York alumna eyes Scarborough ward

York alumna Paulette Senior will officially launch her bid to wrest the Ward 42 seat away from incumbent city councillor Raymond Cho (Scarborough-Rouge River) in the upcoming municipal elections, reported the Scarborough Mirror July 23. This is Senior’s third run at public office. The 25-year Malvern resident previously ran for the NDP provincially in 1999 and federally in 2000. A graduate of York University’s psychology and urban studies programs, Senior currently works as a manager for the YMCA’s employment services division in east Scarborough.


Former York athlete wins national sports award


York alumna Tricia Orzeck is one of five winners, chosen from 400 across the country, of the prestigious Stacey Levitt Memorial Women and Sport Scholarship announced by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), reported the Brampton Guardian July 23. Orzeck, 27, a gold medalist figure skater and a competitive triathlete, completed an honours BSc in kinesiology and psychology on academic scholarship at York University and is now finishing her master’s degree in psychology in Chicago.



Cornwall-area county planner a York grad


Michael Otis, who holds a master’s degree from York University in environmental studies, with a concentration in urban and regional planning, has been hired as county planner for the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, reported the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder July 24.


On air



  • Political science Professor David Dewitt, of the York Centre for International & Security Studies, discussed Canada’s outrage and withdrawal of its ambassador after Iran buried without consent a Canadian journalist who died of head injuries received in an Iranian jail, on “680 News” (CFTR-AM), Toronto, July 23.
  • Social work student Lisa Hoffman, a registered dietician and group therapist for the University Health Network, spoke at a forum on healing eating disorders, on Rogers Television’s “Podium”, Toronto, July 23.