Convocation 2018

Elena Kagan’s career has been both varied and accomplished. The associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States has worked in the White House, taught at the University of Chicago, and is the first woman to become dean of Harvard Law School and to hold the job of U.S. solicitor general.

Now, she can add an honorary degree from the ��Ƶ to her impressive resumé.

On Monday, Kagan spent the day participating in events around the downtown Toronto campus including a special convocation ceremony, followed by a discussion with Yasmin Dawood, an associate professor in U of T’s Faculty of Law and department of political science. She also paid a visit to the Jackman Law Building for an event with Rosalie Abella, a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

“While the university has held thousands of convocation ceremonies over the years, it has held relatively few special convocations,” said U of T President Meric Gertler at the convocation ceremony held in Simcoe Hall’s Governing Council chamber. “Such events have been reserved for exceptional purposes, for persons of truly unique stature … Today we honour such a person by conferring the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on Justice Kagan.”

Watch the Kagan and Abella event on YouTube

Kagan offered a behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Supreme Court – describing the goings-on within the walls of the justices’ conference room, where all important discussions and deliberations take place.

“That was very gratifying to me,” she said. “The level of conversation is really high – people are super prepared when they walk into conference. … We make sure all nine [justices] get to talk, and also have the ability to really converse with each other and exchange points of view and go at each other and debate with each other.”

Even at an esteemed institution like the U.S. Supreme Court, junior justices are put through a series of what Kagan calls hazing rituals.

During her seven years as junior justice, Kagan had to complete a series of tasks that included note taking, opening the door to the conference room when someone knocks (even when she was hobbling on an injured foot), and becoming a reluctant member of the cafeteria committee.

“You go to these meetings every month and they're talking about what happened to the good chocolate chip cookies,” Kagan quipped.

Despite the antics, Kagan said her time on the Supreme Court has been “extraordinary.”

“It is the hardest questions, the most interesting questions, the most important questions,” she said. And it’s an opportunity to make a difference “for your country, to make a difference for citizens.”

Abella and Kagan had a lively discussion in the Jackman Law Building's Moot Court Room (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

In recent months, the Supreme Court has dominated the headlines amid the controversial – and politically divisive – confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Though she would not comment on his confirmation, Kagan did say that the confirmation process needs an update.

“I don't think they work very well in their current form, nor would I say we should get rid of them,” she said during her conversation with Abella.

“I don't think anybody can look at what's going on in our government and in our country and not think there are some deep divisions in American society.”

It’s all the more reason to maintain the separation of America’s highest court from the politics that take over the House of Representatives and the Senate, Kagan said.

“The asset that is most important for the court to have is its own credibility and own legitimacy,” she said.

Kagan chats with students and other members of the U of T community after her convocation ceremony (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Despite the differing ideologies held by Supreme Court justices, Kagan said there’s a surprising amount of consensus.

Of around 80 cases the Supreme Court presides on each year, the justices decide unanimously on half of them, she said.

But there are cases that divide justices in a more predictable fashion, particularly those that are of great public interest. This has become a bigger issue with the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who acted as a swing vote when the remaining justices were evenly split.

It’s too soon to tell if a sitting justice will serve that purpose, said Kagan.

“American court watchers will say this is a really interesting time to think about our institution because for the first time in quite some time, not all the attention will be on one person,” she said.

In the meantime, the justices must work harder to find common ground, said Kagan.

“There's value to building bridges, there's value to building consensus, there's value to not seeming and not being politicized. If that means we go back to our offices and think harder about how we can find areas of agreement, I think that's a good thing.”

Kagan’s conversation with Abella was an invaluable experience for the U of T law students who were able to attend.

“There are two Supreme Court justices, both female, at a time when Supreme Court justices are in the news a lot. This is the dream,” said law student Jasmit De Saffel.

Kagan said she was grateful to be receving an honorary degree from “one of the great universities in the world.”

“I know from personal experience that it's one of the great law schools in the world,” she said. “Everybody in the American legal profession knows the strength of the ��Ƶ law school and its leadership.”

