Hart House

Noah Rudder was rehearsing for a starring role as the detective Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express at the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Hart House Theatre when he received the momentous news: he had just become a Rhodes Scholar.

The world’s oldest graduate fellowship, the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship enables recipients to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford.

It is awarded following a rigorous global selection process.

“I was so grateful – I feel at home in the theatre, and there’s no better place for me to have taken that call,” says Rudder, a student at Victoria College who’s completing the peace, conflict and justice program at U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts & Science alongside a major in drama at the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies.

Rudder is one of two U of T students to be named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar this year. He is joined by Amy Mann, a fellow Victoria College student who’s pursuing a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and statistics.

Mann says she’s looking forward to continuing her research in mathematical biology at Oxford.

“I want to keep studying math and seeing how we can apply it to these big problems – like considering social factors of disease transmission to improve intervention strategies,” says Mann, who is the president of the U of T Mathematics Union.

The pair are among 11 Canadian students who will head to Oxford next fall, joining more than 100 young scholars from around the world.

“On behalf of the entire U of T community, I would like to congratulate Noah Rudder and Amy Mann on this tremendous achievement,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“We wish them continued success in their scholarship and look forward to hearing about their accomplishments in the years to come.”

Rhonda McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the ��߲ݴ�ý, said she was “over the moon” for Rudder and Mann. “It is a true privilege to interact with this caliber of young person,” McEwen said.

Rudder, who hails from Ajax, Ont., hopes to combine his interests in social justice and the arts by pursuing master of public policy and a master of fine arts degrees at Oxford.

The president of the Peace, Conflict and Justice Society, Rudder was instrumental in Victoria University’s signing of the Scarborough Charter, a commitment by institutions across Canada to combat anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in higher education. “Working with Vic’s Office of the President on the Scarborough Charter inspired me to contribute to an area that I can make an impact,” he says. “I think there are a lot of opportunities to push for spaces for Black individuals at the highest level of education.”

He has also conducted research with the World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist, focusing on knowledge generation in African countries before 2009 – and has written for and performed in the Toronto Fringe Festival and various U of T productions.

Mann, meanwhile, is passionate about leveraging math and science to address pressing global challenges.

In 2021, she co-authored a paper, published in the journal Atmosphere-Ocean, that examined the reduction in occurrences of cold weather in the Canadian Arctic. She’s now focused on the intersection of climate change and public health. Her current research project seeks to create climate-dependent models of malaria transmission in Cameroon.

She has been involved in sustainability and other causes. At Victoria College, she served as the sustainability commissioner on the Students’ Administrative Council and a student member of the Board of Regents. She also co-founded the student community garden and volunteers at The Common Table, a drop-in program that supports individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

“Congratulations to Amy and Noah, both from Victoria College, on being named Rhodes Scholars,” said Antoinette Handley, acting dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science and professor in the department of political science. “Their academic achievements and commitment to leadership and civic engagement are a testament to their hard work and vision.

“We’re incredibly proud to have them represent both Victoria College and the Faculty of Arts & Science at Oxford, and we look forward to the many ways they’ll continue to make a difference.”

McEwen, meanwhile, said Rudder and Mann exemplify the potential that U of T’s younger generation of budding scholars hold in tackling important challenges.

“Both students share a passion for people and embody the multidisciplinary approach needed to address the ‘wicked problems’ of the world – complex issues requiring insights from multiple disciplines,” McEwen said.

“They are curious but compassionate people who will challenge existing frameworks for a better tomorrow. When you meet either of them, you understand that you are with someone who is going to continue to do amazing things.”

U of T community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:32:22 +0000

U of T community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar Mon, 09/30/2024 - 11:32

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Attendees wear orange shirts during a U of T tri-campus event, held at Hart House, to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

“Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought”

Shirley Cheechoo doesn’t want to be recognized as a residential school survivor, a term commonly used to describe Indigenous Peoples who were subjected to Canada’s horrific residential school system.

“We should be identified as residential school warriors,” said the Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute.

“Calling us warriors, you empower us. You empower our children and you empower communities across the country.”

