Our Community

The ��Ƶ is increasing funding for PhD and SJD (doctor of juridical science) students across its three campuses in an effort to alleviate students’ financial stress, advance equity, increase access to doctoral research opportunities and boost research outcomes.

Beginning next fall, all current and incoming students in the funded cohort (the first four or five years) of PhD and SJD programs will be guaranteed an annual base funding package of $40,000 including tuition – one of the highest base funding packages in Canada.

The move is designed to place PhD students on a stronger financial footing so they can better focus on their research endeavors, boosting U of T’s competitiveness in attracting top talent and, ultimately, strengthening the university’s research enterprise and contributions to knowledge creation and economic growth in Canada.

“Our PhD students are at the heart of the ��Ƶ’s success in driving cutting-edge research and innovation across disciplines. Their creativity, intellectual prowess and dedication are vital to the university’s mission of generating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Trevor Young, U of T’s vice-president and provost.

“At the same time, financial pressures can have a detrimental impact on students’ well-being and ability to advance their research. By increasing our financial support, we hope to alleviate some of that pressure and improve the graduate student experience, ensuring that our programs can continue to recruit and retain the next generation of exceptional scholars.”

An estimated 2,800 domestic and international PhD students – more than half of the funded cohort – will see their funding increase under the new measure.

The new funding commitment comes as governments around the world increasingly recognize research as an engine of economic innovation. In its 2024 budget, Canada’s federal government made a significant reinvestment in the country’s research and talent. This included $1.8 billion over five years to the federal granting councils and $825 million to federally funded graduate scholarships, raising the value of doctoral scholarships to $40,000.

The federally supported scholarships, however, are competitive – most students do not receive them. The new funding commitment from U of T raises the minimum level that all PhD and SJD students receive.

“I have always loved U of T, and it has allowed me to excel to places that I could only dream of. However, many times I deeply struggled to balance my academic aspirations with the intense demands of living and studying,” said Tina Keshavarzian, a PhD candidate in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's department of medical biophysics whose research focuses on using single-cell sequencing, data science and machine learning to understand how cancers become more aggressive. The increased funding, she said, “can provide the stability students need to engage in their research and research community, leading to better academic outcomes and shorter times to completion. 

“When students feel supported and fulfilled, it creates a positive ripple effect in their academic teams and the entire university ecosystem.”

The updated base funding package will be primarily supported by funds from divisional sources – such as research grants, fellowships and other funding streams administered by individual faculties and graduate units – with additional support from the university’s central budget to soften the financial impacts on some academic divisions.

“I want to acknowledge, the tremendous leadership from deans across the university” said Joshua Barker, vice-provost, graduate research and education & dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “Increasing graduate funding for our PhD and SJD students is truly a collaborative effort, one that requires commitment from all our partners – graduate units, faculty members, the university advancement teams and the university’s senior leadership. Together, we can meet this challenge and provide the support our graduate students deserve.”

U of T has also launched a PhD scholarship matching program that seeks to create 250 new PhD awards as part of the Defy Gravity fundraising campaign. A donor’s $100,000 gift, combined with U of T matching funds, will create a $250,000 endowed award, which will generate an annual income of approximately $10,000. This will combine with other sources of funding to increase the pool of funds available for PhD students.

“PhDs are our most research-intensive degrees and the students who pursue them spend a lot of time at the university,” Barker said. “Their work has helped make U of T the highest ranked university in Canada and one of the world’s top research institutions – and a large number of our PhDs go on to work across Canada in both academia and the private sector, strengthening the country’s economy and innovation landscape.

“Investing in our PhDs means investing in Canada’s future.”

Barker noted the new funding initiative comes on the heels of extensive research and consultations. He pointed to U of T’s annual Graduate Student Experience in the Research University (gradSERU) surveys, in which a substantial number of respondents cited financial pressure as an obstacle to their academic progress.

In fall 2022, U of T convened a Graduate Funding Working Group – chaired by Barker and comprising faculty members, divisional leaders and students – to examine the graduate funding landscape and make recommendations. The working group issued its report the following year, outlining its considerations and recommendations.

