Re:New

Re:New

New College Alumni & Friends Magazine  Behind-the-Scenes Edition 2017

Who (K)NEW? A Look Behind the Scenes at New College

Running Head

Contents

Bonnie McElhinny was installed as the 12th principal of New College on October 13, 2017.

1

Who (K)NEW? An Introduction

2

Looking Forward …

Introducing our new principal

3

… Looking Back A farewell from Yves Roberge

4

Up, Up and Away Graduating MasterCard Foundation Scholars

6

Dear Me Notes to a younger self

8

A Don’s Life A view from the residence don’s suite

WHO (K)NEW? A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT NEW COLLEGE 10 What’s NEW About Food Equity?

A look at a concept and a practice 12 On the Menu A glimpse into the goings-on in the New College kitchen 20 NEW Faces Caretaking, maintenance and front-desk staff speak 26 Of Angels, Space and Place What makes a college a place?

28 Room with a NEW 30 Generosity on Repeat: William W. H. Doo

32 A Year in the Life of NEW 34 Giving Back: Our Donors 36 NEW Notes

ii Re:New 2017

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

31 The New College Plaza

Acknowledgments

publisher Alison Liddell (New ’88) writer and editor Petra Dreiser copy editors Liz Newbery Colin Swift (New ’80) contributors Siri Hansen Bonnie McElhinny Brenda Registe (Caribbean Studies ’01) Yves Roberge Lakshmi Sadhu (New ’17) art direction and design Acme Art & Design cover photo Michael Barker proofreader Judy Phillips correspondence and undeliverable copies to New College Office of Advancement 300 Huron Street Toronto, on m5s 3j6 This magazine is published annually by the Office of Advancement at New College, University of Toronto, and is circulated to over 18,000 alumni and friends in print and digital formats.

Published October 2017 newcollege.utoronto.ca twitter.com/NewCollegeUofT facebook.com/NewCollegeUofTAlum bit.ly/LinkedInNewCollege

Who (K)NEW? An Introduction

Who and what make New College tick?

We looked for the stories less often told. any joys adhere to putting together a magazine such as Re:New, but foremost among them may be the new paths of discovery every issue allows. This may hold particularly true for the edition you are currently holding in hand (or viewing onscreen, as the case may be). In the past, we have delved into New College’s (then) 50-year history, explored NEW’s myriad international connections and asked about the changing face of entrepreneurship as experienced and shaped by members of our wider college community. In the pages that follow, we lift the curtain to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the multi-layered, multi-textured, ever-evolving place that is New College—shining light on many more stories than we ever imagined we would find when we first began working on the “Who (K)NEW?” edition many months ago. The current issue hopes to bring to the fore some voices and faces essential to the everyday operations at New College, voices and faces not always in the limelight.

It also takes a closer look at some concepts underpinning life at NEW. Whether we’re talking student residence dons or long-standing caretaking staff, young scholars (and fresh graduates!) from Africa or medieval stone sculptures, a few thematic threads have emerged in the articles collected here: physical space and placemaking, food and community, equity and excellence, identity and transformation. As they interweave in the stories told—connecting in typical NEWtonian fashion current students, alumni, staff, faculty and community partners—they seem fitting topics for the current moment as questions of belonging are fiercely debated in the world at large, as New College expands its numbers and built environment, and as we welcome a new principal to lead college affairs and thank a departing one for years of service rendered with verve and generosity.

We hope you enjoy reading about some of the people and projects that make New College what it is as much as we enjoyed writing about and photographing them. Do let us know.

Send feedback to editor.renew@utoronto.ca.

Re:New 2017 1

RunningForward Head Looking

LOOKING

FORWARD...

Storytelling,” says the Anishinaabe artist, musician and poet Leanne Simpson in Dancing on Our Turtle’s Back, “is about remembering, visioning and creating just realities.” A recent self-study of New College emphasized just that: the need to tell NEW’s specific story. So I’ve spent the past few months asking members of our community (students, faculty and staff, community partners, alumni and friends): To whom? And: What stories are we not telling? You will find some hidden gems showcased in this issue of the magazine. Yet student leaders have also asked to know about the people who shaped this space, the quirky parts of the college they never knew but that give this place its character. Others noted that the innovative work of our programs is shaping not just the college but also the city and the wider community—in sometimes understated ways. Again, you will find evidence of that in the following pages.

But I’ve increasingly come to see that part of what people mean when they say we need to tell the story of the college is something more as well.

Colleges as an idea are a few centuries old, a way of building a living, learning and working community in need of continual reinvention for new times— for the expansion of universities beyond a monastic focus, beyond elite men, to include women and an international and diverse community. So telling the story of the college also requires changing the story of the college—re-storying, if you will—requires asking ourselves: What does a college mean and do, now? Some histories of this place, any place, are charming, and deserve to be celebrated. Other histories, though, are linked to exclusions, erasures, even harm. So we also look to the future.

The University of Toronto has articulated some key commitments recently: to Truth and Reconciliation and to carefully considering colonial and Indigenous histories; to thinking more deeply about how to challenge anti-Black racism; to preventing sexual violence; to creating sustainable approaches to food, energy, land and water; to supporting the growing numbers of international students more fully. We are changing this place, transforming who and how we are, for different times. I look forward to sharing these stories with you, building them with you, over the coming five years.

2 Re:New 2017

Our new principal Bonnie McElhinny speaks to the stories that lie ahead.

Bonnie McElhinny

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

Running Looking Head Back

GNIKOOL

...KCAB

Departing principal Yves Roberge shares reflections on his time at the helm of New College.

Yves Roberge

he University of Toronto regularly ranks in the top tier of the world’s best universities, and every component of our institution contributes to the recognition it receives. In that context, the college system at U of T is impressive on many levels. Try to explain it to someone, however, and you will see them struggle as they attempt to fit your description into more commonly encountered structures. The problem is, you see, that the college system is something to be lived, something much more meaningful than merely the vestiges of past administrative decisions. It is a system that creates substantial capacity for the delivery of student services and the creation of community that makes everyday life at U of T more manageable for students, faculty and staff. Over the years, I have observed the resulting strong sense of belonging that frequently develops in our students during their time here.

There is no better expression of this attachment than the desire of many of our former students to maintain their connection with the college beyond graduation, and their eagerness to participate in, and contribute to, our alumni programming. I invite you to consider the striking fact that the events we organize for our alumni always include current students. This speaks volumes about the willingness of our alumni to support the students who are following in their footsteps and their desire to help prepare those students for life beyond university. It also reveals how much we all value the precious sense of community that the college system generates.

As New College enters its 56th year, its renewed leadership is poised to reaffirm the college’s place within the larger U of T community as a hub of activist scholarship, innovative interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, new modes of learning and teaching, and leadership in transitioning international students.

Along with our students and alumni, I have developed a strong attachment to New College, and I am truly honoured to be numbered among its select group of former principals. I look forward to my continued involvement in the college: once a member, always a member. New College runs strong in the hearts of all who have the great fortune to belong to it.

There is strength and support in unity— Juncta juvant!

Re:New 2017 3

Up, Up and Away

UP,

UPAND AWAY Three of the first MasterCard Foundation Scholars to graduate from U of T on what they learned and where they’re going.

