Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

'It's OK to ask questions': Four tips for new and returning U of T students

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 14:26:14 +0000

'It's OK to ask questions': Four tips for new and returning U of T students

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 09/07/2022 - 10:26

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ASKme Anything booths and volunteers, which can be found across U of T's three campuses, aim to create a friendly and welcoming community for new and returning students (photo by David Lee)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Campus Safety

UTogether

Student Experience

First Nations House

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

University of Toronto students are kicking off the fall term this week with in-person classes and orientation events across the three campuses.

It’s the biggest-ever back-to-school season as incoming students – and some upper-year students who have attended university remotely until now – arrive on campus for the first time.

U of T News has rounded up a back-to-school starter kit of four key things new or returning students should know to help start the 2022-2023 academic year off on the right foot.

Need help navigating campus? Just ask!

How and where do I get my TCard? What are some gym and recreational activities at U of T? Where can I meet new people around campus? For new students, navigating campus can initially feel a little daunting. Fortunately, U of T’s ASKme Anything booths and ambassadors are here to help.

The program is aimed at creating a friendly and welcoming community for students across all three campuses.

On the St. George campus, there are four booths set up near the Koffler Student Services Centre, the main campus gates on College Street, Sidney Smith Hall and Robarts Library until Sept. 23. There will also be hundreds of individuals on campus wearing an orange ASKme Anything button, who are ready and willing to assist students.

“ASKme has become somewhat of an icon of the back-to-school season,” says Ashley Yim, an ASKme program assistant and student ambassador. “Our booths and student ambassadors not only make everyone feel welcomed on campus, but we also make everyone look forward to the new school year.

“The welcoming atmosphere is especially important for new students who are on campus, or even in Toronto, for the first time.”

At U of T Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be located by the bus loop outside Highland Hall, at the front of the Student Centre and at the front of the Instructional Centre. There will also be ASKme ambassadors with orange buttons around campus to help students out. Some staff and faculty will participate by displaying ASKme signs in their offices.

On the U of T Mississauga campus, there will be individuals wearing ASKme Anything buttons from Sept. 3 to Sept. 23 at orientation and various events. Students are also encouraged to visit the Centre for Student Engagement front desk office to have their questions answered.

ASKme ambassadors are at campus #UofTBackToSchool events this month.
Look for staff, librarians, faculty and senior students wearing ASKme buttons if you have questions about #UTM. We're here to help! pic.twitter.com/44WhQNOeVu
— U of T Mississauga (@UTM) September 7, 2022

AskMe booth outside of the U of T Bookstore, St. George campus (photo by David Lee)

Yim, a U of T alumna of the Faculty of Arts & Science, says the ASKMe Anything booths and ambassadors create an inviting space for students while also sending the message that “it’s OK to ask questions and reach out. In fact, we encourage you to do so.”

“This way, new students will more likely make connections in the future, whether it’s with their peers, instructors, staff or community members.”

Students who need help navigating the three campuses can also access U of T’s new campus map feature.

Remember to prioritize health and wellness

U of T is home to a range of services and opportunities that support students’ physical and mental health.

On the St. George campus, students have a variety of gym options including the Hart House Fitness Centre, Athletic Centre and the Goldring Centre for High Performance. Across the facilities, students can find swimming pools, strength and conditioning centres, indoor tracks, dance studios, cardio machines, tennis and squash courts and so much more. At U of T Mississauga, The Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre offers programs such as yoga to relieve stress, group fitness, women’s only classes, personal training session and more. Athletics and Recreation at U of T Scarborough is similarly a hub of activity on campus, which is home to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

All three campuses offer an intramural sports program – a great opportunity to create or join a team, meet new people and stay physically active.

Self-care and wellness are also a key part of maintaining a healthy student lifestyle – and, across the university, resources include peer support from trained students, yoga clubs, and workshops on managing stress or studying smarter. Programming includes a Community Support Group, Mindful Moments classes, Better Coping Skills sessions and live cooking classes. Check out the Student Mental Health Resource for a tri-campus list of programs and workshops.