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan receives U of T honorary degree

noreen.rasbach — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +0000

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan receives U of T honorary degree

noreen.rasbach Mon, 11/12/2018 - 00:00

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After the special convocation Monday morning, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan took part in an event with Rosalie Abella, a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, at U of T’s Faculty of Law

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

The ��Ƶ hosted a special convocation Monday to recognize Elena Kagan, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Kagan received an honorary degree to acknowledge “her excellence in the academy and her outstanding service for the public good, as lawyer, scholar and jurist.”

As part of the ceremony, Kagan participated in a conversation with Yasmin Dawood, an associate professor in U of T’s Faculty of Law and department of political science, as well as the Canada Research Chair in Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Electoral Law.

Later on Monday afternoon, Kagan was at U of T’s Faculty of Law along with Rosalie Abella, a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada – affording students a unique opportunity to hear from a sitting U.S. Supreme Court justice.

In 2010, Kagan became the U.S. Supreme Court’s 112^thjustice and only the fourth woman to hold the position, nominated by then-President Barack Obama.

“She believes, as I do, that exposure to a broad array of perspectives is the foundation not just for a sound legal education but of a successful life in the law,” said Obama of Kagan when announcing her Supreme Court nomination.

Her time on the Supreme Court has included important rulings, most notably the legalization of same-sex marriage, and has earned her admiration in the law community for her judgments, which present careful legal analysis in an accessible way.

With political polarization at an all-time high in the U.S., Kagan is a strong advocate for the Supreme Court to rise above partisanship.

“This is a really divided time," said Kagan, speaking at an October event at Princeton University. "Part of the court’s strength and part of the court’s legitimacy depends on people not seeing the court the way they see the rest of the governing structures of the country now."

Kagan completed her bachelor’s degree at Princeton University and her master’s at the University of Oxford before attending law school at Harvard University.

After clerking and briefly practising law, Kagan returned to academia as a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School.

During Bill Clinton’s presidency, she spent four years working at the White House as associate counsel and then deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy.

She returned to Harvard in 1999. In 2003, she became the first woman to serve as the dean of Harvard Law School.

In 2009, Obama appointed Kagan solicitor general – the first woman in that role.

More than ever, the world needs leaders and problem-solvers, says George Myhal in his convocation address

noreen.rasbach — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 17:53:33 +0000

More than ever, the world needs leaders and problem-solvers, says George Myhal in his convocation address

noreen.rasbach Fri, 11/09/2018 - 12:53

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George Myhal was awarded Thursday a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for his service to the university as a mentor, donor and volunteer (photo by Steve Frost)

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Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Governing Council

Honorary Degree

As U of T graduating students embark on their careers in a rapidly shifting job market, they should draw on the traits that propelled their success in university: “You have proven that you have the discipline, stamina and work ethic to succeed,” businessman and philanthropist George Myhal said in his convocation address Thursday.

Many are understandably anxious about their futures, said Myhal, who was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for his service to the university as a mentor, donor and volunteer. “Taxis are being replaced with autonomous vehicles, crops are being harvested with robotic machines, stores are disappearing in favour of e-commerce sites, and fast-food restaurants are experimenting with home delivery and automated service,” he said.

“Some of you may even question the value of your education. … By next year, pundits predict that one-half of the world's population will have access to the internet, where information is just a click away." Some might wonder, "who needs textbooks when Alexa, Siri and Cortana have all the answers?"

But more than ever, the world needs thinkers, leaders, innovators and problem-solvers, said Myhal, a U of T industrial engineering alumnus, a chartered accountant and a driving force behind the creation of the university's new Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

“Technology is changing so rapidly today that it's easy to lose focus on what really matters,” Myhal said in his address. “How do we deal with the social challenges of climate change, income inequality, nuclear proliferation, genetic engineering and threats of global pandemic… and who will solve these enormous problems?

"It is you in this room that must rise to these challenges. You are now equipped with a university degree, you are prepared to tackle the challenges of today. You may not realize it, but I, for one, believe you are prepared."

