Glendon celebrates its first science grad in Psychology

July 6, 2016

Fatima Zadra

In 2015, Glendon introduced its first science degree with options in psychology and biology. Just one year later, the campus celebrated Fatima Zadra, the first graduate of the program. Zadra is a transfer student from Rhônes-Alpes, France.

Arriving from l’Université Grenoble with a background in psychology and biology, Zadra discovered the campus through a current member of the Glendon campus community. Struck by the peaceful campus atmosphere and the close-knit sense of community, she made the decision to transfer. Over the course of her time at Glendon, she was involved with volleyball intramurals, volunteered to be a student peer-mentor and served as a board member at the student-run Lunik Co-operative Café.

“The people in this community care about it, so it feels like home. In addition to friends and professors that I’ve had, the staff support I have received here has been important to my success,” said Zadra.

Glendon’s Psychology program is noted for its academic rigour, hands-on internship opportunities, and personalized attention from professors – the Bachelor of Science program builds on these strengths while increasing students’ understanding of math and science.

During her time at Glendon, Zadra also obtained hands-on experience with Professors Guy Proulx and Larry Leach, researching the development of neuropsychological tests for francophone communities. She contributed by administering these tests across Ontario and assisted in the analysis of data from a study that is currently pending publication.

“Studying something different means you have the chance to develop parts of yourself that are different, too,” she said.

A few of her favourite courses covered topics such as neuropsychology and psychotherapy, but she also appreciated the interdisciplinary flexibility of her course options at both campuses—including art courses and sociology courses—to help her expand beyond her comfort zone, get accustomed to different class sizes, and fine-tune her study skills. Her favourite course? Theoretical Approaches to Counselling and Psychotherapy with Professor Lorne Sugar, due in no small part to his passion and knowledge of the subject, said Zadra.

Zadra believes that Glendon’s sense of connectedness is a large part of its appeal. “The people in this community care about it, so it feels like home. In addition to friends and professors that I’ve had, the staff support I have received here has been important to my success.”

Zadra plans on working in North America before pursuing graduate studies – she feels prepared to explore many different fields as she begins her career path.

Glendon’s BSc degree in Psychology was designed to meet the labour market needs for bilingual healthcare providers in southern Ontario. As the global emphasis on public health, human development, aging and mental health is developed, the need for more psychology professionals becomes apparent. Job prospects for bilingual professionals are especially promising in light of plans for improved French-language health care services in Ontario.

Kevin Lynch encourages Glendon grads to engage in government

June 29, 2016

During the final ceremony for York University’s Spring Convocation, graduands of Glendon College heard sage words of wisdom about the importance of public service from prominent Canadian Kevin Lynch on June 25.

Lynch, the vice-chairman of BMO Financial Group with a 33-year career history as a distinguished civil servant for the government of Canada, received an honorary doctor of laws from York University.

During his opening remarks, Lynch told graduates that “this degree will pay dividends for the rest of your lives” and urged students to think about their expectations moving forward.

He reflected on Glendon’s significance in contributing to Canada’s bilingualism and multiculturalism. He reminded grads that the first class of Glendon embarked on their studies on the eve of Canada’s centennial – a time, he said, of great optimism across our land.

“Your class,” he continued, “is completing its studies on the eve of the sesquicentennial – a time of global transformation and a mixture of hope and angst felt around the world.”

He described a “new global normal” as a world of hyper-connected globalization with an incredible promise of technological change, and said the only constant is change and the only certainty is that the status quo is not a viable long-term strategy.

“So what of governance in this new global normal?” he posed.

Canadians, he said, fundamentally believe in peace, order and good government; Canadians understand why government matters. But, government can only be as good as the strength of its institutions – the excellence of those who stand for elected office, the quality of its public servants, the rigor of journalists, the interest in business and the engagement of citizens.

“I would ask that in whatever form you choose, I hope that all of you will be engaged with public life,” he said. “Canada needs you, it needs your energy, it needs your enthusiasm, it needs your ideas.”

President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, Kevin Lynch, and Chancellor Greg Sorbara

Lynch outlined three specific points that graduates should consider in the reality of today’s governance, and pointed to liberal arts as a foundation for shaping leaders – and where that leadership could take Canada.