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A post shared by Hart House Fitness Centre UofT (@harthousefitnesscentre)

For students seeking mental health support, U of T has many virtual and in-person services and programs. Navi, short for navigator, is a chat-based virtual assistant that can be used to search all mental health services and resources offered by all campuses. The tool is accessible 24/7 and communication is anonymous.

U of T My Student Support Program (MySSP) offers 24-hour support for any school, health or general life concern. Students can access it by downloading an app or by calling 1-844-451-9700 (for outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578). The service is available in 146 languages.

Seek out places to find your community

Making connections at university goes well beyond the classroom. From hundreds of clubs and student groups to volunteer opportunities, events and more, all three U of T campuses are home to extensive programming to help find your community.

At St. George, Student Life is a great first stop for mentorship and peer programs that offer support from upper year students, coaching skills and opportunities to network and make connections. Programs include Latin American Student Engagement, African Black Caribbean Student Engagement, Southeast Asian Student Engagement, First Generation Student Engagement and more.

U of T is home to hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups, including UTSC Cheer (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

On Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., undergraduate students are invited to attend a virtual workshop called Talking to New People. The session is meant to help students who may be feeling anxious or fearful about making new connections at university. And, on Sept. 12 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., a learning strategist will lead a virtual workshop called Planning for the Semester, which will focus on helping students create strategies to manage the semester workload.

For more workshops and events, check out the Student Life calendar.

Another key destination is Hart House, a student centre on the St. George campus that offers programming and clubs ranging from archery and debate to photography and chess – all housed in a beautiful, century-old building.

For Indigenous students, First Nations House at the St. George campus is an important cultural hub. The space offers academic support, opportunities to meet with Elders and traditional teachers for support and guidance, financial aid advising and other services. On Sept. 14, First Nations House will host an Indigenous student orientation from 3 to 5 p.m.

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At U of T Mississauga, the Indigenous Centre invites students, staff and faculty to ongoing monthly lunch and learn for an informal chat about Indigenous cultures.

The Indigenous Outreach Program at U of T Scarborough, meanwhile, provides students learning opportunities and resources as well as a chance to meet with Elders and traditional teachers for guidance and support (A dedicated Indigenous Centre is under construction).

Be conscious of online and campus safety

With several scams targeting students, it’s more important than ever to safeguard your personal information.

Shannon Howes, director, high risk, community safety and crisis and emergency preparedness at U of T, says students should be aware of scare tactics used in emails, text messages and phone calls.

“Legitimate government organizations and law enforcement agencies will never threaten you in exchange for payment of funds,” says Howes.

When contacted by someone, Howes recommends stopping whatever you’re doing, taking a breath and evaluating whether what you’re being told to do actually makes sense.

“Is this an organization that you normally deal with and is known to you? Is this a person who you actually know in real life? Does what they’re asking you to do make sense? If the answer is no, talk to someone you trust about the situation before you take any action.”

Howes adds that scammers have ways of changing the call display on a phone to say things like “police” or can create spoof email accounts to trick users into thinking a message is coming from someone who they trust.

“Be aware of receiving offers from people you do not know, jobs you didn’t apply for or prizes from contests you didn’t enter,” she says. “If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”

Students should watch for job scams, rental scams, law enforcement impersonations and phishing scams, Howes says, adding that students who wish to discuss any safety concerns can book an appointment to meet with a community safety case manager at U of T’s Community Safety Office.

“The office also has a has a dedicated Fraud Prevention Page on its website with information about different types of frauds and scams, fraud prevention tips, tips for safety on social media and a list of resources and supports available,” says Howes.

Security Matters – U of T’s security awareness and education initiative – publishes regular blog posts, news and educational resources including helpful tip sheets.

Also available to U of T students are Phish Bowl, which provides examples of recently reported phishing incidents, and Housing Services – a resource for the St. George campus that provides workshop and assistance to individuals seeking housing or dealing with housing issues.