They were never going to let circumstance define them. Full of ideas, ambition and curiosity, they dreamed big, buckled down and, with a bit of good fortune in the mix, four years ago made their way to the University of Toronto as part of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program. A seemingly endless stream of essays and exams, presentations and group projects later, five of U of T’s original program scholars have achieved another milestone: graduation. We asked Vanessa BartPlange and Nana Boa-Amponsem, former New College students, and Sylvia Mwangi, who lived in residence at NEW, to reflect on their time here and how it influenced their plans for the future.

All three agree they are very different women now from the ones who arrived in Canada in the fall of 2013. They have emerged more confident, more resilient, more independent and more open-minded about both themselves and others.

Bart-Plange, who graduated with a double major in International Relations and Political Science and a minor in African Studies, acknowledges that, in part, the belief in herself grew as a result of “conquering with an A grade the challenge” that is U of T’s intellectually rigorous environment. Stimulating interactions in and beyond the classroom (all the scholars dedicate a chunk of their time to volunteering) and the program’s solid support

Up, Up and Away

Vanessa Grace Bart-Plange faculty and college Faculty of Arts and Science; New College area of study Double major in International Relations and Political Science, minor in African Studies

Sharon will graduate in November; all others graduated in June.

Nana Yaa Abrafi Boa-Amponsem faculty and college Faculty of Arts and Science; New College area of study Double major in Economics and Equity Studies

network did the rest. Used to a cultural preference for modesty, especially in girls, in her native Ghana, Bart-Plange admits that taking pride in her own accomplishments and perspective did not come easily—and remains a work in progress.

Mwangi, a freshly minted Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering originally from Kenya, seconds that view. Like the others, she deeply misses her family and “the particular aura of happiness” experienced at home, but she also recognizes that personal growth often occurs at a remove from the things and people most familiar to us.

Living and studying in a city like Toronto brought with it something further: exposure to many different opinions and ways of being. “For me, Toronto is like tasting the world from a curator’s workshop,” Bart-Plange enthuses. Her fellow Ghanaian BoaAmponsem, a double major in Economics and Equity Studies, finds that learning to navigate such diversity has made her more tolerant, something that will come in handy as she pursues her graduate studies in public policy with the goal of working for international development organizations. In keeping with the aims of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, which provides comprehensive support for secondary and postsecondary education to gifted student leaders from disadvantaged communities (see the 2015 issue of Re:New for more), BoaAmponsem and the others all ultimately wish to return to their home countries to help create change on the globe’s

Sharon Atieno Odhiambo faculty and college Faculty of Arts and Science; Woodsworth College area of study Double major in Economics and Statistics, minor in African Studies

Sylvia Wanjiru Mwangi faculty and college Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering area of study Industrial Engineering

most youthful continent. But first it’s a master’s degree in Development Studies from York University for Bart-Plange, and some international work experience with a major bank for Mwangi.

So while Toronto and U of T have definitely become a cherished second home to these young women, life in the past four years has not been without challenges: the distance from family, cultural adjustments and a decidedly colder climate (“and the bugs in summer,” Boa-Amponsem insists) have all made for some twists along the path. The scholars also point out that the university’s high calibre of training and academic rigour can lead to competitiveness and stress— sometimes in unhealthy ways—potentially undercutting a sense of community. Here too, though, they see an opportunity for growth: learn to choose your companions wisely.

Mubarek Abdela faculty and college Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering area of study Electrical and Computer Engineering

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BARKER

2017 Graduates

Facing page: Vanessa Bart-Plange and Sylvia Mwangi Right: Nana Boa-Amponsem

Re:New 2017 5

Running Dear Me Head

Dear Me, A letter to my 18-year-old self

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

Lakshmi Sadhu

6 Re:New 2017

Dear Me

Dearest Lakshmi, I regret to inform you that you are not going to magically wake up one day and start having “grown-up thoughts.” Turns out those don’t exist. And even if they did, you sure as hell won’t have them.

While you’re anxiously awaiting the results of your 12th-grade exams, spend as much time as possible with your high school friends. University will change you (and them), and two years from now you will all be too different to be able to really relate to each other again. Hang out with your brother more.

I know he doesn’t express his emotions outright, but it’s going to be very hard on him when you leave.

Please take an interest in fitness, effective immediately, instead of spending your summer watching East Asian TV shows. You’ll understand why when you turn 19. And stop stuffing your face with all that junk; savour Ma’s home cooking instead.

You’re going to miss her food like crazy, especially mudda pappu and rasam.

Move-in day at your dorm will be a nerve-racking experience. Everything will look scarily unfamiliar—the people, the culture, the environment. But you’re going to fit right in, don’t be afraid. You and your first roommate are not going to be best friends, but you are going to get along perfectly well, and that’s more than enough. The friends you’ll make in the first year of university will not be the same friends you’ll have in your second year, let alone the last year—friends come and go.

Don’t laugh at something if it’s not funny. Don’t agree with someone just to get along with them. Be true to your feelings, ideals and opinions. People don’t realize that every time they dance to the tunes of someone else, even if they don’t want to, a small part of them inside dies a permanent death.

The first year of university is the easiest academically, so don’t do your assignments last minute. I know it’s hard to enjoy your courses when you’re so busy trying to pass them, but try your best to relish every moment. You’ll realize just how much you love philosophy when you’re my age and will wish you could do all your courses again—but this time with reverence for the beautiful art that philosophy really is.

In your second year, you will move out of your dorm and live alone for the first time in your life.

It will be a very emotionally challenging two years.

You will struggle with the sudden independence and burden of living alone, of learning how to care for yourself without any solid support structure. Don’t push people away when this happens; that’s counter to actually coping with loneliness, depression and anxiety. Stress is in your mind, not out in the world.

Some of the hardest times you go through will be

Stop worrying about awkwardness. It’s relative, temporary—and useful.

ones you give yourself. You will gain a few emotional scars during this whole ordeal, but you will make it through, I promise.

You need to know that you are fiercely resilient.

You always have been. Trust yourself.

You’ll also meet a boy during this challenging time in your life. He’ll be smitten with you. Don’t turn him away so quickly. When inebriation allows him to muster enough courage to ask you out for a movie on Valentine’s Day, say yes.

Stop worrying so much about your future. You don’t need to feel pressured when you’re asked what you want to pursue as a career. Tell them you don’t know. Tell them you’ll think about it when the time comes. It’s OK not to know.

Your personal life will take a turn for the worse in fifth year. I need you to be kind when that happens. Everyone’s just trying their best, so cut your family some slack. If you only spend your time lamenting what you don’t have, you’re going to miss out on all the ways you’re blessed.

Life can pull the rug right out from under you when you least expect it. You don’t need to live in fear of those moments, because when they do arrive, you can trust your spirit to keep you from losing your footing.

Stop worrying about awkwardness. It’s relative, temporary—and useful. It’ll show you where your insecurities are. Lean into it, not away from it. Only then can you transcend your vulnerabilities. Colour your hair weird hues. Get a piercing. Get a tattoo.

It’s not a big deal; I know you want to. Self-image is an illusion—mould yourself however you want. Get out of your bubble of fear. You know all those things that make you feel confident and alive? All those are outside your comfort zone.

Why do you constantly question yourself? There are no such things as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ decisions! There are only decisions.