“We've heard the feedback, and the institution is now stepping up to do what's necessary to invest in our PhD students' well-being and success,” Barker said.

Keshavarzian, a member of the tri-campus working group who previously directed Temerty Medicine's graduate representation committee, said the working group was key to understanding and addressing the concerns of graduate students across U of T's three campuses.

“This structure has allowed us to bring together diverse perspectives and create solutions at a university-wide level, rather than fragmenting the responsibility among various departments,” said Keshavarzian, who earned her honours bachelor of science degree at U of T before returning for graduate studies. “I’m incredibly proud to be part of an institution willing to take on such hard work, aligning resources and leadership to address challenges systematically.

“This collaborative approach has helped ensure that our university remains responsive to the needs of graduate students and committed to creating an environment where they can thrive both academically and personally.”

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2024 across its three campuses

davidlee — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:00:22 +0000

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2024 across its three campuses

davidlee Mon, 11/11/2024 - 14:00

Cutline

A soldier salutes in front of wreaths lain beneath the arches of Soldiers' Tower during Remembrance Day ceremonies at U of T's St. George campus (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Adam Elliott Segal

Topic

Our Community

Soldiers' Tower

President Meric Gertler

Remembrance Day

Heads were bowed across the ��Ƶ's three campuses on Nov. 11 as the U of T community recognized Remembrance Day.

At the St. George campus, the sound of the carillon’s bells rang out from atop Soldiers' Tower into the crisp autumn air in memory of soldiers and veterans, including those who served and fell in the First and Second World Wars as well as other conflicts.

The ceremony also honoured the 100th anniversary of Soldiers’ Tower, as well as the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), with Lt.-Col. Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee and Lt.-Col. David Letellier de St-Just both speaking in front of an audience that numbered in the hundreds.

The service, which was attended by students, alumni, faculty, staff, local and federal government representatives and veterans, honoured Canada’s war efforts through poems, historical vignettes and an account of the dedication of Soldiers’ Tower on June 5th, 1924.

Wreaths were placed under the three arches by dignitaries who included U of T President Meric Gertler; Trevor Young, vice-president and provost; Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council; and Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and minister of finance.

A plaque commemorating the anniversary of Soldiers' Tower was presented by Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association.

A gun salute at nearby Queen’s Park echoed loudly into the air as “O Canada” was sung by the hundreds of attendees. A public reception at the Great Hall in Hart House concluded the ceremony. The Tower’s Memorial Room remained open to the public until 4 p.m.

U of T Scarborough commemorates Remembrance Day in the Meeting Place

Over at the U of T Scarborough campus, Remembrance Day service was held in the Meeting Place to honour those who served in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts. 

The ceremony was attended by Linda Johnston, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, Karin Ruhlandt, vice-principal academic and dean, and featured performances by the UTSC concert band, concert choir and string orchestra. 

Top left: Members of the U of T Scarborough’s string orchestra perform. Top right: Principal Linda Johnston speaks to guests. Bottom: The UTSC concert band and choir perform during 2024 Remembrance Day ceremonies (photos by Don Campbell)

Trumpeter Michael Barth played the "Last Post" while community representatives laid wreaths on behalf of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Scarborough community.

U of T Mississauga honours the fallen

U of T Mississauga’s Remembrance Day ceremony took place in front of the Davis Building, where Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, Philip Anyang, vice-president, equity at the U of T Mississauga Students’ Union, and Richard Waters, representative of USW Local 1998, were present to lay wreaths to honour the fallen.

