Vic One

Canada Post recently honoured acclaimed Canadian filmmaker – and ��߲ݴ�ý alumnus – Norman Jewison with the recent release of a commemorative stamp.

Jewison, who died in January at age 97, was one of Victoria College’s most distinguished graduates. He was nominated for best director three times at the Academy Awards: for In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987).

He also served as chancellor of Victoria University in the ��߲ݴ�ý from 2004 to 2010, with the Jewison stream of Vic One, the award-winning first-year program at Victoria College, named in his honour.

“As Canadian as maple syrup, as Canadian as a Prairie sunset, and now we have as Canadian as Norman Jewison on a stamp – which may be the winning entry,” said comedian Rick Mercer during an unveiling event on July 24.

The event was hosted by the hosted at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), which was established by Jewison in 1988 and serves as an incubator for Canadian film talent.

Mercer, who was joined at the launch by director and U of T alumnus David Cronenberg, later told CBC News that Jewison was a “class act” who “believed in young people.”

Cronenberg, meanwhile, told the audience that, “When saying goodbye, [Jewison] would always say ‘stay strong,’ because he knew how much strength you needed to do what we did.”

Paul Gooch, a professor emeritus of philosophy who was president of Victoria University during Jewison’s time as chancellor, was among the attendees at the unveiling.

“It was quite joyful because Norman was such a wonderful guy and people wanted to tell stories about his life,” said Gooch. “All of the speakers referred to the fact that he was a storyteller and didn’t want to preach, despite being very concerned about social justice issues.

“He was great on human follies and the prejudices that we have.”

Gooch recalled Jewison’s remarkable support of young people. “As chancellor, he loved to interact with the students,” said Gooch. “He had something he did occasionally called ‘chat with the chanc,’ where he would have a group of students over to his place on Gloucester Lane and just sit around talking.”

Professor Emerita Pauline Thompson and Professor Emeritus Paul Gooch (supplied image)

Jewison is the fourth Victoria College graduate to be recognized with a stamp by Canada’s postal service in recent years, joining Margaret Atwood, Northrop Frye and Donald Sutherland. He was closely involved with the stamp’s creation and personally chose the image, which was taken at the CFC in 2007 by Peter Bregg for HELLO! Canada.

“After the photo appeared in Hello!, Norm called me up and asked if he could use it elsewhere,” said Bregg. “I said, ‘Yes,’ with pleasure. For three or four years after that he’d send me a litre of maple syrup from his farm as a thank you, which I found quite sweet, no pun intended. I’ve seen the photo everywhere since then.”

“Because the launch event was held at the CFC, the post office had the idea to let people recreate the original photo,” added Bregg. “You got a five-by-seven-inch print of yourself in Norm’s seat taken from the same angle.”

Jewison’s commemorative stamp is now available online and at Canada Post locations across the country.

Bob Rae to teach undergrads in prestigious Vic One program this fall

sgupta — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:00:34 +0000

Bob Rae to teach undergrads in prestigious Vic One program this fall sgupta Thu, 04/07/2016 - 08:00

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(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Jennifer Little

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Jennifer Little

The Honourable Bob Rae will be teaching first-year students in the Vic One program at the ��߲ݴ�ý this fall.

A lawyer, community activist and author, Rae is also the former Ontario NDP premier, Liberal Member of Parliament and former interim leader of the federal Liberal party. He will be teaching Corporate Citizenship, Sustainability and Ethics in the Margaret Chambers Stream.

“I am very much looking forward to working with first-year students on public policy issues – sustainability and corporate responsibility are at the heart of economic development in Canada and around the world,” says Rae.

Ken Taylor: diplomatic hero, champion of education

sgupta — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 07:46:42 +0000

Ken Taylor: diplomatic hero, champion of education sgupta Mon, 10/26/2015 - 03:46

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Taylor (seen here in an image from the film, Our Man in Tehran) “was very generous with his time and energy and very humble,” says filmmaker Drew Taylor. “He’d rather talk about others than about himself.” (image courtesy Film House)

Terry Lavender

Author legacy

Terry Lavender

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Global Lens

Vic One

Canada Post stamp honours the late Norman Jewison, one of the country's most celebrated filmmakers

Bob Rae to teach undergrads in prestigious Vic One program this fall

Read more about the One programs at U of T

Ken Taylor: diplomatic hero, champion of education

Read more about the Vic One program

Read more about the film Our Man in Tehran