During his more than 30 years with Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and its predecessor companies, Myhal hired many of the people who made Brookfield "a truly amazing Canadian success story" – as it grew from 12 people to 30,000 worldwide. Myhal, who retired from Brookfield as senior managing partner in 2015 and now heads Windermere Investment Corp., said he came to realize that "there were three very important character traits that all successful candidates possessed,"

"First, I recognize that successful people have this incredible thirst for knowledge and learning. They are not afraid to ask questions, and they know where to get answers. Before coming to the first interview, they took the initiative to inform themselves of what Brookfield did as a company. They were inquisitive by nature, were very interested in today's news. They possessed humility because they understood they had a lot to learn, but were confident in what they knew and were open to new ideas.

"Secondly, I believe that successful people have the confidence to make decisions even with imperfect information. They rely on what they have learned and hopefully make a good decision and realize they can always correct a bad decision. … If you don't make decisions, you won't make mistakes, but you also won't learn anything. …

"Lastly, I learned that successful individuals are not necessarily the smartest people in the room. They are those who can work collectively, collegially with others," he said. "Many of today's complex problems can be solved by people who work well together and check their egos at the door. Conversely, there is nothing more destructive than politics within an organization. So don't work alone, surround yourself with as many talented people as you can and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish."

What sets Myhal apart, besides his extraordinary career success, is his lifelong commitment to community service, said Cristina Amon, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, in describing the reasons he was chosen to receive an honorary doctorate. Myhal served on the U of T's Governing Council for a decade, she said, as well as leading fundraising campaigns and providing invaluable advice on the future of engineering education, research leadership and entrepreneurship.

"George has given back to his alma mater and to Canada throughout his career," Amon said.

Silly faces and warm embraces: Fall convocation in photos

Romi Levine — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:10:20 +0000

Silly faces and warm embraces: Fall convocation in photos

Romi Levine Fri, 11/09/2018 - 09:10

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About to dance the tango or just graduated from U of T? (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

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More than 4,000 students graduated from the ��Ƶ this week during fall convocation. Our photographers were there to capture every moment.

Here are some of our favourites.

That's a lot of balloons! This graduate stays grounded despite all that helium (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Portrait of a proud U of T grad (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

A well-deserved big hug outside Convocation Hall (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

A U of T grad holds his new fuzzy friend on Front Campus (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Who says a convocation procession can't be fun? (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Congratulations to our newest alumni, ready to take on the city – and the world (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Putting his dramatic skills to work: Paul Babiak, convocation head marshal (video)

lanthierj — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 21:37:40 +0000

Putting his dramatic skills to work: Paul Babiak, convocation head marshal (video)

lanthierj Thu, 11/08/2018 - 16:37

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“If you do something really well and you love doing it and you know that it has a purpose,” it becomes a mission, says Convocation head marshal Paul Babiak (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

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City & Culture

Convocation 2018

Convocation

Thousands of graduating students take part in convocation ceremonies at the ��Ƶ every spring and fall – and hundreds of staff and faculty work to make sure the day is memorable.

One of them is Paul Babiak, head marshal.

“I think you can have a vocation for this kind of thing,” says Babiak, who has been a key figure at convocation since 2003.

A performer by training, he teaches acting, voice, movement, and stage combat – and brings a theatrical flair to the task of guiding students through the pageantry of their big day.

“If you do something really well and you love doing it and you know that it has a purpose,” it becomes a mission, Babiak says.

“And, in a way, convocations are my mission.”

'It's pretty inspirational': Watch Rose Patten be installed as U of T's 34th chancellor

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 17:13:33 +0000

'It's pretty inspirational': Watch Rose Patten be installed as U of T's 34th chancellor

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 11/08/2018 - 12:13

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(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

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Rose Patten was officially installed as the ��Ƶ’s 34^th chancellor during this week’s fall convocation.

An influential businesswoman and a former chair of U of T’s Governing Council, Patten plans to use her new role to further the university’s mission as one of the world’s top research and academic institutions.