International governance, restoring trust in Canada’s institutions and a renewed commitment to public service are the keys to build public trust and a robust democracy moving forward, he said.

“We all have a responsibility for the state of governance, it demands ongoing public vigilance and engagement and most importantly it’s going to need the interest of you, the next generation, your enthusiasm, and your will to do it,” he said.

In closing, Lynch shared an observation by George Bernard Shaw on expectations and leadership, who said “You see things; you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?”.

Where is innovation and progress without such dreams, he asked.

“Where might the future of Canada take us with each of you asking ‘Why not’? Where, indeed.”

York’s 2016 spring convocation ceremonies are streamed live and then archived online. Lynch’s convocation address has been added to the archive To view his address, visit the Convocation webcast archive.

Opening ceremonies for York University Pride set for June 27

June 24, 2016

The York University community officially kicks off Pride celebrations on Monday, June 27 with a Flag Drop at the Keele and Glendon campuses.

The official Glendon campus Flag Drop Ceremony takes place from 10 to 11am in the Breezeway, York Hall, B Wing with cake and presentations. The celebrations continue as Pride launches at the Keele campus a Flag Drop ceremony in the Student Centre from 3:30 to 4:30pm. The LGBTQ+ BBQ will follow courtesy of the York Federation of Students (YFS) and everyone is invited to drop by and enjoy the summer heat outside with a BBQ and live music.

Everyone is invited to drop by and enjoy a Pride Brunch Reception on Tuesday, June 28, from 10 to 11:30am, with invited guests Janet Morrison, York vice-provost students; Sexuality Studies Professor and Gender and Sexuality Coordinator Amar Wahab; and Israa Izzeddin, external coordinator at TBLGAY, as they talk about their ongoing commitment to equity and safety of LGBTQ+ at York University.

On Thursday, June 30, artist, writer, and activist Farrah-Marie Miranda provides the fundamentals needed to understand “What ally-ship looks like”. The workshop is for all individuals wanting to learn about issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and how they can be a part of social change and take a stand against oppression.

The Centre for Human Rights is also hosting ongoing Positive Space training sessions that focus on learning about gender identity and sexual orientation and the impact of homophobia and transphobia. To register for ally session and positive space, visit the REDI Positive Space Training webpage.

Drop by Vari Hall on Wednesday, June 29 between 12 and 4pm to pick up posters to adorn your office and desk showing your support for LGBTQ+ communities. To help us get in the spirit, Joshua Vettivelu, an artist commissioned by the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) designed a campaign utilizing the language and methods of radical queer movements, alongside student leaders. Vettivelu invites us to shout out our truths. The “This Is Us Now” campaign speaks to the reality of the current political climate and recognizes that all lives have value, all experiences are real, and all survivors are respected.

Keep a look out for York@Pride at the Pride Parade on Sunday, July 3. The parade starts at 2pm at Bloor and Church Streets in downtown Toronto with a route that goes down Yonge Street to Dundas Square. All York students, faculty, staff, and their friends are welcome to jump and dance to the bouncing tracks of DJ Craig Dominic who has created the ultimate mix tape for the occasion. Make sure you dress for the weather and bring sunscreen as the march goes ahead rain or shine.

Uniting and empowering people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, Pride Toronto has become a major Canadian arts and cultural event and the largest Pride celebration in North America. Uniting and empowering people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, York@Pride stands in solidarity with queer communities and their accomplices. Together we will showcase the acceptance, diversity, and inclusivity that York University promotes while welcoming individuality.

Here’s a full list of all events:

