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York alumni win big at Canadian Screen Awards

Theatre

During Canadian Screen Week (April 11 to 16), The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television handed out more than two dozens Canadian Screen Awards to York alumni – from the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies – recognizing their achievements in film, television and the digital sector.

Victoria Lean (Credit: George Pimentel Photography)
Victoria Lean (Credit: George Pimentel Photography)

Throughout the week, the Canadian Screen Awards recognized a range of categories, including sports programming, news, documentaries, children’s programming, animation, reality, lifestyle and more. The week culminated in a final ceremony, honouring work in the comedic and dramatic arts.

Going into Canadian Screen Week, more than 45 alumni were nominated across more than 30 different categories. Among the nominees, several York alumni earned multiple awards, including Victoria Lean, who won the Barbara Sears Awards for Best Editorial Research, Best Direction Factual and Best Factual Series for the documentary series We’re All Going to Die (Even Jay Baruchel) which explores the global crises that threaten the Earth’s sustainability, and the solutions that can right the future. Alum Gordon Henderson was also among the Best Factual Series recipients for the series.

Marsha Green
Marsha Green (Credit: George Pimentel Photography)

Marsha Green was another multi-winner, earning an award for Best Writing, Drama Series and Best Drama series for The Porter, a series based on the true story of the creation of the first Black-led labour union after the First World War. Alumna Annmarie Morais was also among The Porter‘s Best Drama recipients.

Tracy Galvin earned two awards for separate projects: Best Live Entertainment Special for The Junos 2022 and Best Performing Arts Program for Buffy Sainte-Marie: Starwalker.

The documentary series BLK: An Origin Story, which looks at the untold stories of Black Canadians, earned several awards for York alumni, including Avril Jacobson for Best Picture Editing, Documentary and Jennifer Holness for Best Direction, Documentary Series.

Here is a full list of York alumni winners:

Best Talk Program or Series – 1 Queen 5 Queers
Awardee: Aisha Fairclough

Best Sports Host – 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games
Awardee: Andi Petrillo

Best Sound, Documentary or Factual – Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
Awardee: Elma Bello

Best Performing Arts Program – Buffy Sainte-Marie: Starwalker
Awardee: Tracy Galvin

Best Writing Web, Program or Series – Chateau Laurier: An Unfortunate Turn of Events
Awardee: Emily Weedon

Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series – Comedy Punks: Kids in the Hall
Awardee: Laura Michalchyshy

Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series – Detention Adventure
Awardee: Lauren Corber

Best Live Production, Social Media – ET Canada Live
Awardee: Jodie Davis

Best Web Program or Series Non-Fiction – ET Canada Pride
Awardee: Jodie Davis

Best Original Music, Animation – Let’s Go Luna! Dig it Daddy-O
Awardee: Ari Posner

Best Web Program or Series, Fiction – Revenge of the Black Best Friend
Awardee: Amanda Parris

Best Documentary Program – Sex with Sue
Awardee: Lisa Rideout

Best Documentary Program – Sex with Sue
Awardee: Sam Dunn

Best Guest Performance, Comedy – Sort Of: Sort of Amsterdam/Sort of I Love You
Awardee: Amanda Brugel

Best Original Music, Comedy – Sort Of: Sort of Who She Is
Awardee: Vivek Shraya

Best Writing, Factual – Still Standing: Oxford
Awardee: Graham Chittenden

Best TV Movie – Swindler Seduction
Awardee: Jonas Prupas

Best Writing, Variety or Sketch Comedy – TallBoyz: Don’t wear in front of the song
Awardee: Franco Nguyen

Best Reality/Competition Program or Series – The Amazing Race Canada
Awardee: Michael Tersigni

Best Picture Editing, Reality/Competition – The Amazing Race Canada: Where is Gurmail
Awardee: Michael Tersigni

Best Writing, Children’s or Youth – The Hardy Boys: Captured!
Awardee: Ramona Barckert

Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble) – This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Awardee: Stacey McGunnigle

Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary – To Kill a Tiger
Awardee: Cornelia Principe

York alumn Mark Miller talks legacy brands

Microphone

York alum Mark Miller (BBA ’95), best-selling author and chief strategy officer at the Los Angeles-based advertising agency Team One, joins Zeynep Güler Tuck, host of Mid-Career Conversations, via Zoom to discuss why more legacy brands are flickering out faster than ever on April 13 at noon.