Shirley Cheechoo, Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute, shared the horrors and abuse she endured in Canada’s residential school system (photo by Polina Teif)

Cheechoo delivered the keynote address at a ��߲ݴ�ý event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The tri-campus event, held at Hart House on the St. George campus, was streamed live on YouTube.

She shared the horrors and abuse she endured after being kidnapped from her parents at age six and placed in a residential school. With a long-standing passion for working with young people, Cheechoo encouraged universities like U of T to partner with Indigenous leaders to fund and support Indigenous students and youth.

Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, said “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought” (photo by Polina Teif)

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from U of T Mississauga, introduced Cheechoo at the event, while Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, emphasized the critical nature of the work ahead.

“There are 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. U of T has 34 of their own published,” said Baghbanan. “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought.”

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from U of T Mississauga, was among the speakers at the event (photo by Polina Teif)

Attendees also heard remarks from several U of T leaders, including U of T President Meric Gertler and William Gough, acting vice-president of U of T and acting principal of U of T Scarborough.

President Gertler, for his part, said the U of T community is committed to advancing reconciliation across its three campuses, including by: expanding the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and librarians; incorporating Indigenous content into U of T’s curriculum; supporting Indigenous research programs; and creating physical spaces that honour Indigenous Peoples’ tradition and histories.

Flags were lowered to half-mast across U of T’s three campuses on Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada.

U of T community members attend the ceremony in Hart House’s Great Hall while others tuned into the livestream (photo by Polina Teif)

Hart House Warden David Kim thanked U of T Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the U of T event, which depicts a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words “Every child matters.”

After the ceremony, a sacred fire was held for U of T community members at the newly opened Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project near Hart House.

U of T President Meric Gertler and Chancellor Wes Hall deliver remarks to attendees in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Earlier this month, U of T Scarborough hosted a reflective walk for reconciliation from the U of T Scarborough flagpole to the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail. In addition, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held across the three campuses, while U of T Mississauga live-streamed the Hart House event in the Grand Hall at Maanjiwe nendamowinan.

In his closing remarks at Hart House, U of T Chancellor Wes Hall encouraged the audience to continue sharing their stories, no matter how difficult, to ensure we do not repeat the past.

In photos: U of T marks opening of Indigenous landscape project at Hart House Green

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:34:50 +0000

In photos: U of T marks opening of Indigenous landscape project at Hart House Green

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 09/27/2024 - 09:34

Cutline

The pathway that extends along the east side of Ziibiing follows the trail of Taddle Creek, a buried stream running under the St. George campus that once served as a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples (photo by Polina Teif)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Ziibiing

Indigenous Initiatives

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Landmark

Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

The Ziibiing space includes a central pavilion, amphitheatre and plantings of medicinal trees and shrubs

The ��߲ݴ�ý commemorated the official opening of Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project that uses architecture, horticulture and storytelling to honour Indigenous cultures and provide a space for community members to gather, learn and host ceremonies on the St. George campus.

The opening celebration for Ziibiing, held Monday Sept. 23, included a traditional Elder’s opening, a welcome song and the burning of a sacred fire – the first fire to be lit in Ziibiing’s pavilion and one of several Indigenous ceremonial practices that are welcome on all three U of T campuses.

Here’s how the event unfolded through the lens of U of T photographers:

(photo by Polina Teif)

Michael White, director of First Nations House, tends to the sacred fire in the Ziibiing pavilion as Jenny Blackbird, resource centre and programs co-ordinator at First Nations House, looks on.

Ceremonial fires, smudging and pipe ceremonies are among the important Indigenous practices that take place on U of T’s three campuses.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Blackbird performs a traditional song to welcome U of T community members to the celebration.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The vision for Ziibiing was developed by an Indigenous Advisory Committee in collaboration with the Indigenous Design Studio at Brook McIlroy, who in turn consulted with Indigenous students, faculty, staff, the Council of Indigenous Initiatives Elders' Circle and representatives of local First Nations.

The project was born out of Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, the final report of the Steering Committee for the ��߲ݴ�ý Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which outlined the need for dedicated Indigenous spaces on campus.

From left: James Bird and Shannon Simpson (photos by Polina Teif)(photo by Polina Teif)

Several members of the U of T community spoke at the event.