Glendon Campus Flag Raising – Opening Ceremony & Reception
Monday June 27, 10 – 11am, Breezeway, York Hall, B Wing
Keele Campus Flag Drop – Opening Ceremony & Reception
Monday June 27, 3:30 – 4:30pm, Student Centre
Summer Jam Pride BBQ
Monday June 27, 4:30 – 8:30pm, Catalpa Court behind the Student Centre
York Pride Brunch
Tuesday, June 28, 10:00 – 11:30am, Kaneff Tower, second floor
Display Your Pride Poster Pick-Up
Wednesday June 29, 12:00 – 4pm, Vari Hall
Positive Space Training
Wednesday, June 29, 2:30 – 4pm, 280N York Lanes
What Ally-ship Looks Like Workshops
Thursday, June 30, 2 – 3pm & 3 to 4pm, 280N York Lanes
Trans Pride Rally and March
Friday, July 1, rally at 7pm, march at 8pm, North Stage, at the intersection of Church and Isabella Streets
Pride Community StreetFair
Saturday, July 2, 11am – 5pm, Church Street
Dyke March
Saturday, July 2, 2pm, Church at Bloor Street
Pride Parade
Sunday, July 3, 2pm, Yonge Street from Bloor to Dundas Square

Want to be part of the festivities? Join us at the Trans Pride Rally and March, Dyke March, and Pride Parade or volunteer at the Streetfair booth.

Contact Melissa Palermo at YFS Campaigns & Equity, at campaigns@yfs.ca, for more information on how you can march with York@Pride in the parade. Bring your re-usable water bottles. It’s going to be hot, hot, hot!

York@Pride is generously supported by the Vice-Provost Students, Osgoode Hall Law School, AGYU, Centre for Human Rights, TBLGAY, YFS, GLgbt and the SexGen Committee.

Glendon student honoured with two leadership awards

June 20, 2016

Final-year sociology and drama studies student Juan Garrido was one of a select group of graduating York students honoured for their leadership, dedication, integrity and enthusiasm with two pan-university leadership awards: the Robert J. Tiffin Leadership Award, and the Alumni Golden GRADitude Award.

The awards were created to recognize current undergraduate and graduate students whose excellence and leadership has significantly contributed to York’s growth, development and vitality.

“I think the best part of being involved at Glendon was how tight-knit and diverse the community was,” said Garrido. “I was able to work with people from different backgrounds, which meant I learned so much about being a leader.”

According to his nominators, Garrido’s involvement is best defined by “his ability to initiate culture change through collaborative relationship-building” and by the “thoughtful, attentive, and personal way he leads and serves his community”.

During his tenure at Glendon, he was an elected student senator, a co-ordinator for Glendon’s LGBTQ* association, and a TEDxYorkU speaker. He also worked as a residence life special projects assistant, residence don, peer mentor team lead, residence peer review board member, student recruitment ambassador, and Glendon eAmbassador.

Jennifer Sipos-Smith, one of Garrido’s course directors, said, “In every instance, Juan initiates projects that build bridges between current students and broader community, leaving behind an improved student experience and more opportunities for future students as his legacy. In each role, he is a supportive, decisive and fair student leader, earning him one of the most coveted campus awards: the love and respect of his fellow students.”

“Mr. Garrido has been a role model for outgoing and emerging student leaders alike modelling the ability to perform at a very high capacity while learning to maintain his personal well-being – something that many student leaders struggle with,” said David Ip Yam, Student Affairs manager. “He has demonstrated that leadership is as much about self-development as it is about community development.”

After graduation, Garrido plans to continue his studies at the graduate level and has his sights set on a career in post-secondary education.

Thirteen outstanding individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees at spring convocation

June 12, 2016

Thirteen outstanding individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees at York University’s spring convocation for their significant contributions to society and in their respective fields. The recipients include a native rights activist, food advocate, theatre director, philanthropist, technology innovator and community leader.

“This year’s honorary degree recipients have made a remarkable impact in their communities through their work, social activism and volunteerism,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, York University president and vice-chancellor. “Their leadership and vision has had far-reaching effects that have inspired important societal changes and positively touched countless lives.”

Convocation ceremonies will be held from June 17 to 25. The Convocation website includes a full schedule of all ceremonies. All ceremonies will take place at the Convocation Pavilion, located at the Aviva Centre, 1 Shoreham Drive, at York University’s Keele campus, except for the Saturday, June 25 ceremony, which will be held at Glendon College.