Mid-Career Conversation, organized and hosted by the Division of Advancement, is a live webinar series designed with the intent of connecting York University alumni to each other for the sake of networking, sharing experiences and learning together.

Mark Miller portrait
Mark Miller

Each Mid-Career Conversation event features an alumni in the middle of their career who describes their professional and academic journeys since having graduated from York and highlights noteworthy moments in their careers.

Aside from his authorial accomplishments, Miller is also a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences on cutting-edge innovation. With his broad influence and keen leadership sensibility, Miller has garnered many of North America’s most prestigious marketing and advertising awards, such as the ARF David Ogilvy Awards for research excellence, the Jay Chiat Awards for strategic excellence, and the Effie Awards for marketing effectiveness. Miller’s book, Legacy in the Making: Building a Long-Term Brand to Stand Out in a Short-Term World, is a Berry-AMA Book Prize winner for significant contributions to the field of marketing. For his upcoming Mid-Career Conversation visit, Miller will consider why the average lifespan of a company on the S&P 500 has shrunk from 67 to 15 years and share how he built his own successful personal brand.

Zeynep Güler Tuck close-up portrait
Zeynep Güler Tuck

Alumna Güler Tuck (BA ’02), a storyteller with 20 years of dedicated experience in public relations, telecommunications and travel sectors, leads the discussions. She has produced and written for an array of broadcast programs, authored editorial columns and contributed to web series for Microsoft News, Business Insider, Time Out, Lonely Planet, Corus Entertainment and Elevate, a non-profit in the innovation space. Her work is primarily concerned with building more reliable pathways for women in STEM fields and increasing and diversifying the representation of women and girls in contemporary media.

Click here to attend and register for this free event.

Donation from Mark and Gail Appel supports programs that counter antisemitism, racism

Kalman Weiser, Mark Appel, Gail Appel and David Koffman

York University has announced a new donation of $750,000 from long-time benefactors Mark and Gail Appel to support programs that foster deeper understandings of Jewish history and life, combat antisemitism and deter other forms of racism.

Their gift will support important collaborations between the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies (CJS) and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), and contribute to the advancement of decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion (DEDI) at the University.

The funding supports two key programs. The first is the biennial Summer Institute on Teaching About Antisemitism – led by Kalman Weiser, associate professor of history and humanities, in conjunction with colleagues at the University of Toronto and Tel Aviv University. The program brings graduate students and faculty members from around the world to York to discuss pedagogies in teaching about antisemitism.

The second program is the Mark and Gail Appel Program in Holocaust and Antiracism Education, a study-abroad, experiential education and cultural exchange course to be held in Germany, Poland and Canada, taught by Sara Horowitz, professor in the Departments of Humanities and Languages, Literatures & Linguistics. The Mark and Gail Appel Program is a re-launched version of the Teach For The Future program which the couple funded several years ago at the University.

“York has a very diverse student population and some of our students come from places where oppression and discrimination are very real and dangerous forces. Those students understand that the Holocaust is something important to learn about more deeply. Students who have participated in this program in the past have told us, ‘This program was life changing,’” said Horowitz.

Group photo featuring (from left to right): David Koffman, Maggie Quirt, Allan Weinbaum, Mark Appel, Gail Appel, Kalman Weiser and Sara Horowitz
From left to right: David Koffman, Maggie Quirt, Allan Weinbaum, Mark Appel, Gail Appel, Kalman Weiser and Sara Horowitz

The positive impact of this new funding will be seen in new approaches and methods to be developed and refined on the teaching of antisemitism, and in the transformed perspectives of students who participate in the study-abroad course.