“Our voices, traditions and histories are woven into the fabric of this new landscape, sending a clear signal that we are seen, that we matter and that we belong,” said Shannon Simpson, senior director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and a member of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, in her remarks at the ceremony.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Ziibiing is named for the Anishinaabemowin word for “river,” a reference to the Taddle Creek waterway that once flowed through the area and served as a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples.

It’s an example of how Indigenous design and Western architectural disciplines can come together to assist in placemaking, according to James Bird, a Knowledge Keeper from the Nehiyawak and Dene Nation and PhD candidate in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

“In the practice of architecture, there are ways one can approach the creation of space and its activation through design," said Bird. “This alternative viewpoint assigns agency to the metaphysical aspects that exist within Indigenous cultures and in turn allows metaphysical relationships to be made into physical form.”

(photo by Polina Teif)

In her remarks to the event’s attendees, Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture, said that, in addition to serving a vital role as a teaching and ceremonial space for Indigenous students, employees and Elders, Ziibiing will encourage the entire U of T community to “find innovative ways to Indigenize this institution.”

She noted the space has already hosted a recent land-based learning workshop that invited members of the U of T community to deepen their understanding of Indigenous world views, teachings and connections to the land. The workshop was organized by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, with future sessions scheduled for Oct. 22 and Nov. 19.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The Ziibiing pavilion is supported by 13 columns that symbolize the 13 moons of the year. They circle a fire pit where ceremonial fires may be lit and maintained by Indigenous firekeepers.

(photo by David Lee)

The creation of Ziibiing took place alongside the Landmark Project, which aimed to revitalize the historic core of the St. George campus.

Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships, said U of T community members have already embraced Ziibiing, as well as the other new spaces, as evidenced by their increased use of the reimagined landscapes.

“We didn’t know what we didn’t have before,” he said.

‘Think against yourself’: Panel discussion on civil discourse draws students to U of T’s Hart House

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:38:08 +0000

‘Think against yourself’: Panel discussion on civil discourse draws students to U of T’s Hart House

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/24/2024 - 13:38

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Students ask questions during a recent panel discussion about civil discourse on university campuses that was hosted by Professor Randy Boyagoda (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Chris Sorensen

Topic

Our Community

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

English

Faculty of Arts & Science

Hart House

Religion

Undergraduate Students

Vic One

Victoria College

Hugh Considine got a crash course in discussing polarizing topics almost immediately upon arriving at the ��߲ݴ�ý.

The second-year student studies religion in the Faculty of Arts & Science – a subject, he says, that can be about as controversial as it gets.

“People have an unimaginable amount of investment in it,” says Considine, 19, a member of Innis College. “Depending on who you ask, it’s literally your soul at hand – the ultimate thing that could be risked.”

He credits his professors for creating an environment where students feel unafraid to speak their minds, encouraging them to comment, ask questions and generally “poke and prod” one another so we “would actually think about what’s being said.”

It’s a microcosm of what campus life is supposed to be all about: a diverse group of people coming together to expand their worldviews through study, debate and discovery – and it’s a message that was reinforced during a recent event for Victoria College students in the Vic One program.

The hour-long panel discussion, held at Hart House on Sept. 18, focused on the critical role of civil discourse on university campuses. It brought together two high-profile U of T academics and authors – Ian Williams of the department of English and Janice Stein of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy – and New York Timescolumnist Pamela Paul.

The first in a series of planned events and initiatives on the topic, the talk was moderated by Professor Randy Boyagoda, the university’s provostial adviser on civil discourse and chair of its Working Group on Civil Discourse, and is part of a broader effort to strengthen the culture of civil discourse on campus. That includes cultivating dialogue across different points of view and the discussion of challenging subjects.

Hundreds attended the event at Hart House, including Hugh Considine at bottom right (photo by Johnny Guatto)

The discussion, which drew about 150 attendees, touched on everything from today’s increasingly polarized political and cultural environment to the risks faced by universities – and society at large – if open discussion and debate of difficult topics are frowned upon or crowded out.

Not surprisingly, the panel members each had a unique take on the nature of the threat and what should be done about it.

