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Call for nominations: Robert Everett Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award

students black diverse woman

Do you know a York student actively engaged in governance life, whose efforts and contributions are making a difference at the University? The Robert Everett Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award recognizes and celebrates these students and their impact on governance at York University, and is now accepting nominations.

Established in 2018, the award is named in honour of the late Robert Everett, a distinguished senior assistant secretary of the University, who made extraordinary contributions supporting University governance for three decades.

All members of the University community are encouraged to submit nominations for this award; self-nominations are not permitted. Nominees must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students with an active registration in a University program who have:

  • actively and constructively participated in University governance at the Senate, Board of Governors and/or Faculty Council levels;
  • embodied a strong spirit of collegiality, inclusiveness and commitment in their approach to governance;
  • exhibited leadership in performing the duties of their role; and
  • made meaningful contributions to governance as a student.

Students may receive only one Robert Everett Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award in their academic career at York (i.e., undergraduate award winners may not be nominated again in subsequent years as an undergraduate or during graduate studies).

Recipients of the award will have a notation included on their transcript, and receive both a framed certificate and recognition on a plaque. They will also be honoured at the 2023 Student Awards reception hosted by the Division of Students.

Nomination packages must include:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • A one (1) to two (2)-page nomination letter that speaks to:
    • the nominee’s willingness to assume leadership in governance activities;
    • the amount of effort expended, particularly that beyond normal expectations of the role;
    • the quality of effort made (intensity, extensiveness, complexity);
    • the impact made, attributable to the nominee’s efforts;
    • the collegial and inclusive approach taken in collaborations; and
    • the commitment taken to foster student perspectives to help shape University decisions.
  • Up to three (3) additional reference letters (no more than two (2) pages each) should be included in the package, and at least one of the letters must be from a current York University student.

The nomination package deadline is Friday, March 31. Submissions must be completed online.

Questions related to The Robert Everett Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award, may be forwarded to the University Secretariat through Cheryl Underhill at underhil@yorku.ca.

York’s AMPD receives federal funding to support mental health of arts, design students

Students gathered around one presenter and microphone against foggy background for open mic

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) will receive $200,000 to adapt and implement mindfulness practices for students, faculty and staff as a part of the Canada-wide Mindfulness Initiative.

Announced on Feb. 21, the funding – delivered over three years via the Public Health Agency of Canada – will support a comprehensive set of mental health promotion materials linked to a peer support network and various mindfulness training and practice programs. The impetus behind the project is the realization that growing barriers to gainful employment, the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation are hardships particularly impacting students. By facilitating mindfulness practices, some of those stresses can be alleviated or mitigated, thereby allowing students to more thoroughly commit themselves to their educations.

At AMPD, the investment will expand programs like music for health and wellness. With this community-based project, AMPD aims to promote mental health to students in a way that builds lifelong coping and resilience skills while in school and beyond graduation.

“AMPD focuses on the whole person,” said Sarah Bay-Cheng, dean of AMPD. “We provide students with the tools to support their physical and mental well-being. Students must develop their technique alongside wellness strategies to reach and sustain their creative potential,”

The initiative is the result of a collaborative effort from York University’s AMPD, Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University, Seneca’s School of Creative Arts and Animation, and led by OCAD University, to secure government funding for mental health services.

“We are pleased to partner with OCAD on this investment that brings wellness into the core of [our curricula,]” Bay-Cheng added. “We look forward to developing existing initiatives and expanding our wellness mandate into new facets of the School.”

In total, The Mindfulness Initiative will provide nearly $4 million throughout its duration in support of post-secondary student mental health. The funding will enhance students’ coping and resilience skills and create a supportive environment where emerging creative artists and designers, including those from marginalized communities, flourish.

“Our government recognizes that the pandemic has greatly added to the pre-existing mental health and substance use challenges many students and young people face. This is especially true for marginalized and racialized young adults,” says Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett.

Help build a better future – become a sustainable living ambassador

Globe and York branded box for the Microlecture Series launch

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

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

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

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

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

Participants can:

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

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

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

York celebrates International Women’s Day

group of diverse women smiling

La version française suit la version anglaise. 

