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Researchers discover that fruit flies adjust to sudden drops in temperature

Drosophila

Research conducted by an international team that includes scientists from York University has revealed that the common fruit fly exhibits sophisticated adaptations in response to temperature fluctuations.

While fruit flies may seem simple, these common visitors to the fruit bowl can drastically alter their gene expression and metabolism to respond to temperature changes in their environment.

The finding is important because understanding how insects tolerate changes in temperature is a crucial step in protecting and controlling insects worldwide, says Heath MacMillan, a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biology at York University. MacMillan led the study in collaboration with researchers in Canada, Switzerland and Japan.

Common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Image by: Heath MacMillan, York University
Common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Image by Heath MacMillan, York University

With rapid and unprecedented climate change, the need to understand how insects are affected is increasingly necessary, especially as they represent more than 75 per cent of all animal species. The research was published June 30 in Scientific Reports.

“Temperature is one of the strongest predictors of the global distribution of insect species,” said MacMillan. “This is because temperature affects all aspects of insect physiology and limits the ability of insects to move, eat and reproduce.”

Unlike mammals and birds, most insects are ectotherms, meaning their body temperature tracks the temperature of their environment. This can be challenging because when winter hits insects have to cope with how their lower body temperature reduces the rates of all the chemical reactions needed to keep their metabolism humming.

As a result, insects modify their physiology and behaviour to respond to temperature and can continue to function even at quite low temperatures. This ability, called thermal acclimation, is necessary for insect survival over the cold winter months, but how this happens is still not well understood.

Since many insects carry disease, are crop pests or are helpful to humans as pollinators, understanding the mechanisms behind thermal acclimation improves scientists’ abilities to predict changes to insect populations as the Earth’s climate rapidly changes.

For the study, researchers raised common fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, from eggs through to their larval or maggot stages at a room temperature 21 C. Once they were adults, half of the flies were transferred to a 6 C space.

“The flies responded to this change by changing the expression of genes and proteins in their bodies, which has downstream impacts on the metabolic pathways they use,” said MacMillan. “After six days of keeping the two groups of flies at 21 and 6 C, we sampled all of them and measured the expression of every one of their genes and the abundance of every metabolite, or chemical, in the flies that we could identify.”

The researchers expected to see changes in the flies that were exposed to the cold, but were surprised by the extent of them. “We saw nearly a third of the fly’s genes increased or decreased in expression, and the abundance of roughly half of the metabolites changed at the same time,” said Brent Sinclair, associate professor at Western University and senior author of the study. “Many of the genes and metabolites we saw changing are in support of the current state of knowledge on insect cold tolerance, which is encouraging. However, a lot of what we saw was new and is providing us with some exciting paths forward.”

The researchers plan to use this information to examine specifically how the genes and metabolites identified in the study are contributing to insect survival in the cold. “Given the length of the list, it will be no small task,” said MacMillan. “The list of targets we have now is a hazy map to the treasure that is a complete understanding of cold tolerance. Ultimately, this map will help drive us toward new applications in the realms of agriculture and disease transmission.”

The research was supported by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada.

York set to welcome two Schulich Leaders this fall

York University will welcome two scholars to campus this fall who have earned the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships awarded for academic excellence, leadership in school and community life, and entrepreneurial talent.

rathesh balendran
Rathesh Balendran
arma khan
Arma Khan

Rathesh Balendran and Arma Khan have been named  the 2016 recipients, and will begin their first year at York this fall.

Balendran, who comes from Abelard Centre for Education in Toronto, will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree. He is the first Schulich Leader from Abelard Centre for Education.

Khan, who comes from Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharine’s, will pursue a Bachelor of Engineering. She is the second Schulich Leader to come from Laura Secord Secondary School.

The scholarship program, created by Canadian business leader and philanthropist Seymour Schulich three years ago, encourages high-school graduates to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies. Administered by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, it provides funding at 20 universities across Canada for one scholarship for an undergraduate student enrolled in engineering and another scholarship for a student who is pursuing a non-engineering degree in a science, technology or mathematics program.

The 2015-16 academic year marks the fourth year of York University’s participation in the Schulich Leader Scholarship program. The program was made possible by the generous donation of Seymour Schulich, who has given more than $350 million in philanthropy in Canada and the United States, largely focused on education and health care.