Top left: Philip Anyang, UTMSU VP Equity, Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, and Richard Waters, USW representative, lay wreaths to honour the fallen. Top right: Ruben Sidhu, U of T special constable, lowers the flag. Bottom: Attendees mark Remembrance Day in U of T Mississauga's David Building (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T St. George marks Remembrance Day, centenary of Soldiers' Tower

Soldiers' Tower was erected in 1924 and funded by the ��Ƶ Alumni Association (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Piper Rory Sinclair leads distinguished guests through the memorial arch of Soldiers' Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy prime minister and minister of finance, speaks with Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force salute during the playing of “Last Post” by trumpeter Andrew Mendis (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Members of the Hart House Chorus perform during the placing of wreaths (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rev. Richard Ruggle addresses attendees outside Hart House (photo by Johnny Guatto)

L-R: U of T President Meric Gertler, Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association, Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council and Daniel Hendrickson, past chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, preside over the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the centenary of Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Cadets stand at attention (photo by Johnny Guatto)

First-year student to highlight U of T Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:14:23 +0000

First-year student to highlight U of T Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:14

Cutline

Vera Allue, a first-year U of T Mississauga student from Spain, is heading to the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Megan Easton

Topic

Our Community

Climate Change

International Students

Sustainability

U of T Mississauga

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

“What’s happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it’s an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community”

When Vera Allue learned that she would represent the ��Ƶ Mississauga at COP29 in Azerbaijan, it reaffirmed her belief that she made the right choice as an international student dedicated to climate action.

A first-year student from Spain, Allue says she didn’t realize the scale of U of T’s leadership in sustainability until she came to the university.

“I knew everything here was very modern, and I noticed all the small but important ways that the campus promotes sustainability in areas like waste management and food services – but I didn’t know about the systems and infrastructure behind it,” says Allue, who is pursuing a double major in economics and political science with a minor in environmental law and policy.

“Then I read UTM’s [Climate Positive Plan] to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2043.”

The plan, which includes a commitment – adopted by all three campuses – to become climate-positive by 2050, is one of several initiatives that Allue will spread the word about at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, beginning Nov. 11 and ending Nov. 22.

She’s also going to showcase U of T Mississauga’s local strategies to address climate change, in addition to its array of educational and research programs on environmental issues – efforts that have contributed to U of T being named the most sustainable university in the world in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

“What’s happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it’s an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community,” says Allue, who also looks forward to sharing her learnings from the conference with the U of T Mississauga community when she returns.

For Allue, attending the pre-eminent global gathering on climate change is a culmination of her efforts to engage with and raise awareness about climate issues.

When she was only 15 years old, she started a recycling and wastewater project in her hometown of Soria in northern Spain. “I wanted to educate my peers about what they could do, because climate action is often perceived as something that belongs to powerful stakeholders,” she says.

Allue has also been involved with several international organizations that encourage youth to participate in politics and civil society, with a strong focus on environmental issues: she’s currently a European Union (EU) Young European Ambassador and a member of the European Youth Energy Network, which she will also represent at COP29.

Vera Allue started a recycling and wastewater management project in her community when she was 15 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

During her short time at U of T, Allue has gotten involved in several sustainability initiatives, including the UTM Sustainability Ambassador program and the Student Association for Geography, Geomatics and the Environment (SAGE).

She says the support she has received from U of T Mississauga’s Sustainability Office in attending COP29 is proof of the university’s steadfast belief in students’ potential to effect change.

“What I'm really looking forward to is bringing to COP29 the sense of belonging and pride that I feel in UTM’s climate action,” says Allue.

“When I first started contributing to the environmental field, I felt like my voice was barely heard. Now I feel so much optimism because I’ve found spaces like UTM that actively encourage young people to speak up and participate.”

U of T experts solve mystery of century-old flower mailed by First World War soldier

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 15:48:39 +0000

U of T experts solve mystery of century-old flower mailed by First World War soldier

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 11/08/2024 - 10:48

Cutline

The letter and flower, mailed by Harold Wrong to his brother in 1916, were donated to the ��Ƶ Archives in the 1960s (courtesy U of T Libraries)

Topic

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

U of T Libraries

Subheadline

The flower was pressed inside a letter sent by U of T graduate Harold Wrong a day before the Battle of the Somme

Harold Wrong was a First World War soldier who sent one last letter to his brother Murray on June 30, 1916. It contained a single pressed flower and one line: "All well with me."

The next day marked the Battle of the Somme and Wrong, who had graduated from University College just three years earlier, was never seen alive again.