A statement from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton and Vice-President Equity, People & Culture Sheila Cote-Meek on International Women’s Day:

Dear York community,

Today marks International Women’s Day, a day that celebrates and honours the many acts of courage and determination that women, girls, Two-Spirit, gender-diverse, non-binary and transgender people have made globally and within their own communities to advance gender equity.

We recognize women leaders who have faced violence and, in some instances, have been killed for taking a political stance.

We also acknowledge the lived experiences of women with intersectional identities, including gender, ability, age, identity, race, gender diversity and Indigeneity, who experience multiple forms of oppression in addition to living within patriarchal systems. Often, violence is disproportionately directed at Indigenous, Black, women of colour, disabled, Two-Spirit and trans women.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2023, #EmbraceEquity, reinforces intersections of identity and lived experiences. This year’s theme aims to “make equity a part of every society’s DNA.” To accomplish this, we all must take action to embrace equity, understand the differences between equity and equality and recognize that “equal opportunities are no longer enough.”

York University embraces diverse points of view and strives to create equitable communities and to foster a sense of connection and inclusion for all. The upcoming release of York’s Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Strategy affirms our commitment to DEDI and social justice. This commitment is also evident in the 2020–2025 Academic Plan: Building a Better Future, which includes a community-wide challenge to elevate York’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). UN SDG 5: Gender Equality is particularly important to remember on this day. It aims to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls and achieve gender equity through equitable access to education, advancing gender-equity in research, teaching and learning, and nurturing communities where women thrive.  

At York, we are working to elevate UN SDG 5 through initiatives like YSpace ELLA, Ontario’s first women business accelerator, events like Athletics and Recreation’s Women and Girls Leadership and Sport Conference, and SEXGEN, a University-wide committee that advises and advocates for sexual and gender diversity, to name just a few. We encourage you to celebrate International Women’s Day by registering for today’s Inclusion Week keynote “Reclaiming the Transformative Roots of DEDI/EDI,” by equity thought leader Kike Ojo-Thompson.

We wish the York community a happy International Women’s Day as we celebrate women who move gender equity forward.

Together, we can #EmbraceEquity.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor

Sheila Cote-Meek
Vice-President, Equity, People & Culture

L’Université York célèbre la Journée internationale des femmes

Déclaration de la présidente et vice-chancelière, Rhonda Lenton, et de la vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture, Sheila Cote-Meek, à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des femmes:

Chère communauté de York,

La Journée internationale des femmes célèbre et honore les nombreux actes de courage et de détermination des femmes, filles, personnes bispirituelles, diversifiées sur le plan du genre, non binaires et transgenres dans le monde et au sein de leur communauté pour faire progresser l’équité des genres.

Nous reconnaissons les leaders qui ont été confrontées à la violence et qui, dans certains cas, ont perdu la vie à cause de leur position politique.

Nous reconnaissons également les expériences vécues par les femmes ayant des identités intersectionnelles — notamment liées au genre, aux capacités, à l’âge, à l’identité, à la race, à la diversité de genre et à l’appartenance autochtone — qui subissent de multiples formes d’oppression en plus de vivre dans des systèmes patriarcaux. Souvent, la violence est dirigée de manière disproportionnée contre les femmes autochtones, noires, de couleur, en situation de handicap, bispirituelles et transgenres.

Le thème de la Journée internationale des femmes 2023 – Célébrons l’équité – renforce les intersections de l’identité et des expériences vécues. Ce thème vise à « inscrire l’équité dans l’ADN de chaque société ». Pour y parvenir, nous devons tous et toutes prendre des mesures pour adopter l’équité, comprendre les différences entre équité et égalité et reconnaître que l’égalité des chances ne suffit plus.