Paul, for example, said she was especially concerned about a culture of self-censorship, saying she opted to become an opinion writer after years editing the New York Times Book Review upon recognizing the bulk of discussion about politics and culture was taking place only at extreme ends of the spectrum.

“What you had was this growing vacuum in the middle where nuance and complexity lived and no one was speaking up,” she said.

Stein, however, said that not all forms of self-censorship are necessarily undesirable, noting that she refrains from vocalizing thoughts she deems unnecessarily rude.

“When we’re in a learning community together, we have to say things in a way that people can hear,” said Stein, the Munk School’s founding director and University Professor and Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the department of political science. She added that what matters is why we self-censor – do we do it out of fear or out of consideration for others?

Williams, a professor of English and author who has published acclaimed books of poetry, essays and works of fiction, warned against viewing debate as simply an opportunity to persuade someone else of your views.

“The more interesting way of having these conversations [is not to] focus on converting a person to a team, but saying, ‘Here’s how my ideas have changed over time.’”

There were several other takeaways for the largely student audience, which included several first-years.

Paraphrasing French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, Boyagoda, a writer, professor of English and vice-dean, undergraduate in the Faculty of Arts & Science, urged students to “think against yourself ” by creating their own counterarguments as an intellectual exercise. Similarly, Paul spoke about the value of engaging with those who don’t share your opinions.

Stein and Williams also emphasized the U of T community’s shared responsibility to create an environment where people can ask questions and test out ideas. And if you find yourself amongst people who refuse to grant that space? “Just take that conversation elsewhere, rather than burying it or self-censoring it,” Williams said.

Following the talk, students asked questions about the “paradox of tolerance,” or the idea that creating a tolerant society requires being intolerant of intolerance, and how to cope with the repercussions of being ostracized for expressing an unpopular view, among other things.

Considine, one of four undergraduate student members of the civil discourse working group, said he was pleased to see so many students engaging with the topic.

“That’s something that, as one of the student representatives – and as the youngest student representative – I'm very conscious about.”

'I came for that theatre'; Why the late Donald Sutherland championed U of T's Hart House Theatre

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:04:15 +0000

'I came for that theatre'; Why the late Donald Sutherland championed U of T's Hart House Theatre

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 08/26/2024 - 09:04

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(photo by Carlos R. Alvarez/WireImage/Getty Images)

Topic

Subheadline

The esteemed actor and U of T alumnus also created the Donald Sutherland Award for Best Performance

The late Donald Sutherland was not only an esteemed actor and alumnus of Victoria College – he was a fierce and lifelong champion of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Hart House Theatre.

Known for roles in M*A*S*H, the Hunger Games, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and others, Sutherland stepped up in support of the campus theatre 24 years ago when it was facing possible closure.

With the help of fellow alumnus Lorne Michaels, creator and producer of Saturday Night Live, Sutherland became co-chair of the Friends of Hart House Theatre, which was colloquially known as the“Save Hart House Theatre Campaign.”

As part of his efforts, Sutherland penned an eloquent and heartfelt letter to then-theatre manager Janet Bessey that emphasized the theatre’s impact on his life and the lives of so many others.

“It’s a theatre. It smells. It hears. It sings. It’s a theatre with arms that embrace you, comfort you, push you, and applaud you. It gives birth to people who make theatre. It nurtures them. It guides them. It sets them free and they wear the mantle of that theatre for the rest of their lives,” he wrote.

He added that Hart House Theatre was among the reasons he applied to U of T in the 1950s.

“When I came to Toronto forty-seven years ago, I came for that theatre. Expressly for that,” he stated in his correspondence with Bessey.

“I’d never been inside a theatre before; I’d never even seen a play. I knew nothing but that I was an actor. I’d not played yet but that’s what I’d come to do,” he elaborated. “That theatre was where some messenger from some advisory council somewhere told my open-faced father and my stunned-in the-headlights self that that was [the] place to go if that indeed was what I wanted to do. It was.”

The correspondence, later published by a newspaper, caused a ripple effect. “Through Donald Sutherland’s personal generosity and leadership, hundreds of donors came forward and ensured that Hart House Theatre would remain a vital crucible for student artists,” says Peter Wambera, Hart House’s associate director of advancement.

