AUTUMN 2023
SHE WHO DARES,
WINS
President Rhonda McEwen reflects on her first year and her ambitions for Victoria University
PLUS: Reunion Highlights | Alumni Awards | 20 Years of Vic One VIC REPORT AUTUMN 2023
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Rhonda’s Corner
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have to admit the fall term is my favourite time of year. Students arrive motivated by their big dreams of making the world a better place, and that “first day of school feeling” so filled with optimism and adventure permeates until the snow begins to fall! I am energized by the intensity with which our students committed to their studies and Vic life. Vic’s ambitious and exciting plans for our beautiful campus reached a milestone when the Board of Regents approved the creation of a new student hub in the Goldring Student Centre. It will bring together the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising into one central location, so students have better access to writing support and health and wellness resources. Speaking of which, I was very proud to sign on to the Okanagan Charter this fall, which commits the University to embedding health into all aspects of campus culture—across the administration, operations and academic programs. This is especially important because we are seeing some students struggling with balancing university coursework while navigating pressing issues like climate change and geopolitical events. Most are also of a generation that spent a significant portion of their high school years isolated
Vic Report Autumn 2023 Volume LI No. 1 Published under the authority of the Board of Regents of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Publisher: Victoria University Editor-in-Chief: Sally Szuster Managing Editor: Joe Howell Web Editor: Dan Blackwell Photo Editor: Minh Truong Design: Randall Van Gerwen Cover and pg. 2: Rhonda McEwen photographed by Brianna Roye
due to the pandemic, and some students still struggle with social engagement. We will continue to invest in critical health and wellness programs for students, given this reality. I have also had the opportunity to really focus my lens on research. I moved my own lab onto Vic U’s campus to work with our students on technology and cognition topics, including artificial intelligence and other computer/human communication challenges. Keep your eyes out for a few upcoming publications! I am very excited about the research taking place throughout Vic U. We have a robust academic community of professors and fellows who understand well the vital role research plays in a high-impact university. The Canadian government’s 2023 Report of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System also supports this intensified research effort, stating a need to “buttress a strong, well-funded research enterprise with a system that is agile and capable of addressing emerging research, economic and societal needs and interests in an efficient and effective way.” I will be adding supports to Vic U’s research ecosystem in the coming years. I look forward to sharing some research stories with you in future editions of Vic Report. I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season!
President Rhonda N. McEwen
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Telephone: 416-585-4500 Toll-free: 1-888-262-9775 Email: vic.alumni@utoronto.ca Website: www.vicu.utoronto.ca VIC REPORT AUTUMN 2023
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2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
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renatal diagnosis broke me and writing healed me,” says Dr. Margaret (Malgorzata) Nowaczyk Vic 8T5. She’s speaking of her 2021 book, Chasing Zebras: A Memoir of Genetics, Mental Health and Writing, which explores the challenges and significance of her work in medicine. “A big part of my practice is prenatal genetics, where making a diagnosis may open up the question of whether to continue a pregnancy. That weighs heavily on me,” she says. As a clinical geneticist at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Dr. Nowaczyk must deal regularly with gut-wrenching discussions involving the families of unborn or newly born children—ones who will either not survive, or survive with serious mental and physical limitations. Writing became her therapy, a way to work through these struggles. “When I discovered creative writing and narrative medicine 12 years ago, I was able to pour out these emotions and difficulties on a piece of paper and then share it with people,” says Dr. Nowaczyk. “It became so important to my mental well-being, and something I wanted to highlight in my book.” As a teenager in 1981, Dr. Nowaczyk came to Canada from Poland with her family. Speaking little English, they were high on hopes but short on contacts and
financial resources. Despite this traumatic transition, Dr. Nowaczyk rapidly mastered the language and started at Victoria College in 1982, majoring in biochemistry. “It was a privilege to attend,” she says. “Vic has great opportunities, resources, professors and libraries— I took full advantage of everything.” (As a writer, she is especially proud to have attended the same college as Margaret Atwood!) She went on to study medicine at U of T, where she met her husband, followed by a fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Nowaczyk has 123 peer-reviewed publications to her name, some in top journals like Science and Nature Genetics. She has mentored numerous trainees, and is now a full professor of medicine at McMaster University. She still sees patients daily, caring for children with genetic disorders and providing prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling for adults.
2022 Emerging Leader Award Winners Victoria Haldane Vic 1T2 is a rising voice in global public healthcare, advocating for equity, human rights and community engagement. Her graduate research has spanned reproductive health services in rural India to access to tuberculosis care in Tibet, producing policy-relevant evidence for highquality care. During the pandemic, Victoria played a key role in infection prevention and control training in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, assisting the World Bank and WHO on their responses. She has co-authored papers in the Lancet, the British Medical Journal and Nature Medicine.
As a Vic student, Nirmala Ramprasad Vic 1T4 co-founded Green Dupatta, a charity dedicated to sustainable development and agriculture. She did her MA at U of T, focusing her research on the suicide epidemic in Guyana. As president of Green Dupatta, Nirmala spearheads global community projects and educational initiatives, from restoring an abandoned building into a community centre in Guyana to constructing water harvesting and filtration systems in India. Nirmala is also the lead planner for her organization’s annual gala, using the event to showcase local youth talent and celebrate Caribbean culture.
