York community expands learnings on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
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Members of the York University community gathered to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30), and attended events held at the Keele and Glendon campuses that encouraged reflection, learnings and unlearnings on the legacy of residential schools and the lasting impacts on Indigenous community members.
This year’s theme, “Engaging in a Reconciliation Journey: Learning Through Various Forms of Media,” was supported by a variety of events, including the screening of Indigenous films (which are still available to view online), guest speakers and Orange Shirt Day.
Many community members attended a hybrid speaker reflection event, where participants were offered a tobacco tie upon entering and were invited to offer it to the ceremonial fire afterwards at Skennen’kó:wa Gamig.
To learn more, including how to access resources, films, stories, Zoom backgrounds and event information, visit York’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation website. To see photos from the events, view the gallery below.
Fall Convocation brings positive change for York graduands
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By Ashley Goodfellow Craig, editor, YFile
A new cohort of York University graduands will cross the stage to earn their diplomas during one of seven ceremonies, running Oct. 11 to 20 at Sobeys Stadium on the Keele Campus.
The Fall Convocation events will incorporate changes to align with the University’s values, including updates to policy on regalia, the music performed during the ceremonies, a spotlight on alumni and more.
In August 2022, a working group led by York University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton was formed to explore updates to convocation. These changes aim to enhance the integration of decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion principles, show respect for Indigenous knowledge and traditions, create a student-centred celebration, as well as align with the University’s commitment to sustainability and create a student-centred celebration.
Changes implemented during Spring Convocation will continue, with students, faculty and guests who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit welcome to wear traditional ceremonial dress of their culture. While wearing ceremonial dress has always been welcome, York has incorporated this into their communications to replace outdated messaging that states only academic regalia may be worn.
Other changes to look for include student performers, who will perform during the academic procession as well as before and after the ceremony. At the ceremony’s conclusion, graduates will recess to a song they chose by popular vote. As well, the national anthem will be played after a land acknowledgment and, where relevant, following an Honour Song.
To shine a light on previous graduates, an alumni speaker will take the stage during each ceremony to deliver a welcome message to graduands and their guests.
For a complete list of ceremonies during the Fall 2023 Convocation, visit the Ceremonies web page. For all other information, visit the Convocation website.
Look for a story in an upcoming issue of YFile announcing the honorary degree recipients.
Students can explore career paths, meet alum at Connections events
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A series designed to bring York University students and alum together for career conversations returns this fall for the sixth consecutive year, with the first event scheduled for Sept. 27.
Students and alumni at a previous Connections event
Launched by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies development team, the Connections: Speed Mentoring and Networking series presents five events that put students and alum together for a fast-paced evening of conversation. The events present an opportunity for students to ask questions, make connections and learn more about potential career paths.
“As a student struggling to choose a career path, it provided me with a lot of insight,” said previous attendee, third-year student Kigi Abaiowei. “It also relieved some of the pressure that comes with the uncertainty of not knowing exactly what to do after university.”
Guest alumni mentors attending include vice-presidents, chief financial officers, and entrepreneurs who each bring breadth of experience and knowledge from their various fields.
For this academic year, upper year and graduate students can register for the following events:
Careers in Economics Accounting and Finance, Sept. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. – register here;
Faculty, students and alumni from York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) will champion creativity and positive change at Nuit Blanche Toronto this Saturday, Sept. 23 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Exploring this year’s Nuit Blanche theme, “Breaking ground,” work by AMPD community members will consider ideas centred around the natural world, change and innovation through installations, exhibitions and performances from a wide range of artistic disciplines – including cinema and media arts, digital media, theatre and visual art.
The members of AMPD with work at Nuit Blanche are:
Patricio Dávila and Hector Centeno Garcia As part of the Public Visualization Lab/Studio,Dávila (associate professor, cinema and media arts) and Garcia (assistant professor, cinema and media arts) will present an installation in the neighbourhood of Fort York. The installation, entitled “Atmospheres” will be part of The Bentway‘s exhibition of public artwork that explores the urban natural world framed by the Gardiner’s iconic concrete columns.