Sutherland’s very first acting experiences were at U of T. During his undergrad years, he participated in several theatrical productions staged by Hart House Theatre, UC Follies and Victoria College Dramatic Society.

His first acting role at Hart House Theatre was in James Thurber and Elliott Nugent’s The Male Animal (1953), which was well-received. He also earned excellent reviews from both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail for his role as Stephano in Hart House Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Other Hart House plays in which he was involved include Darkness at Noon, The Troublemakers and The School for Wives.

Sutherland also spent many of his summers acting at the Straw Hat Players, a theatre company founded by members of Hart House Theatre, along with its then director Robert Gill.

Donald Sutherland, centre, in "The School for Wives" in 1956 (photo courtesy of Hart House Theatre Archives)

Sutherland, a Companion of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Film), graduated from U of T in 1958 with a degree in engineering and drama. In 1998, he received an honorary degree from U of T in recognition of his acting career and his championing of social issues. Hart House co-signed the nomination, recalls then-Warden Margaret Hancock.

His support of Hart House Theatre never wavered. In 2014, through a generous donation, he created the Donald Sutherland Award for Best Performance.

“Donald Sutherland’s gift, the creation of the award, not only reflected his own unforgettable experiences at Hart House Theatre and how profoundly he valued this theatre, but it also guaranteed that there would be a permanent award to acknowledge outstanding student acting,” says Doug Floyd, Hart House’s director of theatre and performance art. “This is an extraordinary legacy that we cherish at Hart House Theatre. It will inspire and support students for many generations.”

Each year’s recipient of the Donald Sutherland Award wrote a letter summing up their experiences at the Hart House U of T Drama Festival. Updates were shared with Sutherland, would often respond with a letter of his own.

Hart House Theatre plans to dedicate the fall 2024/2025 season to Sutherland in a gesture of gratitude.

In photos: Student-run Black Grad event celebrates community, culture and excellence

davidlee — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:47:24 +0000

In photos: Student-run Black Grad event celebrates community, culture and excellence

davidlee Mon, 06/24/2024 - 12:47

Cutline

Graduating students and recent graduates from across the three campuses sit in Hart House’s Great Hall during the student-run Black Grad celebration, organized annually by U of T's Black Student Association (all photos by Polina Teif)

Topic

Subheadline

"Your success is not just personal, but a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations"

Peals of applause reverberated through Hart House’s Great Hall as dozens of graduates and graduating students at the ��߲ݴ�ý took to the stage at the Black Student Association’s annual Black Grad celebration, which brings together U of T community members from across the three campuses.

Taking a page from their U.S. peers, students at U of T began organizing Black Grad celebrations in 2017 as a way to honour students’ resilience, diversity and academic accomplishments.

U of T News writer Adina Bresge and interactive digital producer Polina Teif captured the celebration earlier this month:

(photo by Polina Teif)

Rows of graduates and graduating students waited to be called to the stage, where each was congratulated by ambassadors from across U of T’s three campuses.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Doyin Adeyemi, president of U of T's Black Students' Association and head of the 2024 Black Grad Planning Committee, said she was honoured to be in a room filled with such Black excellence, acknowledging the challenges her fellow graduates had faced to reach this milestone.

“Your success is not just personal, but a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations,” Adeyemi said.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Meshach Homer said the significance of the occasion hit him as soon as he donned his kente stole.

“When I got here and I saw so many Black people like me, it just feels like we've achieved something so great,” says Homer, who was graduating with an honours bachelor of arts degree from the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at U of T Mississauga.

He says the milestone was all the more special because he was sharing it with his mother, who flew in from Trinidad to see the son she’d raised as a single parent graduate from one of the world’s top universities.

“It’s a big thing to see me happy for all that I have achieved and all that she has achieved raising me the way I am.”

(photo by Polina Teif)

After the proceedings, graduates reunited with friends and family at a reception for hugs, photos and food.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Hannah Flores, a spoken word poet, scientist and life sciences student at New College in the Faculty of Arts & Science, performed a piece dedicated to “the only Black student in the room.”