As Carlos Castaneda said: “In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.”

Pray more. Meditate more. Love more. Be fearless. Nothing is going to be the same ever again.

But you’re going to be just fine, kiddo.

Love always, Your 22-year-old self Lakshmi Sadhu (New ’17) graduated with a specialist in Philosophy and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Journalism at the University of British Columbia. Readers may be familiar with Lakshmi’s writing from her spirited contributions to The New blog in 2016–2017.

Re:New 2017 7

A Don’s Life

A Don’s Life

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

New College recognizes the essential role dons play in community building.

8 Re:New 2017

A Don’s Life

Residence don Julia Al Akaila discusses the rewards and challenges of the job.

I feed students. I think that’s my reputation—that I feed students.” She laughs, but when you sit across from Julia Al Akaila in her spacious L-shaped don suite on the third floor of Wilson Hall, you recognize quickly the truth of that statement— and that the nourishment goes well beyond the sweet treats that regularly emerge from Julia’s oven.

Before graduating in June 2017 with a specialist in Political Science, Julia spent three years as a New College residence don, helping first-years living on campus settle into their new environment and build the kind of community that can ensure their academic and personal success at university. It’s an around-theclock job, as demanding as it is rewarding and fun. “We’re here for whatever students need. Literally anything,” Julia affirms.

In residence, dons typically live on the same hallway as their charges, together forming a ‘house’ and sharing their everyday lives. At New College, which has three integrated residence buildings with a total of 880 beds, a house consists of about 40 to 45 peers. The majority of floors are gender-inclusive, but there are four women-only houses and one exclusively for men. The integrated buildings mean that residence floors, some of which are organized as living learning communities (LLC) focused on specific areas of interest, are located above classrooms or administrative offices on the lower levels. Most residents are NEWtonians, though about 150 living spaces are reserved for students from the professional faculties of Architecture, Engineering, Kinesiology and Music, and 200 for participants in the International Foundation Program (IFP).

After showing newcomers the ropes—and some rules of communal living—when they first arrive, dons spend a lot of their time developing a sense of community through organized activities, at least two per month. Socials describe group activities inside the residence building—think a game night in the common room. Actives, on the other hand, require house mates to get outside, to venture beyond the bounds of their familiar floors to a city ice-skating rink or a theatre, for example. Dons also keep their doors open to any kind of concerns the students may have, whether during scheduled office hours in their extraroomy suites or during casual visits and conversations. The concerns voiced run the gamut of young adult life on campus: difficulties with class assignments and time-management, requests for help choosing a major or accessing university

resources, complaints about a noisy neighbour or a messy roommate, homesickness, troubled relationships, feelings of isolation. Leah McCormack-Smith, New College’s director of Residence and Student Life, speaks of her “constant awe” in the face of dons’ “willingness to provide the assistance and compassion that many students need as they move into a new phase of their life.” To Julia, the task is to walk the fine line that separates guidance from prescription, support from judgment. “You’re not there to tell the student what you think is best or what you would do if you were in their shoes. You’re there to listen and figure out what it is that they’re not saying, almost. Or what they haven’t figured out but are hinting at,” she says.

Listening and observing, then, paying close attention— those are the skills a good don practices daily. It is also where the food comes in. As the daughter of a Greek-Canadian mother and a Syrian-Lebanese father who grew up in Greece, Julia understands the importance of placemaking, the power of food and mementoes to create connection and a sense of home, especially in an unfamiliar setting like a big research university, away from almost everything and everyone you know. Words flow more easily and honestly with a cup of tea in hand; baked goods bond. Her students acknowledge as much: The nomination statement that led to Julia receiving the newly renamed Professor Yves Roberge Community Builder Award in April 2017 specifically mentioned her treats as part of the inclusive, cheerful and safe environment the dedicated don created on her residence floor.

New College recognizes the essential role dons play in community building, and how that sense of belonging can make all the difference in students’ academic success, personal growth and all-around university experience. So much so, in fact, that in 2014 the college established its commuter don program, based on shared geography, to assist the 80 per cent of students who live off campus. Back in residence, Julia admits that some of the conversations she has with students can be tough, that maintaining the balance between friendship and authority which her role requires takes care, patience and skill.

She fell into donning almost by accident at the beginning of her third year when the Office of Residence and Student Life (ORSL) needed to fill a position and approached her. So, would she do it again? The answer is a resounding, beaming yes. Besides taking some Equity Studies courses during her time at U of T— whose focus on untold histories and attention to the nuances of language “absolutely blew” her mind—Julia describes watching and helping people find their own path, and sometimes reinvent themselves, as one of the most transformative experiences of her life. It is one from which she has learned at least as much as she has given back, one she would recommend to her peers without hesitation, not least because of the top-notch training she says New College dons receive prior to starting their positions: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t started donning.”

Re:New 2017 9

What’s NEW About Food Equity?

What’s NEW About Food Equity?

Lori Stahlbrand, New College’s first food equity coordinator, on why we should think carefully about food.

esides oxygen, water and sleep, it is the most essential of human needs: food. Ensuring its availability and fair distribution, then, seems equally foundational to the well-being of a world inhabited by about 7.5 billion people—especially if, rather than just wanting them to survive, we want those billions to thrive. These ideas establish the framework within which the concept of food equity asks its probing questions, and seeks to generate feasible solutions as a practice. Better yet: in Canada, New College has placed itself right in the middle of these important debates.

What Is Food Equity?

We cannot understand food equity without two closely related concepts, food security and food sovereignty.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines food security as “a condition in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” It is worth noting the qualifiers here—not just any food, or the bare minimum, will do; it has to be healthy, be culturally appropriate and allow for a full life. The more recent idea of food sovereignty goes further, asserting that people should have some say in how foodstuffs are produced and distributed.

Food equity adds to the equation the concept of the food system, which includes all the processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population.

10 Re:New 2017

That means thinking about an even wider range of questions around environmental and social sustainability: labour practices and patterns of exclusion, energy use and animal welfare, biodiversity and more.

The New College Connection Many people have played an important role in placing food equity centre stage at New College and the University of Toronto: June Larkin, director of the Equity Studies program and now the college’s vice-principal; David Clandfield, a professor of French and New College’s principal between 1996 and 2006; Anne MacDonald, director of Ancillary Services at U of T; Chef Jaco Lokker, the university’s director of Culinary Operations; and Margaret Hancock, the former warden of Hart House. And then there’s Lori Stahlbrand, who today works as a health policy specialist on the City of

food /fu:d/ n.

1 any substance that can be taken into the body to maintain life and growth; nourishment. 2 solid nourishment, as opposed to drink. 3 nutriment absorbed by a plant from the earth or air. 4 a particular kind of food (cat food; snack food). 5 ideas as a resource for or stimulus to mental work (food for thought). equity /'ekwiti/ n. (pl. -ties) 1 fairness, impartiality, even-handedness.

2 the recourse to general principles of justice to correct or supplement common and statute law, esp. to provide remedies not otherwise available.

mated eyes behind her round, colourful frames will begin to sparkle. “Food,” she says simply, “is a very powerful tool for making positive social change.” Why? Because it is part of our everyday lives in ways that many other things are not: “People really connect to food issues; we all have experience.” Besides, food is a fulcrum; it lends itself to the exploration of many other topics. The experts call that food’s “multifunctionality.”