A graduate of Vic One’s Stowe-Gullen stream, Esther Vlessing Vic 1T6 was well aware of the challenges a pandemic could bring to healthcare systems. When Ontario’s hospitals urgently needed isolation gowns, she jumped into action, planning a nationwide manufacturing response and then cofounding Canada Emergency Medical Manufacturers (CEMM). Ultimately, CEMM delivered over one million reusable isolation gowns to Ontario Health, the University Health Network and long-term-care homes. Esther’s efforts helped protect frontline workers while employing 550 people across the province. VIC REPORT AUTUMN 2023
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ELITE President Rhonda McEwen shares her ambitious plans By Sally Szuster Photos by Minh Truong and Horst Herget
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BUT NOT ELITIST
he words “Because she who dares, wins” do not just adorn Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen’s website—they underpin every part of her decision-making process as president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. She is the first Black woman to lead any university in Canada. As the Canadian Research Chair in Tactile Interfaces, Communication and Cognition, she is also the first president at Vic U with an academic focus on
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). McEwen is among a rare breed of academics who have worked in industry prior to assuming leadership roles in a university. For over 15 years, she worked as a management consultant in telecommunications for Cable and Wireless, IBM and Deloitte, in Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Known for her bionic-level work ethic, her outstanding academic credentials and her charismatic
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ability to engage students, faculty and staff to pursue innovation and ambitious goals, McEwen’s reputation during her tenure as University of Toronto Mississauga’s vice-principal (academic) and dean preceded her. Her arrival at Vic U in July 2022 catalyzed ambitious capital plans to expand the University’s iconic campus, and discussions about growing academic programs and research have begun. McEwen is working with her team to expand EDIA (equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) initiatives, and in so doing she is delivering on the ambitious strategic framework developed by Vic U’s leadership prior to her arrival. She has also sought a more integrated connection between Vic U’s two colleges: Victoria College and Emmanuel College. “Year One of a presidential tenure is special because it is about listening deeply to students, faculty and staff to understand the rich history of Vic U, and where our community sees opportunities and challenges. But now, even as I continue to listen, the rubber hits the road,” she says with a laugh. With its 187-year history and reputation as an incredible place to study, McEwen asks, “how can Victoria University continue to be an elite academic institution, one that values discovery and research and excellent teaching and experiences, but avoid becoming elitist?” To her, “the difference between elite and elitist is service. A diverse student body brings exciting new ideas about how we can serve our world. A key goal is to foster a sense of belonging across our community, even for students who never envisioned themselves walking the halls of Old Vic,” says McEwen. Vic U is collaborating with guidance counselors, principals and
“ How can Victoria University continue to be an elite academic institution, one that values discovery and research and excellent teaching and experiences, but avoid becoming elitist?” neighborhood organizations to invite a broad cross-section of high school students to consider Vic. Through the fundraising campaign Defy Gravity: The Campaign for Victoria University, McEwen hopes to secure more bursaries and funding opportunities for students facing financial and systemic barriers. During her installation ceremony as president and vice-chancellor, she told the packed audience in the Isabel Bader Theatre that “we must be relentless in our pursuit of knowledge—and equally relentless in our commitment to making that knowledge accessible to all.” McEwen comes to her passion for academia honestly. Raised by parents who were academics in Trinidad and Tobago, McEwen watched them pursue their master’s degrees while raising her and her younger brother. McEwen followed their lead, finishing her doctorate
with a focus on mobile social networks in record time while raising her two children. Her academic focus has put her at the forefront of the pressing discussion around artificial intelligence (AI), and she is regularly invited to speak at conferences about the threats the fast-moving technology may pose. In a Toronto Star op-ed published a few weeks after the academic world was shaken by the launch of an AI tool called ChatGPT that some students were using to write their essays, McEwen wrote: “Instead of focusing on how to distinguish AIgenerated papers from traditional methods, we all need to take a seismic leap into a future that will demand an even more creative and analytical approach to information.” The intensity of McEwen’s own research has informed her passion for supporting research at Victoria University. “We have such a wealth of academic talent here in our professors and fellows. Research ignites curiosity in our students, and we should be so proud of the research taking place here. And I think we can do even more!” she says, in her characteristic “go get them” voice.
Rhonda McEwen meets with students at Burwash Dining Hall.
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Mary Pleasance Vic 4T8 receives her 75-Year Chancellor’s Medal from President Rhonda McEwen.
Walking through campus, McEwen reflects on the University’s sense of place in one of the busiest parts of the city. “So many members of our alumni community tell me that they first chose Victoria or Emmanuel colleges for their degree because of their beauty and long histories of academic excellence. The time has come to think expansively about our campus and how it can best serve students’ needs today.” Victoria University launched its Capital Plan prior to McEwen’s arrival. It includes a new student learning centre with state-of-the art classrooms, a consolidated student services hub that includes mental health and wellness supports, and refurbishing existing buildings to make them more accessible. McEwen has accelerated those plans, while expanding them to address pressing needs such as affordable student housing. “We have to be courageous in thinking about our campus and what our students need. Building is a big endeavor, especially in our current economic climate. However, we must play the long game, as generations of students will feel the positive impact,” explains McEwen. “When our alumni community come back to campus for events, they recall conversations with their
professors, hijinks in the residences and meeting some of their closest friends (including spouses) in the quad. When I tell them about our plans for the campus, many respond right away with ‘how can I help?’ I feel confident that our Defy Gravity fundraising campaign will come through for our students and help build the campus they deserve.” Tied to McEwen’s vision for the campus is a commitment to sustainability. “Our students have been loud and clear that this is a priority for them. We must contribute to minimizing the effects of climate change and other environmental threats,” says McEwen. She has worked with the Board of Regents to commit to the divestment of fossil fuels from its investments by 2030, a process that began before her arrival. She also led the way on Vic U joining the Blue Communities Project, with its focus on water sustainability.