The letter and flower were donated to the ��Ƶ Archives and the identity of the flower has been a mystery – until now.

Using new and emerging technologies and working with botanists and scholars beyond the university, U of T librarians, archivists and researchers from U of T Mississauga’s Old Books, New Science lab have solved the mystery of the 108-year-old Somme flower.

“In academia, we’re always curious and we always want to know things,” says Loryl MacDonald, associate chief librarian for special collections and director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. “And to think that a pressed flower like that is 108 years old and survived that long! The fact that the family had preserved the flower for so long is very touching.”

To those who ask why the type of flower matters, Jessica Lockhart, head of research at the Old Books New Science lab says, “Well, if you know the flower, you know more about Harold. You understand why he found it beautiful and why he wanted to share it.

“And that’s an important detail that tells us so much more about his final message.”

Read the complete story of the Somme Flower at U of T Libraries

Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:23:42 +0000

Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 11/07/2024 - 09:23

Cutline

The flu vaccine is especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection, U of T experts say (photo by Canva)

Ishani Nath

Topic

Our Community

Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Subheadline

U of T experts on the flu vaccine, where it's available and when's the best time to get it

None of Jeff Kwong’s patients has asked him about the influenza vaccine yet this fall – but the family physician wants to make sure that getting vaccinated is on people’s radar.

That’s because influenza causes an estimated 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.

Moreover, public health officials are doubly concerned this season because of a strain of influenza circulating in wild birds and some agricultural animals. While the risk of avian influenza to the general population remains low, A H5N1 has nevertheless infected some humans who have close contact with sick animals.

“While current influenza vaccines don’t protect against avian influenza, they may reduce the risk of infection with human influenza viruses and therefore the possibility of both human and avian influenza viruses infecting someone at the same time,” says Kwong, an associate scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and professor at the ��Ƶ’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

“These co-infections could create a new ‘version’ of influenza that might spread easily among humans and cause very severe disease.”

What is influenza?

Influenza is a respiratory disease that typically causes fever, cough and body aches. While many people recover from influenza within a week to 10 days, for some, an infection can cause severe illness.

“It’s a good idea for everyone aged six months or older to get an influenza vaccine, but it’s especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection,” says Kwong, who is the associate director of U of T’s Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD), adding that medical conditions of concern include heart diseases, diabetes and even obesity.

The most common reason Canadians give for not getting a flu shot is because they don’t think it’s necessary – a sentiment Natalie Crown, associate professor, teaching stream, in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, has heard before.

“Sometimes people will tell me they don’t get vaccinated because they think they don’t need it – for example, they’ll say they are healthy and rarely get sick themselves,” says Crown, who is also a CVPD member. “The reality is getting the flu vaccine is one of most effective ways of protecting ourselves from the flu and its complications, and we are doing our part to protect the more vulnerable people around us who are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.”

U of T’s Discovery Pharmacy's new location in the atrium of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building is among the places U of T community members can get their shot across the three campuses (photo by Dana Thompson)

When to get the influenza vaccine

The flu season doesn’t have a precise start and end date. According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI), influenza season typically starts in December but can start as early as October or as late as February.

Influenza vaccines were first made available for high-risk individuals and then for the public, beginning in late October and early November.

Since antibodies generated by influenza vaccines gradually decrease over time, Kwong takes a strategic approach to timing his influenza vaccine – but notes that may not be the best approach for everyone.

“I tend to wait until around mid-November to get my influenza vaccine, so I will be protected in December when influenza activity often starts, and I can be fairly confident that the vaccine will still offer some protection up to May,” says Kwong. “However, for those at high risk, getting the influenza vaccine in late October is not a bad idea because occasionally influenza activity can start earlier than December.”

Where to get the influenza vaccine

Influenza vaccines are typically available at local community pharmacies, through primary care providers or at dedicated community clinics offered by public health units across the country.

Members of the U of T community can also visit UTogether for more information on where to get influenza, as well as COVID-19, vaccines across the university’s three campuses.