L’Université York adopte divers points de vue et s’efforce de créer des communautés équitables et de favoriser un sentiment d’appartenance et d’inclusion pour tout le monde. La Stratégie de décolonisation, d’équité, de diversité et d’inclusion (DEDI) de York, qui sera publiée prochainement, affirme notre engagement envers la DEDI et la justice sociale. Cette volonté est également manifeste dans le Plan académique 2020-2025 : Bâtir un avenir meilleur qui comprend un défi à l’échelle communautaire pour renforcer l’engagement de York envers les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies. L’ODD 5 : Égalité entre les sexes est particulièrement important en cette journée. Cet objectif vise à mettre fin à toutes les formes de discrimination et de violence envers les femmes et les filles et à parvenir à l’égalité des genres grâce à un accès équitable à l’éducation, en faisant progresser l’égalité des genres dans la recherche, l’enseignement et l’apprentissage, et en favorisant les communautés où les femmes s’épanouissent.  

À York, nous nous efforçons de renforcer l’ODD 5 grâce aux initiatives suivantes : YSpace ELLA, le premier accélérateur d’entreprises pour les femmes en Ontario, des événements comme la Women & Girls Leadership and Sport Conference organisée par le Département d’athlétisme et des loisirs de York, et SEXGEN, un comité panuniversitaire qui donne des conseils et milite pour la diversité sexuelle et de genre. Aujourd’hui, nous vous encourageons à célébrer la Journée internationale des femmes en écoutant le discours d’ouverture de la Semaine d’inclusion, intitulé « Reclaiming the Transformative Roots of DEDI/EDI », prononcé par Kike Ojo-Thompson, experte en équité.

Nous vous souhaitons une bonne Journée internationale des femmes tandis que nous célébrons les femmes qui font avancer l’égalité des genres.

Célébrons ensemble l’équité. #EmbraceEquity

Merci. Thank you. Miigwech.

Sincères salutations,

Rhonda Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière

Sheila Cote-Meek
Vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture

EUC scholar-in-residence seminar to uncover inequities in everyday infrastructure

New York City parks and public infrastructure stock image banner photo

The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) and the City Institute at York University will host Christian Anderson – associate professor teaching social thought and action as well as science, technology and society at the University of Washington Bothell – throughout March.

Professor Christian Anderson close-up portrait
Christian Anderson

Anderson is visiting as the EUC’s scholar-in-residence and will deliver a seminar on March 14 from 12:30 to 2 p.m, entitled “Without Guarantees: A parallax view of everyday life and place-based urban political economy.” The presentation addresses seldom-recognized consequences of labour, value, narrative and social infrastructure in urban spaces.

Anderson’s residency and seminar closely follow the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are formally adopted in the University Academic Plan 2020 – 2025. Anderson’s work – and the work of EUC staff and faculty – brings into focus the vital importance of UN SGD 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), UN SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and UN SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

In preparation for his visit, EUC student researcher Danielle Legault caught up with Anderson for a Q-and-A on his work and residency.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your visit to York University and Toronto?

A: My goal for this visit is truly just to connect with people, engage, and learn! There are faculty at York whose work I’ve learned a great deal from and long admired, so I’m excited to connect with them.

But I’m also keen to meet new people who are thinking about contemporary urban questions, get nudged to think about things – or from perspectives – I’m not necessarily familiar with, and make new connections. It’s an honor and a privilege to have been invited to visit.

Q: What issues or problems does your work address?

Urbanism Without Guarantees (2020) by Christian Anderson
Urbanism Without Guarantees (2020) by Christian Anderson

A: In a nutshell, my work focuses on intersections among place-based urban political economy, everyday life and everyday practice, and formations of popular common sense and culture, especially in contexts of gentrification and social-spatial inequality.

In past work, I’ve addressed these intersections through ethnographic engagements in New York City, which resulted in a book, Urbanism without Guarantees (2020). Focusing very tightly on just four blocks of a single street, the book tries to show how things like gentrification and policing are connected to forms of common sense and everyday practice which, I argue, are informed by people’s ordinary sensibilities and can become embedded in urban space in ways that are quite contingent. I call these “performative infrastructures,” and the upshot is that they can buoy deeply inequitable processes, but might also – if subjected to deliberative critical praxis, concerted organizing, and so forth – be transformed toward different socialities and outcomes.

