having competitions like this. The City of Toronto appreciates the spirit of TOGETHER 2021 and the incredible work the Schulich School of Business at York University and Startup India put into creating this so quickly.”

The event was held in partnership with the City of Toronto and supported by ICICI Bank Canada, Leverage Edu, Apollo Hospitals, the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce, Toronto Global, TiE Toronto, INDOCHINO, YSpace, Tangentia Ventures, Anand & Anand, Auro Pharmaceuticals and York University.

New paper illustrates benefits of exercise as ‘mitrochondrial medicine’ with age, disease

senior exercise ball
A senior man doing seated ab twists while holding a ball

Everyone knows that the mitochondrion is the “powerhouse of the cell,” a moniker used to signify the energy-providing function of these organelles, says David Hood, professor in York University’s Faculty of Health. However, more and more, scientists have been turning their focus on mitochondria for their prominent role in regulating not only cellular energy but also overall health, as well as the progression of diseases such as cancer, obesity, metabolic diseases, and even contribute to aging.

Jonathan Memme
Jonathan Memme

In a recently published a paper in Frontiers in Physiology, Hood and PhD student Jonathan Memme summarize the importance of skeletal muscle mitochondria in the promotion of whole-body health, and describe the contribution of mitochondrial quality control machinery in maintaining a high-functioning organelle network.

According to Hood, over the last decade or so, research in the area of mitochondrial function and their contribution to health has outpaced that of other cellular organelles, indicating their importance in uncovering the keys to health and vitality.

“These scientific pursuits show that mitochondrial function is regulated through a coordinated effort of multiple processes that increase organelle content, while also reducing any mitochondrial deficiencies,” said Hood. “As such, the paper describes the efforts of our lab (David Hood’s Laboratory at York University) and others in continually unravelling the key regulators involved in this sophisticated coordination.”

To summarize, the paper illustrates the breadth and benefits of exercise to serve as “mitochondrial medicine” with age and disease.

The paper also highlights the ways in which dysregulation of mitochondrial quality control contributes to the progression of various diseases such as cancer and mitochondrial disorders, as well as with aging.

“We discuss the effectiveness of regular exercise as our best therapeutic intervention to reverse many of the mitochondrial derangements that develop with age, and in diseases, leading to an improved quality of life,” said Hood.

While much more work is required to completely understand the molecular regulation of mitochondria, this review provides an up-to-date summary of skeletal muscle mitochondrial quality control in the context of health and disease, and describes the merits of exercise as “mitochondrial medicine for muscle.”

“Exercise remains our single most effective intervention strategy in promoting and preserving health throughout life into old age, as well as in the context of various diseases such as cancer,” said Hood.

Welcome to the January 2021 issue of ‘Brainstorm’

Brainstorm graphic

‘Brainstorm,’ a special edition of YFile publishing on the first Friday of every month, showcases research and innovation at York University. It offers compelling and accessible feature-length stories about the world-leading and policy-relevant work of York’s academics and researchers across all disciplines and Faculties and encompasses both pure and applied research.

In the January 2021 issue

The post-Trump world: A new dawn takes shape
On the eve of vaccination, three York University thought leaders consider the effects of the Trump-plus-COVID double whammy, the erosion of trust and the mending of international relations. In discussion with ‘Brainstorm’ guest contributor Paul Fraumeni, these change makers offer their expertise on how 2021 needs to unfold. 

Paper on post-pandemic gender inequity offers evidence-based manual for change – Bonus video
Researchers have raised alarm bells on inequity during the pandemic, suggesting that women are shouldering a heavier burden and this inequity may continue post-pandemic. One law professor adds vital evidence to this claim and, most importantly, offers policy-applicable suggestions for improvement.

Researchers underscore predicting chemoresistance would better tailor cancer treatment
A trailblazing chemist digs deep on resistance to chemotherapy. What he and his team discover may prevent needless chemo treatments, open different treatment pathways and have application to other cancer biomarkers – a gamechanger for oncology, the healthcare system and, most of all, patients.

Drinking to cope: A penetrating look at alcohol problems during the pandemic
Two psychology profs investigate coping mechanisms during the pandemic, and discover that people are consuming more alcohol, particularly if they’ve lost income; they’re drinking alone and feeling isolated; and those with children are using alcohol to cope with stress. Knowing this could help healthcare practitioners create better, more tailored and evidence-based interventions.

Librarian/sound artist captures the unnerving silences of COVID-19
York University librarian William Denton has a double life. He’s also a sound artist who has been busy capturing the noises (or lack thereof) during the pandemic, providing a unique and valuable contribution to our understanding of this unparalleled situation.

Enhanced public education on flood risk could strengthen disaster resilience
A professor in the Disaster & Emergency Management Program who studies flood risk management, identifies a gap between public beliefs and data-informed reality. She proposes a community-based solution to bolster disaster resilience – a timely example of how research can create positive change for communities and the world.

Launched in January 2017, ‘Brainstorm’ is produced out of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs; overseen by Megan Mueller, senior manager, research communications; and edited by Jenny Pitt-Clark, YFile editor and Ashley Goodfellow Craig, YFile deputy editor.