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Passings: Former Chancellor Avie Bennett remembered as ‘best spirit of York University’

Avie Bennett, the 10th chancellor of York University, will be remembered for many things: his philanthropy, his extraordinary dedication to higher education, and his enduring friendship and support, to highlight just a few.

Avie Bennett

The former chancellor, who served in that role at York University from 1998 to 2004, died on June 2. He was 89 years old.

Many members of the York community joined his family to celebrate his life on Sunday, June 4 at the Bennett Centre for Student Services located at the Keele campus – a facility named after Avie Bennett.

Lorna Marsden, former York University president who worked alongside Bennett, said the turnout for the reception was indicative of the “extraordinary person and wonderful friend” he was to so many.

“He was extraordinary in his generosity to York, and I don’t mean that in just a financial sense,” said Marsden, who continued a personal friendship with Bennett beyond her years as York University president. “He took a special interest in students, convocation ushers, faculty, staff members – everyone he met. He touched every part of the University.”

Bennett spent his years as chancellor being an engaged member of the community. Whether it was attending sports games, tree plantings or Board of Governor meetings, he consistently turned up for community-building events and activities. After retiring in 2004, Bennett continued to serve as Chancellor Emeritus and a member of the Board of Directors of the York University Foundation.

“As chancellor, and as an individual, Avie’s commitment to excellence, improved access to post-secondary education and social responsibility were unwavering. He had an unparalleled commitment to students and their wellbeing, and represented the best spirit of York University,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “With the numerous Bennett Scholarships, he has left a legacy that will serve future students for years to come. Avie Bennett was kind, generous and humble. He will be greatly missed.”

The Avie Bennett Historica Chair in Canadian History was established at York University in 2004 by the Historica Foundation of Canada, endowed by Bennett for the purpose of promoting the study of Canada’s heritage and ensuring the academic vitality of the discipline.

Marsden notes that perhaps one of Bennett’s most far-reaching influences was at convocation, when he delivered a rousing speech that delighted the graduates and their families.

“He had one speech – it was a great speech – and he probably delivered it more than 20 times over the years,” said Marsden.

Outside of his service to York University, Bennett was known for his leadership of McClelland & Stewart Ltd., The Canadian Publishers; chair of the Historica Dominion Institute; and president of the International Readings at Harbourfront.

In 2004, he was appointed honorary chair of the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of Ontario and he was also promoted within the Order of Canada to the rank of Companion. He received the Order of Ontario in 1996.

In June 2004, Bennett was made a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) at York University, and previously received a Doctor of University (D.U.) from the University of Ottawa in 1997 and a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Toronto in 1995. In 2000, Bennett donated McClelland & Stewart to the University of Toronto, and that same year, he donated The Canadian Encyclopedia, electronic version, to the Historica Foundation of Toronto. In 2000, he was the co-chair of the Canadian Democracy and Corporate Accountability Commission.

Bennett was a member of many cultural, educational, and government agencies in the past, including The Premier’s Economic Council of Ontario, The National Ballet of Canada, the Schulich School of Business, and the United Way of Greater Toronto.

“Avie felt very comfortable at York. He was the direct opposite of an elitist and he had very high standards and was very interested in ordinary folks making their way through the world,” said Marsden. “He was a really amazing human being.”

Bennett is survived by his wife of 67 years, Beverly, his six children, Paul (Catherine Olsen), Robin (Alfredo Lizoain), Sara (Joseph Holmes), David (Krisztina Havas), Jane (Hidemi Kihira) and Richard (Paula Jeanine) and his 10 grandchildren, David, Marc, Luisa, Julian, Sophia, Noah, Malachi, Raphael, Niki and Jamie.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 4.

York University’s Division of Advancement has created an online giving page for donations to be made in memory of Avie Bennett here: www.giving.yorku.ca/AvieBennett.

VISTA ramps up for enriched summer school, major international conference

VISTA image showing an eyeball

The Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) program at York University is hosting two major events this month: a summer school, running from June 5 to 9  ̶  a joint venture with the Centre for Vision Research (CVR); and an international CVR/VISTA conference from June 13 to 16. These are the first events that are being sponsored by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).

VISTA is hosting two major events in June 2017
VISTA is hosting two major events in June 2017

VISTA is a collaborative program funded by the CFREF as part of a $120 million multi-partner investment, which builds on York’s world-leading interdisciplinary expertise in biological and computer vision. Together with over 50 academic, public and for-profit partners from around the world, VISTA will propel Canada as a global leader in the vision sciences by integrating visual neuroscience with computer vision to drive innovation.