Elham Fatapour Fatapour (MFA ’21) will produce a video installation in the neighbourhood of Etobicoke. The performance video art, entitled Solitary Stitches, explores an artist’s solitary relationship with the land, using the seemingly domestic art of sewing.
Marcus Gordon Gordon, a PhD candidate in digital media, will mount an interactive instillition in downtown Toronto called Urban Arboretum. The installation uses the voices and sounds of participants to grow computer-generated plants.
Grace Grothaus Grothaus, a PhD student in digital media, will create a light installation in the neighbourhood of Don Mills, titled Sun Eaters, to show people how trees flow with hidden energy.
Andria Keen Keen, an MFA student in visual arts, is presenting an installation titled Reflective Foresight for a Dystopian Utopia for Nuit Blanche Danforth. Keen’s installation speculates what life might be like in 200 years considering factors like population growth, climate change and the evolution of technology.
Five of the AMPD faculty participating in Nuit Blanche this year: (from left to right) Patricio Dávila, Hector Centeno Garcia, Joel Ong, Marissa Largo and Archer Pechawis
Marissa Largo An assistant professor in the Department of Visual Art & Art History, Largo has curated the works of Ephraim Velasco (BFA student, visual arts – studio) at A Space Gallery @ 401 Richmond. A series of digital collages titled The Kakaiba Collection playfully explores Velasco’s diasporic identity through Philippine visual vocabularies and pop culture.
Joel Ong Ong, an associate professor in computational arts and the Helen Carswell Chair in Community Engaged Research in the Arts, is hosting an exhibition in Etobicoke titled In Silence. Created with community advocates in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, the meditative exhibit visualizes the voices and lived experiences of marginalized communities.
Archer Pechawis An assistant professor in the Department of Visual Art & Art History and the Department of Theatre and Performance, Pechawis will perform a piece titled Daylight, in downtown Toronto. The musical performance examines the phenomenon of Toronto’s buried rivers and streams.
AMPD invites community members who want to be celebrated as part of Nuit Blanche Toronto to reach out to through the Faculty’s social media channel on X, formerly known as Twitter: @YorkUAMPD.
Nominate inspiring alumni for Top 30 under 30
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At home and abroad, York University’s young alumni are making positive and impactful change. From business leaders championing equity, diversity and inclusion to social impact researchers and environmental activists, York alumni working across all sectors are making meaningful differences in their communities.
York University’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program recognizes inspiring and diverse alumni under the age of 30 who are driven to make a difference locally and globally. With past recipients pursuing careers in science and technology, anti-Black racism in Canada and disability rights, York U recognizes and engages these changemakers to shed light on their inspiring work.
To nominate a York grad, share how the candidate demonstrates a commitment to creating positive change for York University, the wider community and beyond.
Eligibility criteria: Nominees must be York University graduates who are 29 years of age or younger by Dec. 31 (born in 1994 or more recently). A graduate is defined as someone who has received an academic degree from York University. Students are not eligible for this award until they receive their degree.
All nominations for the 2024 Top 30 Alumni Under 30 must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16.
For more information about how to submit a nomination, visit Top 30 Alumni Under 30 or contact Nicole Light, senior alumni engagement officer, at nlight@yorku.ca or 647-527-2550.
Supreme Court justice welcomes first-year students to Osgoode
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Andromache Karakatsanis (LLB ’80), Osgoode Hall Law School alumna and Canada’s longest-serving Supreme Court justice, welcomed Osgoode’s Class of 2026 with an encouraging speech and some words of wisdom.
Andromache Karakatsanis. Photo by Jessica Deeks Photography, Supreme Court of Canada Collection
Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011, Justice Karakatsanis looked back fondly on her legal education at Osgoode, and especially her experience at Parkdale Community Legal Services, which she called “transformative.”
“That was one of the reasons that I came to Osgoode,” she told the students. “I grew up in an immigrant household, in a warm, supportive environment. At Parkdale, I encountered people who had not had that, and it really opened my eyes. It brought home for me that the law is about helping people.”
