President Meric Gertler

President, Office of the

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:18 +0000

President, Office of the sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

URL

https://www.president.utoronto.ca

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2024 across its three campuses

davidlee — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:00:22 +0000

In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2024 across its three campuses

davidlee Mon, 11/11/2024 - 14:00

Cutline

A soldier salutes in front of wreaths lain beneath the arches of Soldiers' Tower during Remembrance Day ceremonies at U of T's St. George campus (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Adam Elliott Segal

Topic

Our Community

Soldiers' Tower

President Meric Gertler

Remembrance Day

Heads were bowed across the ��߲ݴ�ý's three campuses on Nov. 11 as the U of T community recognized Remembrance Day.

At the St. George campus, the sound of the carillon’s bells rang out from atop Soldiers' Tower into the crisp autumn air in memory of soldiers and veterans, including those who served and fell in the First and Second World Wars as well as other conflicts.

The ceremony also honoured the 100th anniversary of Soldiers’ Tower, as well as the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), with Lt.-Col. Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee and Lt.-Col. David Letellier de St-Just both speaking in front of an audience that numbered in the hundreds.

The service, which was attended by students, alumni, faculty, staff, local and federal government representatives and veterans, honoured Canada’s war efforts through poems, historical vignettes and an account of the dedication of Soldiers’ Tower on June 5th, 1924.

Wreaths were placed under the three arches by dignitaries who included U of T President Meric Gertler; Trevor Young, vice-president and provost; Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council; and Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and minister of finance.

A plaque commemorating the anniversary of Soldiers' Tower was presented by Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association.

A gun salute at nearby Queen’s Park echoed loudly into the air as “O Canada” was sung by the hundreds of attendees. A public reception at the Great Hall in Hart House concluded the ceremony. The Tower’s Memorial Room remained open to the public until 4 p.m.

U of T Scarborough commemorates Remembrance Day in the Meeting Place

Over at the U of T Scarborough campus, Remembrance Day service was held in the Meeting Place to honour those who served in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts. 

The ceremony was attended by Linda Johnston, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, Karin Ruhlandt, vice-principal academic and dean, and featured performances by the UTSC concert band, concert choir and string orchestra. 

Top left: Members of the U of T Scarborough’s string orchestra perform. Top right: Principal Linda Johnston speaks to guests. Bottom: The UTSC concert band and choir perform during 2024 Remembrance Day ceremonies (photos by Don Campbell)

Trumpeter Michael Barth played the "Last Post" while community representatives laid wreaths on behalf of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Scarborough community.

U of T Mississauga honours the fallen

U of T Mississauga’s Remembrance Day ceremony took place in front of the Davis Building, where Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, Philip Anyang, vice-president, equity at the U of T Mississauga Students’ Union, and Richard Waters, representative of USW Local 1998, were present to lay wreaths to honour the fallen.

Top left: Philip Anyang, UTMSU VP Equity, Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, and Richard Waters, USW representative, lay wreaths to honour the fallen. Top right: Ruben Sidhu, U of T special constable, lowers the flag. Bottom: Attendees mark Remembrance Day in U of T Mississauga's David Building (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T St. George marks Remembrance Day, centenary of Soldiers' Tower

Soldiers' Tower was erected in 1924 and funded by the ��߲ݴ�ý Alumni Association (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Piper Rory Sinclair leads distinguished guests through the memorial arch of Soldiers' Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy prime minister and minister of finance, speaks with Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force salute during the playing of “Last Post” by trumpeter Andrew Mendis (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Members of the Hart House Chorus perform during the placing of wreaths (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rev. Richard Ruggle addresses attendees outside Hart House (photo by Johnny Guatto)

L-R: U of T President Meric Gertler, Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association, Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council and Daniel Hendrickson, past chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, preside over the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the centenary of Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Cadets stand at attention (photo by Johnny Guatto)

In his words: Geoffrey Hinton reflects on his Nobel Prize win

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:26:59 +0000

In his words: Geoffrey Hinton reflects on his Nobel Prize win

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:26

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Geoffrey Hinton, University Professor Emeritus of computer science at the ��߲ݴ�ý and winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, takes questions during a virtual press conference hosted by U of T (image via YouTube)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Artificial Intelligence

Department of Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Geoffrey Hinton

Global

Nobel Prize

President Meric Gertler

Subheadline

"If you believe in something, don’t give up on it until you understand why that belief is wrong"

Empower curiosity-driven research. Follow your convictions. Think not just about how to advance technology, but how to direct its use for good.