Robert Haché

The impact of VISTA will be extraordinary. “VISTA will lead to human-centred computer vision applications that seamlessly interact with the real world to improve health, safety, productivity and quality of life,” says Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché.

York CVR-VISTA Vision Science Summer School bolstered by VISTA win
CVR, an international leader in the field, regularly offers a one-week, all-expenses-paid undergraduate summer school on vision science, organized by Professor Richard Murray. This year’s summer school, from June 5 to 9, will be substantially expanded from previous years as a result of the VISTA initiative and the related increase in the number of faculty members and students engaging in vision research at York.

The summer school program is designed for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in scientific research.  Although it is too late to apply for this summer, the program is intended for students who are planning to apply to graduate school in the fall of 2017, and who are interested in investigating vision science as a possible area of research.  Citizens of all countries are eligible.

This June’s program includes talks by CVR faculty members on current research topics in vision science, as well as hands-on experience in CVR laboratories. The curriculum reflects the wide range of research areas at CVR, which includes research on human visual perception, computer vision, visual neuroscience, 3D film, immersive environments and visual disorders.
Vision and the Real World Conference offers compelling line-up

CVR and VISTA also are hosting an international conference, Vision and the Real World, from June 13 to 16, organized by Professor Laurence Harris. This four-day event, for which registration is still open, offers a stellar lineup of invited international speakers as well as an open poster session.

Conference themes include:

  • Neural processing under natural conditions;
  • Vision and limb control: mechanisms and applications;
  • Visual knowledge: priors and learning;
  • Seeing in 3D; and
  • Vision: Science to Applications Symposium.

VISTA team invites York community to keynote session

Douglas Crawford

“The VISTA/CVR team would like to extend an invitation to the York community to attend the keynote session, ‘Vision: Science to Applications Symposium,’ on Tuesday the 13th, from 2:30 to 6:00 pm,” Professor Doug Crawford, scientific director, VISTA emphasizes.

The speakers for this session include Piotr Jasiobedzki, Product Development Manager and Staff Scientist at MDA (Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates); Marlene Behrmann, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University; Perry Johnson-Green, Senior Program Scientist, Canadian Space Agency; and Mary Pat McAndrews, Neuropsychologist and Senior Scientist, University Health Network.

To learn more about the summer school, visit the website or write to Richard Murray (rfm@yorku.ca). To read more about the international conference, and register, visit the website. To learn more about the VISTA program, visit the website. To learn more about CFREF, visit the website.

York University appoints internationally renowned global health scholars

A group of lab workers examine a book of results
A group of lab workers examine a book of results

York University’s Faculty of Health has announced two important appointments, both demonstrating momentum in one of the University’s emerging areas of academic and research excellence: global health.

Dr. James Orbinski has been named the inaugural director of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (“The Institute”), effective Sept. 1. Established in 2015, the Institute provides leadership and innovation to improve global health. This initiative has been made possible with a $20-million transformational donation from Victor Phillip Dahdaleh, a UK-based Canadian business leader and York alumnus.

The Institute reflects York’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches and draws on research strengths from across the University. A champion of global health and humanitarianism throughout his career, Orbinski is an internationally renowned professor, medical doctor, researcher, author, and passionate advocate. He is the former international president of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders during which he helped launch its Access to Essential Medicines Campaign. He has advised the UN Security Council, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for his humanitarian leadership in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

“As an institution, York is committed to values that are completely synonymous with my own,” said Orbinski, “It is fundamentally committed to equity and social justice, and to bringing the resources of a university to make the world a better place, through global health. I believe that our world is made by what we do, and what we do is driven by our values. For me, York is a community that I feel deeply privileged to be joining.”

Dr. Steven J. Hoffman has been appointed as a Professor in the School of Health Policy and Management, effective July 1, 2017. He is cross-appointed to Osgoode Hall Law School and will also be a key contributor to the Institute. The University will be nominating him for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Governance and Social Innovation. Hoffman is one of Canada’s most influential scholars in global health governance, law and policy, having served as an advisor to several national governments, the UN and the WHO. In 2016, Hoffman was appointed the Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR’s) Institute of Population and Public Health. With his appointment, York University will serve as the new administrative host of CIHR’s Institute of Population and Public Health.