Here are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Debbie Field – Food advocate, social activist, educator
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health I – Friday, June 17, 10:30am

Debbie Field is an international leader in creating a more socially just and environmentally sustainable food system. As executive director of FoodShare, Canada’s largest food security organization, she has generated innovative solutions to problems at all levels of the food system. A social activist, Field has collaborated with York University faculty and students for two decades on research, advocacy and public education. She has also contributed to both movement-building and policy change at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. For her contributions, she has received many accolades including the Ophea Award for Outstanding Contribution, a Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, OPSEU Bread and Roses Award, a Vital People Award and a Toronto Green Leader.

John Friedmann – Planning theorist and scholar
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health II and Faculty of Environmental Studies – Friday, June 17, 3:30pm

John Friedmann is one of the most influential planning academics alive. Born in Austria in 1926, he received his PhD from the University of Chicago and has published 15 individually authored books, 11 co-edited books, and more than 200 chapters, articles and reviews. He is a professor emeritus in the School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an honorary professor in the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. In 1996, he conducted a much-recognized seminar with planning faculty and students at the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University. Outside of planning scholarship, Friedmann is best known for his seminal work on his world city theory. He is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins from Chile and the first UN-Habitat Lecture Award for lifetime achievement in the service of human settlements.

Victor Phillip Dahdaleh – Business leader, philanthropist
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health III – Monday, June 20, 10:30am

Victor Phillip Dahdaleh (BA Hons) is owner and chair of Dadco, a privately owned investment, manufacturing and trading group. Recently, he established the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health at York University with a transformational contribution of $20 million, the largest gift ever received from a graduate of the University. Dahdaleh is an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics, a trustee of the Clinton Foundation, a board member of the McGill University Trust, a board member of the International Aluminium Institute, a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Award World Fellowship and immediate past-president of the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce. The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation funds many organizations worldwide, focusing on education, health-related research, economic and social development, and the arts.

Jillian Keiley – Theatre director
Honorary Doctor of Letters
School of Arts, Media Performance & Design and Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies I – Monday, June 20, 3:30pm

Since graduating from York University, Jillian Keiley (BFA ’94) has become a leading director in Canadian theatre. Founder of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, she has directed and taught across Canada and has worked internationally. She is the artistic director of the National Arts Centre (NAC) English Theatre, a position she has held since 2012. Her productions at the NAC have included a re-working of Tartuffe set in Newfoundland, Artistic Fraud’s Oil and Water and Alice Through the Looking-Glass, which she also directed for the Stratford Festival. Her production of Tempting Providence by Robert Chafe toured nationally and internationally for 12 years. Keiley received the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre (directing) in 2004 and the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize in 1997.

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell – Native women’s rights activist, educator
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies II – Tuesday, June 21, 10:30am

Jeannette Lavell, a member of the Wikwemikong First Nation in Ontario, is best known for the Lavell Case, which challenged the Indian Act before the Supreme Court of Canada, after she lost her Indian status by marrying a non-native in 1970. Her failed challenge inspired a later case that brought the issue of status removal to the United Nations International Human Rights Commission. In 1985, the Indian Act was amended to remove the discriminatory clauses against native women. She has served as president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, a cabinet appointee to the Commission on the Native Justice System, president of the Nishnawbe Institute and president of Anduhyaun Inc. After earning a teaching degree, she worked as a teacher and school principal in her community. She is a recipient of the 2009 Governor General Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, honouring Canadians who advance gender equality.

Roger Mahabir – Technology innovator, community leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies III – Tuesday, June 21, 3:30pm

Roger Mahabir is chair and CEO of Tracker Networks Inc., as well as president and CEO of Technology Innovations Inc. Most recently, he was chair and chief executive of Assurent Secure Technologies, a successful software security company he sold to Telus. Born in Trinidad, he has been inducted into the Canadian Information Productivity Hall of Fame for his innovations in technology. He has served as chief information officer in several Fortune 500 organizations and is recognized as one of IT industry’s top transformative leaders. His achievements have won international acclaim and been archived by the Smithsonian. A former student of York University’s Atkinson College and graduate of Ryerson University, he is an angel investor and mentor to entrepreneurial students and senior executives in Canada. He remains active with community groups, charities and his local church, where he has served in several capacities for over 30 years.