President McEwen is leading Victoria University through a transformative period of growth and development, aligning it with the ever-evolving landscape of higher education. “By far, the best part of this job is engaging with students. They are brilliant, creative and thoughtful, and are driven to make a positive difference in the world. Every single member of our community—faculty, staff, librarians and alumni—is focused on helping them achieve their dreams, and I am so proud to call Victoria University my academic home,” she says. To learn about how you can support Defy Gravity: The Campaign for Victoria University, along with President McEwen’s ambitions for our students and campus, visit vicu.utoronto.ca/ giving/defy-gravity-at-vic. Click here to read the full version of this story.
Rhonda McEwen is installed as president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in 2022.
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President Emeritus Paul Gooch, who founded the Vic One program with former principal David Cook, leads a seminar this autumn.
Vic One Students Routinely Outperform Their Peers. What’s the Secret? By Joe Howell
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mitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s been 20 years since Victoria University launched the Vic One program, in which students spend their first year at Victoria College being taught by prominent academics and public figures in small, seminar-style classrooms focused on one of eight streams. Designed to jump-start the academic journeys of exceptional new students, the program has been so successful it’s been replicated across U of T’s three campuses. In 2022, about 83 per cent of Victoria College graduates who went through the Vic One program graduated with distinction or high distinction (a CPGA above of 3.2 or 3.5, respectively), compared to 74 per cent of the broader Vic population and 59 per cent of all students graduating from the Faculty of Arts & Science. These figures are not a blip, says Principal Angela Esterhammer: “Year after year, the numbers show that students who participated in Vic One are significantly more likely to excel academically than their peers.” “Vic One grounded my undergraduate experience, connecting me to a wonderful community of peers and challenging me academically to strive for excellence,” says Catherine Brown Vic 1T0, now an associate medical officer of health. “The Stowe-Gullen stream awakened my curiosity for medicine and started my path.” Holly Johnstone Vic 2T2 was in the program’s Gooch stream before doing her master’s at the University of Oxford. “Vic One was the perfect estuary between the smaller, more intimate classes I was used to in high school and the academic rigour of university classes,” she says. It’s no wonder that the rest of U of T—and beyond— has looked to Vic One as a model. We sat down with former Victoria University president Paul Gooch and former Victoria College principal David Cook, to hear about what inspired their creation of the program. “It was the conviction of the importance of personal education that motivated us,” says Professor Gooch. “We wanted to ensure that in first year, at least one
faculty member actually knew your name and not just your student number.” He says that even the best students benefit from this individualized approach: “Those who do very well in high school often come from smaller schools, where they had a lot of attention. Throw them in a large classroom environment and it can be an anxious time,” says Professor Gooch. “Over the years, Vic One has attracted a certain type of student: those who are going to profit from the seminars, the close contact with the professors and with their colleagues in the classroom,” says Professor Cook. “That may be the most important part of the Vic One experience—bringing together great individuals.”
83% of Vic One program participants graduated with distinction or better Earlier this year, Vic One had its 20th birthday bash. Students and faculty past and present reunited for a variety of events, including a conversation between Vic One professors David Wright, former ambassador to NATO, and the Honourable Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. “Education is really about igniting curiosity,” says Professor Gooch. “The way to do that is to have committed faculty members who love their subjects, and students who have the desire to know. I think that message has gotten out.” Donations to Victoria College make it possible to engage professors who combine scholarly accomplishment with remarkable skills as educators. To contribute and help students Defy Gravity, visit vicu.utoronto.ca/giving. Click here for the full-length version of the story. Read student testimonials, hear more from professors Gooch and Cook, and watch our short highlights video from the 20th-anniversary celebrations.