Q: What impact has your work had outside of academia?

A: I’ve spent several years now building relationships with and learning from organizers, artists, public historians and others doing counter-displacement work in Seattle – a self-avowedly “progressive” city increasingly beholden to the interests of Amazon, an interesting context in itself!

I’ve had the chance to be involved in public discussions and initiatives, several experimental collaborations, and an ongoing place-based oral history project in the historically racially segregated, now rapidly gentrifying, central city. The latter project trains cohorts of community researchers using an “institute” model, which is a direct connection to debates and pedagogies from radical geography.

And it’s been quite challenging to try and think about what kinds of relationships to the university, let alone a public university, are and are not possible or appropriate here – not only in relation to the usefulness and limits of scholarly research, but also in terms of resource-sharing, connections between students and communities, and even questioning the university’s relationships to processes of inequitable urban development in the region itself.

In sum, I’m quite excited to come to York and learn more about and from the kinds of scholarly, public, and community engagement activites everyone is up to, as I’m certain there will be many points of resonance – and generative difference – with things I’ve been working on and thinking about.

Invite Anderson to a class

To arrange for Anderson to visit a class, email city@yorku.ca. The entire York community is invited to attend Anderson’s seminar, and can register here.

Share feedback on draft strategic research plan at open forum

graphic of head outline and word bubbles

A new draft of York’s strategic research plan has been unveiled by the University’s vice-president research and innovation. 

The York community is invited to share feedback on the draft document at an open forum on Wednesday, March 8 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chambers (N940 Ross Building).  

“I welcome all faculty, staff and students to have their say and help shape a renewed vision for the future of York’s research enterprise,” said Vice-President Research and Innovation Amir Asif. “The University is at a threshold of research excellence and innovation intensification and every voice counts as York drives positive change.” 

Asif will present an overview of the draft plan and update the community on consultations to date that have broadly engaged the community and garnered support. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input and ask questions. For those unable to attend in person, feedback will also be collected via an online submission form here.  

The strategic research plan contributes to the six priorities for action in the University Academic Plan (2020-2025) and charts a trajectory for York research and innovation over the next five years. It is used to align faculty, staff and students around a shared mission and acts as a guide for senior administration to make institutional decisions on research funding, infrastructure and services. 

The draft outlines York’s research strengths and identifies six areas of opportunity, including:  

  • Digital Cultures & Disruptive Technologies 
  • Healthy Communities, Equity & Wellbeing 
  • Climate Action for a Sustainable Planet 
  • Indigenous Futures 
  • Studies in Equity & Social Justice 
  • Catalyzing Inter & Transdisciplinary Research Opportunities  

The 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan is planned to be released this summer subject to the approval of Senate.  

The draft plan is available on the Strategic Research Plan website.

To RSVP to this event, click here.  

Experiential education shines in Faculty celebration

Students and mentor gathered around a table

By Elaine Smith

York University’s annual Experiential Education (EE) Faculty Celebration is a showcase of the creativity faculty employ to provide their students with multi-faceted learning opportunities, as well as a reminder of the University Academic Plan’s commitment to attaining its “goal of providing every student with an experiential learning opportunity, regardless of program.” 

This year’s celebration took place virtually Feb. 9, organized by a committee headed by Lisa Endersby, an educational developer with the Teaching Commons, and Melanie Belore, associate director of experiential education for the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS). “We are thrilled to showcase great work in EE across the campus community,” said Endersby.

Lisa Phillips, provost and vice-president, academic, acknowledged the work done to grow EE at York.

“We currently have 16,000 types of EE opportunities at York,” she said. “It’s meaningful for students to have this type of pathway into their futures.”

Media Creation Lab
The Media Creation Lab in the Libraries is one way York students are engaging in experiential education

Faculty members highlighted specific EE projects that they had undertaken, demonstrating that EE can occur in many settings and forms.

In the Communication & Media Studies program, Andrew Monti oversaw the expansion of the flagship six-credit community field experience course for fourth-year students, COMN 4140. The course now provides 50 students with the opportunity to complete a 144-hour work experience in one of 50-plus partner organizations in the private and public sectors. Once students are hired following the standard competitive process, they work in a variety of fields, such as political communication, public relations and social media content creation, among others.