Ann B. (Rusty) Shteir – Feminist scholar, academic leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies IV – Wednesday, June 22, 10:30am

A pioneer of interdisciplinary feminist research and teaching in North America, Ann Shteir has been teaching at York University since 1972. She was among the founders of York’s graduate program in women’s studies in 1992, serving as its first director from 1993 to 1997. She has taught and developed undergraduate and graduate courses in humanities, women’s studies on gender, women’s and feminist history, and cultural history. Shteir received her PhD in comparative literature from Rutgers University. Her monograph, Cultivating Women, Cultivating Science: Flora’s Daughters and Botany in England, 1760 to 1860, won the prestigious Joan Kelly Memorial Prize in Women’s History. Over the years, her feminist impact has not only opened institutional doors for female scholars, but it has generated groundbreaking scholarship in women’s history.

David F. Denison – Businessman, community leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies V – Wednesday, June 22, 3:30pm

A Canadian businessman and chair of Hydro One, David Denison is the former president and CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He has had an extensive career in financial services in Canada, the United States and Europe. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. In 2014, he was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada, as well as a member of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Government Assets to review and identify opportunities to modernize government business enterprises in Ontario. In addition, he has provided lengthy and dedicated service as a compassionate volunteer to York University. He was first appointed to York’s Board of Governors in 2003 and served continuously in that capacity until 2011.

James Harris Simons – Mathematician, financier, philanthropist
Honorary Doctor of Science
Lassonde School of Engineering and Faculty of Science – Thursday, June 23, 10:30am

James Simons is chair of the Simons Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the frontiers of research in mathematics, basic sciences and the causes of autism. He is also board chair of Renaissance Technologies LLC, a highly quantitative investment firm. In 1975, he received the American Mathematical Society Veblen Prize in Geometry for work that involved a recasting of the subject of area minimizing multi-dimensional surfaces. His most influential research, called the Chern-Simons Invariants, has wide use particularly in theoretical physics. As founder and chair of the nonprofit organization Math for America, Simons is dedicated to improving math education in American public schools. In 2016, asteroid 6618, discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1936, was named Jimsimons by the International Astronomical Union in honor of his mathematical and philanthropic contributions.

Sylvia Maracle – Community leader, educator, activist
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Education – Thursday, June 23, 3:30pm

Sylvia Maracle (Skonaganleh:ra) is a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, a member of the Wolf Clan and a passionate advocate for urban Aboriginal Peoples, the cultural revitalization of her people and women’s rights. She has been involved in the Indigenous Friendship Centre Movement for over 40 years, serving as the executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres for much of that time. She is president of Native Child & Family Services of Toronto, co-chair of the City of Toronto Taskforce on Access and Equity, and past president of the Native Women’s Resource Centre. Maracle has fundamentally altered the landscape for urban Aboriginal programs and policies through her tireless work. Her achievements with a long list of regional and local organizations are internationally renowned and she is a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

John Manley – Lawyer, businessman, politician
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Schulich School of Business – Friday, June 24, 10:30am

John Manley is a former Liberal deputy prime minister of Canada. First elected to Parliament in 1988 and re-elected three times, he served in the portfolios of Industry, Foreign Affairs and Finance. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he was named chair of a cabinet committee on public security and anti-terrorism and awarded the 2001 Newsmaker of the Year by TIME Canada. Currently, he is president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada. After a 16-year career in politics, he returned to the private sector in 2004. An officer of the Order of Canada, he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science from Carleton University and a juris doctor from the University of Ottawa. He has been a key advisor to the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Joseph Arvay Q.C. – Lawyer, advocate for civil and human rights
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Osgoode Hall Law School – Friday, June 24, 3:30pm

Joseph Arvay has argued landmark cases involving civil liberties and constitutional rights. He has been counsel in Supreme Court of Canada cases establishing rights for the LGBTQ, drug addicts, sex workers, prisoners, First Nations communities, and most recently for those seeking physician assisted dying (Carter). He has served as a McMurtry Visiting Clinical Fellow at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. He delivered the Lewtas Lecture and devoted part of his time at Osgoode to mentoring students, lawyers and academics in clinical settings. He has received numerous honours, including the Advocate Society’s Justice Award, the Liberty Award from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Walter S. Tarnopolsky Human Rights Award. He was recognized by Canadian Lawyer as one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada every year between 2010 and 2014.