“Global health challenges don’t fit neatly into one discipline, so I focus on bringing together research from different places to solve real-world problems,” said Hoffman, “York is an exciting place to learn and do research. I am eager to leverage my background as an international lawyer and interdisciplinary social scientist to build bridges across campus.”

“With the historic and generous $20 million gift from Victor Dahdaleh to build on York’s growing strength in global health, and with the appointment of Drs. Orbinski and Hoffman, two world leaders in this field, the University is poised to become an international leader in global health research, problem solving and public policy,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “The lasting global impact will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives now and in the future.”

“It’s a privilege to welcome two of the world’s most influential thinkers, visionaries, and advocates for global and population health to York,” said Paul McDonald, dean, Faculty of Health at York University, “James and Steven join a progressive minded community of academics who are contributing to the development of cutting-edge health research that is changing the dynamics of health issues, health care services and health systems in Canada and globally. They will play an important role in helping us build Canada’s first undergraduate degree program in global health.”

Home to Canada’s only global health program, York’s Faculty of Health was founded in 2006 by integrating four academic units with varying perspectives.

 

York postdoctoral researcher named Banting Fellow

Heather Fitzsimmons Frey
Heather Fitzsimmons Frey

York University Postdoctoral Fellow Heather Fitzsimmons Frey has been awarded the prestigious Banting Fellowship for her upcoming research project with York’s Department of Theatre in the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design.

Heather Fitzsimmons Frey

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country’s economic, social and research-based growth. The award is valued at $70,000 per year for two years.

Fitzsimmons Frey earned her PhD at the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto. Her thesis titled “Victorian Girls and At-Home Theatricals: Performing and Playing with Possible Futures” explored the significance, for girl participants, of 19th-century amateur theatre by young people.

“I will be studying 19th-century amateur theatre for children, and working with young people and children to get their insights into the productions,” she said. “We will look at diaries, letters, and scripts together, and work through some scenes, discuss some images, and I will use youth insights to get a better understanding of what performing at-home theatricals might have meant in the lives of 19th-century girls.”

Fitzsimmons Frey notes that practice-based research is simultaneously knowledge creation and knowledge mobilization, and working with young people will enhance the understanding of twice-silenced Victorian girls, while increasing young people’s understanding of girls in history, and historical research as a process.

“In practical terms, this means young people will participate in theatrical activities, comment on girls’ writing from the 19th century, and also make creative outputs of their own.”

The hope is to increase advocacy for girls in a number of areas. Foremost, girls’ involvement on record helps scholars recognize their experiences and influence on historical events.

“Involving girls today offers contemporary girls opportunities to see the significance of girls’ lives in the 19th century and demonstrate that their own voices and ability to theorize girls’ lives are relevant today,” said Fitzsimmons Frey. “This research reveals and even creates moments of proto-feminist advocacy in hitherto unexplored spaces.”

Fitzsimmons Frey will begin at York University this month under the supervision of Marlis Schweitzer, associate professor in the Department of Theatre Studies, AMPD.

A full listing of this year’s Banting Fellows is available at banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/en/2016-2017-eng.html.

New Canadians take citizenship oath during special ceremony at York U

Thirty-five new Canadians took the oath of citizenship during a special Citizenship Ceremony held at York University on May 30 as part of Canada’s 150th national birthday celebrations.

York welcomed Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) for the event. The day included roundtable discussions on what it means to be Canadian, which featured special roundtable guest host Global TV’s Alan Carter.

Image: ICC/Alyssa K. Faoro

Held in the Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre in the Accolade East Building, the Citizenship Ceremony was presided by Justice Albert Wong, and featured guest speakers Helena Jaczek, minister of Community Services and MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham; as well as Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of York University.

“You have now come to a point where you will soon be taking an oath of Canadian citizenship, the last step in becoming a Canadian citizen. Congratulations,” said Wong to the candidates. “How you came to Canada and how you chose to become a Canadian citizen will now add to the mosaic that makes this country so attractive to all of us.”

Wong encouraged new Canadians to actively seek out volunteerism opportunities, and to engage in the arts and education – important components of Canadian society.

Candidates repeated the oath of citizenship and crossed the stage to collect their certificates of citizenship.

Guests and new citizens heard from Jaczek, who shared her own story of immigration as a child from England and offered insights on her experience becoming a Canadian citizen.

“While we celebrate our differences in this country, what I have come to note over the years is how we are all the same,” she said. “We live in peace and harmony, we celebrate our differences, but we know that we are all fundamentally the same. We are equal.”