These were among the key messages delivered by Geoffrey Hinton, University Professor Emeritus of computer science at the ��߲ݴ�ý and winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, during an Oct. 8 press conference held by the university to mark his historic award.

Widely regarded as “the godfather of AI,” Hinton was named a co-winner of the prize – alongside John J. Hopfield of Princeton University – for his work on Boltzmann machines and artificial neural networks, which laid the groundwork for advancements in AI and stimulated new research directions in physics.

U of T President Meric Gertler hailed Hinton for having “a profound impact on multiple fields and disciplines,” crediting “his leadership and exemplary mentorship of young scholars” with helping U of T become a global leader in AI and machine learning.

“I think one cannot overstate the impact of a win like this on the ability of Canada, Toronto and the ��߲ݴ�ý to be able to welcome talented newcomers, great students and wonderful faculty from across the country and around the world because of the recognition that arises with Geoff’s win,” President Gertler said.

For his part, Hinton echoed his remarks from earlier in the day that he was “flabbergasted” to receive the prize and pleased that the Nobel committee recognized the advancements in artificial neural networks.

He also answered questions about his influences, legacy and how it feels to go from being an obscure researcher who toiled in a largely forsaken field to a Nobel Laureate – and his advice for researchers who hope to one day follow in his footsteps.

Here are five key themes that emerged from Hinton's news conference:

His legacy

“I’m hoping AI will lead to tremendous benefits, to tremendous increases in productivity and to a better life for everybody. I’m convinced that it will do that in health care.

“My worry is that it may also lead to bad things, and in particular, when we get things more intelligent than ourselves, no one really knows whether we’re going to be able to control them.

“We don’t know how to avoid [catastrophic AI scenarios] at present. That’s why we urgently need more research. So I’m advocating that our best young researchers, or many of them, should work on AI safety and governments should force large companies to provide the computational facilities they need to do that.”

A collaborative effort

“I think of the prize as a recognition of a large community of people who worked on artificial neural networks for many years.

“I’d particularly like to acknowledge my two main mentors: David Rumelhart, with whom I worked on the backpropagation algorithm … and my colleague Terry Sejnowsky, who I worked with a lot in the 1980s on Boltzmann machines and who taught me a lot about the brain.

“I’d also like to acknowledge my students. I was particularly fortunate to have many clever students, much cleverer than me, who actually made things work. They’ve gone on to do great things.

“I should also acknowledge Yoshua Bengio and Yann LeCun who were close colleagues and very instrumental in developing this whole field.”

Canada’s research strengths

“I think the main thing about Canada as a place to do research is there isn’t as much money as there is in the U.S., but it uses its money quite wisely.

“In particular, the main funding council for this type of research, called NSERC, uses money for basic curiosity-driven research, and all of these advances in neural networks came out of basic curiosity-driven research – not out of throwing money at applied problems, but out of letting scientists follow their curiosity to try and understand things. And Canada’s quite good at that.”

Many thought he was wasting his time

“It was a lot of fun doing the research, but it was slightly annoying that many people – in fact, most people in the field of AI – said that neural networks would never work.

"They were very confident these things were a waste of time and we would never be able to learn complicated things – for example, understanding natural language – using neural networks. And they were wrong."

Believe in your ideas

"My message is this: if you believe in something, don’t give up on it until you understand why that belief is wrong.

"Often, you believe in things and you eventually figure out why that’s a wrong thing to believe in. But so long as you believe in something and you can’t see why that’s wrong – like, ‘the brain has to work somehow so we have to figure out how it learns the connection strengths to make it work’ – keep working on it and don’t let people tell you it’s nonsense if you can’t see why it’s nonsense."