Kevin G. Lynch – Economist, business leader, public servant
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Glendon College – Saturday, June 25, 2:30pm

Widely recognized as a renowned Canadian economist and policy advocate in public service, Kevin Lynch is the vice-chairman of BMO Financial Group and active on not-for-profit boards and international advisory committees. He began his career in 1976 with the Bank of Canada. He has served as deputy minister in the industry and finance portfolios, as well as executive director at the International Monetary Fund. He was the 20th clerk of the Privy Council of Canada, former secretary to the cabinet and former head of the Public Service of Canada. He retired from the Government of Canada in 2009. An officer of the Order of Canada, Lynch was made a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada in 2009 and is a recipient of both the Queen’s Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals for public service. He also lends his extensive experience to many community organizations.

POSTPONED: The Glendon Workshops presents three events in June

June 7, 2016

Editor’s note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, these workshops have been postponed. YFile will publish the new dates as soon as they become available.

A series of workshops designed to bolster the qualifications of masters students in a Glendon boutique program will be available to the public, with events beginning this month.

The Glendon Workshops will bring distinguished Canadians to York University’s Glendon campus as part of the University’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning. It is geared toward students in the Master in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) program offered out of the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs. MIPA is a two-year intensive bilingual program that requires a summer internship with a government department or NGO.

This is the first year for the workshop series, and anyone is welcome to attend.

Events in June include:

Auditor General of Canada Michael Ferguson – June 18, 9am to 4:30pm

Michael Ferguson was appointed Auditor General of Canada in November 2011. Prior to this appointment, from 2010 to 2011, he served as the deputy minister of Finance of New Brunswick and secretary to the Board of Management for the Province of New Brunswick.

Ferguson is responsible for providing Parliament with objective, fact-based information and expert advice on government programs and activities. This information is gathered through financial audits.

Commissioner of Lobbying Karen E. Shepherd – June 25, 9am to 4:30pm

Karen Shepherd was appointed by both houses of Parliament under the Lobbying Act as commissioner of lobbying in 2009 for a seven-year term. She is responsible for administering and enforcing the act, including maintaining a registry of lobbyists and enforce compliancing with the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.

Vice-Chairman of Summa Strategies Tim Powers – June 25, 9am to 1pm

Tim Powers has worked for Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers and the party leader, though he is perhaps best known as the Conservative pundit on CBC’s daily political examination of Power and Politics. He is vice-chairman of Summa Strategies, one Canada’s biggest and highest profile media relations companies.

More about the workshops

As part of these workshops, there will be an informal brown bag lunch period where participants can get to know the guest speakers and network with them and the other attendees. The Glendon Workshops are designed, in addition to being educational, to be a networking opportunity.

This workshop is open to students and the public to be taken as an individual workshop. It can also be taken as a module, which requires completing the assigned course material whereupon students will receive a Certificate of Completion. If all modules in the comprehensive program within which this workshop falls are completed, in this instance Financial Accountability, a similar certification will be granted for the full program.

For more about these or upcoming workshops visit www.glendon.yorku.ca/theglendonworkshops.

Glendon program celebrates 10 years of International Teaching Practicum in Cuba

June 6, 2016

Every two years since 2006, the Glendon class GL/EN 4696 has visited the Faculty of Foreign Languages (FLEX) of E.J. Varona University of Pedagogical Sciences (UCPEJV) in Havana, Cuba to conduct its three-week international teaching practicum.

glendon cuba 2 — From left to right: Professor Brian Morgan (Glendon English), Martha Neufville (Dean, FLEX/Varona U), Professor Ian Martin (Glendon English, Coordinator D-TEIL Certificate), Daisy Frage (President, Varona U), Professor Ruberval Maciel (State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil)

In 2012, this student experience was awarded an honour by the Canadian Embassy in Havana for being the best such international student visit to Cuba in the field of education. The program has also attracted considerable international attention through conference presentations in 2015 at International Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc (TESOL), the American Association of Applied Linguistics conference, and the Brazilian Association of Applied Linguistics. It has also been featured in a book chapter in Unequal Englishes edited by Ruanni Tapas, (Palgrave MacMillan, 2015), for its innovative approach to language teacher education for a global society.