Basic science can change the world, James Simons tells grads

Graduands from Lassonde School of Engineering and the Faculty of Science were reminded during the ninth ceremony of York University’s Spring Convocation that inquiries into basic science are often the ones that change the world.

James Simons, a highly accomplished mathematician, financier and philanthropist, spoke to graduates during the ceremony on June 23. Simons was given an honorary doctorate of science from York University.

james simonsA celebrated mathematician who earned his doctorate in the subject at the age of 24, Simons share words of inspiration through meaningful examples in history.

“Basic scientists try to understand the world about them without necessarily thinking to use that knowledge to immediate applications,” he said, citing how Newton invented calculus to better understand planetary dynamics, but couldn’t imagine that calculus would underpin all of engineering.

Darwin, too, didn’t know that his discovery of evolution would underpin all of biology, and ultimately most of medicine.

“Thing about basic science is, you don’t know really where it’s going to go, but you can hope that it’s going to go far,” said Simons, who 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, himself, was a small example of this, he told students, when he and mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern developed the Chern-Simons form – a mathematical theory that roughly a decade after its development was picked up by physicists. It is now widely used in theoretical and condensed matter physics.

“I did not know any physics when we did that … and to that matter, I still don’t know that much physics, but who knew that that would apply beyond where it was supposed to go,” he said.

Simons then told the story of Oswald Avery, a Canadian-born American medical researcher.

Avery first graduated medical school to become a doctor, but a few years in decided that he would rather pursue medical research. He joined an institute that specialized in bacteriology, and seven years later took his career to the Rockefeller University Hospital.

hon doc james simonsSpecializing in pathogenic bacteria, Avery became a great expert in the field and expanded his studies to the genetics of bacteria – a subject, Simons said, that at that time was “as mysterious as the genetics of anything else”.

“In a series of very delicate experiments, he determined that the material that determined inheritance – genetic material – was neither a protein, a lipid, or a carbohydrate,” said Simons.

He continued to narrow his samples down to a very miniscule amount, which presented as an acid – and indeed showed to be DNA.

“DNA was a molecule that was known since the late 1800s, but its use in biology was unknown,” said Simons.

Avery knew his results would be met with disbelief, so worked for four more years, repeating and perfecting his experiments, before publishing his findings in 1944.

“The paper was immediately recognized by many as being an extraordinary result, but it took several years for the remainder of the scientific community to be convinced,” said Simons. “Nine years later Crick and Watson discovered the structure of DNA and that unleashed evolution in science that’s lasted to this day.

“Avery could not possibly imagine how transformative and far-reaching his discovery would be, nor even a fraction of its ultimate components, applications; he just wanted to know the answer ‘What is this stuff?’ And, that is really basic science at its best.”

Avery, he said, exhibited characteristics that make a great scientist and leader: good judgement to recognize a truly important problem; the courage to take that problem on even in great difficulty; and the determination to stick with it.

“As you go out in the world, try to cultivate these characteristics,” said Simons. “They can take you a long way.”

York’s 2016 spring convocation ceremonies are streamed live and then archived online. Simons’ convocation address will be archived at the conclusion of spring convocation ceremonies. To view his address, visit the Convocation webcast archive.

Faculty of Science celebrates honorary degree recipient and faculty achievements

The Faculty of Science hosted a special Science Unplugged event on June 23 to recognize and celebrate recent outstanding achievements by colleagues in the Faculty. More than 100 faculty members, students and staff were in attendance. James Simons, who received an honorary Doctor of Science from York at convocation earlier that day, was the guest of honour.

Dean Ray Jayawardhana kicked off the event. “It’s a wonderful day for us in the Faculty of Science,” said Jayawardhana. “We are delighted to recognize Dr. Simons for his most inspired investments in science and for his life of relentless curiosity, and to celebrate the terrific achievements and contributions of our own faculty colleagues.”

From left, James Simons, Boyana Konforti and Faculty of Science Dean Ray Jayawardhana
From left, James Simons, Boyana Konforti and Faculty of Science Dean Ray Jayawardhana

He also welcomed back Boyana Konforti, a distinguished York Science alumna who serves as Director of Education and Outreach at the Simons Foundation, and Professor Emeritus Allan Carswell, who recently made a significant gift towards graduate scholarships.