U of T ranks 17th globally, first in Canada in U.S. News & World Report university rankings

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 18:17:12 +0000

U of T ranks 17th globally, first in Canada in U.S. News & World Report university rankings

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 07/08/2024 - 14:17

Cutline

(photo by Matthew Volpe)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Global Lens

Global

President Meric Gertler

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report

Subheadline

The research-focused 2024-2025 Best Global Universities Rankings placed U of T 10th among public universities worldwide and fifth among public institutions in North America

The ��߲ݴ�ý has been ranked 17^th in the world, up one spot from last year, in the latest global university ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

The 2024-25 edition of the Best Global Universities Rankings, which focuses on research performance, also placed U of T 10^th among public universities worldwide and fifth among all public institutions in North America.

U of T remained Canada’s top-ranked university in the closely watched international ranking.

“This latest ranking positions the ��߲ݴ�ý among a small group of elite institutions that are making important new discoveries and generating critical new knowledge across a range of fields,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“Our researchers and scholars can take pride in this recognition of the impact they are having on a global scale.”

Using data from Clarivate Analytics, U.S. News & World Report assessed 2,250 universities through the lens of research performance, as measured by indicators such as global and regional reputations, citations, scholarly publications, international collaboration and citation impact.

U of T ranked among the top 10 universities in the world in eight subject areas: clinical medicine (third), endocrinology and metabolism (third), cardiac and cardiovascular systems (fourth), surgery (fourth), arts and humanities (fifth), social sciences and public health (fifth), oncology (eighth) and psychiatry/psychology (ninth).

Among Canadian schools, U of T ranked first in a total of 28 different subjects.

This year’s ranking included four new subject areas – bringing the total to 51 subjects – and covered an additional 250 schools.

Two other Canadian universities joined U of T among the top 100 globally in the most recent U.S. News & World Report ranking: the University of British Columbia, which ranked 39^th, and McGill University at 56^th.

The top five universities globally in this year’s ranking were: Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley.

U of T also ranked first in Canada, second among North American public universities and among the top 25 institutions globally in the QS World University Rankings released in early June.

Overall, U of T continues to be the highest-ranked Canadian university and among the top 25 universities globally in the five most closely watched international rankings: QS World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities, Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.

Linda Johnston appointed U of T vice-president and U of T Scarborough principal

lanthierj — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 21:29:14 +0000

Linda Johnston appointed U of T vice-president and U of T Scarborough principal

lanthierj Thu, 06/27/2024 - 17:29

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(supplied image)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Provost Trevor Young

Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health

Governing Council

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

President Meric Gertler

��߲ݴ�ý Scarborough

Professor Linda Johnston, a renowned nursing researcher and institutional leader, has been appointed vice-president, ��߲ݴ�ý, and principal, U of T Scarborough for a five-year term.

The Governing Council approved the appointment at a meeting on June 27. Effective July 1, 2024, Johnston’s appointment will run until December 31, 2029, and includes a six-month administrative leave.

A professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Johnston has been serving as acting U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough since January 1, 2024, during which time she has won the respect and support of the campus’s leadership team and broader community.

“Professor Johnston has demonstrated a genuine passion for and dedication to U of T Scarborough,” President Meric Gertler said. “She brings a depth of experience to this important role and is committed to implementing and building on the clear vision established by the U of T Scarborough community under the leadership of outgoing Vice-President and Principal Wisdom Tettey.

“I’m delighted to welcome her to the vice-presidential team.”

Johnston said she has a deep appreciation for the comprehensive nature of U of T Scarborough and is looking forward to continuing to work closely with the UTSC community.

“I have been tremendously impressed by the scale and rigour of U of T Scarborough’s academic mission and the commitment to student success,” Johnston said.

“U of T Scarborough continues to advocate for, and achieve, the goals of promoting health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and inclusive excellence in teaching and learning; research prominence; and community engagement.”