This year’s practicum was of particular significance; not only did the program’s 100th student travel to Cuba – and taught practicum classes in both English and French – but it was the focus of an international symposium in Havana dedicated exclusively to the program’s 10th anniversary with the topic “Glendon’s Cert D-TEIL Program: An Example of Post-Method Language Teaching for Global Society”.

Glendon cuba — The program’s 100th student, Fiona McDonald, in her Cuban classroom

The event was hosted on May 7 by the English Specialists’ Group of the Cuban Academy of Sciences (GELI-ALC), and was attended by scholars from Cuba and Brazil concerned with preparation of global English language teachers.

Apart from the 16 Glendon students, who each highlighted a different aspect of the program, and Glendon English Department Professors Brian Morgan and Ian Martin, speakers included FLEX/Varona Dean Martha Neufville and, from Brazil, Professors Clarissa Menezes Jordao (University of Parana), Ruberval Maciel (State University of Mato Grosso do Sul), Iara Bruz (Doctoral Candidate, University of Parana) and Gustavo Moura (Master’s student, University of Mato Grosso do Sul).

Bruz’s doctoral thesis topic is the D-TEIL Certificate, and both Bruz and Moura spent a term at Glendon participating in and observing Cert D-TEIL activities.

Reminder: TEDxYorkUSalon on Autism Spectrum Disorder to take place May 28 at Glendon

May 24, 2016

York University will host the first-ever TEDxYorkUSalon Spectrum, hosted by Jonathan A. Weiss, a professor in York U’s Department of Psychology and Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Chair of Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment and Care Research.

The event, which takes place May 28 from 1 to 5pm at the Glendon Theatre, Glendon campus, upholds the mandate of the Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment and Care Research by fostering innovative knowledge mobilization and stakeholder engagement.

The aim of the TEDxYorkUSalon is to provide a forum for ideas within the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community of stakeholders with a focus on concerns relevant to transition-age youth and adults with ASD.

Recognizing that knowledge mobilization is a learning process among stakeholders with different perspectives and expertise, the event will involve people with ASD, parents, researchers, policy makers, clinicians and community organizations as presenters.

During the half-day event there will be four official TEDxYorkU talks, one ASD-related comedy act by a young man with Asperger’s and two panels (parent panel and advocacy organization panel).

Presenters include:

David Nicholas, University of Calgary – Nicholas is a professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary and is cross-appointed to the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. His areas of research address quality of life, employment support and transition in disability, family support, parenting, family-centred care, chronic illness, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is currently involved in national and international studies addressing the impact of ASD on youth and families both at the point of diagnosis and over the course of development.

Daniel-Sharestrom-300x300 — Daniel Share-Strom

Daniel Share-Strom, Autistic advocate and speaker – Share-Strom is a professional public speaker who was a featured speaker at the provincial government’s Autism Symposium. He stages his own speaking events to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the GTA, and is a sought-after Asperger’s educator and advocate who moves audiences with his self-awareness, poignant insight and humour. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at age 10 and has an honours degree in communications, and is now studying children’s media.

Yona Lunsky, clinician scientist at CAMH – Lunsky is a clinician scientist in Adult Neurodevelopmental Services at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and adjunct scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). She directs the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (H-CARDD) and has extensive experience conducting clinical and health systems in the field of developmental disabilities. She has a strong interest in mental health care policy and practice issues related to this population, and in developing innovative approaches to assist families and staff in their caregiving role.

Aryeh Gitterman, assistant deputy minister, Ontario government – Gitterman is responsible for policies and programs for: Autism, community-based mental health, child protection, special needs, residential services, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. During the 2015-16 academic year, he was the Ontario Public Service Visiting Fellow at Ryerson University. Gitterman has presented at numerous meetings and conferences regarding education and children’s policies. Prior to joining the public service he worked at the Halton Board of Education as a head of Guidance and Special Education, and as a curriculum coordinator for the school board.

Additional presentations include: Michael McCreary (stand-up comic and advocate), Doug McCreary, Connie Putterman, (parent, research advocate), Margaret Spoelstra (director, Autism Ontario), Cynthia Carroll (executive director, CASDA), and Esther Rhee (national program director, Autism Speaks Canada).