David Koffman, associate professor of history and acting director at CJS, said “Programs like these demonstrate that leaders like Mark and Gail… understand what our centre stands for: excellence in scholarship, inspired teaching, and the true importance of scholarly effort and insight out there in the world, helping shape minds and hearts, institutions, and policies for the common good. Gifts like these help make York the thoughtful and welcoming place for all it can be.”

The Appels recently met with representatives from CJS and the LA&PS dean’s office to celebrate this important donation. At that meeting, a video by York alumna Anna Veprinska – now an assistant professor of literature at Cape Breton University – who participated in the earlier iteration of the Mark and Gail Appel Program in Holocaust and Antiracism Education, was presented. “This program changed the trajectory of my life,” Veprinska said.

“The program teaches about antiracism, with antisemitism as an avatar of racist ways of thinking,” Mark explained. “Our societies seem to be in a re-run. Attitudes we had hoped were behind us in the 1960s and 1970s are showing up again. There have been recent setbacks. Too many people are trapped by uninformed opinions. Gail and I looked at each other, thought of our previous involvement with York, and said, ‘We need to do something again.’”

“People can acquire racist attitudes in childhood or as they grow older,” added Gail. “We’ve seen the transforming power of these programs in the past. We have seen people learn to set those attitudes aside.”

Mark and Gail Appel with Maggie Quirt, Associate Dean Programs, LA&PS and David Koffman, Director, Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies
Mark and Gail Appel with Maggie Quirt, associate dean, programs, LA&PS and David Koffman, director, CJS

“We are so grateful to Gail and Mark for this delightful contribution,” said J.J. McMurtry, LA&PS dean. “Now, another generation of diverse students can participate in this impactful study-abroad course in Poland and Germany with Professor Horowitz, and Professor Weiser’s work with the pedagogy of teaching about antisemitism can grow and expand. We could not be more grateful. The Appels are true partners.”

Harry Jerome Leadership Award goes to York alum Rosemarie Powell

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York University alum Rosemarie Powell (MES ’15) will be honoured at the 2023 Harry Jerome Awards for her long-serving work in advancing social, economic and environmental justice.

Rosemarie Powell
Rosemarie Powell

The Harry Jerome Awards recognize excellence in the African Canadian community. Powell will be presented with the Leadership Award on April 29 during the 41st Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Annual Harry Jerome Awards Gala.

Powell is executive director of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, a non-profit community-labour coalition where she advocates for disadvantaged communities and equity-seeking groups in the City of Toronto. In this role, she has grown the community benefits movement and strengthened the coalition to create good jobs and opportunities through government investment in infrastructure and urban development for Black, Indigenous and racialized peoples with a focus on those who are youth, women and newcomers.

With more than 20 years of service to grassroots communities and organizations, Powell has led numerous community-based programs and services that support marginalized and under-represented groups and their access to the labour market. Throughout her career, she has advanced equitable approaches to policy development and implementation at various levels of government as it relates to land use planning, infrastructure investment and urban development.

She is the recipient of several awards for her leadership and imagination in community engagement and environmental advocacy, and has previously held roles at the Jamaican Canadian Association, the Jane-Finch Community and Family Centre, and Skills for Change.

Established in the memory of Harry Jerome, an outstanding African Canadian Olympic athlete, scholar and social advocate, the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards celebrates African Canadian achievement that pays tribute to outstanding and inspirational African Canadians who are role models of excellence.

The Harry Jerome Awards focus on a number of different categories, including athletics, leadership, young entrepreneurs, business, professional excellence, leadership, arts/media entertainment, health sciences. These awards are done through a nomination process by individuals and organizations across the country.

The Board of Directors additionally selects the president’s, lifetime achievement and diversity awards.