“I get the opportunity to be an advocate for all the university does,” says Patten, who is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has been lauded for her efforts to champion women in leadership roles.

“It's pretty inspirational – pretty exciting.”

Watch as Patten prepares for her big day and talks about the importance of learning, dealing with setbacks and the obligation and responsibility that come with success.

Meet five impressive graduating students who got the most of their U of T experience

noreen.rasbach — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Meet five impressive graduating students who got the most of their U of T experience

noreen.rasbach Thu, 11/08/2018 - 00:00

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Rachel McKenna-Marshall of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design with paintings based on photographs she took of her friends under water

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Artificial Intelligence

Convocation

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

Global

Graduate Students

Humanities

International Students

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

U of T Mississauga

Undergraduate Students

University College

As this fall's convocation comes to an end, we introduce you to five students who have made the most of their time at the ��Ƶ.

Natasha Malik

Natasha Malik originally wanted to specialize in a science field, but that changed when she took some elective courses in the humanities. In the end, Malik split the difference – graduating this week with a bachelor’s of science degree, with a double major in English and health and disease.

“I like arts and I like sciences, so I really liked that I could do both with my degree,” she says.

Malik, a University College student, took advantage of many of the opportunites the university offers, taking on student leadership roles and building an impressive resumé with work placements.

“When I was a frosh, I didn’t exactly picture myself as a leader,” she says, adding that “leadership is something that anyone can pursue.”

After being introduced to student life on campus through University College's commuter orientation, Malik went on to become a leader in the program, holding an orientation executive role in her third year.

She received a UC Merit Award this year, in recognition of her contribution to student life at the college. “I really like the amount of exposure at UC to so many different leadership opportunities and engagement opportunities because they really allowed me to strengthen skills and become more familiar with who I am.”

Malik also took part in the work-study program, working in the imaging facility at the department of cell and systems biology.

She served as a student ambassador at Hart House, where she developed an interest in work in social media and later became a communications assistant at the department of psychiatry.

In September, she started working as a social media intern in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Malik plans on doing graduate work in media studies.

- Angela Gu

Eray Sonmez

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

When Eray Sonmez crossed the stage at Convocation Hall, he marked the end of a journey that began when he left his home in Adana, Turkey at the age of 17.

Sonmez, who first came to Canada to attend an international high school, chose to remain here to study political science, history and Canadian studies at U of T Mississauga.

“U of T has a global reputation,” Sonmez says. “I know that when I put my U of T diploma on the wall, that name will make a difference; it will open many doors to me.”

Sonmez says he is returning home to work for his family business – and bringing a new perspective with him.

“U of T has changed my worldview and expanded my vision,” Sonmez says. “Now, because of U of T, I am thinking bigger, and I believe my new international vision will be a big help for the business.”

He is leaving Canada with more than an undergraduate degree, he says.

“The best thing about here is that I have friends from all over the world.”

Sonmez says he plans to write a book about the history of Adana, using the research and writing skills he honed during his time here.

He also has a message for future international students.

“If you are thinking about applying to U of T, I strongly recommend it. The school makes you successful and at the same time it provides many opportunities.”

The international students’ centre is a good resource, Sonmez says, and a significant help for students who are seeking a job.

“The other thing is you can freely express your own opinions in classes with your peers and professors without hesitation. Everyone is open to discussion and respectful, even if you think differently than others."

- Cansu Aydemir

Melinda Scott

Melinda Scott serves as the dean of students at University College and until this fall she was a student herself.

"The perspective of being both a professional and a student helped me in both realms,” she says.

Scott graduated this week with a PhD in higher education at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, conducting research that focused on professional development planning in student affairs.

She says her role as dean of students helped her identify research questions and issues that she saw as worthy of investigation, while her PhD research “helped to bring an academic perspective” to her work.

Some of her best experiences at OISE involved getting to meet with other PhD students to learn from each other’s successes and challenges.

“I found that really, really helpful,” she says.