Learn more about vaccines at UTogether

Math grad says U of T taught him to 'learn how to learn'

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:15:18 +0000

Math grad says U of T taught him to 'learn how to learn'

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/06/2024 - 15:15

Cutline

Sean Fridkin, who earned a bachelor's in math and computer science, counts University Professor Emeritus and Nobel Prize-winner ��Ƶ among his inspirations (supplied image)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Mathematics

Trinity College

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Sean Fridkin, 18, completed his high school and undergraduate studies in a total of four years

Some might view mathematics as an abstract discipline, but Sean Fridkin sees it as way to understand the world and solve problems – and he’s getting an early start.

Fridkin recently crossed the stage in the ��Ƶ’s Convocation Hall to receive his honours bachelor of science in mathematics with a specialist in computer science, completing his high school and undergraduate studies in a total of four years.

Born in Israel, Fridkin spent most of his childhood and formative years in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ont., where he managed to complete high school in two years after qualifying for a gifted students’ program.

He says he wanted to attend U of T because it’s the top university in Canada. “U of T has the best faculty by far,” he said, citing among his inspirations University Professor Emeritus and Nobel Prize winner ��Ƶ, “and you have opportunities to learn and take a bunch of different courses.

"It’s also a very prestigious program, so in terms of job prospects, it’s really good. Plus, the people are great ... it’s a great place to learn, grow and network.”

Fridkin spoke to U of T News about his interest in math and computer science, plans for the future and thoughts on how students can get the most out of their undergraduate years:

How did you become interested in mathematics and computer science?

I think math is about trying to understand the world. All around, you have things going on, things happening, and math is seeing the patterns and getting a deeper understanding for what’s going on. That’s always interested me. I think it interests most people – they just don’t know that it’s called math and there’s a language for it.

The way I did my math major is I took a bunch of courses in different fields, but the main thing that unifies them is they teach you to think about the world in different ways. You have classes about the closeness of objects, analysis, topology, you’ve got to think about different types of infinities … You expand the way in which you think, and that interested me more than any specific path within mathematics.

In terms of computer science, I really like numerical methods, where you try to approximate – given some data – and interpolate with models to predict real things. I find machine learning numerical methods really fun.

What was your approach to learning while at U of T?

The number one goal for me in university was to learn how to learn – and learn how to think about new things and discover new ways of thinking. That’s the thing U of T gave me. You get the opportunity to talk to lots of different people, lots of different perspectives and learn from professors who are very experienced in the field and often have a unique way of thinking about different problems.

Also, with the assignments, you have to push yourself and that’s what I enjoyed about it. It was a little different from high school, where an assignment might take you 30 minutes. Here, for some of the math classes, I would have to initially spend maybe a couple of days on one assignment. And I learned a lot from that. I think it’s going to impact me, not only as I go further in my career, but also in life.

What are your plans for your career and education going forward?

I’m looking for computer science roles. I want to learn from interesting people and work on interesting problems. That’s the main goal. I don’t have any specific field that I’m going for within computer science – just interesting problems and people who I know I’ll be able to learn from and who I admire and respect.

I really enjoy learning, but I think most learning can be done informally, on your own or with good people at a company. But certainly, if there’s something interesting that I want to learn more about and that I can’t do on my own, I would 100 per cent go back to school.

Long term, I want to transition to something in the machine learning world.

What would be your advice to students starting university?

I think the actual coursework is secondary to what you do in university. You should learn how to approach new problems ... For me, since I was going into math and computer science, I read a little bit of math stuff and I mostly worked on brain teaser problems. That helped me much more than any domain knowledge in any of the fields.

As soon as you build that thought process in your head – as soon as that becomes your natural way of thinking – everything becomes so much easier.

In photos: U of T graduates celebrate fall convocation 2024

davidlee — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:08:02 +0000

In photos: U of T graduates celebrate fall convocation 2024

davidlee Tue, 11/05/2024 - 13:08

Cutline

Graduates capture their big day from every angle on U of T's Front Campus (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

St. George

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

As the leaves changed colour across the ��Ƶ’s three campuses, more than 4,000 members of the Class of 2024 embarked on a new chapter in their lives by crossing the stage inside Convocation Hall.