In keeping with the 2024 theme, “Legacy in Motion: Passing the Baton of Excellence,” the student-run event’s speakers and performers recognized the rich tradition of Black community, culture, and excellence and reminded graduates of their role in carrying forward that mission of empowerment.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Dozens of graduates gathered in the Hart House courtyard for a Class of 2024 portrait.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Naomi Tekle Kiros said attending Black Grad felt like the culmination of a dream she’s been working toward since Grade 8.

“I felt that I was truly honoured and rewarded for what I've accomplished at this campus,” said Kiros, who is graduating with an honours bachelor of arts degree with a double major in sociology and critical studies in equity and solidarity.

Wearing the stole provided by the organizers, a traditional Ethiopian kemis and gold headpiece, Kiros said she was overwhelmed by the sense of fellowship and community permeating the hall and wanted her outfit to highlight how her heritage has shaped her vision for the future and plans to go to law school.

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Munk School's Peter Loewen reflects on the former prime minister's legacy

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:34:33 +0000

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Munk School's Peter Loewen reflects on the former prime minister's legacy

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 03/21/2024 - 10:34

Cutline

U of T will lower its flags to half-mast in memory of former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s state funeral (photo by Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Michael Wilson

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Hart House

International

Politics

Rotman School of Management

Subheadline

"He’s one of the world’s great storytellers, but woven within those stories are some pretty important political lessons about focusing on the long term and taking on big challenges"

As Canadians prepare for former prime minister Brian Mulroney’s state funeral on March 23, the ��߲ݴ�ý is remembering his legacy and will lower flags on all three campuses for the event.

Mulroney, the Conservative leader who served as the country’s 18th prime minister from 1984 to 1993, visited U of T on numerous occasions over the years. That includes the G7 summit in 1988, when he met with U.S. president Ronald Reagan and British prime minister Margaret Thatcher at Hart House alongside other world leaders.

(courtesy of Hart House)

He also made several public appearances at U of T after retiring from politics, including taking part in a conference on antisemitism in 2003 and a conference on diplomacy in the digital age in 2011. More recently, in September 2022, Mulroney visited the Rotman School of Management for an event celebrating the legacy of Michael Wilson, U of T’s 33^rd chancellor, who served as finance minister in Mulroney’s government.

A week after the Rotman event, Mulroney visited the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy for a conversation with Professor Peter Loewen, director of the Munk School, during which he reflected on his prime ministerial tenure and discussed Canada’s role in the world and the future of democratic societies.

U of T News spoke with Loewen about Mulroney’s achievements and the legacy of his leadership.

Sen. Pamela Wallin and Brian Mulroney at the Rotman School of Management (photo by Johnny Guatto)

You recently wrote an article in The Conversation in which you described Brian Mulroney’s stance against apartheid in South Africa as one of his biggest achievements. Why?

This was, in Mulroney’s telling, and the telling of many others, one of the greatest achievements of his prime ministership. Brian Mulroney, in concert with Canadian mainstream opinion, was deeply opposed to apartheid. He thought it was an unacceptable form of racial separation within South Africa and was unbecoming of a democracy. That opposition, by the way, went all the way back – several governments – to John Diefenbaker’s Conservative government which opposed the imposition of apartheid when he was prime minister.

Mr. Mulroney became prime minister at a time when the issue was really coming to a head. It was deeply dividing South African society. The imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners was, by that point, widely recognized internationally as unacceptable. So for Mulroney, it was an opportunity in foreign policy for Canada to play a role in trying to right one of the great wrongs of the world.

He was opposed in that effort, though, by two of his otherwise closest allies and, indeed, closest political friends: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who opposed opposing apartheid ostensibly for anti-communist reasons. They felt that the ANC [African National Congress] was an ally of communists and they still saw themselves locked deeply in the Cold War. So, this made it difficult for Mulroney – and yet he took up the challenge of opposing it. He was joined in that opposition by most Canadians indeed and by other Commonwealth leaders, including Bob Hawke in Australia.

How did Mulroney enlist global organizations in the fight against apartheid?