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OPENING UP THE
For over 10 years, the unique Ideas for the World program at Victoria University has brought together future leaders and vulnerable community members to learn from top academics—and from each other. The experience demonstrates just how much broadening the conversation benefits everyone. By Joe Howell Photos by Dewey Chang, Elena Ferranti and Minh Truong
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fell through the cracks my whole “ Communal learning means life,” says Nick, a soft-spoken a group of people coming man with a talent for fixing cars. together, learning with and “I can’t read, so this course is a lot from each other.” more challenging for me.” for two of the community outreach He’s sitting outside Alumni and “reach-in” parts of the Ideas Hall at Victoria University, chatting for the World program, with after a recent session of Theatre for Humanities for Humanity running Thought as staff clean up around in the fall and Theatre for Thought him. “I see things that maybe in spring. They break into groups, some other people don’t, but things enjoy a dinner provided by Victoria are different for me, because the University, listen to the guest reading is a big deal, right?” speaker and engage in discussion. When the groups discuss that week’s topic, no two answers are the same. Community members, who hail from all walks of life, share their lived experiences; students gently guide the conversation, help explore the theme and introduce academic concepts they learn at school. As a student at Victoria College, Nick receives his completion certificate Jacob Levitt was officially termed from Professor John Duncan. a “mentor” in the program, yet he says he did far more listening than Even though Theatre for teaching. “Communal learning Thought isn’t graded and requires means a group of people coming no essays or exams, participants together, learning with and from each are still expected to read a play other. It is not evaluative or didactic— each week, with some of them it’s meant to promote discussion, performing an excerpt to kick off inquiry and dialogue,” says Levitt. the group discussion when everyone Humanities for Humanity has meets in person. It’s a constant run in partnership with Trinity struggle for Nick, but something College for over 15 years; last winter has changed in him since he started marked the 10-year anniversary since participating in the program. the umbrella program, Ideas for the “Now, if you had a magic World, found its home at Victoria wand and asked what wish you University. Kelley Castle, dean of could grant me?” He goes quiet, students at Victoria University, was becoming uncharacteristically inspired to create the program when serious for a moment. “I’d like to she and her husband, Professor John have the gift of reading. I want to Duncan, worked at Trinity College. pour knowledge into myself.” The two were moved to action after Every Tuesday evening, dozens reading an article on how liberal arts of Victoria College students and education can be transformative for community members—vulnerable people in poverty. “One intent of the Torontonians new to the university university is to think about the world environment—gather at Alumni beyond the walls of the university,” Hall in the iconic Old Vic building says Castle, “so it seems strange
that we have this conception of the university as a ‘fortress’ or ‘ivory tower.’” She and Duncan set out to “make the walls of the university more porous.” The pair conceived an academic co-curricular experience for students to help them consider how their classroom learning resonates in the real world. Castle and Duncan visited community centres, shelters, churches and more to invite people who lacked the opportunity of attending university. “It was hard in the beginning to gain trust,” says Castle. “A lot of people have been disfranchised their whole lives.” All community members who attend at least eight out of the 10 sessions of Humanities for Humanity or Theatre for Thought in a semester get a signed certificate from Vic U. The youngest community members are teens and the eldest in their 90s; one thing they have in common is a lack of access to higher education. One participant said that “women were not even allowed to speak” in the country she came from, recalls Castle. “She told me, ‘I’m so happy that my granddaughter can see that I participated in a university program.’” That feeling of pride is a recurring theme among community members. One alum of the program,
Professor Kathleen Wynne greets a program participant.
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a blind man who had hoped to become a teacher, was held back by poverty and his disability. After he passed away, his friends found his Humanities for Humanity completion certificate mounted on his bedroom wall, a testament to his abilities. Many community members had plans for life that got derailed, and participating in the program feels like returning to the goals they had before things went sideways. “I’ve been through hell and back, and this program really helped me with a lot,” says Jennifer. “I ran away from home as a teenager. I just couldn’t afford school and follow the rules at the same time.” She discovered Humanities for Humanity and Theatre for Thought through the Toronto Centre of Learning & Development, and has since become passionate about history and poetry. A turning point for Jennifer was meeting speakers like former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, who lectured on women in politics. “Those people really inspired me. They showed me that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s the path you take to get there.” Her
Naomi Trick and Dean Kelley Castle.
Vic students engage in discussion with community members.
experience with the program has motivated her to become a social worker, and she’s now taking upgrade courses to qualify for university. “Education is freedom,” says Dean Castle. “It’s a way of thinking outside of your own circumstances, of interpreting the world around
“ Those people really inspired me. They showed me that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s the path you take to get there.” you through different lenses.” She and Duncan set out to help tear down the barriers facing the people who would most benefit from this freedom. Program attendees don’t just get fed intellectually—they also get a hot meal, along with free texts, transportation and childcare. “The funny part is that our undergrad students come here because they want to do something for the community and they want volunteering experience,” reflects Castle. “By the end of the semester, it’s pretty hard to tell who’s learned from whom!” Naomi Trick, a gregarious student who graduated in June, was director of the Theatre for Thought dramatic readings last semester, meeting every Sunday with students and community
members to rehearse an excerpt from that week’s play. At the final session, everyone who volunteered to perform was awarded a shiny Oscar-like trophy in categories such as “Excellence in Greek Tragedy.” She emphasized how illuminating it is to hear directly from affected people when learning about topics impacting vulnerable communities. “It makes you really think about things in a different way. It’s such an enriching experience.” Vic student Jacob Levitt agrees. “I think it’ll be an especially formative experience for students in their early years of undergrad, providing a different perspective on how to use a university space in a community-oriented way.” So what’s the secret of the program’s endurance? “Not a year passes in which students, community participants, faculty and staff don’t tell us how much they enjoy it,” says Professor Duncan. “The vibe that grows out of the program each year is quite simply one of love and respect.” With files from Minh Truong. By supporting Defy Gravity: The Campaign for Victoria University, you help provide rich learning opportunities for the next generation of students who will make the world a better place. Click here to read the full-length story.
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Students and Donors Connect on Charter Day By Dan Blackwell
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FACULTY APPOINTMENTS Two of Vic’s most esteemed academics have assumed named professorships, given to professors who have fulfilled rigorous research and made a significant impact through their academic output and teaching. Most named professorships are made possible thanks to philanthropic support from alumni.