Karakatsanis, who grew up in Toronto working in her parents’ Greek restaurant, told the students that they will quickly learn in the legal profession that their reputation is everything. And that, while advocacy is important, it should not cloud their ethical standards, analytical skills or good judgment.
“How you live your life is as important as what you do in your life,” said Karakatsanis. “So how you can enrich the community, the human connections we make and the small kindnesses are just as important as any grade you achieve.”
During a question-and-answer session following her speech, incoming Osgoode Dean and Professor Trevor Farrow noted that Justice Karakatsanis’s message resonated strongly with the school’s distinctive emphasis on legal ethics – beginning in first year with its first-semester Ethical Lawyering in a Global Community course.
Karakatsanis went on to advise students against feeling the need to have a grand plan for their law career. “No matter what you choose to do in life, law school will serve you well,” she said. “These skills will prepare you to open your mind to the world and to become involved in your communities. Be open to opportunities that interest or challenge you.”
She left the students with one final takeaway about dealing with career or academic disappointment and persevering despite it. After law school, she said, her goal was to become a Crown attorney, but she was passed over. “I was devastated,” she recalled. “I thought my career was over before it began.
“Why do I tell you this story?” she asked. “Because when one door closes, another opens.”
AMPD alumni at the Toronto International Film Festival
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Alumni from York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) have films appearing at the 46th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which runs until Sept. 17.
This year, TIFF features several School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) alumni sharing their talent on and off the screen, contributing to AMPD’s ongoing impact on the fine arts.
“From Matt Johnson and Matt Miller’s Blackberry in wide theatrical release to Salar Pashtoonar’s Bad Omen receiving a Student Academy Award, as well as countless invitations to the Berlinale, TIFF, HotDocs and almost every other film festival around the globe – each recognition of a work by a York graduate from the BFA or MFA program in Cinema & Media Arts is also an endorsement of the creative collaboration between faculty, staff and students at York University’s production and screenwriting program to nurture creative talent in an inclusive and supportive environment,” says Manfred Becker, master of fine arts (MFA) graduate program director in York’s Department of Cinema & Media Arts.
Cinema & Media Arts alumni screenings this year at the festival
Atefeh Khademolreza
Meteor, directed by Atefeh Khademolreza (MFA ’19), is a Persian-language short film exploring grief and defiance in the face of the repression suffered by women and the LGBTQ+ community in Iran.
The TIFF world premiere of Swan Song, directed by Chelsea McMullan (MFA ’10) and shot by co-director of photography Tess Girard (BFA ’05), is a feature-length documentary examining the National Ballet of Canada’s 2022 production of Swan Lake, choreographed for the first time by the company’s artistic director Karen Kain, who famously debuted in the ballet in 1971, and chose Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s work as her retirement project.
Ivan D. Ossa
I Don’t Know Who You Are, also a world premiere, is the debut film of M. H. Murray (BFA ’15). It focuses on a Toronto musician who, after a sexual assault, spends a weekend trying to find the money for HIV-preventive treatment.
Express, a 22-minute short film directed by Ivan D. Ossa (BFA ’21), follows a young man, who prides himself on his drive and determination who makes some tough discoveries as he awaits some big news.
Theatre alumni among this year’s TIFF Rising Stars
Amrit Kaur
Theatre alumni Amrit Kaur (BFA ’15) is among this year’s cohort of TIFF Rising Stars. The Rising Stars program provides exclusive access to professional development, mentorship sessions and industry events for emerging actors.
Kaur is best known for her breakout role on Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble’s HBO Max hit series The Sex Lives of College Girls, and her performance has been praised by critics like the Chicago Sun Times’ Richard Roeper as “funny,” “clever” and “captivating.”
“There is nothing more gratifying than witnessing the professional success of our graduates. We know that degrees in the performing arts lead to career success in film, television and a range of other media. It’s great to see Amrit’s success across international screens and to celebrate her recognition by TIFF,” shared AMPD Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng.