Stahlbrand again: “It can create jobs, bring people together, help newcomers integrate, allow us to think through land use, support mental and physical health and so much more.”

Growing up in a family of nutritionconscious hobby vegetable gardeners, Stahlbrand had a keen awareness of food issues, a predisposition her early professional life as a political and environmental journalist only heightened. It also made her realize the enormous power public institutions held to create change in a disconnected food system in which small-to-medium-sized growers had little leverage— and consumers suffered the consequences. By the time she arrived at New College to teach a senior research practicum for the Equity Studies program, she had started her own organization, Local Food Plus, which sought to connect local farmers and Ontario institutions like universities through a process of certification and networking. In part through Stahlbrand’s efforts, U of T in 2006 agreed

Food is a very powerful tool for making positive social change.”

— LORI STAHLBRAND

Toronto’s Food Strategy team, but who also served as New College’s first food equity coordinator (way back when it was called food systems coordinator).

Mention food, community engagement, ecological justice and poverty reduction to her, and the already ani-

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

What’s NEW About Food Equity?

to make a change: the food services on its St. George campus would purchase a percentage of their fare from producers committed to standards of environmental and social sustainability. At NEW especially, it was a way of aligning the college’s operations with its teachings on social justice.

NEW’s Food Equity Coordinator In 2012 Stahlbrand decided to return to graduate school, which gave her the time to teach in New College’s New One program and made her a natural candidate

for the freshly created position of food systems coordinator. The role constitutes the link between academic research on food matters, the daily lives of students and community organizations. To Stahlbrand, questions around food and equity create an easier ‘in’ to otherwise highly complex issues like climate change. “The two are intimately connected, but food is a little more manageable,” she says, and so potentially more empowering.

While no formal affiliation exists between the food equity coordinator and the kitchen or Food Services at NEW,

there is a partnership of consultation.

As we discuss in the following pages of this magazine, feeding hundreds of students multiple meals a day comes with its own challenges. “It’s where the rubber hits the road,” Stahlbrand laughs.

She will continue working with New College through her position at City Hall, and looks forward to the new paths her successor in the role of food equity coordinator, Tammara Soma, will hew.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BARKER So do we.

Re:New 2017 11

Running On the Menu Head

A student is what you do; it’s not who you are.

So everybody who comes here is first and foremost a guest.”

— CHEF JAMES PIGGOTT

ON THE MENU Behind the Scenes in the New College Cafeteria Kitchen 12 Re:New 2017

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

Running On the Menu Head

Re:New 2017 13

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

On the Menu

14  Re:New 2017

We find out what it takes to keep New College’s busy cafeteria running seven days a week.

Facing page: Sous-chef Fitzroy Atkinson, one of the longest-serving employees in Food Services, will retire at the end of October 2017.

Five litres of chili sauce. Giant carts of chicken legs. Knee-high mounds of chopped melon and pineapple. That’s what it looks like to feed around a thousand students three meals a day—and it’s just a small window into the daily life of Chef James Piggott and his dedicated team at the New College residential dining kitchen.

It’s probably fair to say that most of the peckish who make their way into the Audrey Taylor Dining Hall at 40 Willcocks Street haven’t thought too much about where their meals come from, who made them or the kind of operational finesse it takes to have everything ready to go at just the right time and in just the right amounts. They want to leave sated and satisfied—and ultimately, those are Chef James’s main concerns too. Leading a kitchen team that at peak periods comprises up to 60 staff members, he places a premium on variety and nutritional value. Most of the cooking, about 85 per cent, is done from scratch: that means the Bolognese in the lasagne did not come from a can, and someone in the kitchen chopped all the vegetables in that spicy red curry.

Where possible, ingredients—especially

produce, milk and certain meats—come from local sources.

The scale is massive: show up at the kitchen’s receiving entrance any Monday or Friday at 6:30 in the morning, and you’ll witness trucks filled to capacity with what Chef James calls the “sundries order,” which generally lasts his staff a mere three days. Poultry arrives three times a week, produce daily except Saturdays and Sundays, and a busy week will see the cafeteria go through 24 20-litre bags of local organic milk.

During the regular school year, the dining hall opens its doors at 7 a.m. and closes them again at either 10 p.m. (Mon–Thu) or 8 p.m. (Fri–Sun), doing between 1,750 and 2,100 covers (individual meals) a day. While the pace slows slightly in the summer months, a downsized staff still makes sure to feed participants in summer camps and ESL programs. Plus there are special events and the production of all the sauces, soups, and hot meat items for sale through retailers in the Medical Sciences Building, the Robarts Library and Sidney Smith Hall.

So when Chef James talks “variety” on the menu, he means many things: taking into consideration dietary

PHOTO: CONNIE TSANG

PHOTO: CONNIE TSANG

On the Menu

restrictions (“We want to offer something for everyone”), cultural representation and preferences (after all, 65 per cent of New College residents are international), students’ love for build-your-own-dish stations, as well as creating seven-week rotation menus for two entrées a day (lunch and dinner) that keep everyone happy while achieving a wastage rate of as close to zero as a large-scale operation can accomplish. It’s a challenge, but one he and his team take on with enthusiasm and pride. And they encourage everyone to come see for themselves: for $13.50 a pop, visitors not on a meal plan can partake of the all-you-can-eat meals, including the weekend brunches.

Those who attended NEW in the past may recall a different dining hall experience, with less variety and limited portions. When Food Services at the University of Toronto St. George campus became self-operating in August 2016, the change in philosophy went beyond a greater emphasis on local and sustainably produced food options. Chef James also wanted a distinct approach to the diners the cafeteria served: “A student is what you do; it’s not who you are. So everybody who comes here is first and foremost a guest.” Having his team think in terms of house guests, he claims, “is what pushes you to make sure the soup is seasoned properly, that all the food you put out is good and you pay a bit of attention to how you’re cutting the watermelon.

Because you’re feeding visitors, right?”

None of this would be possible without a tight-knit squad of committed professionals collaborating in the truest sense of the word. In the end, community is what it comes down to, Chef James says—in the team, within the college and in the university as a whole. Bon appétit!

Re:New 2017 15

On the Menu

1

2

3

People, scale, operational finesse— this is what it takes to get everything just right for diners to enjoy their meals.

4 5

16 Re:New 2017

1. The kitchen goes through three 25-pound cases of bananas a day.

2. All soups and sauces for sale in retail outlets across St. George campus are prepared in the New College kitchen.

3. Round deliciousness: kitchen staff prepare up to 730 melons a week, taking care both to present the fruit appealingly and to waste as little as possible.

4. Diners are guests, so everything, like the dill here, is washed diligently.

5. Preparing coffee for on-campus catering—another of the tasks that keeps the New College kitchen busy.

6. Everything chicken leg is a hit in the cafeteria: guests consume 850–900 pieces per meal period (lunch or dinner) daily.

7. It’s about more than just taste: temperature control ensures flavour as well as health. Staff members maintain 17 different logs, measuring everything from food and equipment temperatures to sanitizer strength in the sinks, for a safe food-preparation environment.