Jacob Mark Stoutchinine and Wendy Cecil.
Ellen Edmonds and Louise Yearwood.
John Grant, Giedre Alsaadi, Judith Joshi and Susan Gillmeister.
Ellen Edmonds, who founded the George W. Edmonds Scholarship in memory of her late husband, George Edmonds Vic 4T8, was pleased to be part of the celebrations. “George embodied the Vic spirit,” says Edmonds. “I know he would be very happy to see some of his money helping Victoria College students.” To discover how you can empower the next wave of Vic students to shape the future, visit vic.utoronto.ca/alumni/giving.
Photos: Minh Truong
hat better way to celebrate Victoria University’s 187th birthday than by honouring the more than 1,200 students who received scholarships and awards, many of which are provided by alumni donors and other friends of the University? Alumni had the opportunity to personally connect with students at the Charter Day ceremony. John Grant Vic 8T3 and Susan Gillmeister Vic 8T1 met students Judith Joshi and Giedre Alsaadi, who received the 1980s Legacy Scholarship, created to honour the graduates of their decade and as a tribute to a dearly departed friend, Peter Stokreef Vic 8T3. “We just felt like a tight-knit group who wanted to give back and honour those who are no longer with us,” Gillmeister says. “This scholarship will allow me to consider getting a master’s degree or going to med school,” says Joshi. “Thanks to donations like these, I hope to go on to my master’s studies where I can focus on environmental sustainability to help us transition into a more sustainable future,” adds Alsaadi. During the ceremony, former Victoria University chancellor Wendy Cecil C.M. Vic 7T1 introduced honorary degree recipient Jill Heinerth, a deep-sea diver, filmmaker and environmental advocate. Afterwards, Cecil met with student Jacob Mark Stoutchinine, who received the Wayne Reesor Thomas Scholarship she founded. “Meeting the recipient of this scholarship feels like a chance to touch the future,” says Cecil. Stoutchinine was honoured to be recognized and hopes to one day pay it forward. “I would love to have a scholarship named after me someday,” he says.
Click here to read the full-length story.
Claire Battershill has been appointed as the Wendy M. Cecil Professor in Vic One for 2023–24. Her research and teaching interests encompass digital humanities and digital archives, experimental feminist approaches to book and publishing cultures, and 20th-century literature. Adam Sol, who leads the Creative Expression and Society program at Victoria College, now holds the Blake C. Goldring Professorship in the Norman Jewison Stream of Vic One. His most recent book, Broken Dawn Blessings, won the 2022 Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Poetry and a 2023 Vine Award.
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2023 ALUMNI REUNION Vic reunions can feel more like family gatherings than school reunions! This year, alumni attended virtual and in-person events from May 31 to June 4, reconnecting with friends and reminiscing about their school days.
Mentors and Mentees of the Victoria Alumni Mentorship Program enjoying an end-of-year celebration!
Recipients of the Victoria College Emerging Leader Award from 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 celebrate at the Burwash Dinner.
Teza Lwin Vic 9T3 and Rhonda McEwen.
Rhonda McEwen and Vito Labate Vic 0T0, president of the AVC.
At the Honoured Years’ Lunch, over a dozen members of the Class of 1973 mark 50 years since graduating from Victoria College!
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Old friends share memories at the Burwash Dinner.
Edna Khubyar Vic 7T9 and Esther Khubyar Vic 7T1.
2021 Victoria College Emerging Leader Award recipient Grace McDonell Vic 1T4 and her partner.
Old friends reconnect at the Honoured Years’ Lunch.
2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Albert Oung Vic 8T3 with his guests, celebrating his award at the Burwash Dinner.
Photos: Mary Heinmaa, Elsie Nisonen, Minh Truong
The Victoria University Heritage Society marks its 30th anniversary with a special afternoon tea and the conferral of a commemorative pin.
Alumni trade stories before the Burwash Dinner.
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Photo: Minh Truong
Merit Awards Help Sharese Taylor Shine from Trinidad to TO By Jennifer Little and Joe Howell
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inning a major merit-based scholarship brought Sharese Taylor to Victoria College. Since then, the awards and recognitions have kept coming for this remarkable fourth-year student. After Taylor was named a National Open Scholarship recipient in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, the world was her oyster. The coveted award recognized her as the Caribbean’s top high school student in French and Spanish, allowing her to study anywhere on the globe. We have her mom to thank for Taylor choosing Toronto. “She knew that the University of Toronto was prestigious,” says Taylor. “I thought Victoria College seemed like a good fit for me and I’m happy to say it feels like my home now—I appreciate that it’s a tightly knit community.” To say Taylor has a talent for languages would be an understatement. Though pandemic restrictions added extra challenges to the start of her university career, she has continued to excel academically. Taylor has qualified for several additional awards and prizes since being admitted in autumn 2020, including the University of Toronto International Scholar Award (an admission award designed to attract top students) and a French Undergraduate Excellence Award. At Victoria College, which boasts one of the most impressive scholarship programs in Canada, Taylor has been recognized with the Bader Scholarship in Spanish, having qualified for one of the in-course scholarships guaranteed to all Vic students achieving an A-range average. These awards are made possible through the generosity of alumni who donate funds, often by including Victoria College in their Wills. Taylor’s merit-based awards differ from bursaries, which are often based on financial need. “Merit awards can be helpful financially to students, but they are primarily intended to recognize hard work, extracurricular contributions and success,” says Yvette Ali, registrar at Victoria College. “They can be showcased on a resume, helping high-achieving students demonstrate their accomplishments and stand out.” And that’s not all. By celebrating achievement, merit awards can help motivate students—both those who receive them, and others aspiring to receive them, says Ali. “Merit awards can also assist students with finding mentors, such as past recipients or faculty members in that area of study.” The extra funds are a boost to any young scholar. “Having access to these financial resources during my studies means that finances are no longer a barrier to
my education or to my engagement on campus as an international student,” says Taylor. Merit awards can also add a sense of pride and belonging as a student. “I have always felt supported here at Vic, both through the generosity of the awards donors and thanks to members of the president’s, dean’s and registrar’s offices,” says Taylor. “Their doors are always open and they have really helped me grow and develop as a person.” That development is not only taking place in the classroom. You can find Taylor on the court as a member of Vic’s intramural basketball team; she is also the director of finance for the Victoria Black Student Network. “It’s always good to create a safe space where people can come and feel welcome, and that’s what the network aims to do,” she says.