Johnston has also been highly engaged in the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, which is slated to launch in 2026 and will play an important role in helping to build better and more inclusive health care in Scarborough and eastern Toronto, said Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young.

Young pointed out that, during her tenure as dean of the Faculty of Nursing from August 2014 to December 2023, Johnston fostered and promoted excellence at all levels of the faculty, which currently ranks first in Canada and fifth in the world in the QS University Rankings by Subject.

“Professor Johnston also positioned the Faculty of Nursing as a central player in Toronto’s Academic Health Science Network, created new collaborations with our partner hospitals and cultivated international partnerships with peer institutions,” Young said.

Johnston previously led the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast, where she significantly enhanced teaching quality, research output and international partnerships. She is globally recognized for her contributions to nursing and patient care and holds honorary and visiting professorships at top institutions in Australia, China and Hong Kong.

She earned her PhD and bachelor of science from the University of Sydney. She completed her undergraduate nursing education in the United States and has extensive experience working in neonatal intensive care in the U.S., Australia and the Middle East.

Johnston will be taking a planned leave from July 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2024, during which time Professor Bill Gough will serve as acting vice-president, U of T, and principal, U of T Scarborough. He currently serves as acting vice-principal, academic and dean, at U of T Scarborough.

U of T Chancellor Rose Patten celebrated for her exceptional leadership

bresgead — Fri, 31 May 2024 19:23:23 +0000

U of T Chancellor Rose Patten celebrated for her exceptional leadership

bresgead Fri, 05/31/2024 - 15:23

Cutline

U of T Chancellor Rose Patten and her husband Tom Di Giacomo attend a recent farewell reception at Hart House to celebrate her tenure as the university’s 34th chancellor (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Topic

President Meric Gertler

Rotman School of Management

Subheadline

“Rose and leadership go hand in hand. She wrote the book on the subject – literally"

Rose Patten’s name was a byword for leadership at a celebration marking the culmination of her distinguished tenure as the ��߲ݴ�ý’s 34th chancellor, with one speaker after the next taking to the stage to express their gratitude for her transformative influence on the university and its community of future leaders.

After more than 25 years of service to the U of T community, Patten is set to complete her second term as chancellor (the maximum length permitted) on June 30, leaving a legacy characterized by visionary leadership and her commitment to championing those who would follow her.

At a farewell reception at Hart House, President Meric Gertler praised Patten’s unparalleled ability to bring out the leader in each and every member of the U of T community.

“Rose and leadership go hand in hand. She wrote the book on the subject – literally,” said President Gertler, referring to Patten’s vade mecum, Intentional Leadership. “Leadership has been the central theme of her time as chancellor. It is the hallmark of her life and career, in business and in volunteer service.”

U of T President Meric Gertler said leadership has been a hallmark of Chancellor Rose Patten’s career (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

A major figure in Canada’s financial services sector, Patten’s long history with U of T has been defined by her prolific engagement in, and enhancement of, almost every aspect of university life, President Gertler said.

Her involvement began as a member of Governing Council, where she served for the full extent of her nine allowable years, culminating in three years’ service as chair.

From 2007 to 2010, Patten chaired the task force whose recommendations led to U of T’s current tri-campus governing structure.

Toronto-based portrait artist Brenda Bury, left, and Nobel Prize-winning U of T University Professor Emeritus John Polanyi, middle, pose for a photo with Chancellor Rose Patten (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

First elected as chancellor in 2018, Patten will have presided over 133 convocation ceremonies by the end of her six years in the position.

In addition to her ceremonial duties, Patten has been a constant presence on campus as chancellor, attending scores of university events each year.

Beyond her administrative roles, she has imparted her insights on leadership with the next generation as an adjunct professor at the Rotman School of Management, where she serves as co-director of the Executive Leadership Program.

Myriad senior leaders at U of T have drawn on Patten’s expertise, President Gertler said – including himself.