8. Finish it off with dessert: options range from freshly baked goods to a colourful variety of fruits.

9. The 16-inch pizzas make for a beloved choice for both vegetarians and omnivores.

10. Students love building their own salads.

11. The periods between meals are busy for kitchen staff: keeping everything immaculate adds to a positive dining experience.

On the Menu

6

7

8

11

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BARKER

10

9

Re:New 2017  17

On the Menu

2

1

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE:

What might your lunch or dinner at the Audrey Taylor Dining Hall actually look like?

7

18 Re:New 2017

6

On the Menu

3

1. Build-Your-Own Fried Rice Bar (a perennial favourite).

2. Composed Salad and Build-Your-Own Salad Bar. 3. Vegetarian Pizza of the Day. 4. Main course entrĂŠe plate: honey-roasted chicken leg (halal) with brown rice and vegetables.

4

5. Assorted desserts. Anything containing nuts will be individually packaged to accommodate those with allergies.

6. Harmony Dairy organic milk.

All milk served in the dining hall comes from this local supplier.

7. Burger and fries from the Gourmet Burger Express Bar. Where possible, beef served comes from Ontario.

5

Re:New 2017 19

NEW FACES NEW Faces

Behind the scenes of our busy college

Siri Hansen is a writer and communications professional well known to the New College community. She is currently lending her talents to U of T’s Department of Economics.

20 Re:New 2017

Theo

Caretaking—Service Worker work satisfaction

“The people here are nice and are happy to work together. It’s a good environment.

The students are great too.” playtime

“I used to play soccer, but now I have a problem with my knee. I watch it on TV, though—the British Premier League matches every Saturday. I also like fishing—I go with my son to Lake Simcoe for a day trip now and then.” the good life

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BARKER

ew College comprises three buildings: Wetmore Hall, Wilson Hall and 45 Willcocks. Each has a variety of spaces, including residence accommodation, bathrooms, classrooms, offices, meeting rooms and lounge areas. Keeping the fabric in good shape covers a whole range of activities, from event setup and cleaning to residence administration and repairs large and small. Performing all these vital services is a dedicated team of some 25 people, on whose efforts the college relies for the success of its day-today operations. The organization and oversight of this staff falls to Karen Spence, building services operations manager, who works closely with Carol Yao (building services coordinator) and John Alves (caretaking foreperson).

At the end of the school year, these workers cannot look forward to a slow period—in fact, it’s quite the opposite. From May to the end of August, New College Residences (ncsummer. utoronto.ca) offers short- and long-term stays to Toronto visitors, in addition to providing accommodation for the students attending our International English Program and the Youth Summer Programs. In 2016, that made a grand total of 75,568 bed nights (yes, you read that figure correctly!). It should be clear, then, how essential the caretaking team is to the success of these enterprises as it deals with an ongoing profusion of guests. Between cohorts of Summer Program students, for example, the staff may be called on to clean up to 300 rooms in a single weekend.

When September arrives, students, of course, once again take up their places in residence, and the hardworking crew segues into meeting the demands of a new academic year.

We are pleased and proud to present here a brief introduction to a few of these essential support folk. Theirs are very likely familiar faces to alumni, and we thank these crucial members of our community for the opportunity to hear a little from them about their perspectives on work, leisure and life.

“Having a family is a good life. If you chase money all the time, you are far from your family because you’re so busy at work you don’t have time for them.

You’re going to have problems if you’re always working, never at home.”

NEW Faces

Ana

Caretaking—Service Worker work satisfaction

Caretaking staff:

20 2 3

Maintenance technicians:

Front-desk staff (Wilson):

Combined years of service as of 2017:

368

“The area I’m responsible for is like my home—even though it’s the same job every day, you want it to be clean.

There’s a great team spirit at New College; everybody has each other’s back here all the time.” playtime

“I like to spend free time at my house.

For a pet I got a betta [Siamese fighting fish]. He was so cute! But, sadly, he died.

I buried him in the sand at the lake.

People said, ‘Who buries a fish? Just flush it.’ But I said, ‘Nooooo! I wouldn’t do that.’

I gave him a nice ceremony.” the good life

“Smile every day. If I smile at somebody, they will smile back. So that moment is going to make us happy. With a smile a conversation starts.”

Mariana

Caretaking—Service Worker work satisfaction

“I like the fact that everything’s nice and clean, and the students say thank you for cleaning everything. That’s very satisfying. We have a good team. Everyone contributes. If someone is not here, that makes a huge difference.” playtime

“I love movies. I like drama, comedy, everything, really—except horror.

My husband and I like to go out to eat.

Toronto is perfect for that—we can get all kinds of food.” the good life

“Be good to yourself. That’s the most important thing. I was happy when I realized that you have to give yourself to every situation. Then you start being happy.”

Re:New 2017 21

NEW Faces

Dennis

Caretaking—Maintenance Worker work satisfaction

“Walter and I work well together. We have to communicate and be organized in everything we do. We have to work things out step by step.” playtime

“I like getting together with friends, and I play the drums and the guitar. I’ve been collecting action figures for seven years— Transformers, mainly, but also some Marvel figures. I have over a hundred.” the good life

“Always find the time to do the things that are important to you.”

Walter

Caretaking—Maintenance Worker work satisfaction

“What is satisfying about my work here is a sense of accomplishment. When somebody says to you, ‘Wow, good job,’ it feels good. We know we’re important to making the college work.” playtime

“I like movies. I exercise. I go out with my friends and with my girlfriend.

I’ve played baseball and football, and I tried tennis recently—I’d wanted to for a long time. I’m not good at it.

I’m terrible. But I’m getting there.” the good life

“Be healthy. When you’re healthy, everything follows.”

William Doo Auditorium (capacity up to 600):

Approx.

40

large events every year 22 Re:New 2017

NEW Faces

Maria For Wetmore Hall, Wilson Hall and 45 Willcocks combined

Caretaking—Service Worker work satisfaction

residences Floors: 15 Bathrooms/showers: 34 Common areas (kitchens, lounges): 20

“I know when I’ve done a good job, I feel it. I know myself, so it completes me when I know I’ve done my job properly.

It makes me feel good at the end of the day. And this is a great group. Co-workers are easy to get along with.”

administration accommodation Offices: 107 Meeting rooms: 8

“I like working out. I like going to the beach a lot—I love swimming. I like to take care of my kids. When I get home, I’ll put music on and dance.”

public spaces Classrooms/lecture theatres: 19 Lounges: 3 Bathrooms: 21

playtime

the good life

“Be happy and make the best of things.

What’s going to make me happiest is when I become a grandma. I’m totally looking forward to that. I am going to spoil my grandchildren rotten!”

Total area:

22,001

square metres Re:New 2017 23

NEW Faces

Pam

Senior Residence Steward

work satisfaction

“I’m a mom first, and coming from that role, I find it really rewarding serving students. I am always ready to help them if I can. When we have alumni events, it’s good to see them come back as successful professionals. New College is different, a real community. You don’t realize how special it is until you get exposed to other places.”

the good life

“Be a productive, honest person and don’t be judgmental. Learn to live with your neighbours: what you give is what you’re going to get back. It’s OK not to particularly like someone, for example.

Just don’t let it rule you. You always have a choice.”

playtime

“I love to dance. You don’t need to have a drink, you don’t need to be on anything—this is a high in itself, it really is. It’s a flow that makes you feel so good.