E-cargo cycle rides offer closer look at sustainability at Congress 2023

Trishaw at Downsview Park

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.

A trishaw at Orchard Pavilion
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
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

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
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.”

Launched in 2021, York’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program seeks to highlight the success and diversity of the University’s alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders.

To view the full list of the 2023 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, and learn more about the recipients, visit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 web page.

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
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.

Pour consulter la liste complète et en savoir plus sur eux, visitez la page Web du Top 30 des diplômés de moins de 30 ans.

Passings: Michelle Hughes

A field of flowers at sunset

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 portrait
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.

York alumnae earn recognition for leadership, innovation

Award stock image banner from pexels

Five York alumnae have been recognized for their leadership in driving impact, innovation and inspiration through their work and accomplishments in the Canadian tech industry and in the advancement of women as role models.

Included in the 2023 Top 25 Women of Influence, a list curated by the women advocacy and support organization Women of Influence+, are alumnae Kristin Beardsley (’00 BA) and Paulette Senior (’90 BA).

“York alumni are leaders in a wide array of fields, and are making a significant impact in Canada every single day,” says Susana Gajic-Bruyea, vice-president advancement. “We are very proud to count these remarkable women amongst our graduates, and applaud their dedication to creating positive change in their communities and across the country.”

The top 25 list “recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of self-identified women and gender-diverse role models” and acknowledges the work of women across diverse sectors and career stages.

Beardsley is the CEO of Food Banks Canada, and under her leadership more than 4,700 food banks and community agencies operate nationwide.

Senior is president and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, where she works to build gender justice for women, girls and gender-diverse people. Senior recently delivered the prestigious Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture at York.

DMZ’s 2023 Women of the Year, recognizing female trailblazers driving innovation in the Canadian tech industry, included three York alumnae: Hanna Zaidi (’12 BA), Kashmera Self (’99 BA); and Suzanne Knight (’11 MBA).

Zaidi is the chief compliance officer for payments at Wealthsimple, and under her leadership the company was one of the first securities dealers to get a membership to Payments Canada which allows access to infrastructure and tools for innovating financial services.

Self empowers Canadians with control of their finances and data in her role as vice-president, strategy and emerging solutions for Interac Corp. She continues to work to incorporate sustainability into the financial world and leverage Interac platforms to incentivise Ontarians with respect to climate change.

Knight is vice-president, transformation services at Walmart Canada, and in that role, drives innovative ways of thinking and working with respect to technology adoption and automation and improving the customer and employee experience.

Help build a better future – become a sustainable living ambassador

Globe and York branded box for the Microlecture Series launch

York University’s new Microlecture Series in Sustainable Living empowers individuals to take action in righting the future for a more sustainable world. Aligned with the University Academic Plan Building a Better Future, York upholds sustainability – environmental, social, and fiscal – as a vital compass for decisions and initiatives. 

Launching during SDG Week Canada, this first-of-its-kind series offers faculty, staff, students and members of the public the opportunity to learn about sustainability from six of York’s world-renowned experts. Recognized as a sustainability leader in post-secondary education, York designed the innovative series as a free, open access program featuring “microlectures” that focus on a diverse range of topics related to sustainability.

Those who complete the series, correctly answer test questions and commit to put their learnings into practice will earn a digital badge and become an “ambassador in sustainable living.” As an ambassador, individuals can inspire others to do the same, amplifying the impact.

It’s a small commitment that aims to drive big change.

“Creating an equitable and resilient future requires all of us to become involved and make our planet’s sustainability an immediate priority,” says York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “Participating in the Microlecture Series in Sustainable Living and earning the sustainable living ambassador badge demonstrates a commitment to building a cleaner, more prosperous and just future, and will inspire others to make small changes that can have a big impact.”