Safety is a priority across all three U of T campuses. The U of T Campus Safety app features emergency contacts, tips, support services, and a live chat feature that connects users with U of T safety staff in real-time. App users can also use a Mobile Bluelight feature which sends the user’s on-campus location to the safety team in case of a crisis. Other features include TravelSafer, which allows safety staff to monitor a user’s walk on campus, and Friend Walk, which allows a trusted contact to monitor your walk anywhere in the world.

As well, students and all current members of the U of T community are automatically subscribed to UTAlert – a service that allows the university to send important messages via email and text.

Learn more at UTogether

Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

mattimar — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:41:07 +0000

Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

mattimar Mon, 08/29/2022 - 14:41

Cutline

Students explore the Highland Creek Valley at University of Toronto Scarborough (photo by Matthew Dochstader)

Topic

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

This year’s back-to-school season promises to be bigger than ever at the University of Toronto.

With many upper-year students returning to campus in earnest after two years of virtual and hybrid classes, tens of thousands of students will be looking for ways to connect – or reconnect – with campus life.

So, whether you’re a first-year student or a returning student coming to campus for the first time this fall, here are a few suggestions on where to make friends and find your community – a key part of the U of T experience.

Get connected at Hart House

A hub of activity at U of T, Hart House is a picturesque space with an almost Hogwarts feel. Beyond the eye-catching architecture, there’s an art museum with year-round programming, a theatre, fitness centre, pool, basketball court and running track – and places to grab lunch.

Students can find a wide variety of speaker events focused on arts and culture, literature, and wellness, as well as a plethora of clubs for those interested in everything from archery and scuba diving to jazz music and film.

On Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hart House is hosting Xplore Hart House, an orientation and open house featuring free food, music, games and activities and more.

Hart House is located south of Hoskins Avenue, between Queen’s Park Crescent and Tower Road. There is elevator access to all floors of Hart House and accessible washrooms on the main floor outside of the Great Hall and in the Hart House Theatre lobby. There are two accessible entrances and exits on Tower Road and on Hart House Circle.

(photo courtesy of Hart House)

Catch up with friends at Innis Café

Before the cold weather arrives, grab a bite to eat at Innis Café and enjoy the rooftop terrace with a friend. A beloved institution among U of T students, Innis Café is located at 2 Sussex Avenue on the St. George campus. The café and bathrooms are accessible.

Long-time café owner Gunash Agar along with her husband and son make everything from scratch. Students can find a selection of daily breakfast and lunch specials, with vegetarian, vegan and halal options.

Get fit with your friends on the three campuses

U of T students looking to stay active or participate in intramural sports have plenty of options across the three campuses.

At U of T Mississauga, the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre has two gymnasiums, three squash courts, an indoor track, swimming pool, dance studio, weightlifting room, soccer fields, facilities to play tennis and beach volleyball – and more. Located on Outer Circle Road, the fitness centre features group fitness classes as well as women’s-only programs. The indoor running track at the centre is accessible by an elevator. At the swimming pool, there is a lift that can be accessed from the whirlpool or the pool for individuals who may be mobility impaired. The change rooms are accessible.

Students at U of T Scarborough have access to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which is co-owned by U of T Scarborough and the City of Toronto. It features a fitness and aquatic centre as well as a field house and climbing wall. There is a variety of drop-in programs, including badminton, basketball, table tennis and pickle ball. The centre meets the highest provincial accessibility standards with two accessible change rooms, oversized elevators, wide routes, powered door openers, as well as enhanced seating and tethering areas for service animals in all aquatic halls and the field house. The training pool has a moveable floor to accommodate various water depths and mobility levels.

(photo by Matthew Dochstader)

On the St. George campus, the Athletic Centre is home to seven gyms, three pools, a strength and conditioning centre, indoor track, field house, dance studio, cardio machines, tennis and squash courts, steam room, among other facilities. Some gyms at the Athletic Centre – located at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street – are accessible, including the strength and conditioning centre, sports gym, field house court and track lane, and dance studio. The Varsity and Benson pools are also accessible.