I also love to cook; I’m a foodie. I’m really interested in where my food comes from.

I haven’t had a fast-food hamburger in more than 25 years!”

Total number of students:

5,447 (of whom 740 are in residence)

24 Re:New 2017

NEW Faces

Bernard

Caretaking—Maintenance Technician work satisfaction

“It’s particularly satisfying when students thank you. They often show appreciation by dropping off treats. Past students might be in the neighbourhood and they’ll drop by. Workwise, it’s unpredictable—you never know what the day’s going to bring. I get to come up with solutions, to problem-solve all the time.”

Bed nights sold in 2016: Summer programs:

22,250 New College residences public visitors:

53,318

playtime

“I enjoy working with my hands, so I’m constantly doing stuff around the house.

I like to refinish furniture. I’m always keeping an eye out for things people throw out. I’ll see something and straight away visualize what I can do with it.” the good life

“If you’re happy doing what you do, you’re going to have a good life. Life is too short to be wasted on the what-ifs. Learn to appreciate what you have. It’s amazing to see how life changes, and in the end you can’t take it too seriously.”

Tom

Caretaking—Maintenance Technician work satisfaction

“I’m lucky to work with a fantastic group of people. And every day I get the opportunity to fix things, to make them better. There’s a lot of variety.

It’s like solving puzzles: I have to diagnose what the issue is and work out the best way to put it right.” playtime

“At home I do repairs and improvements all the time—I’ve just finished a reno of our laundry room. We go on family outings. We have a young family, and things are always busy. So occasionally my wife and I arrange to spend time together, just the two of us. A bit of peace and quiet sometimes is really nice!” the good life

“Be stress-free and don’t let little things bother you. It’s important to keep an open mind and to not make assumptions. You just never know—people will surprise you all the time.”

Re:New 2017 25

Of Angels, Space and Place A NEW Look at Entrepreneurship

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

What could look like patchwork to the undiscerning eye might in fact capture part of NEW’s essence.

26 Re:New 2017

Of Angels, Space and Place

Of Angels, Space and Place What does a medieval sculpture of an angel reveal about New College?

You could be forgiven for walking right by him, the brownish-gray stone angel plastered into the eastern wall of Wetmore Lounge. And even if you did notice his stubby, textured form beside the large mural of the first two men at the helm of New College—Frank Wetmore, the original principal, and Stuart Wilson, the college’s first registrar—you might do a double take. The prominent wings clearly denote a cherub, but, alas, no rosy cheeks here: the creature floats headless above passersby.

Unlike, say, the chimera that sits atop the newel of the stairs at University College, our angel has not taken on much significance for New College lore. He has been around since (almost) the beginning, though. The year after NEW saw its first permanent building completed in 1964 (having until then accommodated its students in temporary residences on St. George Street), the warden of New College at Oxford University, Sir William Hayter, presented him to our own college.

Legend has it that the angel dates from 1379 and formed part of the original structure of New College, Oxford.

Given in celebration, he was likely meant in part to serve as guardian, in part to establish a lineage. Incongruously anchored, as he is, in the decidedly 1960s undulations of New College’s original building, he still keeps watch: Wetmore Lounge is a hive of student activity, of laughter, learning and, not infrequently, stealth naps. And he is one of many bits of history and association strewn about the college, sometimes in unexpected places: a whole collection of Woodlands

Indigenous artwork, a mural honouring the civil rights movements of the mid-twentieth century, a brass rubbing of a 15th-century Archbishop of Dublin, secret gardens, bee hives, witty dedication plaques. The list goes on.

What could look like patchwork to the undiscerning eye might in fact capture part of NEW’s essence, if movement, transformation and innovation can be considered essences. None of the three can occur without bringing together that which at first glance conflicts. This idea is woven right into the fabric of New College. And we mean fabric quite literally here, as in the structural plans for the college’s buildings. Integrating residential, academic and administrative functions, the architecture combines the practical and professional with the social. Space, in other words, is used to create its homier cousin, place. Even Wetmore and Wilson Halls, constructed in very similar styles, show differences in their use of space. In part these may have resulted from differences of opinion about the ideal environment for teaching and learning voiced by two giants of Canadian thought, Northrop Frye and Marshall McLuhan. The two men were colleagues and intellectual sparring partners at Victoria College during NEW’s founding years.

So now, as New College continues to grow and change shape yet again, we’d like to pass it over to you, dear friends and readers: Which spaces at NEW felt like place to you? Let us know at editor.renew@utoronto.ca.

Re:New 2017 27

Room with a NEW

ROOM WITH A NEW

Robert Diaz, an assistant professor at the Women and Gender Studies Institute and its newly appointed graduate coordinator, gives us a peek inside his office.

1

I want to create an office space that is welcoming to students and also makes them curious about the objects within it.

Like walking into an exhibit or a salon, allowing visitors to expand a small physical space beyond its limits to think about the larger world and the people who move within it. I showcase art by established, emerging and student artists, especially Filipino Canadians who unsettle particular narratives about race and identity in this country and whose work is not generally shown in museums.

1. I inherited the office’s bright walls from the amazing Jacqui Alexander, who had wanted a yellow space. I like to honour a place’s previous occupants, so I kept them, but I also added myself through the pops of colour everywhere.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL BARKER

28 Re:New 2017

The artistic map of Makati reminds me of home: I grew up in that city.

2. In many countries, beauty pageants are significant cultural events; they are sacrosanct. Every time there’s a Miss Universe in the Philippines, it’s a national holiday.

With this screen print, Marissa Largo, a second-generation Filipina in Toronto, examines the concept of beauty as promise, as both propaganda and possibility. The square piece—transfers of 400 local newspaper articles on multiculturalism—was made by students as a class assignment; I like to give the opportunity to connect to class material in non-written form sometimes.

It was only 15 per cent of their grade, but the process of making it proved really important

Room with a NEW

3

2 4 5

to them. I like the Umbra frames because the company supports local artists.

3. These butterfly pieces, which reveal more and more the closer you look, form part of a larger collection by Julius Manapul that investigates colonialism in relation to queerness. It was staged during World Pride in 2015, asking about absences and exclusions.

4. The postcard announced Diasporic Intimacies, an exhibit and conference that has resulted in a forthcoming book I coedited with Marissa Largo and Fritz Pino, who are both also PhD candidates at OISE. The cover artwork is

by Julius Manapul. My PhD is actually in English, so as the books in my office show, literature often serves as

my go-to for thinking through the world.

5. My partner and I travel often, and we pick a different place each year to gain fresh perspectives on people and places. I tend to bring back quirky objects like this milk clock from Taiwan, the skull-shaped box from the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City and the colourful cushion representing a favela in Rio.

6

6. A student of mine made this piece based on a Nepalese prayer rug. She gave it to me as a token of appreciation for how empowered she felt by my class: never before had a professor talked about her identity in the same way. It reminds me of my ethical responsibility as a teacher, scholar and writer.

Re:New 2017 29

Generosity on Repeat

ot once, but twice: After making a large donation in 2003 to fund the construction of the William Doo Auditorium at 45 Willcocks Street, William W. H. Doo (New ’68)—distinguished entrepreneur, philanthropist and the recipient of numerous honorary titles from around the world—once more showed the University of Toronto and New College immense generosity by this year pledging a further $2 million. Half of the funds will help give a facelift to the much loved and used auditorium that carries his name, while the remaining $1 million will support student success at the university through two scholarships.