Kaur appears at TIFF this year in The Queen of My Dreams, directed by Fawzia Mirza, as Azra, a queer Muslim grad student travelling back to her ancestral home in Pakistan. Set in 1999, she returns home after the sudden death of her father, Hassan (Hamza Haq). Her stern mother, Mariam (Nimra Bucha), demands she play the role of the perfect grieving daughter. But through flashbacks to Mariam’s own life in Karachi 30 years before, the film shows the connections uniting mother and daughter, starting with their shared love of Bollywood star Sharmila Tagore.
AMPD invites other alum who want to be celebrated as part of TIFF to reach out to through the Faculty’s social media channel on X, formerly known as Twitter: @YorkUAMPD.
Appointment of assistant vice-president, continuing studies
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La version française suit la version anglaise.
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to inform the York community that, following a national and international search, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia has accepted our invitation to become assistant vice-president (AVP), continuing studies, commencing Sept. 1, 2023.
Christine Brooks-Cappadocia
Christine has served as interim AVP since Feb. 1, and has held previous roles including executive director, programs and partnerships; director of professional education; and director of marketing and enrolment management in the School of Continuing Studies.
The school’s Continuing Professional Education division is considered to be among the most innovative in the country. On May 1 of this year, the School of Continuing Studies launched its new, signature home on York’s Keele Campus. The building allows the school more capacity, space and resources to support York’s University Academic Plan 2020-2025, and also enables the school to keep expanding 21st-century learning opportunities with innovative programs in emerging fields that meet the diverse needs of adult and non-traditional learners.
Prior to joining York’s School of Continuing Studies in 2014, Christine spent six years building and managing the marketing department at McMaster’s Centre for Continuing Education. Her career highlights include supporting the launch of the York University School of Continuing Studies; the establishment of two endowed bursaries to support non-traditional students; the creation of several programs which are the first of their kind in Canada; launching a foundation to support at-risk youth; the development of the communications department for St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation in Hamilton, Ont.; and the management of a high-profile event featuring former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former Ontario premier Bob Rae.
She has been privileged to serve in several governance roles in non-profit organizations, including as president and founding board member of the International Association of Business Communicators’ Golden Horseshoe chapter, the vice-president of Community Arts Ontario and a founding board member of the Coalition of Ontario Voluntary Organizations.
Christine has earned several awards for marketing from the Association of Healthcare Philanthropists, the International Business Communicators and the Learning Resources Network. Christine holds a bachelor of fine arts from York University and a master of management, innovation and entrepreneurship from Queen’s University.
I look forward to working with Ms. Brooks-Cappadocia as she continues to bring leadership to this important role. I hope that all members of the York University community will join us in congratulating and welcoming her as a core member of the University’s senior leadership team.
I would like to thank the members of the search committee for their contributions to the appointment process.
Sincerely,
Lisa Philipps Provost & Vice-President Academic
Annonce de la nomination de la vice-présidente adjointe (VPA), Formation continue
Chers collègues, chères collègues,
J’ai le plaisir d’informer la communauté York qu’à l’issue d’une recherche nationale et internationale, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia a accepté de devenir vice-présidente adjointe (VPA), Formation continue, à compter du 1er septembre 2023.
Mme Brooks-Cappadocia était VPA par intérim depuis le 1er février 2023. Précédemment, elle a occupé les fonctions de directrice générale des programmes et des partenariats, de directrice de la formation professionnelle et de directrice du marketing et de la gestion des inscriptions à l’École de formation continue.
Christine Brooks-Cappadocia
La Division de formation professionnelle continue de l’École est considérée comme l’une des plus innovantes du pays. Le 1er mai, l’École de formation continue a inauguré son nouveau bâtiment emblématique sur le campus Keele de York. L’École dispose désormais d’une plus grande capacité et de plus d’espace et de ressources pour appuyer le Plan académique 2020-2025 de l’Université York. Ce bâtiment permet également à l’École de continuer à développer les possibilités d’apprentissage pour le 21e siècle grâce à des programmes innovants dans des domaines émergents qui répondent aux divers besoins des apprenants adultes et non traditionnels.
