U of T Community

U of T teams up with OVO to launch new collection

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:25:31 +0000

U of T teams up with OVO to launch new collection

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 08/20/2021 - 09:25

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(All photos by OVO / Thomas Welch)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Current Students

U of T Community

The ��Ƶ has partnered with OVO to launch a unique capsule collection for students who want to wear their pride in their university and the city this fall.

The OVO / ��Ƶ collection includes apparel such as hoodies, tees and fleece pants as well as accessories like totes and sport caps, all of which were designed and manufactured in Canada. The fall-winter collection, which dropped Friday, can be purchased on the OVO website in North America, with select pieces available on campus at the U of T Bookstore.

Four-time Olympic medalist and U of T alumna Kylie Masse stars in the campaign video to promote the collection, which marks OVO’s first collaboration with a post-secondary institution.

Kristina Kazandjian, U of T’s trademark licensing manager, said the collaboration between Canada's top university and OVO – a Toronto-headquartered, global lifestyle brand founded in 2008 – was met with enthusiasm from both parties, describing it as "two iconic Toronto brands coming together."

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the project to be put on hold until it was revived ahead of the upcoming fall semester to time with the return of students to campus – as well as the arrival of new students from the Toronto region, across Canada and around the world.

“We wanted to launch it around orientation as we thought it would be a nice way to make students feel proud and spread school spirit,” Kazandjian said. “We want students to feel excited. We’re excited for them to come back to campus, and we thought this would be a great way to tap into that.”

While U of T has done collaborative branded merchandise before – with the likes of PINK and Peace Collective – Kazandjian says this is the first collaboration of this scale.

“We want this collection to showcase an affiliation with our wider community and the many within it,” she said. “We hope it will be seen as an extension of the U of T lifestyle.”

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U of T's Christine Allen talks to CBC's Metro Morning about her book club for women in STEM

tom.yun — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:01:26 +0000

U of T's Christine Allen talks to CBC's Metro Morning about her book club for women in STEM

tom.yun Wed, 02/12/2020 - 15:01

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(photo courtesy of CBC)

Tom Yun

Topic

Our Community

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

STEM

U of T Community

Women

Christine Allen, a professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the ��Ƶ’s associate vice-president and vice-provost, strategic initiatives, spoke to CBC’s Metro Morning on Tuesday – International Day of Women and Girls in Science – to talk about her book club aimed at supporting female students studying the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Allen told Metro Morning she started the Women in STEM Book Club, which focuses on books about leadership and empowerment, when she was interim dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and was reading books about leadership.

“We’re reading books that are helping us grow as an individual. And it’s not just about the books that we’re reading. It’s about coming together and sharing our stories,” said Allen. “You just walk out feeling great.”

Listen to Christine Allen’s interview on CBC

U of T President Meric Gertler wishes U of T community happy holidays (video)

geoff.vendeville — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:35:19 +0000

U of T President Meric Gertler wishes U of T community happy holidays (video) geoff.vendeville Tue, 12/03/2019 - 15:35

Topic

Meric Gertler, the president of the ��Ƶ, is wishing the entire U of T community happy holidays in his annual video message to students, staff and faculty before the winter break.

He also looks back on some of the big moments of the past year, including breaking ground on the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, the country-wide celebration of the Toronto Raptors' first NBA championship and the hard work that contributed to U of T once again being ranked the top university in Canada and among the top 10 public universities in the world.

“As we look ahead to 2020, I would like to thank you for your contribution to our shared success and I congratulate you on your many individual accomplishments,” President Gertler said.

“I wish you a peaceful holiday season and health and happiness in the year to come.”

#WeTheNorth: U of T students, faculty and staff cheer on the Raptors

davidlee1 — Fri, 31 May 2019 18:50:37 +0000

#WeTheNorth: U of T students, faculty and staff cheer on the Raptors

davidlee1 Fri, 05/31/2019 - 14:50

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Support for the Raptors was on full display at U of T before, during and after the team's Game 1 win over the Golden State Warriors (UTSC photo via Twitter.com)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Undergraduate Students

Varsity Blues

The Toronto Raptors’ long road to the NBA Finals started before most ��Ƶ undergraduate students were born. But that didn't stop them from being among the loudest, proudest fans cheering on the team last night.

Students – as well as many faculty and staff – held viewing parties on campus and took to social media to celebrate as the Raptors defeated defending champions Golden State Warriors in the opening game, 118 to 109.

“Their defense was great, and it wasn’t our best night,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game. “We just got outplayed.”

The win came as no surprise to John Campbell, head coach of men’s basketball at U of T, who predicted the Raptors will win the series.

And it made total sense to U of T’s Jeffrey Rosenthal, a professor in the department of statistical sciences and author of Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything. Rosenthal predicted a Game 1 win and gave the Raptors the edge to win the NBA Finals.