PHOTO: CHINA PHOTO STUDIO

Generosity on Repeat:

WILLIAM DOO’S 2 MILLIONDOLLAR GIFT A fresh look for NEW’s much used and loved auditorium

30 Re:New 2017

The Space No one affiliated with New College can circumvent the William Doo Auditorium—everything seems to happen here: The college hosts its signature events like Spring Reunion, our Alumni Lecture Series, symposia, and film screenings.

Student groups gather to talk, play and plan their activities. New College Summer Programs use the space as their fulcrum, and even the public rents the venue for conferences and meetings. Only four times a year is this aura of excitement and possibility dampened by one of somewhat greater nervousness—when students file in to write their exams.

But almost 15 years of constant use, and the community’s evolving needs, have left their traces on the large room at 45 Willcocks. This is where Doo’s munificence comes in: with construction beginning in 2018, the auditorium will be reconfigured and brought up to speed, following input from throughout the college. Invited to help reimagine the emblematic space, students, staff, faculty, programs and U of T infrastructure advisors will pool their suggestions in working groups to ensure the refreshed venue will provide a range of users with exactly what they need. Among other improvements, it will mean updated audiovisual technologies, provisions for a more collaborative learning environment and flexible configuration options, so that the large space does not swallow up and overwhelm smaller events. The college expects to have design sketches by the early spring of next year, so keep your eyes peeled for them on NEW’s website!

Breaking Ground

Our Benefactor William Doo’s connection to New College goes back to the 1960s, when he pursued an undergraduate degree at U of T after finishing secondary school in Hong Kong. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1968, before moving to the United States for his master’s studies and a graduate diploma in gemology. After a further year of professional training in Antwerp, Belgium, he returned to the city of his youth to join the family diamond business, which he—always eager to push boundaries and latch onto novel opportunities—eventually expanded and transformed. In 1990, Doo established Fung Seng Enterprises Holdings Limited, of which he is chairman and major stakeholder. The company has emerged as a major property developer in Shanghai, with a substantial investment arm, and one of Hong Kong’s leading players in the service industry, employing around 16,000 staff. Doo, who is also the sole proprietor and chairman of the Four Seasons Hotel in Shanghai, further serves as the governor of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the governor of the University of Toronto (Hong Kong) Foundation. His business prowess and philanthropy have earned him accolades that include France’s Legion of Honour and an appointment as the honorary consul of Morocco in Hong Kong.

More In addition to providing funds for the enhancement of the auditorium, Doo’s gift extends to support the endowment of the Cheng & William Doo Scholarship, a renewable four-year award available to undergraduate students in financial need through the University of Toronto (Hong Kong) Foundation. His donation will also establish the William Doo Scholarships for international students from Hong Kong and China, with preference given to New College students. In this way, Doo hopes, his generosity will have a continued impact on the life of his alma mater and the success of those who pass through it on their way to leaving their own mark on a chosen field.

Pictured from left to right: Sandy Welsh, Colin Swift, Yves Roberge, Richard Rooney, Caitlin Harrigan, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, Sue Dexter. PHOTO: CONNIE TSANG

BREAKING GROUND: THE NEW COLLEGE PLAZA In New College history, April 27, 2017, marked a special day: the groundbreaking for the college’s new plaza in front of Wetmore and Wilson Halls. What began as a vision to pay spatial tribute to the strong sense of community at NEW finally led to spades in the ground on a cool but sunny spring day—thanks to the support and generosity of Richard Rooney (New ’77), our students and the New College Student Council. Months later, as the space takes clearer and clearer shape and every day brings a slightly changed environment, we can barely contain our excitement about the soon-to-be-finished plaza.

Follow along online with some of the progress: http://renew.newcollege.utoronto.ca.

Re:New 2017 31

A Year in the Life of NEW

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF NEW

At New College, we know how to celebrate.

Coming together as a community, we begin important conversations, ask piercing questions, reward achievement and build the future on the solid foundations of the past. There are many pillars that hold aloft the fabric of NEW, and our alumni certainly rank strong among them.

Take a photographic glimpse back with us at some of the highlights of the past year.

A

B

C

D

F

E

G

A. Reception for Honorary Degree Recipient Robert Hill B. Cressy Awards C. Dinner@NEW with Celina Caesar-Chavannes D. Dinner@NEW with Ivan Pasic E. Dinner@NEW with Ryan Pyle F. April 2017 Mentors & Donors Event G. 2017 Spring Reunion

32  Re:New 2017

A Year in the Life of NEW

I

H. 2017 Spring Convocation I. Career Mentorship Reception J. Alumni Lecture Series with Marshall Chasin K. Yves Roberge Farewell Celebration L. REDress M. 2017 Scholarships Reception N. President Meric Gertler Meets New College Students

H

J

L

K

N

M

For more images, check online: http://renew.newcollege.utoronto.ca.

N

PHOTOS A, F, G, H, I, K, M, N: CONNIE TSANG PHOTOS B, C, D, E, J, L: NEW COLLEGE

M

Re:New 2017 33

Giving Back

Giving Back: Our Donors Thank you to the alumni who support our exceptional students and pathbreaking programs.

Your donations matter to the entire New College community: they support students through scholarships and bursaries, new and improved living and learning spaces and enhanced academic and community-outreach programs.

New College is deeply grateful to all its donors. $1 million

William W. H. Doo

$25,000+

Mrs. Dulcie Dixon

$10,000–$24,999 Robert Bruce

$1,000–$9,999

Fares Boulos Veena Daddar Clifford E. Dresner Donald G. Ivey Robert Jolley Jeffrey Newman Norm Paterson Lesley Riedstra and Rian Mitra Harris M. Rosen Bonnie S. Stern University Lodge 496 Awards Fund Anonymous (2)

$500–$999

Steven Baldassarra Natalie Zemon Davis Lobo K. Lee Dean Mendel Kathryn P. Morgan New College Student Council Kathleen Mary O’Connell Carol E. Percy Frank K. F. Yeung Anonymous (2)

Up to $499

Giuseppe J. Aiello Sharon S. Azim

34 Re:New 2017

Andrew D. and Cornelia Baines Charles Barrett Ryan Edson Baxter Kayla Benjamin David Berger D. Edwin Boeve Melva G. Bowman Andrew J. Brown Caroline Yoon Hee Brown Vincent Chan Hoe Kooi Cheah Magdalene Cheung Richard Chow J. Douglas S. Clarke Bernard D. Cooperman Valerie F. Darling Chandler and Natalie Davis Sarah Ann Denis Michael W. Des Roches Janice Dodd Robert C. Douglas Denise Duhaime Bartosz J. Dworak David Fiume Murray Flock Ronald Ginsberg Ernest V. W. Greenwood Peter A. Grunwald Guy Aime Hamel Nancy L. Hargrave Gregory R. Harrison Stephen E. Hershoran Audrey Hines Thomas R. Jack Kelly Jay Derek R. Jones Benson J. Kirsh Alexander Joseph Kiss Sasha S. Korper

