Division of University Advancement

Inaugural 2023 event raised more than $1.2 million, including funds for new student scholarships and awards, infrastructure, student experience programs and research

Darren Hamilton, an assistant professor in the ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Music, is on a mission to ensure students from different backgrounds see themselves represented in the curriculum, teaching faculty and university community more broadly.

That’s among the reasons he founded the U of T Faculty of Music Gospel Choir.

The undergraduate credit course explores various forms of gospel music, teaching aural musicianship skills and performance practices – all while providing insights into an element of African American history and culture.

“Equity, diversity and inclusion have always been central to my work as a music educator and researcher,” says Hamilton, who recently completed a PhD in music education at U of T and spent more than 15 years as a music educator in secondary schools.

His work is part of a broader effort by the U of T community to foster a diverse and inclusive environment where students, staff, faculty and librarians of all backgrounds can thrive – including through such supports as the Black and Indigenous Musical Excellence Scholarship.

“[The university] has created space for myself and my colleagues to do [the] practical work required to embrace diversity and foster sustainable change for the future of music curricula,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton is one of several U of T community members who are acting as ambassadors for the university’s upcoming Giving Day event on March 26. First launched last year, the event encourages the global U of T community to come together to support over 90 funds for equity, diversity and inclusive excellence at university – with U of T matching donations made between Feb. 26 and March 26, up to $1,000, dollar-for-dollar, while matching funds last.

Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $1.2 million, including funds for new student scholarships and awards, infrastructure, student experience programs and research.

Other 2024 Giving Day ambassadors include: Andrew Wiebe, a queer Michif scholar, who is researching how to incorporate Indigenous and queer data into digital humanities projects ethically; Safiya Nur, vice-president of the U of T chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, who is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion; and Jemy Joseph, a physician, speaker and consultant who has advocated for equity, diversity and education.

Darren Hamilton, an assistant professor in U of T’s Faculty of Music, leads the gospel choir (photo by Mike Hwang)

Hamilton says creating pathways for more students to access higher education has a ripple effect throughout the community.

“By supporting funding initiatives that create opportunities for more racialized and marginalized students to become members of the university community, the community benefits from the cultural diversity, and students [can] maintain a sense of belonging while pursuing their academic endeavors.”

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Giving Day

Historic gift for African Studies and Caribbean Studies programs at ��Ƶ

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:49:36 +0000

Historic gift for African Studies and Caribbean Studies programs at ��Ƶ

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/27/2024 - 13:49

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(photo by Diana Tyszko)

Topic

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Arts & Science

New College

A milestone investment in the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies at the ��Ƶ will help attract top experts in the field, energize the next generation of researchers and engage students in advanced scholarship.

The $5-million donation from alumnus Richard Rooney, which will be matched by funds from the Faculty of Arts & Science, will create an endowed professorship at each centre and two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, energizing the next generation of African Studies and Caribbean Studies scholars.

“We are deeply grateful to Richard Rooney for his visionary gift to the ��Ƶ,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “This landmark benefaction will further advance U of T’s leadership in African Studies and Caribbean Studies.”

Melanie Woodin, dean of U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science, said the gift will elevate the centres to new heights as sites of scholarly excellence and transdisciplinary dialogue.

“The research, teaching and collaboration happening at these two centres are indispensable for making sense of the 21st century, providing learners with the tools they need to become engaged citizens, anchored by a rich understanding of the world today,” Woodin said.

Recognized as one of the best undergraduate programs of its kind in North America, the African Studies Centre is a vibrant social and cultural hub of academic excellence, helping students develop a deeper understanding of African societies, cultures and histories through an interdisciplinary lens.

The Centre for Caribbean Studies, meanwhile, brings together academics and learners with shared commitments to Caribbean Studies as an area of interdisciplinary focus for research, teaching, learning and community engagement – and offers the only program in Canada with degrees specifically dedicated to the study of the Caribbean and its people.

