Tag: Community

Approved tag

Schulich’s Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building opens with focus on future

The official ribbon cutting for the Rob & Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building on Jan. 10. Back row, left to right: James Prince, president of Schulich Graduate Business Council; a representative from the architectural firm; James McKellar, Schulich professor; a representative from the architectural firm; Richard Francki, assistant vice-president CSBO; front row, left to right: Paul Tsaparis, chair of the Board of Governors; a representative from the architectural firm; Cheryl McEwen, philanthropist; Dezso Horvath, dean of Schulich; Rob McEwen, philanthropist; David Lametti, parliamentary secretary; Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor; and Greg Sorbara, York University chancellor

York University and the Schulich School of Business officially opened a new building on Jan. 10, designed to bring industry into the classroom and to stimulate interdisciplinary research in fields ranging from business ethics and big data to global enterprise and real estate and infrastructure.

The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building will accommodate academic program growth, modern research facilities and space for study and socializing. Its distinctive design, by Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, makes it one of the most environmentally sustainable and socially responsible academic buildings in North America.

The official ribbon cutting for the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building on Jan. 10. Back row, left to right: James Prince, president of Schulich’s Graduate Business Council; Barry Sampson, principal from Baird Sampson Neuert Architects; James McKellar, Schulich professor; Jesse Dormody, associate architect from Baird Sampson Neuert; Richard Francki, assistant vice-president CSBO, York University; front row, left to right: Paul Tsaparis, Chair of the Board of Governors of York University; an invited guest; Cheryl McEwen, philanthropist; Dezsö Horvath, dean of Schulich; Rob McEwen, philanthropist; David Lametti, parliamentary secretary; Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor; and Greg Sorbara, York University chancellor

The new building stands near the main entrance of York’s Keele Campus, next to the TTC’s York University Station. Attached to Schulich’s existing complex, the facility is named in honour of longtime Schulich supporters Rob and Cheryl McEwen, who have donated $8 million to the University toward this expansion of Schulich’s facilities.

Rob and Cheryl McEwen were recognized for their transformational donation during the official opening event, and shared a few words with the more than 150 people in attendance.

Rob and Cheryl McEwen
Rob and Cheryl McEwen

“A building makes a statement and architecture communicates that statement very, very loudly and clearly,” said Rob McEwen. “Here we are in a building that’s at the front door of York University. So, what is it saying? It’s saying that this school is innovative, it’s imaginative, it is responsible to the environment, it is showing the future.”

Cheryl McEwen spoke to the importance of research, saying, “you cannot change the future without investing in research.

“We hope that this building will be the hub of Canada’s future business leaders, to enable Canada to reach its full potential,” she said.

The $50-million project received $15 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which is dedicated to modernizing research and commercialization facilities, improving their environmental sustainability and promoting economic activity. The project was also supported with $35 million from Schulich’s Leading Change fundraising campaign, including the McEwen donation and York University.

Also speaking to the importance of investing in research was guest David Lametti, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of innovation, science and economic development. Lametti, an academic on sabbatical, said it’s important to recognize the leadership, partnerships and philanthropy that drives research forward.

“Investments like today’s in York’s Schulich School of Business to expand its facilities are essential to help Canada excel in academia and research,” he said. “By improving the infrastructure of this building, we improve access to services and programs to Canadians.”

Guest speakers also included Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor; Dezsö J. Horváth, dean of the Schulich School of Business; Paul Tsaparis, chair of York University’s Board of Governors; and the event’s master of ceremonies, James Prince, president of the Schulich Graduate Business Council.

“The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building is an exciting addition to York University and to the Schulich School of Business, which consistently ranks among Canada’s leading business schools,” said Lenton. “This new hub for academic and business collaboration will offer York students tremendous new research and experiential education opportunities, so they are better equipped for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.”

Guests of the official opening pictured on the modern stairwell in the facility

The 67,000-square-foot building is one of the first to use the principles of thermally active building systems to achieve LEED Gold certification. A core feature of the environmentally responsible design is a dramatic glass solar chimney that rises 27 metres and provides passive natural ventilation for the entire building.