Short presentations by Professors Jane Heffernan in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Amro Zayed in the Department of Biology, both York Research Chairs, followed. Heffernan spoke about the research she conducts in the Centre for Disease Modelling and how mathematics can help us understand infectious diseases and the best methods of preventing and managing infections and outbreaks. Zayed spoke about his research on the genetics of honeybees, including the management of large genetic data sets, and how this work is leading to new insights into the individual, population and community level traits of honeybees.

Simons then took to the podium to speak about how he and his wife, Marilyn, came to found the Simons Foundation and their passion for supporting basic science. Simons is a highly accomplished mathematician and businessperson, as well as an active philanthropist dedicated to advancing knowledge through significant investments in mathematics and science. Through the Simons Foundation, he has funded programs around the globe in mathematics, theoretical physics, the physical and life sciences, and science education and outreach. Simons also founded Math for America, which supports mathematics education in public schools.

Following Simons’s remarks, a reception was held to celebrate the accomplishments of several faculty members. Jayawardhana presented mementoes of recognition to Professors Paul Delaney and Laurence Packer, who received the titles of University Professor and Distinguished Research Professor, respectively, at convocation earlier that day. Professor Bridget Stutchbury was recognized as well for her contributions to outstanding research on the ecology, behaviour and conservation of birds—which earned her the 2016 President’s Research Excellence Award earlier this year. Finally, Jayawardhana acknowledged Professor Peter Cribb for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment in serving as Associate Dean of Students since 2009.

Faculty of Science Dean Ray Jayawardhana presents a keepsake of appreciation for dedicated service to Associate Dean Peter Cribb
Faculty of Science Dean Ray Jayawardhana presents a keepsake of appreciation for dedicated service to Associate Dean of Students Peter Cribb

The event was part of the Faculty of Science’s event series called Science Unplugged, which brings together faculty members, students, staff and alumni for stimulating presentations and networking opportunities.

York University researchers awarded more than $5.6 million by NSERC

The Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) announced Thursday, June 23 that 32 researchers at York University have been awarded more than $4.9 million in NSERC grants, while 10 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have received a total of $700,000 in funding for scholarships and fellowships.

“Our researchers are making important contributions to scientific, engineering and technological discoveries in Canada and abroad as reflected by NSERC’s investment in York’s research programs,” said Robert Haché, York’s vice-president research & innovation.

Kirsty Duncan, the federal minister of science, announced more than $465 million for over 4,000 awards for research that will further discoveries in a full range of fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The awards comprise the 2016 competition results for NSERC’s Discovery Grants, Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships Program.

In the Discovery Grants Competition, the funding was granted for research programs covering a wide range of topics, including:

  • The Analysis of Planetary Surfaces;
  • Motor and Sensory Optimization of Mobile User Interfaces;
  • Protection of the Next Generation of Power Distribution Systems;
  • Human visual perception of shape, lightness, and lighting; and,
  • Theory and practice of molecular communication.

The Discovery Grants Program supports ongoing programs of research in every scientific and engineering discipline. York researchers were also awarded funding in the Research Tools & Instruments Competition. The funding enhances the discovery, innovation and training capability of university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering by supporting the purchase of research equipment and installations.

Newborn giant planet found orbiting an infant sun

A crop of a photo of a hot Jupiter planet orbiting a small sun

The discovery of a giant planet known as a hot Jupiter orbiting an infant sun represents a major step forward in understanding how planetary systems form and evolve, says an international team of astronomers including some from York University.

Hot Jupiters have puzzled astronomers for the last 20 years. How did these giant planets get into orbits 100 times closer to their host stars than our own Jupiter is to the Sun? The paper, published today in the journal Nature shows it’s possible for these hot Jupiters to form early in a star’s life, something that has long been debated. The infant sun where this new hot Jupiter was found is only two million years old – the stellar equivalent of a week-old human baby.

“Our discovery reveals that a giant planet can not only form quickly, but also end up extremely close to its sun soon after the star itself is born,” says co-author Elodie Hébrard, a postdoctoral fellow in Professor Ray Jayawardhana’s research group at York University. “What’s more, the presence of a close-in giant planet so early in a star’s life is likely to have a profound influence on smaller, terrestrial planets that might form in its vicinity.”