They were among more than 5,700 U of T graduates to receive their U of T degrees this fall and among more than 21,500 to graduate this year – many having begun their studies during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some of the highlights of fall convocation ceremonies as captured by U of T photographers:

(photo by Mac Pattanasuttinont)

With the autumn leaves providing a burst of colour overhead, graduates gather outside Convocation Hall with their friends and families.

(photo by Shauna Rempel)

Eagle Feather Bearer Kaitlin Phillips, Indigenous student support specialist at U of T Mississauga, leads the chancellor’s procession into Convocation Hall.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Graduates from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work’s master of social work, Indigenous trauma and resiliency program pose for a group shot on Front Campus.

(photo by Mac Pattanasuttinont)

New beginnings: A smiling grad shakes the hand of Wes Hall, who was officially installed as U of T’s 35th chancellor at the outset of this year’s fall convocation ceremonies.

(photo by Mac Pattanasuttinont)

Smartphone-toting friends and family members strain to capture graduates’ big moments inside Convocation Hall.

(photo by Mac Pattanasuttinont)

Eagle Feather Bearer Adrianna Lewis, left, a master’s student in the Faculty of Information, shares a laugh with Sheree Drummond, secretary of U of T’s Governing Council.

(photo by Marc Alolod)

Proud U of T Scarborough graduates celebrate their achievement with a photo op outside of Convocation Hall.

(photo by Polina Teif)

A graduating student gets a helping hand in making a heart-shaped gesture following his convocation ceremony.

(photo by Polina Teif)

U of T convocation celebrations are often family affairs. This joyful embrace, with the tiniest family member joining in, says it all.

For this U of T grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:08:09 +0000

For this U of T grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/05/2024 - 11:08

Cutline

Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne graduated with an honours bachelor of science in psychology from U of T Scarborough after a tumultuous start to her post-secondary education (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

International Students

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne spent three years pursuing an illegitimate degree in Sri Lanka, before starting over at U of T Scarborough

Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne was only two months away from completing an undergraduate program in Sri Lanka when she found out that the degree she’d spent years working towards wasn’t accredited.

Wijeyeratne had studied at an institution affiliated with a British university and was told that she would earn a degree from that university – but when she visited the U.K. and toured the campus, she found out that wasn’t the case.

A devastated Wijeyeratne dropped out of the program, but soon turned her energy towards starting over with her undergraduate studies, applying to the ��Ƶ Scarborough’s Arts & Science Co-op program.

On Oct. 29, eight years after she first set out in pursuit of post-secondary education in Sri Lanka, Wijeyeratne crossed the stage at Convocation Hall, graduating with an honours bachelor of science in psychology.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘How did you restart?’ I think so many of us are capable of so much more in terms of resilience,” said Wijeyeratne, now 27. “When we are faced with a situation, you don't just give up, you want to fight, you want to try again.

“It was hard, but I didn't see giving up as an option.”

It’s an ethos that Wijeyeratne espoused throughout her time at U of T. Although the setback in Sri Lanka was behind here when she arrived in Canada, there were more challenges lying in wait.

Starting her U of T studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wijeyeratne had to do the first month of her studies remotely from Sri Lanka. When she finally got to Canada, she spent two weeks in quarantine in a Toronto hotel, and then, right when she was allowed to leave, her grandfather died.

Wijeyeratne had to miss the funeral, as there was no way for her to make it to Sri Lanka on time, and she would have had to quarantine again upon her return to Canada. She couldn’t see her family for two years due to ever-changing travel restrictions and the fear of being trapped outside of Canada.

Despite being alone in Canada, Wijeyeratne threw herself into academics as well as extra-curricular opportunities, albeit on her computer screen. Once vaccines became available and restrictions eased, she got to work reviving multiple campus groups, including as vice-president and, eventually, president of the UTSC Glee Club. She was also finally able to welcome her parents to Canada.

A self-described arts kid – she hails from a family of prominent performers in Sri Lanka’s musical theatre scene - Wijeyeratne nevertheless developed a love of biology, clinical medicine and health care at U of T.