Students on St. George can also use the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, home to the U of T Varsity Blues basketball and volleyball teams. The facility, completed in 2014, features a strength and conditioning centre, fitness studio, sport medicine clinic, research and teaching laboratories.

Membership to all facilities is paid through a students' incidental fees and can be accessed using a TCard.

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Be part of the U of T Scarborough student hub at Highland Hall

Highland Hall is a central location on the U of T Scarborough campus that is home to hundreds of study and hangout spaces, the social sciences departments, a recently opened café, the registrar’s office, exam and conference centre, admissions and student recruitment office, the international student centre and much more.

The space – located on Military Trail – also features the Hub, U of T Scarborough’s entrepreneurship incubator. Students are welcome to work in the Hub to create and launch new business start-ups.

A cool feature of the building is the two large north and south-facing windows that depict maps of Scarborough in the 1960s and in the 2000s. The building has an accessible entrance and exit as well as an elevator indoors.

The U of T Scarborough campus is surrounded by beautiful green space and several walking and running trails. The Valley Land Trail provides an accessible link for students and the community to the Highland Creek Valley. The 500-metre-long trail features charging stations for motorized accessibility devices, multiple raised lookout points with accessible seating and LED lights built in for evening strolls. It’s a great way for students to connect with the campus, each other and the city of Toronto.

(photo by Matthew Dochstader)

Start a study group at Robarts Common

An airy new addition to Robarts Library on the St. George campus, Robarts Common is a five-storey study and meeting space for U of T students.

The multi-year renovations resulted in 1,200 new study spots, soundproof rooms with big screens to practice presentations and charging stations everywhere.

There are also accessibility features for individuals with hearing loss, epilepsy, and those with autism spectrum disorder. The study rooms have dimmable lights, the walkways are wider in width and there are automatic curtains to block natural light to help with sensory output. There is a mix of fabric and non-fabric chairs as well as carpet to keep noise to a minimum. There are different heights and configurations for working stations, too.

The Fourth Floor Heritage Room is another revamped area of the library that’s newly opened for the fall semester. The space is an accessible and accommodating study area with features to give students a balance between wellness and education, including standing and sitting desks, lounge seating, acoustic panels to improve sound quality and two SAD lamp therapy lounges.

(photo courtesy of U of T Libraries)

Gather at U of T Mississauga’s Meeting Place

The Meeting Place – inside the William G. Davis Building at U of T Mississauga – is a great place for students to grab a coffee or tea, catch up with a friend or form a study group.

The Meeting Place received a recent makeover with a redesign of the food services area, student services plaza, a new entrance to the building and more seating indoors and outdoors. Located on Inner Circle Road, there is an accessible entrance and exit into William G. David Building, as well as an elevator.

Other services inside the building include a bookstore, an accessibility resource centre, conference and events services, a career centre and health services.

Socialize at the new Student Commons space

Student Commons is a new space on the St. George campus for students to study, meet and socialize. It will host its grand opening on Sept. 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. There will be food, movies and a disco party to celebrate the new space, which is run by the U of T Students’ Union.

There are several meeting rooms and study areas with Wi-Fi throughout the building. Programs such as bike repair, a food bank, club spaces, events spaces are available. The prayer room, which includes two ablution spaces and smudging rooms, is undergoing construction and will be ready by the end of the year.

There are two accessible entrances and exits to the building – one is on Huron Street on the west side of the building and the other is on the east side facing the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. There is an elevator located at the centre of the building that runs from the basement to the 5^th floor and barrier-free washrooms on all levels.

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For more information on accessibility services, each U of T campus has a dedicated Accessibility Services office that helps students navigate the university based on their needs.

Students pack Pan Am Sports Centre for Scarborough Shooting Stars game

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 17:38:44 +0000

Students pack Pan Am Sports Centre for Scarborough Shooting Stars game

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 08/04/2022 - 13:38

Cutline

Hundreds of U of T Scarborough students were given tickets to attend the final game of the Scarborough Shooting Stars' season on July 28 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (photo by Sophia Seoh)

Topic

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Scarborough

The Scarborough Shooting Stars, the GTA's first franchise in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, gave hundreds of tickets to their final home game of the season to University of Toronto students.