“ Having access to these [scholarships] during my studies means that finances are no longer a barrier to my education.” A highlight of Taylor’s time at Vic so far has been taking part in the Jackman Scholars-in-Residence program. This month-long program gives undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in academic research with faculty members. “Participating in a research project has opened my mind to career possibilities,” she says. “This experience made me qualified to work as a research assistant at the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Department of Language Studies, and I am now more interested in becoming a professor.” Students recognized for merit don’t stop achieving great things after graduation, notes Ali. “Receiving the award is a part of their story which they may share and pay forward to others—as role models, through their work or volunteer involvements, through charitable giving and more.” What’s next for Taylor when she leaves Vic? Whatever she does, she’s sure to shine. “I’d like to continue furthering my education. Although I’m not quite sure what will happen at the end of my studies, I am a dreamer and I dream big!” Scholarships are possible because of generous alumni who donate to Victoria University, including through bequests in Wills. To learn how you can help students shine brightly with scholarships through planned gifts, contact Sharon Gregory, associate director of gift planning, at sharon.gregory@utoronto.ca or 416-813-4050. You can also visit uoft.me/PlannedGifts for more information.
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Milestones As a member of our vibrant alumni community, your milestones deserve to be celebrated! Click here for a link to our submission form or email your news to vic.alumni@utoronto.ca. Lisa Ariemma Vic 9T0 was selected for the 2022 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist. Her piece, “First Night on the Border,” recounts her experience volunteering with migrants at the French-Italian border in the Alps.
Brandon W. Bailey Vic 1T3 wed Julie Aubrey McConnell Vic 1T3! Brandon and Julie first met at a Vic One orientation mixer in 2008 and have many happy memories around Vic’s campus.
John F. Bemrose Vic 7T0, professor emeritus, published his third novel, The River Twice (Thistledown, 2022). Set during the First World War, it follows the fortunes of a lieutenant invalided home to small-town Ontario in 1918. Stephen Bezruchka Vic 6T6 published Inequality Kills Us All: COVID-19’s Health Lessons for the World (Routledge, 2022). In it, the emergency physician and public health expert takes a deep dive into global health data to expose how unjust economics lead to poor health.
Helen M. Carefoot Vic 4T3 was inducted posthumously into U of T’s Sports Hall of Fame. She served as president of the Victoria College Women’s Athletic Association, twice leading her intramural ice hockey team to championships.
Adam John Borovilos Vic 0T5 and Veronika welcomed daughter Kamila Lila Anastasia on July 8, 2023. Proud relatives include grandparents Anita and John Borovilos Vic 7T0, and aunt Alexa Borovilos Vic 0T4. Carrie Ruth Bridge Vic 0T2 was profiled by U of T for her work with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her roles there include science operations team chief for Curiosity, the selfie-taking rover.
Gordon J. Barnes Vic 7T5 received a Global Citizen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, recognizing his efforts as a volunteer fieldworker with Amnesty International Canada.
Katherine Bruce-Lockhart Vic 1T2 published Carceral Afterlives: Prisons, Detention, and Punishment in Postcolonial Uganda (Ohio UP, 2022). Her book illustrates the persistent imbrication of prisons with struggles for decolonization and freedom across the globe.
Ruth L. Brown Vic 4T5 celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 23, 2022! Ruth, who’s part of a multi-generational Vic family, received a special birthday message from President Rhonda McEwen and current students to mark the occasion.
Kenneth G. Cude Vic 6T2 and Avril Oglesby celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with their son, daughter and four grandchildren on Aug. 12, 2022. Melodie Edwards Vic 1T1, who started her writing career as a journalist for The Strand, had her first novel published in March. Jane & Edward (Penguin Random House, 2023) is a modern reimagining of Jane Eyre, set on Toronto’s Bay Street.