An avid musician, Wijeyeratne hails from a family of musical theatre performers in Sri Lanka (supplied image)

She volunteered in several labs and completed a co-op placement at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the lab of senior scientist Jeffrey Meyer, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of psychiatry. Her work led to her being listed as a co-author in the first study to find a natural supplement that reduces post-partum depression.

She also completed a work-study position as a research assistant in the TEMPO Lab, headed by Assistant Professor Laura Cirelli – who also supervised her undergraduate thesis – and went on to work as a lab coordinator there. The lab combines several of Wijeyeratne’s interests: it’s dedicated to investigating the psychological impact that music has on babies and children.

With Cirelli’s encouragement, Wijeyeratne presented her thesis – an investigation into how grandparents connect with their grandchildren over Zoom – at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition conference in Banff, Alta. in July.

“One of the most rewarding parts of being a professor at U of T Scarborough is working with and getting to know passionate students like Rashmi,” Cirelli says. “It was especially inspiring to see Rashmi shine at the conference this summer. She presented with clarity and pride.”

For her part, Wijeyeratne says being a member of the TEMPO Lab and getting mentored by Cirelli was “life-changing.”

Outside the research realm, Wijeyeratne also found time to pick up hands-on skills, working her way up U of T Scarborough’s Emergency Medical Response Group to become a trained emergency first responder.

She's now looking forward to her next chapter: working as a research analyst in CAMH’s emergency department starting in November.

“It's been such a non-traditional trajectory towards getting here,” Wijeyeratne says. “But my proudest achievement is being able to make my family proud. I’m so grateful for their love and support and I would not be where I am without them.”

Murray Sinclair, who led Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, dies at age 73

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:25:01 +0000

Murray Sinclair, who led Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, dies at age 73

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 11/04/2024 - 14:25

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(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Topic

Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

Sinclair received an honorary degree from U of T in 2017 in recognition of his advocacy for Indigenous Peoples

Murray Sinclair, the Anishinaabe senator and lawyer who served as chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), has died at 73.

A member of Peguis First Nation, Sinclair grew up in Selkirk, Man., and went on to become a successful lawyer and the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba in 1988, The Globe & Mail reported, eventually being named the commissioner of the TRC in 2009.

Under his leadership, the TRC visited hundreds of communities and spoke to thousands of Indigenous Peoples over a six-year period, before concluding that Canada had committed “cultural genocide” against Indigenous Peoples, and that its residential schools were a key element of its policy to destroy Indigenous cultures, said CBC News.

In recognition of his lifelong advocacy for Indigenous People, Sinclair was awarded an honorary degree from the ��Ƶ in 2017. He accepted the honour less than a year after the release of Wecheehetowin, the final report of the Steering Committee for the ��Ƶ Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The report contained 34 calls to action for the university to pursue to advance the cause of reconciliation.

In his address at Convocation Hall on Nov. 6, 2017, Sinclair urged graduating students to keep an open mind and a strong social conscience as they navigated their careers.

“Not everything you have been told is right, and not everything that you have learned is all you have to know. You now have to begin to live life,” Sinclair said. “You now have to begin to put in practice some of those things that you know inherently is the right thing to do, using the information that you have gathered. That is your challenge.”

Sinclair's family said a sacred fire has been lit outside the Manitoba Legislative Building to mark his passing, according to APTN News.

Read the Globe and Mail story

Read the CBC News story

Read the APTN News story

Read the U of T News story about Murray Sinclair’s honorary degree

Toronto gallerist and art pioneer Jane Corkin receives U of T honorary degree

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 20:32:42 +0000

Toronto gallerist and art pioneer Jane Corkin receives U of T honorary degree Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 11/01/2024 - 16:32

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(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Scott Anderson

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2024

Faculty of Art & Science

Honorary Degree

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Victoria College

Woodsworth College

At a time when images have become such a powerful cultural force, it’s odd to think that, as recently as 50 years ago, photography was not commonly considered a serious art form. Many galleries didn’t show it, and the few that did were often considered outsiders.