Jennifer S. Kronis Anne and Ian Lancashire June Larkin Michael Lebenbaum Joyce Leung Tracie Lindblad Robin M. Lloyd V. Lobodowsky Eva Lum Amy K. W. Ma Shannon MacInnes Sinisa Markovic Wendy A. Mason Satpal McCaughey J. Scott McCracken Sandra J. McEwan James M. McKenzie Joan Medina Bradley Neil Milburn Anthony Minna Colin Morningstar Tinku Sampa Mukherjee Nancy A. Muzik Thanh-Huong Nguyen A. Elaine Nielsen Robert M. Nishikawa Liselotte A. Ostergaard Annette M. Otis-Frommer J. John Palimaka Sonja Pettingill Michael E. Pezim Eric Piercey Morton B. Prager Ceta Ramkhalawansingh William Rees Shirley Roberts Leslie Ruo Ariel Sahatcija Klaus H. Schaedlich

Shelley Marie Seguin Kathryn L. Seliga Elaine Small David E. Smith Elliot S. Spiegel Graeme L. Stager Clarence J. Swanton Regine Tabor Lummy K. Teoh The Polar Foundation Erin Thompson Thomas Tran Michelina Trimarco Allan N. Tweyman Michael Vachon Susan L. Van Der Hout Ulupi Vasavada Paul and Sally Walker Yonglong Wang William J. Warburton Georgina L. White Anne A. Wraggett Lou Zaganelli Adrian S. Zenwirt Anonymous (23)

Our annual donor listing recognizes the generosity of those who have made new gifts or pledges to New College between January 1 and December 31, 2016.

We have made every effort to ensure all donor names are listed correctly. Please contact us at 416-978-0310 about any errors or omissions, so we can update our records accordingly.

Giving Back

Boundless Thanks New College extends a deeply felt thank-you to all benefactors who have given to the Boundless campaign—$8.4 million so far. Your generosity has ensured that U of T met its university-wide $2 billion goal six months in advance. Marching toward a new horizon of impact, Boundless can now set its sights on a historic $2.4 billion mark. Thank you for investing in our bold vision for the future.

The Roberge/ Massam Scholarship in Linguistics To mark the end of his tenure as principal of New College, Yves Roberge and his wife, Diane Massam, generously decided to endow the Roberge/Massam Scholarship in Linguistics at New College, University of Toronto. Each year, a New College student enrolled in the major or specialist program in the Department of Linguistics will be awarded the scholarship on the basis of financial need and/or academic merit. In appreciation of Yves’s seven years at the head of New College, the University of Toronto matched the gift.

We thank Yves and Diane for their continued support of our college.

If you would like to make a donation to the scholarship yourself, please visit www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/ alumni-friends/giving-to-new-college/ where-to-give.

PHOTO: MICHAEL BARKER

Re:New 2017 35

NEW Notes

NEW Notes

Dr. Alexandra Guerson has taken the reins as coordinator of New One (July 2017).

Do you have any news you’d like to share with us?

A new job, an addition to the family, a special honour or adventure? Don’t be shy—we’re all ears!

Let us know at alumni.newcollege@utoronto.ca.

Paul Nazareth was one of the recipients of a 2016 Arbor Award.

NEW COLLEGE ALUMNI UPDATES Doly Begum (New ’12) took on a new role as a research officer for the Society of Energy Professionals (August 2017).

Anindita Bose (New ’14) started working as the national research coordinator for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

William W. H. Doo (New ’68) was elected to a Foundation Fellowship at Wadham College of the University of Oxford. He was also appointed Hong Kong chairman of the Hong Kong–France Business Partnership (HKFRBP) by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on July 1, 2017.

Jane Motz Hayes (New ’96) became director of Design with the innovation and software development firm TribalScale (June 2017).

Sam Kohn (New ’13) took on a new position with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Naina Lal (New ’09) received her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical University of the Americas on September 2, 2016.

Shannon MacInnes (New ’11), a former president of the New College Student Council, accepted the position of coordinator, Leadership Annual Giving, at the University of Toronto (March 2017).

36 Re:New 2017

Anhlan Nguyen (New ’89) accepted a position with Seriously Addictive Mathematics–USA (October 2016).

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh (New ’74) received the Award for Public Service and Social Justice as one of seven women honoured by the YWCA Toronto as Women of Distinction.

Fathima Razik has travelled the world helping others, for example in an ICU in South Africa, in Sri Lanka and in Laos.

Igor Siljanovski (New ’06) accepted the position of software development manager, Fulfillment Center Systems, at Amazon Experience.

IN MEMORIAM We report with sadness the passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. Bob Garrison, a member of New College in the 1980s (August 13, 2017).

NEW COLLEGE STAFF UPDATES Dr. George Dei, who teaches in the Equity Studies program, has been appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Dr. Chandni Desai, a former New College Equity Studies Senior Doctoral Fellow, received the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division B Outstanding Dissertation Award (March 2017).

An asteroid like HumeIvey

Dr. Donald G. Ivey, principal of New College from 1963 to 1974, had an asteroid named after him and his colleague J. N. Patterson Hume: (22415) HumeIvey was originally discovered on October 19, 1995.

Dr. June Larkin (Equity Studies and Women and Gender Studies) has been appointed vice-principal of the college for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2017.

Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard B. Lee has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to anthropology as a scholar and mentor (January 2017).

Dr. Marieme Lo has been appointed director of the African Studies program (July 2017).

Dr. Bonnie McElhinny began her term as the 12th principal of New College on July 1, 2017.

Dr. Liz Newbery is serving a one-year term as acting director of the Writing Centre for 2017–18.

Dr. Yves Roberge retired as the 11th principal of New College on June 30, 2017.

Tammara Soma, a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Planning, has taken on the role of global food equity coordinator at NEW. Dr. Lori Stahlbrand, the college’s former food equity coordinator, began working with the City of Toronto as a health policy specialist coordinating the work of the Toronto Food Policy Council.

The Gift of Collaboration

Janan Lewars and Anthoula Bourolias are leaders in the making: engaged in politics, invested in equity, dedicated to conflict resolution. But without financial help, they could never have joined their professor in hands-on field research with schoolchildren in Kenya, where their work actually made an impact. Your gift opens doors—to lifechanging collaborations, to a more just world.

Janan and Anthoula thank you.

Support New College!

More than half of all students at NEW require some form of financial assistance. We strive to ensure that as many of them as possible receive the best education without having to worry about their finances. Your gift benefits students directly—through scholarships, awards and bursaries.

You can give online at donate.utoronto.ca/new.

If you would like to discuss the specifics of your donation to help eager young minds grow into leaders and engaged global citizens, contact Alison Liddell at 416-978-0310 or alison.liddell@utoronto.ca.

Re:New 2017 37

Save the date!

What: New College’s Alumni Reunion event, Dinner@NEW Plus When: Friday, June 1, 2018 Where: New College Who: You, our fabulous alumni Join us for a delicious complimentary dinner, listen to a special guest speaker from NEW’s alumni community and enjoy the opportunity to network with friends old and new.

We’ll be celebrating graduating classes ending in 3 or 8, but all alumni are welcome to join us.

Please make sure we have your contact information, so we can be in touch with details.

See you in the spring—we can’t wait! alumni.newcollege@utoronto.ca 416-978-8273