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James Evans Vic 5T2, a former professor of history, has a new blog available at jaevansblog.blogspot.com. Chloë Rose Flowers Vic 2T3 and Raquel Ravivo Vic 2T2 had their original play sponsored as the 2023 Alumni Performance Project by the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies. Crab Mentality is a dark comedy exploring how belief systems develop and evolve around the individuals who create them, featuring lighting design by Tara Kathleen Costello Vic 2T1. Rishma Govani Vic 9T7 published The Stars That Shine For You, her second children’s book. Written in memory of her late husband, Aly Mulji, it takes a poetic approach to expressions of grief around the world. Donna J. Harrison Vic 7T2 and Robert Smith Harrison Vic 6T7 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May. The Vic grads were married in the Victoria College Chapel! Tanis Ann Helliwell Vic 6T9 published The Leprechaun’s Story. The fantastical autobiography of Lloyd the leprechaun lets us glimpse into the magical realm of nature spirits that exists only a blink away from the human world. Jake Howell 1T3 and Liz Bourque welcomed Sylvan Peter Kenneth Howell on June 22, 2023. Baby Sylvan’s proud Vic alum relatives include aunt and uncle Emily and Joe Howell, and grandma and late great aunt Margaret and Elizabeth Bream.
Ray Robertson Vic 9T3 just published his 15th book, All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows (Biblioasis, 2023). In it, he reflects on some of the Grateful Dead’s most memorable concerts to better understand who they were—and what they continue to mean.
Colleen Nerissa (Sargeant) James Vic 0T4 became the first Black woman elected to Kitchener’s Regional Council. Colleen, who has over 15 years of experience in municipal government, was profiled by the CBC after her historic victory. Richard B. Larson Vic 6T2, an astronomer and astrophysicist, was recognized with the Order of Canada. Richard was made a Member of the Order for his immense contributions to our understanding of star formation and galaxy evolution. Jeffrey Luscombe Vic 0T5 published a new novel, To Refrain From Embracing (Lethe Press, 2023). Set in Hamilton in the 1970s, the book follows a family’s trials after a suicide attempt leaves veteran Ted checked into a psychiatric hospital. Ruth Lor Malloy Vic 5T4 received an honorary degree from York University, recognizing her efforts to combat discrimination and promote equality. The degree coincided with the release of her latest book, Brightening My Corner: A Memoir of Dreams Fulfilled (Barclay Press, 2023). Megan Mueller Vic 8T8 published her second book, Back to the Garden (At Bay Press, 2023). Set in 1971, the novel is a love letter to Toronto’s coming of age, with the folk scene in full throttle and disenchantment over Vietnam brewing.
Heather Susan Townsend Vic 1T7 was selected for the 2022 Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Joseph T. McDonald Memorial Scholarship. Heather is currently serving as a judicial law clerk at the Superior Court of Delaware. Alice Wang Vic 2T0 won the Regent Park Film Festival’s Emerging Directors’ Pitch Competition in 2021. They have since launched the proof-ofconcept trailer at bit.ly/rent-a-girlfriend and are applying for funding to make the whole series. Carolyn Whitney-Brown Vic 8T3 published her fourth book, Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom (HarperOne, 2022). Co-authored with the late Henri Nouwen, it tells the story of his friendship with the Flying Rodleighs trapeze troupe.
Want to read the e-edition of Vic Report and support our sustainability efforts? Send us your email and we will stop sending you the paper copy! Please write vic.alumni@utoronto.ca or call 416 585-4500.
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Where There’s a Will, There’s a Say Vic alum Lionel Collier tells us why it’s important to make your wishes clear By Joe Howell
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Photos: Minh Truong
H
aving recently celebrated his 40-year alumni accepted by every university he applied to, ultimately reunion, Lionel Collier Vic 8T3 may seem too choosing Vic in part because of a small entrance young to be concerned with his Will. Count on bursary—and because he was lucky enough to sit in on a a chartered professional accountant (CPA) to know the lecture by a renowned English professor. “When I was 18, importance of planning ahead: this year, Collier updated I went to one of Northrop Frye’s lectures while visiting a his Will to include a donation from his estate to Victoria friend at Vic, just to get a sense of what was happening. University in the University of Toronto. He spoke on King Lear, and it gave me comfort to know To him, there’s nothing morbid about having one’s that I would be interested in attending classes, that they affairs in order. “Aside from the natural course of had a great staff and that I could fit in at Vic.” life, my parents taught me that it’s always good to be And growing up gay in a smaller city, fitting in prepared. They wanted to be certain that their children was a big deal. “There were gay people around, but it were clear about their wishes,” says Collier. was always sort of hush-hush or ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” “You know, I did my first Will...” he pauses to think. says Collier. This all changed in 1979 when he joined “When I was 23, just after I graduated!” Collier laughs. the student group LGBTOUT, then called Gays at “I think people should have that set up much earlier U of T. “We staged various stunts to raise awareness than they often do. I’ve worked in hospitals, and I know that there were gay people on campus. We also put on that death is just a normal part of life—it’s part of our cycle. So we have to deal with it and plan accordingly.” “ I’ve worked in hospitals, and I know death Reflecting, Collier also credits his time at school for is just a normal part of life. So we have to cultivating his plan-ahead mentality: “U of T taught deal with it and plan accordingly.” me discipline, time management and that I could accomplish a whole lot if I put my mind to it. It gave some outrageous events, like an annual ball where some me four years of ‘bootcamp training,’ and I’ve followed of the guys went wearing tuxedos and danced together. that lifestyle ever since,” he says. “I am very thankful to It was sensational for us to have the freedom to be open.” U of T and Vic in particular for providing me with an Does Collier want his bequest to go toward anything opportunity to study and launch my career,” says Collier. specific at Vic U? “I just want the money to go into the “I feel that it was a big privilege to go here.” general fund,” he says. “I worked in fundraising for five Why did he choose to direct funds from his estate years at the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, to Victoria College in particular? “It was that feeling and I know how important it is to receive donations that of support or having a base on campus,” says Collier. aren’t earmarked for anything!” “I would go over to Pratt library to study in the basement Donors who make bequests in their Will have made or the large room upstairs. I kept my locker in Old Vic, up nearly half of philanthropic donations to Victoria storing my books during the day. I networked, met a University over its history. “Donors like Lionel who lot of interesting people and made some friends who make unrestricted gifts have a significant impact on the were living in residence. Everyone I met at Vic was University because the funds can be used for the highesthighly intelligent; it was a wonderful community for priority needs,” says Louise Yearwood, executive director making friends!” of Alumni Affairs & Advancement. “Unrestricted gifts When he was a teenager growing up in Oshawa, he could help students from challenging social/economic read about Victoria College in his local newspaper. He backgrounds have the opportunity to study at Vic, or go knew he wanted to experience life in the big city, and toward making our beautiful buildings more accessible. visiting Vic U for the first time he remembers being Gifts of all sizes make an impact—each one makes a impressed by the beauty of the architecture. He was difference, and we are so grateful!”