Reflecting on her PhD experience, Scott says that despite the stress, the PhD program was “really interesting, and really worthwhile.”

“I will miss it,” she says.

– Angela Gu

Joey Bose

Joey Bose’s interest in computer vision was sparked when he became a research assistant in Professor Steve Mann’s lab while working on his undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“We see face detectors everywhere these days – they’re so prevalent,” he says, citing as examples their use on social media platforms and airport security cameras. But, he says, the technology "doesn’t function as admirably as we would hope,” adding that face-detection systems can falter if even a little bit of noise is added to the image.

He graduated this week with a Master of Applied Science focusing on computer vision – specifically, artificial intelligence for facial recognition and protecting personal privacy.

Bose has created his own company, FaceShield, which helps people protect their privacy online by shielding photos from detection software.

“The idea is that anyone should be able to use these filters,” he says. “If you want to protect your privacy by adding these filters to your images, you can now do so.”

Bose completed what is usually a two-year master's program in just a year, which he credits to the support of his supervisor, Associate Professor Parham Aarabi of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Aarabi encouraged Bose to start his company and pursue a PhD.

“He helped me a lot. I can’t thank him enough,” he says.

Bose is now a doctoral student in computer science at McGill University and Mila, the inter-university machine learning laboratory run by both McGill and the Université de Montréal.

- Angela Gu

Rachel McKenna-Marshall

When Rachel McKenna-Marshall ran the Toronto Waterfront 10K, she got to see a display of the fruits of her labour from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

Marshall, who came to U of T to study architecture two years ago, will be graduating this fall with a double major in architectural studies and visual studies.

This summer, McKenna-Marshall took an intensive course where the class designed and built a meditation pavilion for athletic apparel firm Lululemon, with groups working on different aspects of the final product.

She and a few classmates “were the most excited about it, so we got a lot done” – including building meditation chairs by hand.

The pavilion was displayed at the Toronto Waterfront 10k. “It was really incredible,” she says, of seeing the pavilion in use, post-race.

McKenna-Marshall also did an independent study this summer involving her artwork. She took underwater photos of friends in a pool, which served as the source images for her paintings.

Her project was conducted under the supervision of Associate Professor Sue Lloyd, who praises McKenna-Marshall’s productive and self-led efforts and says the course allows students to do work at the master's level.

Looking back, McKenna-Marshall is grateful for the opportunities she’s had, especially working closely with faculty members. “They care about the individual students.

“I think that it’s really good to have a lot of creative people in the same space," she says. "I think it helps your work, I think it helps what you produce."

- Angela Gu

A history of hope: U of T's oldest graduate on his studies and receiving a degree at 80

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 16:06:24 +0000

A history of hope: U of T's oldest graduate on his studies and receiving a degree at 80

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/07/2018 - 11:06

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John Horton, pictured here on a ski trip in British Columbia in 2013, is believed to be the oldest member of the ��Ƶ's 2018 graduating class (photo courtesy of John Horton)

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Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

When John Horton joins his fellow graduates at convocation this week, there will be one thing setting him apart from his classmates – the fact that he is receiving his degree at 80 years old.

The octogenarian will graduate tomorrow with a Doctor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, making him the ��Ƶ’s oldest graduate in 2018.

Before retiring in 1996, Horton had an extensive career in education with positions as a teacher, department head, teacher-trainer, principal, school superintendent and textbook author.

He became a full-time student at OISE a decade ago and began graduate courses focused on media, the philosophy of emotion and the intellectual history of hope.

Professor Megan Boler, who acted as Horton’s dissertation supervisor, says that his avid dedication to his research was inspiring.

“While I don’t wish the onerous labour of a dissertation on just anyone, in John’s case I saw in his project an important intellectual history and philosophical undertaking,” she said. “His work reflects an original and significant contribution to the philosophy of education and it was a pleasure to work with someone so determined and committed to the life of the mind.”

Horton spoke to OISE’s Kaitlyn Balkovec about what inspired him to return to post-secondary education, what he enjoyed most about his studies, and why the experience was so special.