South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela arrives in Ottawa for an official visit June 17, 1990 (photo by Renaud Giroux/AFP via Getty Images)

Mulroney’s international leadership was key. In 1987-1988, Mulroney had positioned himself to hold the chairmanship of three different organizations: the Commonwealth, the Francophonie (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie) and the G7. When you hold the chairmanship of those organizations, you’re in a position to set the agenda for the things to be talked about.

It was at that point that he brought the Commonwealth nations together as well as G7 countries – minus the United Kingdom and the United States – to really bring the full pressure of a sanctions regime on the South African government. And this eventually led to much economic difficulty and really squeezed the South Africans so that they had to release Mandela.

[Then-president of South Africa] F.W. De Klerk announced in February 1990 that he would unilaterally release Mandela without conditions. Mandela was released seven days later and one of the first phone calls he made internationally was to Brian Mulroney; indeed, the first parliament he visited after his freedom outside of South Africa was the Canadian Parliament, where he thanked not only Mulroney but all Canadians.

This was a moment of great international leadership by Mr. Mulroney. It’s one in which he marshaled all the support of Canadian public opinion. He often ran against public opinion – in this case he was on the right side of it and he marshaled all that support to this great international action.

What are some other examples of how Mulroney operated on the world stage?

The North American Free Trade Agreement was initialled in San Antonio on Oct. 7, 1992, with U.S. president George H.W. Bush (centre), Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari (left) and Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney (right) in attendance. Michael Wilson, Canada's minister of international trade, is seen seated in front of Mr. Mulroney (photo by Bettmann/Getty Images)

During the first Gulf War – Operation Desert Storm, the American-led mission to push back Saddam Hussein’s Iraq out of Kuwait – Mulroney was very influential in using multilateral relationships to set the terms of engagement for that war. He made it largely possible for other countries like Canada and Australia to have conditions under which they could join that alliance.

Then there’s the other sets of things which weren’t multilateral initially, but bilateral – that is, his agreements with the United States over free trade in 1987 and 1988 that then led to the multilateral NAFTA, which has set the framework for North American trade across all of the Americas. It’s taken a longer time for that vision to be realized, but that template of bilateral and then trilateral trade agreements has really formed the basis for a lot of the trade agreements that Canada now holds throughout the Americas.

How do you reflect on your conversation with Mulroney at the Munk School in 2022?

It was a thrill to have spent the time with him. He’s one of the world’s great storytellers. But woven within those stories are some pretty important political lessons about focusing on the long term and taking on big challenges.

I reflected with [TVO journalist] Steve Paikin – we were chatting after Mulroney’s passing – that I think I may have been the only person to have ever asked Mulroney a question in a public interview that stumped him. I asked him essentially whether there were things he wished he had spent more time on. He couldn’t answer the question.

I don’t know if it was an unfair question, but I think the answer was very telling in that Mr. Mulroney didn’t waste a minute when he was in office. And I think he left with no regrets over all the things that he got done. And that’s a lesson to political leaders today: that you have to really grasp that unfailing minute, and if you don’t make use of all 60 seconds of it, that you will have regrets in your career – but I think Brian Mulroney had none.

U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:32:56 +0000

U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:32

Cutline

(photo by Polina Teif)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre

Diversity and Inclusion

IDERD

Equity

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

School of Continuing Studies

Sexual & Gender Diversity Office

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

The ��߲ݴ�ý is bringing together perspectives from across the tri-campus community to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).

Established by the United Nations, IDERD is observed on March 21, the day that in 1960, police opened fire on a group of peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people.

U of T recognizes IDERD annually as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and racism across the university while promoting a more inclusive learning and working environment.

Presented by the Institutional Equity Office and the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, this year’s event – Faith, Hope and Dialogue: Strengthening Anti-Racism Tools and Strategies for the Path Ahead – will be held in Rotman’s Desautels Hall and broadcast via livestream.

Nythalah Baker, director of U of T Mississauga’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, and Natasha Prashad, adviser in the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, will emcee the proceedings, which are set to open with remarks from Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion in U of T’s Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture.

Glean-Mitchell is also scheduled to speak on a panel about the challenges and opportunities of navigating EDI work alongside Allison Burgess, director of U of T’s Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, Bharat Saini, director, equity, diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and Angela Treglia, executive director, sexual violence strategy, prevention and support at the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre. The discussion will be moderated by Alexie Tcheuyap, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience.