“Students have been unanimous in their appreciation for the experience,” Monti said. “From applying for the job to using their skills in hands-on projects, students also contextualized their knowledge with targeted readings and critically reflected on their working experience.

“In 2022, 94 per cent of our students received recommendation letters from our partners, and we’re on track to reach our goal of 100 per cent by the spring term of 2024.”

Also at LA&PS, Jennifer Bonnell, an associate professor of history, offers a six-credit honours course in public history that provides students with a 12-week placement; it is capped at 18 students and is the capstone course for a cross-disciplinary certificate in public history.

“The first term focuses on skills development and the second term features the placement,” Bonnell said. “Students can test out career paths and apply their knowledge.”

Professor Andrew Maxwell, Bergeron Chair in Technology Entrepreneurship at the Lassonde School of Engineering, organizes two annual EE three-day events for students – UNHack and the Startup Experience – through Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST). Both events, said Maxwell, “allow the students to work in teams, find their passion and solve problems meaningful to them. The events convince the participants that they can contribute to the world and change it.”

United Nations SDGs
Educators are linking experiential education opportunities to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

During the UNHack, first- and second-year students from across the University work together in teams to address a local sustainability challenge linked to one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). During the structured experience, they choose an important problem they care about, create a viable solution and develop a roll out plan that they hope will be implemented. The Startup Weekend Experience allows senior undergraduate and graduate students to collaborate on the development of a business idea which they pitch to a panel of judges.

“We encourage people to come back each year and get more creative at solving important problems,” said Maxwell. “I hope to see more of these projects become prototypes in York’s Living Lab.”

At the Faculty of Education, Celia Popovic, an associate professor (teaching stream), created a capstone course for students in the BA Education Studies program. It requires students work together on a website that features interviews with professionals working in various education-related positions, including teaching, and to work on a practical project for a partner organization. It’s an opportunity for students to widen their horizons, Popovic said, as they look toward career possibilities, and to allow them to use their theoretical knowledge and reflect on their experiences.

The event also featured a talk by executives from York’s partners from Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL); a roundtable discussion of their EE partnerships with students; and presentations by faculty members who successfully incorporate EE into their classes.

The roundtable featured Dana Craig, director of students learning and academic success with York University Libraries; Geneviève Maheux-Pelletier, director of the Teaching Commons; and Yvette Munro, assistant vice-provost, student success. Each spoke about what their areas offer with respect to EE, including:

• EE courses and the Media Creation Lab in the Libraries;
• support for faculty interested in incorporating EE into their courses through the Teaching Commons; and
• support from the Division of Students through initiatives such as Becoming YU.

Charlene Marion, executive director of CEWIL, and Sean Elliott, associate director for the central region, followed the panel, talking about their organization’s support for work-integrated learning (WIL), offering examples. They noted that York has been a longstanding CEWIL partner and has received $2.2 million in funding for 31 WIL projects since Winter 2021, including a project focused on Black student psychology and health and a senior dance project.

Will Gage, associate vice-president, teaching and learning, said, “EE is a cornerstone of what York tries to provide in terms of excellence and students’ readiness to graduate and hit the ground running in the workplace. … It is pivotal to the success of our students.”

To learn more about incorporating EE into your courses, contact the Teaching Commons.

Indigenous Spring Market opens ahead of All Nations Pow Wow

Indigenous peoples playing music drums

The Indigenous Spring Market, a collaborative event from the Indigenous Student’s Association at York (ISAY) and the Centre for Indigenous Student Services, will run from March 7 to 9 to raise funds for the 21 annual All Nations Pow Wow.

ISAY and the Centre for Indigenous Student Services are hosting the Indigenous Spring Market from March 7 to 9 at York's Vari Hall Rotunda, Vari Link and Central Square.