The Stars, the eighth team in the CEBL, has a roster of prolific players, including former Toronto Raptor Jalen Harris. Until recently, the team also featured Jermaine Cole, better known as the rapper J. Cole. Home games were played at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre throughout the summer, with Drake showing up to support the team from the sidelines.

The stands were packed with U of T Scarborough students on July 28 after Stars co-owner Sam Ibrahim donated 250 tickets on U of T Scarborough Student Leadership Day, hosted by the Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing.

Ibrahim plans to donate tickets to the team’s final regular season home game every year, to acknowledge students' work and leadership.

"When local leaders serve with a generous spirit, it inspires us all to build a stronger community," says Neel Joshi, the new dean of OSEW at U of T Scarborough. "Having 250 students, staff and community partners all together to cheer on the home team for their final home game not only unites us as a campus, it makes us even prouder to be in Scarborough."

Ibrahim is a former U of T Scarborough student and grew his business, the Arrow Group of Companies, in Scarborough. Joshi says the new tradition came about because both he and Ibrahim "believe in Scarborough's potential and believe that our community has so much to contribute to the world."

"This was about two Scarborough-raised people who are fiercely proud and grateful to be from here and want to show the world why we are a place where leaders are humble, hardworking, and authentically exhibit inclusive excellence."

(photo by Sophia Seoh)

At halftime, Joshi received an SSS jersey in recognition of his contributions to the Scarborough community. Olympic champion sprinter and Scarborough native Andre De Grasse also received a jersey.

Tickets were distributed to student groups and raffled off on the university’s social media channels.

"The air was full of excitement and silence, hoping that our team would take the win each match," says student Sophia Seoh, who attended the game. "The new tradition of donating tickets to students to witness an exhilarating basketball game is very kind, and I hope other students can experience it."

Which U of T campus is best for you? A quick look at what makes each one unique

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:16:50 +0000

Which U of T campus is best for you? A quick look at what makes each one unique

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 08/13/2021 - 14:16

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U of T's three campuses boast many unique attributes – from U of T Mississauga's natural setting to St. George's historic architecture and U of T Scarborough's world-class facilities (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn, U of T Staff and Ken Jones)

Yanan Wang

Topic

Our Community

Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus

Soldiers' Tower

Entrepreneurship

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

MaRS

St. George

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

When students apply to the University of Toronto, it can often be difficult to choose between the three campuses: St. George, U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough – all of which boast the university’s globally-recognized academic excellence and exceptional employment outcomes.

Yet, when it comes to factors such as location, program offerings and campus culture – even the likelihood of a deer sighting – there is much that sets one campus apart from another.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the attributes that make each U of T campus unique, and how some students made their decision.

St. George

(Photo by University of Toronto)

Situated in the heart of downtown Toronto, the St. George campus is steeped in U of T’s nearly 200-year-old-history.

Harry Potter fans will feel right at home amid the Gothic Revival-style architecture, characterized by tall, sloping arches, relief sculptures and steep-gabled roofs of many of the buildings that dot the campus, particularly near King’s College Circle. While there’s no magical sorting hat, undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts & Science belong to one of seven colleges, each housing a unique community with its own slate of academic and extracurricular offerings.

Students at St. George can walk along Hoskin Avenue, which features Hart House, a hub of student activity, and Soldiers’ Tower, a bell and clock tower that pays tribute to university community members who perished in the First World War. Condé Nast Traveler has named the avenue one of the most beautiful places in Canada.

For Norah Rahman, U of T’s distinct buildings were a fixture in her life long before she decided to enrol a life sciences program this coming fall. Since she was 10 years old, she says she has attended lecture series hosted by local Muslim organizations in U of T classrooms.

(Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

“I was actually able to experience the campus as if I were taking classes there, and I loved the environment,” Rahman says.

Hailing from North York, Rahman says she was also drawn to the vibrancy of neighbourhoods downtown.