An artist's view of a newborn giant planet. Image by Mark A. Garlick
An artist’s view of a newborn giant planet. Image by Mark A. Garlick

In Earth’s solar system, small rocky planets are found near the Sun, whereas gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn orbit much further out. A 1995 discovery of a giant planet close to its host star took the field by surprise as theoretical work indicates that such planets can only form in the cold and icy outer regions of the protoplanetary disc, where the central star and surrounding planets are born. Some migrate inwards without falling into their host star and become what’s known as hot Jupiters.

“It demonstrates for the first time that such bodies can be generated at very early stages of planetary formation, and likely play a central role in shaping the overall architecture of planetary systems,” outlines Jean-François Donati, National Center for Scientific Research astronomer at the Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP)/Observatory Midi-Pyrénées (OMP) 2 and lead author of this new publication.

Among the known hot Jupiters, some feature strongly-tilted or even upside-down orbits, suggesting they were knocked into close orbits by interactions with other planets or neighboring stars. Others orbit above the host star’s equator, hinting at a more gentle formation process in the form of an inward drift through the disc.

“The young hot Jupiter we just detected comes as the first evidence that early disc migration is also happening,” said Hébrard.

The team monitored the two million-year-old infant star V830 Tau located in the Taurus stellar nursery 430 light-years away from Earth. Over the nealry seven weeks of the campaign, a regular 4.9-day “wobble” in the velocity of the host star revealed a giant planet almost as massive as Jupiter orbiting its host star at a distance of only one 20th that from the Sun to the Earth.

For this discovery, the team used the twin spectropolarimeters ESPaDOnS and Narval, mounted at the 3.6m Canada France Hawaii Télescope (CFHT) on Maunakea and 2m Téléscope Bernard Lyot (TBL) atop Pic du Midi in the French Pyrénées, respectively.

“SPIRou and SPIP, the twin new-generation instruments built for CFHT and TBL by our team and scheduled for first light in 2017 and 2019 respectively, will offer vastly superior performances for such programs, and will soon allow us to explore the formation of new worlds with unprecedented sensitivity,” says Louise Yu, another co-author of the study and PhD student at the IRAP/OMP who is at York University for the summer.

Astronomer Paul Delaney appointed University Professor

Paul Delaney
photo of Paul Delaney
Paul Delaney

Paul Delaney, senior lecturer in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in the Faculty of Science and the director of the Division of Natural Science in the Faculty of Science, will be awarded a 2016 University Professorship for his scholarship, teaching and participation in University life and contribution to the University as a community.

Delaney was selected by York University’s Senate Committee on Awards to receive the honorific title of University Professor. He will be honoured at York University’s spring convocation ceremony of the Faculty of Science on Thursday, June 23.

A University Professor is a long-serving, tenured faculty member who has made an extraordinary contribution to the University as a colleague, teacher and scholar, including significant long-term contribution to the development or growth of the University or its parts; significant participation in the collegium through mentorship, service and/or governance; sustained impact over time on the University’s teaching mission; and recognition as a scholar.

For more than 30 years, Delaney has been a part of the collegial and institutional life of York University. He has had a transformational effect on large parts of the University and his work as an astronomer has greatly raised the public profile of both the science of astronomy and York University’s place as home to some of the leading research in astronomy.

The recipient of a 2016 President’s University-wide Teaching Award, Delaney was named by TV Ontario as one of the top lecturers in Ontario.

From 1994 to 2005, Delaney served as the Master of Bethune College and played an important role in shaping Bethune College’s focus on serving science and engineering students, encouraging peer to peer student support, study groups and more. He transformed the Natural Science Program into a popular area of study through appealing and interesting courses, and making it a site of continuous pedagogical innovation (including the development of online and technology enhanced courses).

He is also the director of the York Observatory and a in that capacity is a frequent contributor and go-to expert for television, radio and print media on astronomy. The York Observatory has become an important part of community engagement efforts at the University with more than 5,000 visitors each year and some 20 enthusiastic student volunteers. The observatory hosts online public viewing sessions and a weekly radio show on Astronomy FM with a global online audience of more than 30,000 dedicated listeners.

Delaney is the recipient of many national awards. In 2015, he was awarded the Canadian Astronomical Society’s prestigious Qilak Award and in 2010 Royal Canadian Institute honoured him with the Sanford Fleming Medal for contributions to the public understanding of science, putting Delaney in the company of some of Canada’s most prominent scientists, including Ursula Franklin, John Polanyi, David Suzuki and Tuzo Wilson.