Throughout the event, more than 20 unique Indigenous artisans, craftspeople and business owners will set up vending stations everyday at 9 a.m. across York’s Keele Campus, clustered around Vari Hall Rotunda, Vari Link and Central Square. A wide range of authentic handmade Indigenous products from bead work, jewelry, leather work, scented candles, paintings, wall art and clothing items will be available.

“We are inviting the entire York community to come and check out the Indigenous Spring Market,” says Christina Da Costa, president of ISAY and graduating student of the BA Indigenous studies and certificate in law and society programs.

The Indigenous Spring Market takes place during the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Week; the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion’s Inclusion Week; and spans International Women’s Day on March 8. Together, each of these events serves as a reminder of the contributions made by the many diverse groups that make up the York community, and of the importance of collectively laying foundations for an equitable, sustainable future.

The money raised by the Indigenous market will help support York’s annual All Nations Pow Wow. In prior years, the market and Pow Wow ran concurrently, but ISAY has decided to run each event independently in 2023.

Students peruse wears produced and sold by local Indigenous craftspeople at the Indigenous Spring Market
Students peruse wears sold by local craftspeople at the Indigenous Spring Market

“[The market] is a fundraiser for the upcoming All Nations Pow Wow scheduled for Saturday, April 29 at the York Lion’s Stadium,” says Da Costa. “We are bringing back the Indigenous arts and crafts vendors to these spaces where they were set up in the days leading up to the Pow Wow, [that had been] held in the Vari Hall Rotunda for many years.”

This year’s Pow Wow will be the second consecutive event of its kind to take place outdoors – a change made under Da Costa’s leadership – and the first event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to take place without lockdown restrictions.

A call to Indigenous vendors for the Pow Wow will be released on ISAY’s social channels following the completion of the market fundraiser. Indigenous dancers and dance groups will be able to register to participate up until the date of the Pow Wow. Tickets will not be required to attend the Pow Wow.

For more information on the Indigenous Spring Market and the All Nations Pow Wow visit the ISAY Facebook page and Instagram.

Osgoode alumni establish $1.2M Davies Fellows Award to create positive change in legal profession

Osgoode Hall Law School alumni, representing Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, presenting a $1.2 million cheque for the Davies Fellows Award

Osgoode Hall Law School and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, have jointly announced a $1.2-million Davies Fellows Award that is designed to break down barriers to legal education.

The new bursary is created with donations from Osgoode alumni at Davies with matching funds from the law school.

Every year, the bursary will help support one first-year student in the law school’s juris doctor (JD) program who has demonstrated financial need and exceptional promise.

The successful candidate’s personal and professional achievements will include overcoming obstacles related to financial means; racial, cultural, or gender inequalities; mental health; and physical or learning challenges. The recipient will be known as a Davies Fellow.

The award is renewable for the student’s second and third years in the JD program, provided the student remains in good academic standing and continues to demonstrate financial need and exceptional promise.

Osgoode Law School alumni representing Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP present $1.2 million cheque for the Davies Fellows Award
York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School receives transformative contribution to its No Barriers campaign from alumni working at leading Canadian law firm Davies

“We count among our lawyers at Davies, individuals who have overcome obstacles to achieve excellence in the profession, and we recognize that we have an opportunity to expand access to a legal education to students from equity-deserving groups,” says Osgoode alumna and Davies senior partner Patricia Olasker.

She adds that the initiative reflects the firm’s commitment to creating a more inclusive legal profession by removing barriers that stand in the way of remarkable students. “Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is a core value of our firm, and the creation of the Davies Fellows Award is an impactful way for us to turn our values into action.”

“I am so grateful for the amazing support our alumni working at Davies have given to this initiative, which will see generous alumni donations matched by Osgoode to help reduce systemic barriers to law school for students from equity-deserving groups who will, in turn, change the face of the legal profession,” says Mary Condon, dean of Osgoode. “The creation of the award is a transformative contribution to the law school’s No Barriers campaign, which aims to make Osgoode one of the most diverse and inclusive law schools in Canada.”

As the first Canadian law school to adopt a holistic admissions policy 15 years ago, Osgoode has been a leader in making legal education more open, inclusive and diverse, the dean adds.