Schulich’s expanding academic and research agenda is reflected in the design of the project, which will house the Research Office for the internationally recognized business school as well as four Centres of Excellence in areas of management education in which Schulich already excels. Three of these have been established: the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business; the Schulich Centre for Global Enterprise; and the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure.

“The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building will play an important role in helping to keep our school at the forefront of management education and research,” said Horváth. He also noted that more than 42 rooms and spaces in the new facility are named after Schulich alumni who continue to support the school.

Guests gather in the open space of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building
Guests gather in the open space of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building

A newly developed Centre of Excellence in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence is envisioned as a leading hub for business and academic collaboration, experiential education and research. The centre incorporates the Deloitte Cognitive Analytics & Visualization Lab, which is already exploring advances in predictive analytics, natural language processing, machine learning, analytics design and visualization, and data-based storytelling.

At the core of the building is a three-storey atrium built to provide opportunities for meetings between students, professors, researchers, staff and visitors. Classrooms and seminar rooms on the main floor, and lounges and seminar rooms on upper floors, surround the atrium, allowing for greater interaction and the stimulating exchange of ideas.

More information about the design of the building can be found here. More information about the Centres of Excellence can be found here.

Canadian Blood Services hosts blood drive on campus, Jan. 15 to 17

If you are considering the gift of life through a blood donation, Canadian Blood Services will be on campus Jan. 15 to 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The clinic will take place in Central Square/East Bear Pit.

Each year, York University shows its community spirit by saving lives through hosting Canadian Blood Services on campus. On average, one unit of blood helps three people, so our donations will be used to help hundreds of people in the Greater Toronto Area.

What would it take to make you give blood?
• If you knew you knew you could save a life, would you?
• If you knew only 3.5 per cent of eligible Canadians gave blood, would you give?
• If you knew that patients in our area hospitals use at least 650 to 700 units of blood each day, would you help them by donating blood?
• How about if you knew that cancer patients use an average of eight units of blood products each week during their treatment?

For more information on how to become a donor, or to schedule an opportunity to donate during one of the many clinics throughout the community, visit bloodservices.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE.

McLaughlin Lunch Talks feature guest speakers, Robbie Burns celebration for January

Robbie Burns
Robbie Burns

January will feature several guest speakers and the 27th annual Robbie Burns Night as part of the popular McLaughlin College Lunch Talks series.

The series runs out of the Senior Common Room in 140 McLaughlin College.

Jan. 22 – Considering the Ethical Complexities of People with Dementia and Sexual Consent

Andria Bianchi, a bioethicist and clinician-scientist at the University Health Network in Toronto, presents a talk that explores the challenges related to the idea of sex and people with dementia.

By the year 2030, 75 million people are expected to be diagnosed with dementia worldwide. Most of these individuals will be over the age of 65 and many of them may want to engage in sexual acts. Challenges with this include ageist conceptions of sexy and sexuality, discriminatory stereotypes, as well as the ethical significance of sexual consent, as those with dementia may not be able to consent in conventional ways.

The presentation will elucidate some of the ethical complexities of sex and people with dementia, introduce potential ways to approach relevant cases and explore some of the ethical strengths and vulnerabilities of these approaches.

This event runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be provided.

Jan. 23 – The Long and Winding Road of Local Politics: Are Municipal Ethics Commissioners Necessary?

This event will feature a panel of guest speakers who will discuss the value of municipal ethics commissioners. Panellists include:

  • Suzanne Craig, appointed in 2009 as integrity commissioner for the City of Vaughan and has since been appointed as integrity commissioner to more than 15 Ontario municipalities;
  • Steve Parish, appointed as mayor of the Town of Ajax in December 1995. He is the longest serving mayor in the town’s history, having been re-elected to the position from 1997 to 2014;
  • Guy Giorno, integrity commissioner for more than 30 Ontario municipalities; and
  • Robert Kenedy, associate professor in the Department of Sociology at York University, who is also the president of the Mackenzie Ridge Ratepayers Association in Vaughan.