Jane Corkin has been a driving force in changing perceptions. From the time she began curating in the 1970s, the Toronto gallerist has been championing photographers and their work in Canada and around the world.

Today, for her role as a pioneering gallerist and leading advocate for the art of photography in Canada and abroad, and for helping to make Toronto a hub for modern and contemporary art, Corkin will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the ��Ƶ.

Corkin grew up in Boston, the third of four siblings. Her father, a self-educated, successful entrepreneur and dedicated philanthropist, died when she was 11, casting her into a role, she says, of wanting to make sure the rest of the family “were all OK.”

She recalls getting interested in art as a child, painting after school and taking art lessons. For a birthday, she might receive an art book on Van Gogh or Monet. “Those were great presents for me,” she says. She was also the one who took photos at family get-togethers.

Corkin moved to Canada in 1967 at age 17 to attend Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. She initially studied political science because, she says, “At a time of unrest, it seemed I should do something more important in the world than just study something I loved.” Those feelings changed, though, and she switched her major to art history, earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1972.

At Queen’s, she took photographs – often portraits – for the student newspaper, the Queen’s Journal, and grew interested in acquiring photographs as artworks. “I started buying pictures when I was at university,” she told the Toronto Star in 2014. “Photographs were not expensive then.”

After graduating, Corkin landed a job at David Mirvish’s gallery on Markham Street in Toronto and continued to shoot portraits in her spare time. On a trip to New York, she met the Hungarian-American photographer André Kertész, known for his photo essays and unusual camera angles.

Inspired, Corkin organized the Mirvish Gallery’s first-ever photography exhibition. She began representing photographers for the gallery, and several years later, after Mirvish closed shop, Corkin took over that part of the business. So, it seemed a natural next step to open her own gallery, focusing on photography – which she did in 1979. Corkin Gallery was located in a one-time shoe factory on Front Street – far from Yorkville, then the nucleus of Toronto’s art scene.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Opening a gallery dedicated to photography wasn’t an obvious decision. “Photography was considered a new media,” Corkin told Artoronto.ca in 2019. “Even [now renowned artists such as] Nan Goldin and Diane Arbus were part of the outsider movement. There were not many people who understood the art that I was showing.”

Because Corkin represented photographers and demonstrated a willingness to show other “unusual” artforms such as ceramics and furniture, she says was considered a renegade within Toronto art circles: “I was doing something different.”

As a young gallerist, Corkin was naturally drawn to emerging artists and believed in connecting artists from different places who are asking similar questions. ‘We are always thinking about artists who live and work here in Toronto within a context of international artists,” she says.

Her efforts got noticed. It wasn’t long after her gallery opened that Maclean’s magazine dubbed her Canada’s “first lady of photography.” Now, decades into her career, she still bristles with energy – with one Toronto Star interviewer suggesting she’s a testament to the adage: “Do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Of course, like any entrepreneur, Corkin has experienced her share of business challenges. She’s worked hard in Canada to build a culture of appreciation around fine art like the one that exists in Europe. “Canada isn't a country where people think they need art,” she says, adding that she believes this is a missed opportunity.

“I think it’s so important to the whole human being,” she says, “to see art and to really look at it. To put away your cell phone, turn it off and stare at something and have it speak to you.”

It’s among the messages she hopes that graduating students from the Faculty of Arts & Science, the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy will take away from her remarks today in Convocation Hall.

In 2000, Corkin began looking for a new gallery space and eventually found one she loved in Toronto’s Distillery District. Her new gallery still shows photography, but also contemporary artists in all media.

And, two years ago, Corkin was appointed to the board of trustees of the International Center of Photography in New York – a role that underscores her contributions to the international art community and her ongoing commitment to advancing the cultural fabric of Canada and beyond.

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Murray Sinclair, who led Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, dies at age 73

Read the Globe and Mail story

Read the CBC News story

Read the APTN News story

Read the U of T News story about Murray Sinclair’s honorary degree

Toronto gallerist and art pioneer Jane Corkin receives U of T honorary degree