Learn more at News @ York.

Announcement of interim vice-president equity, people and culture

A drone image of Vari Hall on the Keele campus

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton issues the following announcement to the community: 

La version française suit la version anglaise.

Dear York community,

Please join me in congratulating Alice Pitt on her appointment as the interim vice-president equity, people and culture for a term beginning April 1 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Alice Pitt
Alice Pitt

A long-serving and dedicated member of the York community, Alice joined York as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education in 1995, where she demonstrated outstanding leadership and advocacy for accessible post-secondary education in various capacities including as associate dean (2002-07) and dean (2008-12) of the Faculty of Education.

In her role as vice-provost academic, which she held from 2012 to 2020, she paved the way for the creation of innovative and accessible student programs. She was integral in facilitating the development of the University’s Indigenous Framework, which identifies 10 core principles for action in advancing reconciliation, and to this day, continues to inform and shape the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing decolonization and Indigenous teaching, research and scholarship.

Alice has also played a prominent role in supporting the development of Markham Campus through her work as the senior advisor of the Markham Academic Strategic Planning Committee, where she led the creation of inclusive and accessible spaces and programming for students.

And, as a researcher, she has contributed significantly to feminist education particularly in regard to teacher education, classroom dynamics and curriculum. I am delighted to welcome Alice to this role where she will continue to provide exemplary leadership in advancing and advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion while enhancing the culture of York University.

We will have an opportunity to properly acknowledge Sheila Cote-Meek and wish her well as she transitions to Brock University but for now, let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude to her for the outstanding contributions she has made to York as our inaugural vice-president equity, people and culture. 

Sincerely,

Rhonda Lenton
President & Vice Chancellor

Annonce de nomination : Vice-présidente intérimaire de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture

Chère communauté de York,

Veuillez vous joindre à moi pour féliciter Alice Pitt pour sa nomination au poste de vice-présidente intérimaire de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture pour un mandat allant du 1er avril au 31 décembre 2023.

Membre dévouée et de longue date de la communauté de York, Mme Pitt est entrée en 1995 à la Faculté d’éducation en tant que professeure adjointe. Dans le cadre de ses fonctions, elle a fait preuve d’un leadership exceptionnel et a défendu l’accessibilité de l’éducation postsecondaire d’abord à titre de doyenne associée (de 2002 à 2007) puis de doyenne (de 2008 à 2012).

Elle a ensuite occupé le poste de vice-rectrice aux affaires académiques de 2012 à 2020 et a ouvert la voie à la création de programmes étudiants innovants et accessibles. Mme Pitt a joué un rôle essentiel dans l’élaboration du Cadre stratégique autochtone pour l’Université, qui définit 10 principes de base pour l’action envers la réconciliation. Ce cadre continue d’orienter et de façonner l’engagement de l’Université en faveur de la décolonisation et de l’enseignement, de la recherche et de l’érudition autochtones.

Elle a également joué un rôle déterminant dans le développement du campus Markham en tant que conseillère principale du comité de planification stratégique de Markham au sein duquel elle a dirigé la création d’espaces et de programmes inclusifs et accessibles pour la population étudiante.

Par ailleurs, elle a contribué de façon notable aux recherches sur l’éducation féministe, notamment en ce qui concerne la formation des enseignants, les dynamiques en salle de classe et le programme d’études. Je suis ravie de l’accueillir dans ce rôle où elle continuera à fournir un leadership exemplaire pour faire avancer et revendiquer l’équité, la diversité et l’inclusion tout en renforçant la culture de l’Université York.

Nous aurons bientôt l’occasion de rendre hommage à Sheila Cote-Meek et de lui souhaiter bonne chance lors de sa transition vers l’Université Brock. Pour l’instant, permettez-moi de saisir cette occasion pour lui exprimer mon appréciation et ma gratitude pour ses contributions exceptionnelles à York en tant que toute première vice-présidente de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture. 

Veuillez agréer mes sincères salutations,

Rhonda Lenton
Présidente et vice-chancelière