The discussion will be moderated by Philip MacEwen, who teaches in the Departments of Philosophy and Humanities and is the co-ordinator of the York Collegium for Practical Ethics.

The event runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served.

Jan. 27 – 27th annual Robbie Burns Night

Gather at 140 McLaughlin College beginning at 7 p.m. for the Robbie Burns celebration. The event is open to all McLaughlin Fellows, students and staff at York University, and will include a piper, haggis, a cash bar and poetry.

Contestants can submit poetry (up to a maximum of three poems), which must be read by the contestants on the night of the event. Submissions are due Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. and should include the name, address, email and phone number of the poet. Submissions and questions about the event can be emailed to lilianp@yorku.ca.

Michael Redhill to deliver talk at Jan. 15 Canadian Writers in Person lecture

A book is fanned open
A book is fanned open

The Scotiabank Giller Prize winner of 2017, Michael Redhill, will be the guest at the Canadian Writers in Person lecture on Jan. 15, when the popular series resumes its 20th season.

Image result for bellevue square bookRedhill, a novelist, poet and playwright, earned the 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his novel Bellevue Square, a darkly comic literary thriller set in Toronto that centres around a woman and her search for her doppelgänger.

Previous works of Redhill include the novel Consolation, which was longlisted for a Man Booker Prize; and Martin Sloane, a Giller finalist. He has also published works in young adult fiction, as well as poetry and plays.

Under the name Ash Wolfe, the Toronto-based writer has also published a series of crime novels.

Canadian Writers in Person is a for-credit course for students, presented by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). It is also a free-admission event for members of the public. All readings take place at 7 p.m. on select Tuesday evenings in 206 Accolade West Building, Keele Campus.

Other presentations scheduled in this series include:

Jan. 29: Kerri Sakamoto, Floating City, Random House

Feb. 12: Kim Fu, The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore, HarperCollins

March 6: Katerena Vermette, The Break, House of Anansi Press

March 19: David Chariandy, Brother, Penguin Random House

Canadian Writers in Person is a course offered by the Culture & Expression program in the Humanities Department in York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. For more information, contact Professor Gail Vanstone at gailv@yorku.ca.

Weekend wrap: Lions retire No. 18 jersey of Mark Cross in emotional ceremony prior to Mark Cross Memorial Game

Lions logo
York U Lions

The York Lions honoured hockey alumnus Mark Cross on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Canlan Ice Sports prior to their evenly matched 4-3 loss to the Brock University Badgers in an emotional pre-game ceremony. Cross, who played with the Lions from 2011-16, was an assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos last season and lost his life in the team’s tragic bus crash on April 6, 2018.

After symbolically stopping the clock at 18 seconds, the Lions celebrated Cross’ life and legacy as a York Lion in a stirring pre-game ceremony that included the retiring of Cross’ No. 18 jersey.

On the ice to take part in the ceremony were Cross’ parents, Brad and Marilyn; his brother, Michael; his sister, Leah; his girlfriend, Molly; friends from his native Saskatchewan; and his former York teammates. Cross became the first member of the Lions men’s hockey program to have his number retired. More details on the York Lions website.

On Friday night, the men’s hockey team opened up their second half of the season with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at Canlan Ice Sports.

After having been in York’s offensive end throughout most of the first five minutes of the game, U of T had a great scoring chance against the Lions; however, it was saved by York’s goaltender Mack Shields.

Following Shields’ save, the Lions skated the puck down to the Blues’ end with a passing play between Reid Jackman and Sal Filice, who passed the puck to Scott Feser, who scored the first goal for the Lions at 5:14. More details.

Lions defeat Lakers in first game of 2019

The York University men’s basketball team defeated the Nipissing University Lakers in their opening game of 2019 by a score of 73-64 on Friday evening at Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre.