As for simply being Raptors fans, here's a snapshot of what took place elsewhere among the U of T community over the past 24 hours:

Students, faculty and staff show off their Raptors gear at U of T Mississauga.

Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, added a Raptors tee to his wardrobe.

Faculty member Ron Levi weighed in on U of T’s support of the Raptors and their history-making NBA Finals appearance.

Students gather to watch the game on a big screen at a viewing party at U of T Scarborough.

U of T’s Joe Wong rubs social media shoulders with Raptors “superfan” Nav Bhatia.

President Meric Gertler is a Raptors fan, too.

The ��Ƶ Archives takes a historical look at the situation.

Faculty member Mark Fitzpatrick is decked out in Raptors gear at U of T Scarborough.

Some members of the U of T community have been monitoring the Raptors closer than others.

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Basketball, charity, family: Raptors President Masai Ujiri speaks at U of T's Black History Luncheon

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Video: President Meric Gertler thanks U of T community

geoff.vendeville — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:07:43 +0000

Video: President Meric Gertler thanks U of T community

geoff.vendeville Wed, 12/05/2018 - 12:07

Topic

Our Community

Holidays

President Meric Gertler

U of T Community

With the holiday season upon us and 2019 around the corner, ��Ƶ President Meric Gertler is thanking all the members of the U of T community who have contributed to another banner year for the university.

“The ��Ƶ is one of the world’s great universities because of you – the students, faculty and staff across our three campuses, and our alumni, friends and partners near and far,” he says in a new video message.

“Because of your creativity and your commitment together we’re solving problems, working for justice and building a better world. To everyone in the U of T community: Thank you.”

U of T's "human library" offers new narratives

ullahnor — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:26:10 +0000

U of T's "human library" offers new narratives

ullahnor Tue, 12/06/2016 - 11:26

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"Human book" Chizoba Imoka talks about her life and experiences at Hart House's "Human Library" (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Veronica Zaretski

Author legacy

Veronica Zaretski

Topic

A former ballet dancer turned social worker. A founder of an organization that provides a platform for civic engagement, political advocacy and community service. A filmmaker often found shooting in conflict zones.

These are just a few of the “human books” that were “on loan” at the Human Library held at Hart House last week. U of T students, employees and faculty were able to chat with participants who shared their stories in one-on-one sessions.

“It’s an important event that challenges us to listen to each other’s stories and experiences with empathy and open minds,” says Trish Starling, community engagement facilitator at Hart House and the human library’s organizer.

The focus of Friday’s event was Canada’s complex history of colonization and immigration.

“Not all narratives, identities or stories are given equal airtime, and it is integral that we provide avenues to hear experiences that may counter dominant narratives,” she says. “Our human books breathe life and shed light onto what are often unheard stories.”

The opportunity to offer a different narrative drew Terry Gardiner to participate as a human book in the event.

Gardiner moved from Canada to the U.S. to pursue ballet, then moved back. He came to U of T nine years ago to pursue his master's at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. After completing his studies, he worked as an equity advisor at Factor-Inwentash. Currently, he's on secondment as an assistant manager of co-curricular diversity & equity at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

“A big part of my experience at the university both as student and as a staff member is that U of T fulfills a lot of what home means to people,” Gardiner says. “This is a place where I can come and be challenged by ideas, but I can also make connections and find fellowships in places I might have never anticipated.”

For Gardiner, who has lived in different countries and environments, the event is an opportunity to bring people together and share “authentic, lived experience,” he says.

“It’s a two-way conversation,” he says. “As a person of colour, I hope to be able to, by my presence, if not shatter, at least shift some stereotypes and expectations. And also to show that racialized individuals, people of colour, are here at U of T, and we can and are flourishing in this place.”

Chizoba Imoka, a PhD student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, is founder of an organization called Unveiling Africa. She took part in the human library because she believes in everyone’s participation to work towards a more just world.

Imoka started Unveiling Africa in 2006 when she was 19 years old. She sees the work as part of her journey of mobilizing communities for action.

“I’ve seen the results of bringing young people together to solve problems,” she says. “That we have to make the world a just place is not a utopic idea – it is only just, and it is only logical.”

She said one of the ways to do that is by sharing stories and providing an opportunity to reflect on what it means when people say “Canada is historically unjust.”

“The role of stories is to move us into a new reality,” she said.

U of T Community

U of T teams up with OVO to launch new collection

U of T's Christine Allen talks to CBC's Metro Morning about her book club for women in STEM

Listen to Christine Allen’s interview on CBC

U of T President Meric Gertler wishes U of T community happy holidays (video)

#WeTheNorth: U of T students, faculty and staff cheer on the Raptors

Can’t wait for Sunday’s game? Need more Raptors’ content? We’ve got you covered:

Video: President Meric Gertler thanks U of T community

U of T's "human library" offers new narratives

Read more about Chizoba Imoka