Avant de se joindre à l’École de formation continue de York en 2014, Mme Brooks-Cappadocia a passé six ans au Service de marketing du Centre de formation continue de l’Université McMaster, d’abord pour le mettre sur pied, puis pour le gérer. Parmi les faits saillants de sa carrière, citons son soutien au lancement de l’École de formation continue de l’Université York, la création de deux bourses d’études pour soutenir les étudiantes et étudiants non traditionnels, la création de plusieurs programmes uniques en leur genre au Canada, le lancement d’une fondation pour appuyer les jeunes à risque, le développement du Département des communications de la St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation à Hamilton et la gestion d’un événement très médiatisé mettant en vedette l’ancien président américain Bill Clinton et l’ancien premier ministre de l’Ontario Bob Rae.
Elle a eu le privilège d’assumer plusieurs rôles de gouvernance au sein d’organismes à but non lucratif, notamment en tant que présidente et membre fondatrice du conseil d’administration de la section Golden Horseshoe de l’International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), vice-présidente de Community Arts Ontario et membre fondatrice du conseil d’administration de la Coalition of Ontario Voluntary Organizations.
Mme Brooks-Cappadocia a remporté plusieurs prix de marketing de l’Association for Healthcare Philanthropists, de l’International Association of Business Communicators et du Learning Resources Network. Elle détient un baccalauréat en beaux-arts de l’Université York et une maîtrise en gestion, innovation et entrepreneuriat de l’Université Queen.
Je me réjouis de travailler avec Mme Brooks-Cappadocia qui continue à jouer un rôle de premier plan dans cette fonction importante. J’espère que tous les membres de la communauté de York se joindront à nous pour la féliciter et lui souhaiter la bienvenue au sein de l’équipe dirigeante de l’Université.
Je tiens à remercier les membres du comité de recrutement pour leur contribution à ce processus de nomination.
Sincères salutations,
Lisa Philipps Rectrice et vice-présidente aux affaires académiques
Veuillez diffuser cette annonce auprès de vos collègues s’il y a lieu.
LA&PS welcomes York alumnus Shyam Selvadurai as writer-in-residence
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York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) welcomes its Fall 2023 writer-in-residence, the award-winning Canadian writer and York alumnus Shyam Selvadurai, with a reading from his new novel, Mansions of the Moon, on Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. in the McLaughlin Junior Common Room(MC 014).
Shyam Selvadurai
Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Selvadurai moved to Toronto with his family in 1983. He earned a BFA in theatre directing and playwriting from York and an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia.
Selvadurai is the author of Funny Boy, Cinnamon Gardens, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea and The Hungry Ghosts. His work has won the WH Smith/Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Lambda Literary Award and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award, and has been shortlisted for the the Governor General’s Literary Award. He is also the editor of Story-Wallah: A Celebration of South Asian Fiction and a comprehensive anthology of Sri Lankan literature called Many Roads Through Paradise.
In 2012,in conjunction with the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Selvadurai began Write to Reconcile, a project bringing together emerging Sri Lankan writers to write on the issues of conflict, peace, reconciliation, memory and trauma in relation to Sri Lanka’s civil war and the postwar period. The project resulted in three anthologies: Write to Reconcile, Write to Reconcile II and Write to Reconcile III.
“I’m thrilled that Shyam Selvadurai will be joining us this fall,” said LA&PS Dean J.J. McMurtry. “His work speaks for itself. It is deeply personal yet universal, touching on issues related to family, belonging and freedom of expression. Our students and Faculty will benefit greatly from his expertise and guidance.”
The Writer-in-Residence Program connects faculty, staff and students with a professional writer for feedback, critiques and support. Four meetings per week are available by appointment through Calendly. In addition to providing consultations, Selvadurai will be hosting public readings, panel talks, writing workshops, classroom visits and other events.