The Lions were off to a strong start picking up a big lead on the Lakers 16-5 midway through the first quarter. The Lions ended the quarter with a 22-16 lead.

The Lions continued to lead the Lakers at the start of the second quarter; however, the Lakers managed to close the large lead to just two-points with three minutes remaining in the half. The Lakers eventually tied the Lions 26-26, and after free throw the Lakers led the Lions for the first time 27-26. It was the Lakers who added one extra basket in the final minutes to lead 36-34 at the end of the half. More details.

The next night the Lions lost 111-80 on the road against the Laurentian University Voyageurs in Sudbury, Ont.

Prince Kamunga led the Lions in points throughout the game with 22 points on the night. In the first quarter of the game, the Lions were able to put in a total of 18 points to the Voyageurs’ 33. Lions guard Gene Spagnuolo contributed four of those points as he started the game well for the visiting team. By the end of the first half of the game, Laurentian was leading 55-36 against the Lions after outscoring them by four in the second quarter. More details.

Lions fall in Saturday night road game to Voyageurs

The York University women’s basketball team lost 64-46 against the Laurentian University Voyageurs during their second game of the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 5 in Sudbury, Ont.

The Voyageurs took the lead in the first quarter of the game and kept it throughout the remainder of the game.

Laurentian’s Kayla Deschatelets scored the first two points for the Voyageurs and picked up three more points in the first quarter to contribute to their 11 points in the first quarter. The Lions’ Alysha Pinck scored the first two points for York. More details.

A day prior, the Lions led the Nipissing University Lakers through three quarters until a push in the final minutes of the fourth quarter by the Lakers led them to a 65-61 victory on Friday evening at Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre in North Bay, Ont.

The Lions came out strong in their first game of the new year and at the end of the first quarter, the Lions led the Lakers 18-12. They continued the momentum into the second quarter and managed to pick up a large, 11-point lead to end the half up 35-24. The Lions continued their lead into the third quarter, but the Lakers cut the lead close, trailing just two points by a score of 49-47 by the end of the quarter. More details.

Big third period by Badgers results in loss for Lions

The York University women’s hockey team was defeated on the road 6-3 by the Brock University Badgers on Saturday afternoon at Seymour Hannah Centre.

The Lions outplayed the Badgers in the first period and kept the game close until the last 10 minutes of the third period. The Badgers got on the scoreboard first at 9:49 of the first period with a shot by Niamh Haughey that slipped through the pads of Lions goaltender Eva Hall. After multiple attempts by the Lions to get on the scoreboard, Erin Locke scored the equalizer off a face-off with four minutes remaining in the first period. More details.

Mustangs claim 40th Excalibur Volleyball Classic

The University of Western Mustangs were crowned 2019 Excalibur Volleyball Classic champions on Sunday afternoon at the Tait McKenzie Centre in the 40th edition of the annual tournament. Western went a perfect 3-0 in the round robin tournament, the only team to go undefeated throughout the entire weekend.

The championship win was the fourth all-time at the tournament for the Mustangs, who also won previously in 2011, 2012 and 2015.

The Mustangs opened the tournament on Friday with a 3-1 win over the Nipissing Lakers (25-23, 19-25, 25-22 and 27-25) and followed that up with another 3-1 win over the host Lions on Saturday (25-22, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-14). They ended their tournament with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Queen’s Gaels on Sunday afternoon (29-31, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-22). More details.

New book presents more than 30 years of research on Holocaust

A book launch for Choices under Duress of the Holocaust: Benjamin Murmelstein and the Fate of Viennese Jewry, Volume I: Vienna will be hosted by York University’s Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.

The culmination of more than three decades of research, Choices under Duress of the Holocaust: Benjamin Murmelstein and the Fate of Viennese Jewry, Volume I: Vienna examines the decision-making process of Jewish communal leadership under Nazi domination from both a historical and a philosophical perspective. Taking as its test case that of the controversial Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Murmelstein, this first of two volumes investigates his actions as deputy and then leader of the Jewish community of Vienna between 1938 and 1942.