Participants can:

  • learn how microplastics journey through and impact our ecosystems (Shooka Karimpour, assistant professor, Lassonde School of Engineering);
  • unravel the relationship between energy and economic growth (Lina Brand-Correa, assistant professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change);
  • explore why the most vulnerable amongst us often face the highest flooding risks (Usman Khan, associate professor, Lassonde School of Engineering);
  • discover the difference between a hazard and a disaster in context of emergency management (Eric Kennedy, associate professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies);
  • consider how colonialism has impacted the way disasters impact Indigenous communities (Yvonne Su, assistant professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies); and
  • dive into the reasons our lakes are rapidly warming (Sapna Sharma, associate professor, Faculty of Science).

The Microlecture Series is a way that anyone, anywhere in the world can learn from York’s academic leadership and research expertise.

Each one of us has an important role in creating a more sustainable world. York community members are encouraged to watch the Microlecture Series and become an ambassador in sustainable living. Join York University in creating positive change.

Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture to focus on building gender justice 

International Women's Day

A York University alumna who has devoted her life and career to breaking down systemic barriers will be the keynote speaker at the 2023 Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture. 

Paulette Senior will deliver her talk “Leading in the Tension: Conundrums of (In)visibility for Black Women Leaders” on March 16 in both an in-person and virtual format. York’s Keele Campus will host the event at the Convention Centre, second floor of the Second Student Centre. 

Paulette Senior
Paulette Senior

Senior is president and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, where she works to build gender justice for women, girls and gender-diverse people. Inspired by her own childhood experience, Senior has followed her passions for social justice and set upon a path to growing belonging for marginalized people. 

She will draw on her own experiences leading Canada’s national public foundation for gender equity and share her insights on navigating a white-centric world where Black women’s leadership is undervalued. Negotiating the tension of high visibility in her role while being underseen in the world, Senior’s talk will explore the tension of grappling for space as leader and understanding her own learning and growth while working as a prominent voice for intersectional feminist social change. 

“Our steadfast commitment to addressing systemic barriers calls for efforts to prioritize equity, diversity and inclusion,” said J.J. McMurtry, dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). “This is not only reflected in new awards and opportunities that we create for Black students, but it also requires us to understand the disproportionate impact the system has had on Black women. I am thrilled to welcome Paulette Senior back to York to share her journey as a Black woman leader and offer a vision for the future.” 

Senior, who graduated from York University with a double honours BA in psychology and urban studies, has dedicated her career to advocate for social justice and systemic change. She has been a leader and manager with several organizations and programs, including YWCA Toronto, Lawrence Heights Community Health Centre, Macaulay Child Development Centre and more. 

Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her work with several awards, such as the African Canadian Achievement Award, the AfroGlobal Leadership Award, the Black Women Civic Engagement Award, and the Black Business and Professional Association’s Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award. 

“The Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture is one of our signature events in the Faculty. Based on a generous gift from the Lundy Family, in memory of their daughter, Kitty, the lecture embodies her commitment to social justice. Over the past eight years, our lecturers have included scholars, artists and poets, each exploring the theme of social justice in different ways,” said Ravi de Costa, associate dean, research and graduate studies, LA&PS. “This year we are delighted to welcome a distinguished national leader, Paulette Senior who is a York University alumna and president and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation.” 

The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m., with a pre-event reception from 7 to 7:30 p.m. To register to attend in-person or online, visit the event website. 

About the Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture
The annual Kitty Lundy Memorial Lecture honours the late Kitty Lundy, an educator of sociology who was associated with York University’s former Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies from 1986 to 1989. Lundy was known for her commitment to students, her deep connection to social justice issues and passion for teaching. 

To honour her memory, the Lundy family established the Kitty Lundy Memorial Fund, which supports the annual lecture. Each year, the memorial lecture features an individual whose scholarship and creativity address principles to which Kitty Lundy exhibited commitment: engaged learning, equity, and the dissemination and exchange of ideas and knowledge with communities residing within and outside of York University.