Congratulations were also offered by Shoukri, who noted the celebration was particularly meaningful as it coincides with the marking of Canada’s 150th anniversary this year. He said it provides an important opportunity to reflect on our own citizenship and how we can work together to preserve and strengthen all that we love about this remarkable country for future generations.

“I’m proud to live in a country that honours and celebrates diversity, a country that upholds inclusion,” he said. “As president of York University, I can’t think of many places better suited to host a citizenship ceremony than York University. At York, we are known for our social responsibility, global perspective, our community engagement, and commitment to sustainability. We embody many of the same qualities that make Canada the country it is.”

York University is proud to be one of the most diverse university campuses in Canada, home to more than 60,000 students, faculty and staff who trace their roots to 157 countries.

A reception for new Canadians and guests followed the ceremony in the CIBC Lobby.

Gregory Sorbara reappointed chancellor of York University

York University Chancellor Gregory Sorbara has been reappointed to the University’s top ceremonial role for an additional three-year term, effective June 14, 2017.

York’s Board of Governors first appointed Sorbara as chancellor in 2014 for a three-year term, and recently confirmed the reappointment.

“Greg is a tremendous advocate for postsecondary education, and especially a York University education,” said Rick Waugh, chair, York University Board of Governors. “Greg has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the values that define York: we are progressive, we embrace diversity and we always strive for excellence. I am confident he will continue to champion York with his considerable experience and wisdom.”

This year, Sorbara will confer degrees on graduating students over 13 convocation ceremonies from June 16 to 24.

“York University could not ask for a more dedicated or effective champion than Greg Sorbara,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of York University. “A proud double alumnus and longtime friend of the University, Greg has spent his career working to enhance accessibility to postsecondary education in Ontario and to increase investments in all areas of student success, research and innovation.”

“I am honoured to be reappointed,” said Sorbara. “As the University embarks on its next phase of growth, I remain devoted to the vitality and well-being of York’s community.”

Sorbara earned a BA from York’s bilingual Glendon campus in 1978 and earned an LLB from York’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 1981. In 2013, he received an honorary doctor of laws (LLD) from York. In 2014, he was appointed York’s 13th chancellor, the titular head of York’s governance structure, and a member of the Board of Governors. Formerly a long-serving and distinguished member of provincial Parliament, Sorbara held senior cabinet roles in the governments of Ontario Premier David Peterson and Premier Dalton McGuinty.

For Chancellor Sorbara’s biography, visit news.yorku.ca/files/Sorbara-Detailed-Bio.pdf.

Prof. Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt becomes interim dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

Lisa Philipps, interim vice-president academic and provost, has issued the following announcement to the York University community:

I am pleased to inform members of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) that Professor Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt has agreed to take on the role of interim dean of the school, with the departure of Dean Shawn Brixey. President Mamdouh Shoukri and I have brought this recommendation for board approval; and the Board of Governors Executive Committee, on behalf of the Board of Governors, has now approved the recommendation of this appointment. Professor Fisher-Stitt’s appointment will take effect July 1, 2017.

Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt

Dr. Fisher-Stitt will be well known to members of AMPD and the York community. She has been a full-time faculty member at York since 1992 and is a professor in the Department of Dance in AMPD. She currently (since 2015) serves as associate dean academic in AMPD. As associate dean, she has fostered the expansion of experiential education in the school as experiential education lead and through an Academic Innovation Fund project; chaired the AMPD Markham working group developing the AMPD curriculum for the Markham campus; served on the Enrolment Management Group and worked with the Registrar’s Office on admissions; and overseen the development of new programs in the school, including the BFA Film-Media Arts and the honours minor BA. Previously, she had served as chair of the Department of Dance and director of the graduate program in dance.

Beyond the school, she was associate dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (2005 to 2007), and from 2007 to 2011 she served as associate vice-president (AVP) academic learning initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost. As AVP, she made important contributions to the enhancement of the quality of our students’ experience and to the promotion of teaching and learning at York. She has also represented AMPD on institutional bodies, including the Senate’s Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee.

Dr. Fisher-Stitt holds BA and MFA degrees from York University, and an EdD from Temple University in Philadelphia. She is also a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School and danced with the National Ballet prior to her arrival at York. She is the author of the book The Ballet Class: A History of Canada’s National Ballet School, released in 2010 in conjunction with the school’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. Her areas of research and teaching interest include dance history, the evolution of ballet technique and dance education/pedagogy. Professor Fisher-Stitt is the principal investigator on a Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant titled “Collective Historical Acts of Social Memory (CHASM): Exploring Canada’s National Choreographic Seminars.” She was the recipient of a President’s University-Wide Teaching Award in 2014.