In contextualizing Murmelstein’s actions within their broader historical framework, Choices under Duress of the Holocaust widens its focus in presenting a painstaking history of the Viennese Jewish community under the extreme conditions forced upon it by its Nazi overlords. The second volume, which is expected to be released in approximately two years, deals with the Viennese Jewish community from 1942 to 1945 and with the fate of those who were deported to the “model ghetto” of Theresienstadt/Terezin, where Murmelstein was eventually appointed Judenältester (Chief Jewish Elder).

The manuscript of Choices under Duress of the Holocaust was completed shortly before the deaths of its authors, Professor Leonard H. Ehrlich (University of Massachusetts at Amherst) and Edith Ehrlich, and prepared for publication by their son, Professor Carl S. Ehrlich (York University).

The event takes place at the Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies, 7th floor of the Kaneff Tower, York University. There will be a reception at 5 p.m., as well as a book signing following the presentation. Light kosher refreshments will be served, and there will be complimentary parking at the York Lanes Parking Garage.

To RSVP, email cjs@yorku.ca.

York celebrates 10th Inclusion Day to kick off University’s 60th anniversary celebrations

Vari Hall
Vari Hall

York University celebrates its 10th annual Inclusion Day on Jan. 24. The signature community event will kick off the University’s 60th anniversary festivities by exploring the theme innovation through inclusion.

Three internationally recognized leaders representing the interconnected pursuits of higher education, community engagement, entrepreneurialism and the arts will guide guests through a journey into the creative potential of belonging.

The guest speakers are experts from Canada, the United States, Mauritius and Rwanda. They will offer compelling testimony and evidence about the power of inclusion as a catalyst for innovation, and include:

  • Sarah Kaplan, director, Institute for Gender and the Economy; Distinguished Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto;
  • Adrian Fung, associate dean, associate professor, Arts Executive, Concert Artist;
  • Usha Srinivasan, vice-president, Venture & Talent Programs, MaRS Discovery District; and
  • Fred Swaniker, founder and CEO, African Leadership University, Mauritius and Rwanda.

Inclusion Day brings together students, staff, and faculty from across York University’s campuses as well as members of other universities, representatives of government, industry and beyond, to question, comprehend and imagine well-being, attainment and fulfillment for all in community. During the 2018 celebrations, more than 300 people attended in person with thousands interacting online.

The practice of inclusion is central to York University’s mission to be an institution that aspires to: promote access to education to all who are eligible; connect communities locally and globally; embody excellence in research, teaching, learning governance; and generate impact.

Inclusion Day 2019 marks the beginning of York University’s rededicated commitment to this continuous project and encourages community members to reflect with renewed hope and celebrate with pride.

This free event is open to all members of the York community as well as to the general public. A light lunch will be provided. To register, visit www.yorku.ca/rights/forms/view.php?id=79.

The event is presented by the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (REI) at York University and takes place at 11:15 a.m. at the Keele Campus Second Student Centre, 15 Library Lane.

York graduate student leads first-of-its-kind project at Sinai Health System

A stethoscope and patient chart

A York University graduate student led a project at Sinai Health System that is the first of its kind to be implemented in Canada.

Reshma Prashad
Reshma Prashad

Reshma Prashad, a student in the Faculty of Health’s Health Informatics program, led a project to implement infusion data flow from a pump to an electronic health record (EHR) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The project enhances the quality of data used for timely clinical decision-making in a department that provides care for approximately 1,000 preterm babies per year.

The project, which launched on Nov. 27, decreases the potential for documentation errors that may contribute to patient safety risks. It will support faster clinical decision-making, and promote greater pharmacy and nursing communication and collaboration in the management of infusions.

Prashad successfully implemented the program in three months, and says previous attempts were unsuccessful for a period of more than five years.

She attributes her success to the great foundation and preparation offered through the Health Informatics program at York University.