Both programs originated at New College, where long-time supporter and volunteer Rooney studied while earning his bachelor of arts degree in 1977.

“The education I received at New College was a springboard for my success,” said Rooney, who is vice-chair and co-founder of Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. “It’s an honour for me to be able to give back to a place that was so pivotal in my life and to support academic programs that can help us imagine a more equitable and just society.”

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U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19

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The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Michaëlle Jean, top row, middle, as the keynote speaker (photo of Michaëlle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

The luncheon is one of many events taking place across U of T’s three campuses during Black History Month

Over the past two decades, the ��Ƶ’s annual Black History Month Luncheon has grown in popularity and significance across U of T’s three campuses – and beyond.

Glen Boothe, the luncheon’s co-founder, attributes the event’s ongoing success to a “diversity for all” approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.

“It gets bigger every year, and it’s heartening to see because that’s an indication that the message is resonating with more people,” says Boothe, who works for U of T’s division of advancement.

Michaëlle Jean (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s luncheon – the 22nd edition of the event – will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet – and Ontario’s first poet laureate – Randell Adjei.

Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be emailed to individuals who register for the event.

The luncheon will also have a separate program – and livestream – for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by Dalton Higgins, an author and journalist, Esie Mensah, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna, Aiza, a singer and songwriter, Brandon Gonez, the CEO of Gonez Media, and Stacey McKenzie, a model and motivational speaker.

“We like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, ‘This is what you can aspire to,’” Boothe says.

In 2022, U of T established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports a Black undergraduate student in financial need. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle. The lunch is also sponsored by Coca-Cola and TD Bank.

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

The luncheon is one of many events across U of T’s three campuses that mark Black History Month.

From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, U of T Mississauga has a full program of Black History Month events, including a dinner and a welcome ceremony on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.

At U of T Scarborough, a tri-campus event called Our Stories on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month – one of several events happening on the campus in February.

On the St. George campus, there’s a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found at the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, Hart House and U of T Libraries, among others. They include a series of free events – organized by libraries at U of T, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University – to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and a student-run Black hackathon organized by the U of T chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.

“Initially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody’s support and excitement.”

U of T breaks ground on state-of-the-art building for training health professionals in Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:23:00 +0000

U of T breaks ground on state-of-the-art building for training health professionals in Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 11/06/2023 - 14:23

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A rendering of the SAMIH building's ground floor (image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects and MVRDV)

Advancement Staff

Topic

Our Community

David Palmer

Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health

Wisdom Tettey

Division of University Advancement

Health

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Meric Gertler

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

A dynamic new facility will house the vital Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health – and help meet an urgent need for health professionals in the Eastern GTA

The ��Ƶ has made history, breaking ground on a building that will house a much-needed new medical academy.

The first of its kind in Scarborough, the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) will train physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care professionals right in the region – to serve the region.

A recent $25-million gift from Orlando Corporation will support the construction of the building. SAMIH itself has received funding as part of the Government of Ontario’s plan to increase the number of health-care workers in the province.

“We are so grateful for the gift from the Orlando Corporation and the investment by the Ford Government, which have led us to this exciting day,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “This state-of-the-art building will enable U of T to cultivate a bold new generation of health leaders who reflect the communities they serve.”

“We expect that the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will attract many local students from Scarborough and the Eastern GTA,” said Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. “These talented individuals will play an important role in meeting the health-care needs of under-served communities and helping to advance health equity.”

The purpose-built, five-storey building will occupy 144, 482 square feet and sit at the corner of Military Trail and Morningside Avenue – a prominent gateway to U of T Scarborough, directly across from the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

“This vibrant new hub for health education in Scarborough is critical to increasing access to health care,” said Patricia Houston, interim dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and interim vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions. “It will help provide equitable, integrated and compassionate care in the Eastern GTA – and, ultimately, it will help improve lives across the region.”