Chancellor Rose Patten shakes hands with Governing Council Chair Anna Kennedy as former Interim President Frank Iacobucci and Trinity College Provost and Vice-Chancellor Mayo Moran look on (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Anna Kennedy, chair of Governing Council, also counted herself among the beneficiaries of Patten’s knowledge and counsel.

“Rose has led with grace, wisdom and incredible generosity, providing insights and guidance to everyone she interacts with,” Kennedy said. “We’re very thankful and grateful to have had the opportunity to be able to work alongside and learn from such an accomplished leader.”

A former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Frank Iacobucci said his 10-month tenure as U of T’s interim president was as memorable as any other part of his career largely because of Patten’s remarkable leadership.

From breaking the glass ceiling in business to steering U of T through uncertain times, Patten has converted challenges into opportunities throughout her distinguished career, Iacobucci said, but what sets Patten apart as a leader is her profound understanding that every organization is at its heart a human enterprise.

“A special talent Rose possesses is a respect for and fondness of people,” said Iacobucci. “Humanity is a companion for all that she says and does.”

Mayo Moran, provost and vice-chancellor of Trinity College, echoed this sentiment as she thanked Patten on behalf of the countless U of T community members who have benefited from her human-centred approach to leadership.

This is exemplified by Patten’s steadfast commitment to mentorship, particularly for women leaders, that has not only made her a role model, but also the namesake of the Rose Patten Mentorship Program, said Moran.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý is so much better for having had you at helm,” she said. “I also feel heartened … by the fact that you’ll continue, through your writing and your teaching, to shape generations who are going to go on and really exemplify the human side of leadership.”

U of T Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young, left, poses for a picture with Chancellor Rose Patten (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Following a video tribute, President Gertler announced that Patten recently made a new gift to the university, which, among other things, will enable the renewal of Convocation Hall’s grand, circular entrance hallway. That key space will now be called the Rose Patten Rotunda.

Additionally, a new scholarship at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine has been named the Rose M. Patten Graduate Student Scholarship.

Both Patten and her husband, Tom Di Giacomo are long-time donors to the university, President Gertler said, supporting a range of initiatives to bolster student financial aid and academic programs. As a result of Patten’s most recent gift, she and Di Giacomo are now members of the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors, the community of U of T’s most generous philanthropic supporters.

Chancellor Rose Patten and her husband Tom Di Giacomo are among U of T’s most generous donors (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

In her remarks, Patten said she was touched by the tributes and turnout to the reception, reflecting on how her relationship with U of T has deepened over the past quarter-century.

“I often speak about mentoring and volunteering, and I always say that we receive more than we give, or at least as much,” Patten said. “At U of T, it was especially true for me. And let me say, it was more.”

She highlighted her role in conferring degrees as a special privilege of her office, expressing what a joy it’s been to celebrate the milestone with graduating students and their families.

Patten said every commitment she’s made to U of T has enriched her, noting that everyone has a role to play in leading the university toward a brighter future.

“In this institution, there’s always more to know, more to learn, more to appreciate, more to think about,” she said. “It can make life not just a journey, but an adventure. I can’t imagine mine without my relationship with everyone here.”

Acknowledging the land: Showcasing Indigenous artists, voices and experiences

lanthierj — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 19:54:37 +0000

Acknowledging the land: Showcasing Indigenous artists, voices and experiences

lanthierj Tue, 12/12/2023 - 14:54

Cutline

Chancellor Rose Patten looks at the new art pieces inside U of T’s Simcoe Hall (all photos by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

��߲ݴ�ý

Indigenous Initiatives

Office of the President

Art Museum

President Meric Gertler

Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

'This is an incredible example of prioritizing Indigenous space while showcasing Indigenous excellence and resiliency'

A new art installation inside the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Simcoe Hall is shining a spotlight on some of Canada’s most respected Indigenous artists while giving the community an opportunity to reimagine the concept of public space.

The exhibition, acknowledging the land, honours Indigenous continuity, resilience and self-determination. The long-term installation occupies space previously reserved for paintings of U of T leaders who have shaped the university over its 196-year history – a gesture acknowledging the importance of making space for Indigenous voices and presence.