Horton's advice for older students pursuing a degree: "Ensure that you have some resolve and reasonable health to stay the course" (photo by Marianne Lau)

At what age did you begin your studies?

While I began 10 years ago, my studies were preceded by several decades of intermittent academic work, dating back to involvement with graduate work at Queen’s University, where I completed an MA thesis in humanities. In the early 80s, I completed my MEd and preliminary doctoral work at OISE. My full-time study in this program began in 2008 by taking a new slate of courses, their content based largely on exploring a problem of significance upon which to build a dissertation.

Can you tell us about your graduate work and research?

I focus on the relation of hope to public education and democracy within the United States, their symbiotic relationship and how they ideally can and must work in close harmony for their dynamic mutual benefit.

There is close affinity of hope and dream. I trace the history of hope, from its origins to its democratic role in New World settlement and the values and ideals that informed early governance, presidents, education and cultural leaders.

The ideals of the American Dream – equality and liberty – and their implication for honouring fairness and dignity for all, were expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Given their many overlapping values and dynamics, these ideals are essential ingredients in creating robust public education and strong democracy. Today, those ideals are desperately in need of restoration, bolstering, awakening and application.

What do you hope to achieve with this work, and what sparked your interest in doing this work?

My work was primarily prompted by the need for self-fulfillment, curiosity about the challenge, and testing of my capabilities. I have no knowledge of where my qualification will lead, but am immensely enjoying the existential moment, and getting on with other neglected dimensions of my life. It is fun to continue to explore the unknown in realms that give meaning to one’s life. For me, spending more time with my family, friends, and wife, getting back into sports, travelling, piano playing, and participating in community commitments are my immediate prospects.

Horton with his wife Carolyn and two sons (photo courtesy of John Horton)

What have been some of your most rewarding or memorable moments at OISE and U of T?

Roaming into different faculties has allowed me to further explore personal interests in sociology, anthropology, theology, mythology and history, as well as interact with fellow students and staff across the university.

I was very fortunate to have a totally supportive and creative mentor in Professor Boler, who oversaw my dissertation and gave inspiring advice at every stage. During my studies, some of my highlights at OISE were the supportive dissertation team of scholars, especially my talented and ever-helpful thesis committee: Eric Bredo and Lauren Bialystok. I had wonderful administrative support at all levels. And, on the family front, my two sons came to my rescue to shore up my primitive computer skills.

What makes getting this degree special to you?

The level of challenge of my thesis topic, the discipline that graduate studies requires, the emotional and intellectual support I received, and the encouragement from my mentor, family and friends all made for a memorable experience as I completed my degree.

A prerequisite bonus would surely be having a wonderfully understanding and supportive life partner who puts up with, and inevitably shares in, the rigours involved. For me, much of my doctoral study, from research to writing, was a solitary pursuit, and my wife Carolyn indulged my often reclusive behavior.

What advice would you give to older students who may be considering returning to higher education later in their lives?

At any age, in the humanities – the domain of my thesis – I would think success follows a love of writing, rather strong expressive skills, a vibrant research aptitude, a creative impulse, and a combination of luck and skill in finding one’s ideal mentor. My advice would be to ensure that you have some resolve and reasonable health to stay the course, as well as a good support system around you.

William Downe, leading advocate for gender equality in business, receives honorary degree from U of T

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 13:31:54 +0000

William Downe, leading advocate for gender equality in business, receives honorary degree from U of T

noreen.rasbach Wed, 11/07/2018 - 08:31

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From left: William Downe, U of T Chancellor Rose Patten and President Meric Gertler at Tuesday's convocation ceremony (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

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Rotman School of Management

Former BMO Financial Group chief executive officer William Downe has urged the next generation of leaders to engage with people they disagree with, and not dismiss opposing views, in order to make correct strategic decisions.

Speaking at a ��Ƶ convocation ceremony on Tuesday, where he was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Downe said that in the current environment, leaders need more than disciplined analytical thinking, but also the “ability to distinguish fact from fiction.”