To support the vision for this new academy, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and U of T’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing will expand their training to U of T Scarborough. Building on the university’s history of educating tens of thousands of health professionals – a legacy that extends back over a century – SAMIH will graduate approximately 40 physicians, approximately 60 physician assistants, 30 nurse practitioners and 40 physical therapists per year. More than 300 new health sciences students will join U of T Scarborough’s campus, further strengthening SAMIH as a key hub for health education in the Eastern GTA. The newly revamped health sciences undergraduate program offers unique placement opportunities and paid co-ops, enabling students to learn in a close-knit campus setting.

This new generation of health-care professionals will help fill a serious gap, with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care having identified Scarborough as an area in high need of physicians. The shortage includes family doctors, as well as other specialists such as child and adult psychiatrists, geriatricians, nurse practitioners and emergency medical physicians.

“Our government is proud to support this historic medical school expansion,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will build on the investments we’re making to help ensure Scarborough and the Durham Region have the health care workers they need now and into the future.”

The impact on the region will be significant. Projected to open in September 2026, the building will include a clinical psychology clinic; a pharmacy clinic (Discovery Pharmacy) led by faculty and students from U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; and clinical settings in which nurse practitioner students, under supervision, can provide direct care to the community. The building will also feature an anatomy lab for medical students, two large technology-enhanced active learning (TEAL) classrooms, a 21-bed clinical skills lab and 10 case-based learning instructional labs.

“A dynamic learning space can make all the difference in education – especially when attracting the best and brightest students,” said Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T’s Governing Council. “This building is an example of one such space. We anticipate that many of the students who will fill its hallways will go on to become some of the region’s top health-care professionals.”

Construction began on the site in early fall 2023, with a ground blessing conducted by U of T Scarborough’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives in October. Excavation is anticipated to start in January 2024. The project team includes the construction services company EllisDon and the architecture firms Diamond Schmitt and MVRDV.

The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will strengthen connections across numerous hospitals and networks. Its partners will include the Scarborough Health Network, Michael Garron Hospital, Lakeridge Health and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. U of T will build upon existing relationships with local community partners to develop new research and teaching opportunities.

This dynamic hub will bring U of T’s nurse practitioner program to the region. The program is highly sought after for its approach to providing personalized, holistic and high-quality health care to clients and patients across their lifespans.

“This incredible building will help foster a vital pipeline for nurse practitioners,” said Linda Johnston, dean of the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. “Nurse practitioners play a critical role in the health of communities, and future graduates of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of people in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”

Similarly, the Discovery Pharmacy at SAMIH will provide pharmacy services and interprofessional experiential learning opportunities for students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. It will also help enhance connections with practising pharmacists in health networks in the surrounding area.

“As the scope of practice for pharmacists in Ontario continues to expand, finding new ways to collaborate across health professions is central to redefining health education and how we deliver health care” said Lisa Dolovich, dean of Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

The new building is poised to bring enormous benefits to the region. In addition to enabling the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health to meet the health-care professional shortage by creating a pool of talented graduates, the new facility will help drive innovation and economic growth.

“The Orlando Corporation’s benefaction stands as a model for visionary philanthropy,” said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president of advancement. “It’s a beacon of extraordinary generosity with the potential to inspire other transformative investments in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”

Black History Month Luncheon to celebrate Black excellence, community and great food

mattimar — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:22:31 +0000

Black History Month Luncheon to celebrate Black excellence, community and great food

mattimar Thu, 02/23/2023 - 09:22

Cutline

The highly anticipated U of T Black History Month Luncheon returns as an in-person event on Feb. 24 inside Hart House's Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Hart House

The ��Ƶ’s Black History Month Luncheon is all about Black excellence, great food and celebrating community – themes that are front-and-centre this year as the event returns in-person.