Artist Katherine Takpannie's work is featured in a new art installation at U of T’s Simcoe Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Artist Katherine Takpannie said her mother – a residential school survivor who was born in Apex Hill, Nvt., before being taken away at age six – was in tears when she learned her daughter’s work would be featured at the exhibit.

“It was impactful for her because her life and what happened to Indigenous Peoples has been swept under the rug for so long,” said Takpannie, who was born in Montreal.

Artist Katherine Takpannie's portrait titled All Eyes on Mik’Ma’Ki (Ma Myriah) is displayed (photo by Polina Teif)

Takpannie’s portrait is of Inuk/L’nu/Scottish grassroots activist Ma Myriah Peace. It recognizes Peace’s frontline work in support of Mi’Kmaq fishers’ rights and pays homage to her role as a determined and dedicated community organizer.

Other artists whose work is featured include: Rebecca Belmore, Catherine Blackburn, Lori Blondeau, Dana Claxton, Caroline Monnet and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory with Jamie Griffiths.

Under the leadership of the President’s Office, and through wide-ranging conversations with Indigenous artists, curators, faculty members and staff, the installation was produced by the Art Museum with the generous support of U of T’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

“It was an honour to support this exhibit and see the reimagining of the walls of Simcoe Hall come to life,” said Shannon Simpson, senior director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

“This is an incredible example of prioritizing Indigenous space while showcasing Indigenous excellence and resiliency.”

Those who wish to view the artwork at Simcoe Hall can register for a guided visit through Eventbrite. While the Dec. 13 visit is already fully booked, there are visits scheduled for Jan. 10 and Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. Those who can’t make the listed dates can contact Melody Lu, operations assistant at U of T’s Art Museum (mel.lu@utoronto.ca) to plan group tours.

A launch to celebrate the exhibit was recently held inside U of T’s Governing Council chambers.

Artist Dana Claxton’s portrait titled Headdress is displayed (photo by Polina Teif)

U of T President Meric Gertler said the portraits invite the public to “hear voices of courage, resilience and solidarity that for so long have been ignored or silenced.”

He added that the installation is among several actions taken by U of T in response to Wecheehetowin, the final report of the Steering Committee for the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Canada, and will serve as a reminder to the university community that the work of reconciliation is ongoing and must remain a priority.

Barbara Fischer, executive director and chief curator of the Art Museum at U of T, said the discussions around the role of traditional leadership portraits in public-facing spaces inside Simcoe Hall began years ago, but the “clincher came in 2020.”

“There were rising questions about public art and monuments prompted by the Black Lives Matter movement – why are there permanent monuments which tell of histories that exclude others? It was such an intensive time to rethink public space at every level, and it continues to be vitally important today” said Fischer, who is an associate professor, teaching stream, at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

Barbara Fischer is the executive director and chief curator of the Art Museum at U of T (photo by Polina Teif)

She added that wide-ranging conversations with Indigenous artists, curators, faculty members and staff led to the installation becoming a reality.

“The voices of Indigenous artists are critical to confronting colonial history and relations with the land; their works attest to the amazing flourishing of Indigenous art and artists all across the country,” she said.

“We are super proud that the artists agreed to be presented in this context with their works.”

Rose Patten, U of T’s chancellor, said she continues to be in awe of the artwork in the exhibit.

“Let me add my thanks to the artists represented in it and to the staff responsible for all of this,” she told those gathered at the launch. “You have made a very impactful contribution to our academic mission as an institution dedicated to inclusive excellence.”

Artist Catherine Blackburn stands in front of her portrait that’s featured inside U of T’s Simcoe Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Blackburn, a multidisciplinary artist and jeweller who spoke at the event alongside Takpannie, said she feels honoured to be featured alongside some of her favourite artists – but that the installation comes with its challenges.