I very much appreciate Dr. Fisher-Stitt’s willingness to undertake this important responsibility. I know she will provide outstanding leadership as interim dean, and I look forward to working with her and colleagues in AMPD as we continue to advance the school’s vision and profile.

Faculty of Education first in Ontario to launch master’s program in leadership and community engagement

The first cohort of students enrolled in the Master of Leadership & Community Engagement (MLCE) program in York’s Faculty of Education gathered on campus on May 6 for an orientation, and to participate in their first courses.

Eleven students attended their first two blended courses, Critical Issues in Leadership & Community Engagement and Engaging Research in Professional Practice.

The MLCE degree program, the first of its kind in Ontario, is a professional master’s degree offered by the Graduate Program in Education that prepares graduates to advance in leadership roles in public sector organizations and communities, with a focus on community engagement and innovation.

The program is designed for candidates who are working in a wide range of contexts, including educational settings, community organizations and other public sector areas, such as health care, child and youth services, libraries, arts and culture institutions, and recreational programs.

“I decided to take the MLCE program because, as an academic adviser at York U, I want to be able to learn about and develop strategies to increase student retention and engagement with students from the immediate York community,” said April, a student in the program. “I believe that the MLCE will provide me with the knowledge and skills to do this.”

A central component of the program is experiential learning, as students will participate in two community placements. These placements provide participants with arenas in which to reflect, consolidate, integrate, synthesize and deepen their understandings of their future roles as leaders in their various professions.

“The MLCE will give students in-depth understandings of leadership, community and engagement while enhancing their research capacity,” said Sue Winton, associate dean of Research & Community in the Faculty of Education. “The program was designed for public sector professionals who are interested in developing their professional skills and knowledge to leverage community-based research and practice for social change. We want to equip students with what they need to advance in their careers and to improve their communities.”

For more information about the Master of Leadership & Community Engagement program, visit the Faculty of Education website at edu.yorku.ca.

York hosts farewell reception for President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri

Professor Lesley Beagrie, chair of Senate, invites the York community to celebrate “A Decade of Impact” at a farewell reception in recognition of President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri on Thursday, June 1 at 2pm.

The event will be held in the Scott Library, 2nd Floor Atrium, Keele campus.

For more information or to RSVP, visit yorku.ca/farewell or call 416-736-5307.

The response form can be used to send your best wishes at any time.

York research examines role of ‘peer leader’ in community health context

The involvement of peer workers in community-centered health programs is a key strategy to address health inequities, according to existing literature to reach under-serviced communities.

To better understand the meaning of “being a peer leader”, York University Faculty of Health Professor Farah Ahmad and Post-doctoral Fellow Manuela Ferrari, both in the School of Health Policy and Management, conducted a qualitative study with peer leaders who worked for the Cancer Awareness: Ready for Education and Screening (CARES) project.

The project promoted awareness, knowledge, and uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening among under-/never-screened women who belonged to ethnic minority, recent immigrant and low income communities in Toronto, Canada.

Peer workers have been found to improve knowledge, attitudes and health behaviors of community members, and to provide health and social service with a better understanding of community needs; yet, the experiences of being peer or lay workers are under-examined.

The research team conducted three focus groups with 14 immigrant peer leaders.

Situational analysis was conducted to determine both dominant and underlying aspects that define the meaning of being a peer leader. The first level of analysis, according to Ahmad, revealed that being a peer leader included not only “helping” others and one’s self, as previously reported, but “re-defining” one’s social and professional position leading to professional development and networking.

Exploration of the “re-defining process” at the second level of analysis, said Ahmad, identified some peer-leaders’ challenges and negotiations in relation to knowledge (science vs. myth), beliefs (fear vs. assurance) and boundaries (private vs. work).

“The findings reveal various ways through which peer workers gain personal empowerment when employed for the community-centered programs – an important insight that has not been given much attention, as the evaluations often focus on the outcomes for the community served by these programs,” said Ahmad.

At the same time, the community-based work of peer workers is complex, as some experience tensions between their ‘expert’ and community roles.

“This theoretical advancement is meaningful to inform training programs for peer workers”, said Ferrari.

The findings highlight the complexity of peer workers’ roles, and offer practical insights for training programs.

The study was funded by the Cancer Care Ontario and the project led by Dr. Sheila Dunn from Women’s College Hospital.