After two years of virtual celebrations due to the pandemic, the 2023 edition of the annual luncheon will be held Feb. 24 inside Hart House’s Great Hall and will feature keynote speaker Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Glen Boothe, who works for U of T’s division of advancement and is the co-founder of the luncheon, says he is looking forward to bringing the community together again.

“We’ve missed that sense of camaraderie,” says Boothe. “The past couple of years have been really challenging for all of us. This year, we are really highlighting the celebration part.”

This year’s event also includes musical performances and spoken word poetry by Eddie Lartey, winner of the 2022 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam.

Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), speaks at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (photo by Yu Ruidong/China News Service via Getty Images)

As for Bailey, he first joined TIFF in 1990 as a seasonal programmer and has held several leadership roles in the organization. He founded the festival’s Planet Africa section and has been instrumental in shaping the way audiences experience films.

He has also worked as a critic, contributing to NOW Magazine, CBC Radio One and CTV’s Canada AM. He taught a programming and curation course at U of T, drawing in from his own experience at TIFF.

“His professional accomplishments speak for themselves,” says Boothe. “And his contributions to the community have been outstanding.”

At U of T Mississauga, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a celebration and group viewing of Bailey’s keynote address.

There will also be a livestream of the luncheon for those who cannot attend in-person.

Boothe says organizers are making a few tweaks to the in-person event this year – including setting aside more time for the lunch itself.

“Let’s all get together and see our commonalities. We all have more in common than in differences,” he says. “We all enjoy food, music and excellence.”

There’s also a separate in-person program – and a separate livestream – for students attending the luncheon from different high schools across the GTA.

“There will be about 150 students seated in the East Common Room at Hart House,” Boothe says. “We tried to cater the programming for students in hopes that it will resonate more with them.

The university established the Black History Month Luncheon Fund last year and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The needs-based fund will be awarded to a Black student enrolled in a U of T undergraduate program. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle, with representatives from the airline participating in the event to present the prize. Money will also be raised for the Francisco Bursary, which goes to a Black or Indigenous student.

When Boothe first started the luncheon more than 20 years ago, he hoped that other faculties and departments would be inspired to organize their own events in celebration of Black History Month.

Today, he notes, there is Black History Month programming across the university’s three campuses while the luncheon itself has become a both a proud tradition and a marquee event.

“The university has really embraced the celebration of Black history and Black excellence.”

Six ways to celebrate this year's U of T Alumni Reunion – now a hybrid event

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 13 May 2022 21:36:18 +0000

Six ways to celebrate this year's U of T Alumni Reunion – now a hybrid event

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/13/2022 - 17:36

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(Photo by Diana Tyszko)

Advancement Staff

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Division of University Advancement

The ��Ƶ’s annual spring Alumni Reunion returns May 25 to 29, with more than 75 ways for alumni to catch up with old friends, exchange ideas and create new experiences – back where it all began.

Held virtually in 2021, this year marks Alumni Relations’ first large-scale foray into delivering a hybrid version of U of T’s premier alumni gathering, mixing in-person and virtual activities and events.

From meetups and lectures to tours of the St. George campus and fun activities for kids, the reunion promises to bring together thousands of alumni in person while reaching an extended global community of grads online.

“We’re pleased to extend the reach of Alumni Reunion,” says Barbara Dick, assistant vice-president, alumni relations.

“In-person events will be complemented by an array of online events, making the reunion experience available to all alumni, wherever they’re located. We are delighted by the enthusiastic response from our alumni community.”

Here’s a taste of some fun and informative activities happening at this year’s event:

See Earth through the eyes of Canada’s first woman in space

(Photo courtesy of NASA)

Tune in to an exciting keynote talk by U of T alumna Roberta Bondar, who’s still pushing limits 30 years after her historic spaceflight. The astronaut, neurologist, environmentalist and photographer will share a glimpse of planet Earth through her unique perspective, helping to uncover what it means to be human. The U of T Alumni Association’s annual general meeting will follow Bondar’s presentation.