“I would like to convey (to York Health Studies students) that it is still possible to make significant and meaningful contributions to the field if they (the students) take the time and effort needed to learn the important, fundamental concepts,” she said.

Reshma Prashad with the team at Sinai Health System

Prashad said she is extremely grateful for the opportunity that Sinai Health System provided her to lead this project to successful completion, in collaboration with the technical and clinical teams.

“It is a very exciting project for the NICU that will help to reduce redundancies in charting and potentially decrease errors,” said Elena Nikolsky, nursing unit administrator of the NICU. “It will also help to increase the safety of our infants by providing the most up-to-date information to support timely decision-making regarding patient status.”

York-CAMH Collaborative opens dedicated space for research

Partners in the York-CAMH Collaborative celebrated the opening of dedicated space at the Queen Street site of the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH) on Dec. 12.

Left to right: Professor Mahdieh Dastjerdi; Paul McDonald, dean, Faculty of Health; Professor Elsabeth Jensen; Professor Nazilla Khanlou; Professor Attia Khan; Rani Srivastava, chief of nursing and professional practice, CAMH; Catherine Zahn, CEO of CAMH

The York-CAMH Collaborative brings education and service together to develop knowledge and skills for promoting mental health locally, nationally and globally. This unique partnership enables the partners to conduct leading research, education, practice and system improvement, benefiting mental health promotion, health care, safety and patient outcomes.

The new space includes an office for the director and a room with four fully equipped stations for research assistants, research volunteers and other York University Faculty of Health researchers. Catherine Zahn, CEO of CAMH, and Paul McDonald, dean of York University’s Faculty of Health, made opening remarks at the event.

Two projects already funded through the collaboration include Nursing Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, under the leadership of Nazilla Khanlou, Chair in Women’s Mental Health at York University; and Understanding Compassion in Mental Health Care from the Perspectives of Culturally Diverse Patients and Families, led by Elsabeth Jensen, director of the York-CAMH Collaborative and associate professor with the School of Nursing at York University.

Message from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton on transit services in new year

Keele Campus
Keele Campus entrance

The following is a message that was issued to the York University community on Thursday, Dec. 13 from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton:

As the University prepares for the holidays and the new year, I would like to take a moment to update our community on recent ongoing discussions between York, Metrolinx, York Region Transit (YRT) and the provincial government regarding the unfortunate decision to cease public transit bus service to our Keele Campus.

Despite our best efforts, including requests to the transportation agencies and provincial government to reverse the decisions to cease service to the Keele Campus, on Dec. 12 we received the discouraging news from the province that the agencies are not prepared to reconsider their plans.

We remain very disappointed that Metrolinx and YRT have opted not to reconsider their decisions and that effective Jan. 5, 2019, GO bus service to our community will no longer be available on the Keele Campus.

Part of the decades-long discussions that led to the creation and arrival of the subway extension to York University was that full fare integration between local and provincial transit providers would be in place when the subway opened. This was a key consideration for our community.

All transit providers made it very clear (Metrolinx, YRT and TTC) that they would be altering their service to Keele Campus and leaving the Harry Arthurs Common loop area once both fare integration and the subway were in place. Regrettably, the recent decisions by YRT and Metrolinx were made in the absence of full fare integration.

I understand that many of our York community members live in the 905 area and rely on affordable transit to access the campus. I remain very concerned that the extra TTC daily fare for GO Transit bus riders may pose a financial barrier for our community, in particular for our students, as they work to complete their post-secondary studies.

I want you to know that the University has reaffirmed to both the transit providers and the provincial government that we would welcome continuing bus operations from their traditional locations on our Keele Campus.

The University will continue to advocate for affordable transportation options for our community that includes implementation of full fare integration that reduces the financial burden on our students, faculty and staff. In addition, I will personally continue to emphasize the importance of this to our partners in government as part of our discussions regarding transit operations at York.

For more information about York University’s transportation services, visit yorku.ca/transportation.

For more information about the GO bus service changes, visit gotransit.com.