That means “engaging with other people who are asking the same questions and may disagree with you about the answers.”

Healthy debate, he said, “is not about separating winners from losers, nor is it an invitation to diminish or demonize individuals who happen to hold opposing views. A proper debate explores both sides of an argument to arrive at truth, or whatever honest people are going to agree as truth.”

Downe, who retired last year after 10 years running one of Canada’s oldest and most successful financial institutions, spoke to MBA graduates of U of T's Rotman School of Management, along with other masters and PhD graduates in arts and science, and graduates of the diploma course in professional accounting.

Downe said it is clear that successful managers must take into account the needs of all stakeholders – including customers, employees and the community at large – in addition to shareholders.

“The best run companies now are adopting clear standards around social licence, with a defined set of environmental, social, and governance criteria that guide their actions,” he said. “A winner-take-all approach to total shareholder return will ultimately destroy the long-term prospects of the firm.”

At the same time, he emphasized, companies can’t thrive without “growing revenue faster than their competitors, or constantly strengthening their margins by being more productive.”

This multi-pronged approach is in sharp contrast with past practices, he said. Earlier generations of business leaders – despite their strong beliefs in ethical behaviour and personal responsibility – were working in an environment where it was widely accepted that “maximizing total shareholder return was the only job of management.”

Downe was honoured for his community leadership and philanthropy as well as his business achievements. At BMO, he worked to make the organization progressive and focused on customers, even while steering it through the rough years that followed the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Downe “is a globally respected banker known for his outstanding commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion in corporate Canada and his steadfast support of education and health care,” his citation reads.

In the community, Downe supported many fundraising campaigns, including those at U of T, St. Michael’s Hospital, and the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Rotman Dean Tiff Macklem, who introduced Downe at the ceremony, described him as “one of the leading bankers of his time, not just in Canada, but globally.” In addition, Macklem said, he is “a super-intelligent, humble, curious global thinker who is engaged on the most pressing issues of our time.”

Downe earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA from the ��Ƶ.

He joined Bank of Montreal in 1983, and spent spent much of his career in the United States, starting as a credit analyst in BMO’s Houston operations. He then moved on to Denver, and lived in Chicago for several years. In 2001 he was named chief executive officer of the bank’s investment dealer arm, BMO Nesbitt Burns, and deputy chair of the parent BMO Financial Group. Soon after that, he also took over responsibility for all of the bank’s U.S. operations.

In 2006 Downe was made chief operating officer of the bank, and in 2007 he moved back to Toronto when he took the top job as CEO. Early in his tenure he had to deal with the global financial crisis and the subsequent recession. Macklem said Downe dealt with the turbulent era coolly and professionally. “He was focused. He was pragmatic, determined and decisive.”

Downe expanded the company's operations in the U.S. midwest, and oversaw substantial growth and an improvement in its financial results. He also effectively handled the challenges caused by the rapid expansion of digital technology and emerging cyberthreats, along with intense competitive pressures in the banking industry.

Downe retired as CEO in 2017, the same year the Bank of Montreal marked its 200^thanniversary. Among his many accolades, in 2016 he won the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, and in 2017 was presented with the Rotman Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

'Diligence, focus and passion': Rose Patten is installed as U of T's 34th chancellor

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 15:24:49 +0000

'Diligence, focus and passion': Rose Patten is installed as U of T's 34th chancellor

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/06/2018 - 10:24

Cutline

Rose Patten enters Convocation Hall with U of T President Gertler in advance of the robing ceremony. Her husband Tom Di Giacomo is second from the left (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

It was shortly after 11 a.m. when Rose Patten clasped – with both hands – the outstretched palm of the first graduate to cross the stage at the ��Ƶ’s 2018 fall convocation.

Patten, who was installed as U of T’s 34^th chancellor only a few minutes earlier, would go on to repeat the ritual during the ceremony at Convocation Hall – the first of two scheduled for Monday.

Each time the gesture was accompanied with a warm smile and a few words of encouragement.