“I’m addressing the effects of a settler institution, in a settler institution” she said. “To have this work celebrated alongside these powerful women is beautiful, and intense. This exhibition is a powerful intervention bound through love, land, resurgence and relationality, and that is worth celebrating.”

Artist Catherine Blackburn’s portrait titled But there’s no scar? II is displayed (photo by Polina Teif)

Blackburn’s artwork, titled “But there’s no scar? II,” depicts a kneeling figure, with long, braided hair, who faces away from the viewer and wears a cream-coloured, unsmoked deer hide bearing a bruise stitched in iridescent beadwork.

“The original textile work is two-thread applied beadwork, which is the same technique my grandmother would have used when making her garment work,” Blackburn said, adding that beading inspired her to reconnect with her cultural identity.

Born in Patuanak, Sask., and a member of the English River First Nation, Blackburn’s work addresses complexities of memory, history and identity connected to her personal narrative.

“I speak to personal and familial [trauma] rooted in the residential school system,” she said.

“I’m always aware of the tension within my work, constantly interrogating whose voices are present as to avoid generalization because our cultures are so unique.”

In holiday message, President Meric Gertler celebrates community's work on sustainability

lanthierj — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:56:42 +0000

In holiday message, President Meric Gertler celebrates community's work on sustainability lanthierj Thu, 12/07/2023 - 07:56

Topic

Our Community

��߲ݴ�ý

Office of the President

President Meric Gertler

Subheadline

‘Your scholarship, innovation and leadership are making a huge difference'

In his annual holiday message released today, ��߲ݴ�ý President Meric Gertler celebrates the work of students, faculty, librarians, staff and alumni to build a “sustainable, equitable and inclusive” future – across the three campuses and around the world.

“We’re partnering with remote communities to track and fight climate change, we’re creating clean energy solutions, remediating pollution – and so much more,” he says in the video, noting that QS Top Universities recently ranked U of T first in the world for sustainability, “recognizing our ability to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges.”

In a year marked by deeply upsetting global events, the president also calls on members of the community to build bridges, foster mutual respect and understanding, and advance the search for peace.

“And during the upcoming break, let’s take time to rest and recharge with family and friends,” the president says.

“I wish you all the best in the year to come.”

U of T among six universities globally to rank in top 30 across all subjects: Times Higher Education

lanthierj — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:47:10 +0000

U of T among six universities globally to rank in top 30 across all subjects: Times Higher Education

lanthierj Mon, 10/30/2023 - 13:47

Cutline

(photo by David Lee)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

President Meric Gertler

Rankings

Research & Innovation

Teaching

Times Higher Education

The ��߲ݴ�ý is ranked first in Canada – and is among a handful of schools to rank in the top 30 globally – across all 11 subjects tracked by Times Higher Education in the 2024 edition of its international subject rankings.

U of T scored in the top 10 worldwide in three subjects in the closely watched ranking, which was released Oct. 26. They are education, psychology and clinical and health, which encompasses medicine, dentistry and other health fields.

The university was also among just six post-secondary institutions to rank in the top 30 globally across all 11 subjects in the World University Rankings 2024 by Subject. The other schools include University of California, Berkeley, University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, Los Angeles.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý’s success across such a wide range of fields is a testament to the shared commitment to excellence that unites our faculty, librarians, staff and students across the three campuses,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“It’s immensely gratifying to see such an impressive spectrum of research, teaching and scholarship consistently recognized on a global stage.”

To compare universities, Times Higher Education considers an array of performance indicators across five pillars – teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry – and assigns different weightings depending on the subject. For its 2024 edition, the U.K.-based publication updated its methodology, expanding its research-related metrics, while adding a new indicator for patents.

U of T climbed through the global ranks in six subjects, including a nine-spot leap to place 10th in psychology and rising four positions to 9th in education. It also made gains in the arts and humanities (to 13th from 15th), social sciences (to 24th from 26th), business and economics (to 24th from 25th) and engineering (to 25th from 26th).

The university maintained high scores in the remaining five subjects: clinical and health (9th), law (21st), computer science (25th), physical sciences (25th) and life sciences (27th).