Later, Cherilyn Scobie Edwards, senior director of U of T Scarborough’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, will moderate a discussion featuring the perspectives and reflections of Black women in leadership. Panellists include Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, dean of the School of Continuing Studies, Sharon Grandison, director of human resources in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Janelle Joseph, assistant professor of critical studies of race and Indigeneity at KPE, and Lesa Williams-George, director of equity, inclusion and transformative practices at Victoria College.

There will also be a panel on enhancing community strategies to address anti-Asian racism on campus moderated by Loretta Ho, program and faculty development consultant in the Division of the Vice-President and Vice-Provost. The panellists include Vikram Chadalawada, director, IT strategy, innovations and digital transformation at Student Life, Joyce Hahn, chief administrative officer in the Division of the Vice-President & Provost, David Kim, warden at Hart House, and Afsana Miah, vice-president, academics and student affairs in the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union at U of T Scarborough.

Art therapist and psychotherapist Phuong Nguyen will close out the proceedings with art-centred activities that centre hope, restoration and care.

In photos: U of T's Black History Month Luncheon 2024

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:52:10 +0000

In photos: U of T's Black History Month Luncheon 2024

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:52

Cutline

Volunteers serve food during the 22^ndedition of the Black History Month Luncheon, a signature event at U of T during Black History Month (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Black History Month Luncheon

David Palmer

Hart House

Meric Gertler

Glen Boothe says he always wonders how many people will turn out for the Black History Month Luncheon – an annual event that brings together the ��߲ݴ�ý community to celebrate Black excellence, history and culture.

“Every year, I go through this, ‘are enough people going to show up?’,” said Boothe, who works in U of T’s division of advancement and co-founded the annual luncheon more than two decades ago.

He needn’t have worried.

Glen Boothe, a co-founder of the Black History Month Luncheon, thanks Michaëlle Jean for delivering the event’s keynote address (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Booth estimated nearly 600 people gathered in the Great Hall in Hart House for the 22^nd edition of the event this week – with many others joining the celebration virtually, including via a watch party hosted by U of T Mississauga.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s tangible support.”

Lilly Phillip, a chef with U of T’s Food Services, has been cooking for the luncheon for eight years (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Those who attended in person and virtually heard from keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, a former journalist who served as governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and spoken-word poet Randell Adjei, who was named Ontario’s first poet laureate in 2021.

Spoken-word poet Randell Adjei gestures to the audience (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Senior U of T leaders, including President Meric Gertler, David Palmer, vice-president, advancement, Barbara Dick, assistant vice-president, alumni relations, and Dickson Eyoh, interim principal of U of T’s New College, welcomed attendees and commended the event’s volunteer organizers.

“This is one of the signature events for U of T’s annual Black History Month celebration,” President Gertler said.

U of T President Meric Gertler with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Michaëlle Jean, who served as Canada’s governor general from 2005 to 2010 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

President Gertler also remarked on the recent $5-million investment in the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies by alumnus Richard Rooney, who was in attendance.

“It will help attract world-leading scholars through the establishment of two new endowed professorships and it will support the next generation of top minds through the creation of a pair of postdoctoral fellowships,” said President Gertler.

An estimated 600 people attended the Black History Month Luncheon in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Meanwhile, Palmer presented Jean with an achievement award – recognizing her service, leadership and impact nationally and globally.

Attendees at U of T Mississauga’s watch party listen to Michaëlle Jean via livestream (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Jean credited her mother and grandmother for motivating her to be an advocate from a young age.

“My mother constantly reminded me that indifference is not an option,” she said. “You have to be aware of what’s happening around you and how it affects you and others.

“Embrace this discomfort. Feel the pain but stand firm.”

Attendees line up in Hart House’s Great Hall as volunteers serve food (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Jean said her mother told her to use her voice, not just for her own cause, but for others too.

“Having perspective and knowing you can make a difference – that is the key to rising above adversity.”

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

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

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

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

Cutline

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

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In photos: U of T's Black History Month Luncheon 2024

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