For more, or to reserve your ticket, visit www.tedxyorkusalon.org. To follow along and view the conversation around the TEDx talk videos, use #TEDxYorkUSpectrum.

Recipients of the Robert Tiffin Student Leadership Award honoured for contributions to York

May 6, 2016

On Monday, April 25th, seven outstanding York students were honoured at the fourth annual Robert J. Tiffin Leadership Awards Celebration for their leadership, dedication, integrity and enthusiasm.

Robert J. Tiffin with this year's award recipients — Robert J. Tiffin with this year’s award recipients

This award was created to recognize current undergraduate and graduate students whose leadership has contributed to the growth, development and vitality of York University. Students were selected on the basis of their leadership and/or involvement, as well as outstanding academic achievement.

This year’s recipients are:

from the Lassonde School of Engineering – Farzia Khan, a third-year computer science student;
from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies – Ghazal Haidary, a fourth-year student majoring in sociology and minoring in public administration; Dalubuhle Ndlovu, a third-year human rights and equity studies student; and Sayjon Ariyarathnam, a fourth-year student completing a double major in criminology and human rights and equity studies;
from Glendon College – Juan Luis Garrido, a fourth-year student completing a double major in drama studies and sociology, as well as a certificate in bilingualism; and
from the Faculty of Graduate Studies – Zoe Davis (spec. hons. BSc’12, MSc’13), a PhD student in earth and space science; and, Marva Milo (MA’ 12), a PhD student in gender, feminist and women’s studies.

Robert Tiffin, the award’s namesake, served as York University’s vice president, Students, for nine years before retiring in 2012. Tiffin was in attendance to hand out the awards to each of the winners.

“I am always impressed by the diversity of ways in which leadership occurs here at York and this was truly evident in the variety of ways you have contributed,” he said. “In fact, you embody the key themes of a York education: mobilizing new ways of thinking, preparing engaged global citizens and building stronger communities.”

Through his strong leadership, dedication, integrity and fairness, Tiffin transformed his operation into one of the most professional student service organizations in the country while serving one of Canada’s largest student populations. During his term as vice-president, he undertook the strategic expansion of student services and the development of strategic programs such as Research At York (RAY) and Leadershape, which focus on enhancing the student educational and co-curricular experience.

Since retiring from York, Tiffin has built upon his years of experience through consulting engagements in the post-secondary and private sector. He has continued his commitment to community building by serving as president of the Tamara Gordon Foundation, which financially supports post-secondary students with physical disabilities. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Niagara Health System.

The celebration was hosted by Vice-Provost, Students Janet Morrison, and was attended by Peter Avery, associate dean Students, of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies; Barbara Crow, dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies; Donald Ipperciel, principal of Glendon College; and Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering; as well as members of the selection committee.

The recipients received a certificate at the reception and will have the award noted on their transcripts. Their names will also be added to the awards display wall in the Vari Hall Rotunda.

Nominate a Glendon professor for a Principal’s Teaching Excellence Award

April 27, 2016

Nominations are now being accepted for the Glendon Principal’s Teaching Excellence Awards. The awards honor those who, through innovation and/or commitment, enhance the quality of teaching and learning at Glendon.

Beginning in the 2015-16 year, three awards will be offered annually in the following categories:

Full-time faculty with 10 or more years of full-time teaching experience
Full-time faculty with less than 10 years of full-time teaching experience
Contract faculty

The purpose of these awards is to provide recognition for and to promote teaching excellence across Glendon, the University and in the wider community.

Recipients of the awards receive a certificate signed by the Principal, and will be recognized at the Principal’s Convocation Luncheon Celebration which takes place on June 25, 2016.

Faculty, students and alumni may submit nominations, individually or collectively; however, graduate students may not nominate their supervisor. Furthermore, self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominees must have taught at Glendon for at least three years.

Recipients of these awards, or any other teaching awards, may not be re-nominated for five years following their selection.

Nominations must be submitted online by May 15. The online nomination form is available at http://www.glendon.yorku.ca/enseigneglendon/en/teaching-awards/.

YFile
Newsletter

Tag: Glendon