Last month, U of T was ranked the top university in Canada, 21st globally and third among North American public universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Overall, U of T continues to be the highest-ranked Canadian university and one of the world’s top-ranked public universities in the five most closely watched international rankings: U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities, Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.

Anna Kennedy succeeds Janet Ecker as chair of U of T’s Governing Council

siddiq22 — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:00:43 +0000

Anna Kennedy succeeds Janet Ecker as chair of U of T’s Governing Council

siddiq22 Thu, 07/06/2023 - 14:00

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Real estate executive Anna Kennedy is the new chair of the ��߲ݴ�ý's Governing Council (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

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President Meric Gertler

A leader in Toronto’s real estate industry, Anna Kennedy says her four-decade career of organization-building has laid the foundation for her new role as chair of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Governing Council.

From 2011 to 2022, Kennedy was chief financial officer and chief operating officer of KingSett Capital, one of Canada’s leading real estate private equity firms. Prior to that, she enjoyed a 25-year tenure at Oxford Properties Group, progressing to the role of executive vice-president and chief financial officer.

She is board director and chair of the audit committee of the C.D. Howe Institute, a board member of Jona Capital and an advisory board member of the KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund. This builds on her previous board experience at organizations such as Tricon Capital Group, REALPAC, Toronto CREW and Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke and her executive leadership at the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Kennedy will draw on this experience as she prepares for her role overseeing governance at the university. “U of T is a huge contributor to the economic growth and development of the City of Toronto," Kennedy says. “It is personally very rewarding for me to be able to contribute to this city building through my work on the Governing Council.”

Appointed to Governing Council in 2019, Kennedy began her term as chair of U of T’s governance body on July 1. She takes over from Janet Ecker, with whom she served as vice-chair during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Sandra Hanington, former president of the Royal Canadian Mint who has previous experience in the financial services sector and co-founded a youth mental health charity, was elected to serve as vice-chair. She was first appointed to Governing Council in 2020.

Janet Ecker (supplied image)

Ecker says it’s been an honour to be part of an institution that “values the old and the new.” She notes that her term coincided with the 50th anniversary of U of T’s unicameral governance model – a model that ensures financial decisions support the university’s academic mission and vice versa.

Ecker says she’s confident that Kennedy and Hanington will continue U of T’s track record of sound financial stewardship as Ontario universities face a challenging economic landscape.

“Despite the fact that U of T is in very strong financial shape, the challenges that are coming at the university sector are going to be significant,” Ecker says.

“I think having Anna's business background and financial acumen – and Sandra’s as well – is going to be very helpful in working … to make sure that U of T can continue to provide the incredible quality of education that is routinely recognized in international rankings.”

Kennedy, for her part, says she’s grateful to have worked alongside and learned from Ecker as she readies herself for serving as Chair of the Governing Council – a role that involves presiding over council and other meetings and providing executive oversight.

“It’s a pleasure to contribute to an institution with such a strong culture of achieving excellence through collegiality and collaboration while focused on broad inclusive excellence, fairness and respect,” she says.

“The university’s success in its equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives is truly inspiring. Diversity of thought and opinions lead to richer discussions, stronger decisions and better outcomes.”

Kennedy adds that she’s impressed by U of T’s “student-focused emphasis” on achieving excellence through innovative course delivery, experiential learning, mental health supports, robust financial aid and the ongoing support provided by the university’s extensive network of alumni around the globe.

She also commends U of T President Meric Gertler’s “exemplary” leadership of a 196-year-old institution – including his work shepherding U of T’s Defy Gravity campaign, which she says will help ensure U of T can continue to invest in the student experience, leading research and other bold initiatives.

“It is an honour and a privilege to contribute to, and lead governance oversight, at the ��߲ݴ�ý,” she says. “It is a first-rate university focused on excellence in teaching, research, and innovation in partnership with so many leading international institutions, advancing the reputation of Toronto and Canada globally.”

President Meric Gertler

President, Office of the

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