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Alumni are welcome to join us for these exciting events!
Planning Your Legacy By Sharon Gregory
Whether it is recognizing the impact of your education, expressing gratitude, or paying forward the help you received from a bursary or scholarship, there are many reasons for choosing to remember Victoria University in your estate plan. Charitable bequests and other planned gifts—such as proceeds from a registered retirement plan or a life insurance policy—can help you plan your legacy, while providing financial and other benefits. Planned gifts support academic and co-curricular programs, scholarships and bursaries, the libraries, and the University’s heritage buildings and grounds. Please contact me, Sharon Gregory, associate director of gift planning, at 416-813-4050 or sharon.gregory@utoronto.ca if you would like information on charitable bequests (including suggested wording for your Will), other forms of planned giving, and steps you can take to plan your legacy. Request a copy of Victoria University’s estateplanning primer and workbook, or ask me about the Victoria University Heritage Society, for those who have made a provision for Vic U in their estate plan.
Green Horizons: Navigating Sustainability for a Brighter Tomorrow Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 to 8 p.m., virtual An engaging fireside chat and exclusive interview with Albert Oung Vic 8T3, the visionary CEO of Green Inc Group, as we explore the latest sustainability trends along with strategies for ecoconsciousness that both individuals and businesses can use. Register by Thursday, Nov. 16. my.alumni.utoronto.ca/albertoung2023
Young Alumni Event: Grad School with Raj Sabharwal Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 to 7 p.m., virtual Attention all young alumni! Raj Sabharwal Vic 8T3, founding partner and managing director of Glass Revolution Imports, will share his career journey since graduating from Vic. It promises to be a fascinating look at how the path you start out on may not be the one you continue on! Register here: my.alumni.utoronto.ca/ vicgradschool2023
Save the Date: Graduates Holiday Lecture
Save the Date: 2024 Alumni Reunion Events
Saturday, Dec. 9, 11 to 12 p.m., virtual
Wednesday, May 29 to Sunday, June 2
This year’s holiday lecture will feature “The Fine Art and Science of Cave Diving,” a talk by Dr. Jill Heinerth, Hon. 2T3. Register for this highly anticipated annual event by clicking here.
Mark your calendar! The 2024 Alumni Reunion events will take place from Wednesday, May 29 to Sunday, June 2. Details will be sent to the Vic alumni community in the new year.
Learn more about the Victoria College alumni events at www.vic.utoronto.ca/ alumni/reunion. Any questions? Contact Helena Herscovici, alumni affairs officer, at h.herscovici@utoronto.ca or 416-585-4503.
Are you receiving Vic Express, our regular digital newsletter? If not, make sure your email address is up to date by visiting uoft.me/StayinTouch
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Say
YES to possibility
Say YES to making a gift to the Victoria College Annual Fund this 2023–24 academic year! There is so much potential in the word YES. Your YES at Vic will help to transform the student experience.
Your gift will: • support the exciting work taking place at Vic— particularly this year at the Northrop Frye Centre, where scholars engage in thought-provoking research led by Professor Bob Davidson; • offer scholarships, bursaries and awards to even more students; • strengthen services that support student mental health and wellness; and so much more.
“ The fearlessness of the undergraduates at Vic gives me hope for the future.” Professor Bob Davidson Director, Northrop Frye Centre, Victoria College
No matter the size of your gift, small actions make a big impact at Vic. YES begins with you. Three easy ways to donate: Visit: my.alumni.utoronto.ca/vicaf Call: 416-585-4500 or 1-888-262-9775 Email: vic.alumni@utoronto.ca
Give before December 31 to receive your 2023 charitable giving tax receipt.
Thank you for helping Vic students to flourish in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Charitable Registration No. 10817 3436 RR0001