“You have the potential to be among the most impressive leaders of your time,” Patten said during an address to the hall, which was also packed with family and friends, “and you are pursuing your dreams at a time when leadership has never been more important.

“When great leadership is present we always see critical thinking and technological innovation.”

Rose Patten shakes hands with a graduate in U of T's Convocation Hall (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Leadership, of course, is a quality with which Patten is intimately familiar. She’s spent three decades working in the highest echelons of Bay Street and, at one point, simultaneously held the positions of vice-president of business strategy and executive vice-president of global human resources at BMO Financial Group.

To this day, she continues to be a special adviser to the bank’s CEO and other senior executives, and is sought out for expertise on issues such as leadership development, strategy execution and succession planning.

Patten also has a long history at U of T, having served on Governing Council for nine years – including three years as chair. She chaired the task force on governance structure, whose 2010 report included recommendations on the university’s current tri-campus governance structure. Patten, who holds an honorary degree from U of T, is also an executive-in-residence and adjunct professor in executive leadership programs at the Rotman School of Management, a member of Massey College and a member of the university’s Boundless campaign executive.

“She knows us better than we know ourselves,” U of T President Meric Gertler joked before he introduced Patten to a crowd of over 200 people during a luncheon event at Rotman to celebrate Patten’s investiture.

“But she also applies to her new role all of her characteristic diligence, focus and passion in the advancement of our shared mission.”

For Patten, that mission includes being a source of transformative innovation in fields ranging from computer science to medicine, while simultaneously acting as a defender of the human values on which true, sustainable progress depends.

“We are exploring not just the ‘what’ and the ‘how,’ but also the ‘why’ in response to the great questions of this and every age,” Patten said during her Convocation Hall remarks.

A book commemorates Patten's installation as U of T's 34^th chancellor (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Patten’s first day as chancellor began in her office at Simcoe Hall. Representatives from across the university, including its various colleges, schools and administrative offices, crammed into the tiny room and modest anteroom – all of them wearing academic robes and other regalia.

They were later joined by President Gertler, the vice-presidents and principals of U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga – Wisdom Tettey and Ulrich Krull, respectively – as well as President Emeritus David Naylor, Chancellor Emeritus Hal Jackman and outgoing Chancellor Michael Wilson.

While Patten posed for photographs and chatted with colleagues, Claire Kennedy, chair of U of T’s Governing Council, and Wilson rehearsed their roles in the official robing ceremony that was about to take place on Convocation Hall’s stage.

After a quick group photo outside, the procession split in two and entered Convocation Hall, where Patten was officially installed.

“Few people have contributed as much energy to the well-being of this university than Dr. Rose Patten,” said York University Chancellor Greg Sorbara, a former provincial finance minister who spoke on behalf of Ontario universities.

He was followed by Scott MacKendrick, the president of the ��Ƶ Alumni Association. MacKendrick called Patten, whose role includes acting as ambassador to U of T’s more than half million alumni around the world, “a model U of T citizen and one of our fiercest champions.”

Speaking on behalf of faculty members, Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr praised Patten for encouraging “each and every one of us to attain excellence as leaders and strategically work to make the university, our communities and the world a better place,” while Governing Council member P.C. Choo, said, on behalf of staff, he’s confident Patten will continue to serve the university with distinction in her new role.

Perhaps the most inspiring remarks – fittingly, given it was a convocation ceremony – were delivered on behalf of the student body.

After talking about the importance of resilience, undergraduate student Price Amobi Maka said Patten’s career as a business leader, philanthropist and champion of women in leadership made her an ideal role model for U of T students.

“Even after a serious car accident, when doctors said she would likely never walk again, she did not allow anyone to determine her fate,” he said, referring to a 1983 incident that involved Patten being struck by a car on University Avenue.

“She exemplified the true values of U of T and overcame all adversities to become the champion we see here today.”

Convocation 2018

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'Diligence, focus and passion': Rose Patten is installed as U of T's 34th chancellor

As this fall's convocation comes to an end, we introduce you to five students who have made the most of their time at the ��Ƶ.