On Oct. 25, Selvadurai will host a panel discussion with fellow authors Janika Oza and Larissa Lai. On Dec. 7, he will host acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta for a screening and discussion of her new documentary film, I Am Sirat.
Work-integrated learning for Black students in health breaks down barriers
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This summer, 18 Black undergraduate students from three units in the Faculty of Health (Psychology, Global Health and Kinesiology) will participate in work-integrated learning opportunities across six health-sector organizations, where they will support diverse programs, services, research and other organizational priorities.
Funded by a Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada iHub grant, this initiative helps students gain real-world experience in their field of interest and develop knowledge and skills to support their academic and professional journeys. It is uniquely positioned to address notable gaps in representation among Black professionals in the health sector – a vision that is shared by the placement organizations. “These future leaders will be poised to improve research and service delivery for Black communities overall,” said Monique Herbert, associate professor of psychology.
Integrating culturally relevant training
Before students set off on their placements, they participated in preparatory workshops focused on skill-building for a successful experience. A highlight of this process was a workshop with a special focus on navigating the workplace as a Black individual, which was developed and conducted by two guest facilitators, Karlyn Percil-Mercieca of KDPM Consulting Group and York alum Shereen Ashman of SACCAE Social Innovation Studio.
“The presenters applied a holistic lens to the discussion of professionalism skills, allowing both culture and race to infuse the conversation in a meaningful and tangible way. Grounding ‘professionalism’ in this context allows students to adopt a strength-based approach to their field placements,” said Paola Calderon-Valdivia, experiential education co-ordinator, Faculty of Health.
“Students were encouraged to draw wisdom from their lived experiences, to embrace their collective truth and to rely on their racial heritage as a source of empowerment – reminding them of their inherent value and the meaningful contributions they would be making to their host organizations; a message that was well received by the students.”
It is this type of culturally relevant training that is very much needed because representation matters, added Herbert. “Seeing, hearing and learning from someone who looks like you makes it more tangible, more achievable. We need more of this; it empowers our students,” said Herbert.
Focusing on a well-rounded support system for students
During their 100-hour placement in a health-related setting, students will be supervised by a placement supervisor and benefit from networking and relationship-building opportunities with health professionals and mentors in the field. Alongside work experience, students will receive academic oversight and learning guidance from volunteer faculty advisors from each unit. Calderon-Valdivia will offer ongoing support, guidance and troubleshooting to students, faculty and placement organizations. Three student mentors who previously participated in the initiative will also offer peer-informed support to students throughout the experience.
A further source of support for students will be a stipend offered through the CEWIL iHub grant, which will offset any associated costs for their participation in the initiative, such as transportation, time away from jobs and more. This aligns with the University Academic Plan in providing experiential learning opportunities and offering supports for students who face systemic barriers.
Building on the legacy of student-led advocacy
Black student advocacy around systemic barriers led to the development of the Summer 2022 pilot phase of this initiative in the Department of Psychology. Two Black student-led groups (Black Students in Psychology and the Black Students Mentorship Program) with missions to address the lack of representation of Black professionals and academics in health-related fields spearheaded a collaboration between the Department of Psychology and the experiential education (EE) team in the Faculty of Health, led by Anda Petro.
Celebrating the successful completion of the Summer 2022 work-integrated learning initiative with students, staff and faculty
Psychology students who participated in the pilot praise the program for offering hands-on experience beyond the traditional classroom and the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
“…it provided me with a chance to step outside of my comfort zone and grow as an individual, student and professional,” said Nichol Edwards Snagg, psychology undergraduate student. “Throughout my placement, I developed and strengthened my initiative, group facilitation and communication skills, all while contributing to a project that benefitted the Black community.”
The success of this initiative and future initiatives is contingent on having a strong support system and funding, said Herbert.
“We are grateful to the EE staff, faculty and student mentors in the Faculty of Health and CEWIL for their support; this initiative would not have been possible without them. These experiences are invaluable for our Black students, and we hope that there will be further funding opportunities to continue this important work,” said Herbert.