Bee expert Prof. Laurence Packer to receive title of Distinguished Research Professor

Laurence Packer
Laurence Packer
Laurence Packer

York University is honouring Faculty of Science Professor Laurence Packer, a world renowned bee expert, with the title of Distinguished Research Professor. The title is given to active members of the academy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the University through research.

The title will be conferred on Packer at the Spring Convocation during the June 23 ceremony at 10:30am.

Over the past 28 years, Packer has made an outstanding contribution to the University’s research culture and reputation by developing a world-recognized research program on bees. Packer’s work has fostered the growth and development of an impressive number of students who go on to lead in academia and elsewhere, and by providing international leadership in the fields of bee taxonomy and systematics, genetics, biodiversity, conservation biology and behaviour.

The word bees encompasses far more than the familiar honey bee, with its highly organized social structure of castes. There are some 20,000 species of bees, from the often recognized bumble bee to much smaller “solitary” bees that exhibit less social behaviour. These bees are at least as important as honey bees in pollinating native plants and crops. Packer is the foremost world authority on many groups of bees and is considered a Canadian expert on bees of the world.

His collection of bees − a collection that he built at York University from the ground up − is recognized as a major reference and continues to attract to the University a steady stream of visiting researchers. He recognized early the value of genetic barcoding to taxonomy and has spearheaded the Bee Barcode of Life project, a major international effort to develop genetic barcodes for all of the bees on Earth.

Packer has authored more than 110 research papers over the course of his career at York University. He has authored 10 book chapters and some 46 papers from his laboratory that have been funded by his research grants, published by his students.

Packer, together with Professor Peter Kevan, a pollination expert at the University of Guelph, founded and led a consortium of some 50 scientists in a Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) funded network known as CanPolin. In addition, his expertise led to an invitation to join the working group on pollinator declines of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis based in the United States. There he led a multi-authored publication that has attracted 500 citations.

He is the author of three popular books that have helped Canadians learn about bees and their important role in nature. His bestselling book, Keeping the bees: why all bees are at risk and what we can do to save them, won the prestigious Canadian Science Writers’ Association General Audience Book Award, and was the finalist for the Rachael Carson Award of the Society of Environmental Journalists, as well as the Lane-Anderson Science Book Prize. He is also the co-author of Bees: an up-close look at pollinators around the world (2015) and The bees of Toronto (just published by the Toronto Diversity Series).

A Distinguished Research Professorship is awarded for life and evolves into a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus on retirement. All of York University’s distinguished research professors are encouraged to continue their involvement in the intellectual life of the University following retirement.

The major criterion for the honour is sustained and outstanding scholarly, professional or artistic achievement where a significant portion of the candidate’s work has been accomplished at York University. The award is inclusive of all full-time faculty in all disciplinary areas.

York U bee researcher launches first-ever online image bank of world’s bee genera

Mesoxaea sp. Male, Image from the Packer Image Bank
Mesoxaea sp. Male, Image from the Packer Image Bank
Laurence Packer
Laurence Packer

Professor Laurence Packer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, has created the first online image bank of the bee genera of the world. Almost all of the images are from his laboratory, where he houses a collection of more than 300,000 bee specimens.

“We wanted to create an online resource that anyone around the world can use, including scientists and students, to help them get an idea as to whether their identification of a bee might be correct,” explains Packer. “The tool is also a way for us to share our collection with others and showcase the incredible diversity of bees.”

Mesoxaea sp. Male, Image from the Packer Image Bank
Mesoxaea sp. Male. Image from the Packer Image Bank

He started his bee collection at York University nearly 30 years ago. The collection has now grown to be one of the most diverse in the world and the largest in Canada, representing more than 90 percent of the world’s known bee genera from more than 100 countries.

Packer and his team will continue updating and improving the image bank. He hopes to make it more interactive in the future, so that visitors to the site can click through a series of questions (for example, about the shape of the bee’s tongue or the veins on its wings) that will help them identify the genus of an unfamiliar bee more easily.

On Packer’s website there is also an image bank for nearly all of Canada’s 800-plus bee species, as well as a visual key to identify the bee families of the world that was funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

To see the Bee Genera of the World image bank, visit http://www.yorku.ca/bugsrus/resources/galleries/bgow.

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

Convocation stage

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.