“Ever since I was in the ninth or tenth grade and I was allowed to go places by myself, I always gravitated towards going downtown,” Rahman says. “There’s something about the hustle and bustle and the opportunity to try different things, to eat different things. I’m kind of a foodie.”

The downtown campus is within walking distance of a wide range of city attractions, including Queens Park, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario – not to mention shopping, restaurants, Kensington Market and professional sports venues. Aspiring thespians can also take advantage of the neighbouring Theatre District.

The St. George campus, not surprisingly, also boasts state-of-the-art research facilities, close connections to local research hospitals, several entrepreneurship hubs and will soon be home to the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, which will be directly across the street from the MaRS Discovery District.

Isaiah Gardner, who is about to begin his first year as a student in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, says he chose St. George because it is the only campus that offers a bachelor’s of kinesiology degree. While at U of T, he will also run for the Varsity Blues in track and field.

Gardner says he fell in love with the team during a track meet in 2019, when he ran along the blue track at the Varsity Centre with the CN Tower in the background.

“I wanted to live downtown in the energy and life that radiated from Toronto,” he says.

U of T Mississauga

(Photo by Randy Landicho)

For nature lovers, U of T Mississauga is hard to beat.

The bucolic campus is set on 225 acres of protected greenbelt along the Credit River, which is home to a variety of wildlife – from the great blue heron to the Jefferson salamander. And, since 2017, tens of thousands of honeybees have lived on the roof of U of T Mississauga’s Instructional Centre, producing honey for campus kitchens and other initiatives.

Deer are particularly beloved members of the U of T Mississauga community.

The antics of the deer on campus are closely monitored by students and faculty alike, as evidenced by a Twitter account dedicated to the animals. One deer by the name of “Hartley Fawn” even got its own ID card.

(Photo by University of Toronto Mississauga)

“U of T Mississauga has a very relaxed atmosphere because it’s a bit secluded,” says Fatima Azahraa Al Saadie, a recent graduate who was recognized as the top undergraduate student across U of T’s three campuses.

“Any time I felt overwhelmed or stressed, I’d just go outside, take a deep breath and appreciate the natural environment. Seeing a deer or two on campus is a bonus!”

Al Saadie added that she appreciated the smaller classes at U of T Mississauga, where the largest max out around 500 students. The relatively small campus helped ease the transition from high school to university, Al Saadi says.

(Photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

Sustainability is a key theme at U of T Mississauga. Among the campus’s landmarks is Maanjiwe nendamowinan, a recently built six-storey building that boasts rainwater recycling, green roof space and a name that was chosen in collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, on whose traditional territory the campus now stands. U of T Mississauga also has the distinction of being Canada’s first Silver Fair Trade Campus, with fair trade coffees, teas and chocolate bars sold throughout.

The diverse food choices don’t stop there: U of T Mississauga was also the first university campus in Canada to host a certified gluten-free food station.

U of T Mississauga is renowned for its forensic science program, which is the oldest in the country. The program’s faculty include a forensic anthropologist, a lawyer and a police officer who have worked on some of Canada’s most high-profile criminal cases. There is even a “crime scene house” where students can perfect techniques for blood splatter analysis and fingerprinting. The campus is also the principal home of U of T’s biomedical communications program – the only one of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in North America – as well as Jessica Burgner-Kahrs’s Continuum Robotics Lab, where researchers are building slender, snake-like next-generation machines for surgical and other applications.

The campus benefits from its strategic location in the city of Mississauga, which is the home base for more than 60 of Canada’s Fortune 500 companies and is a short drive to the Toronto region’s main international airport.

There’s even a free shuttle bus that whisks students to and from the St. George campus, although service was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U of T Scarborough

(Photo by Randy Landicho)

Located in Toronto’s vibrant east end, U of T Scarborough’s Brutalist architecture has the honour of being the backdrop of a The Weeknd music video – as well as numerous movies and television shows – and a parody Instagram account @UofTDrizzy that is followed by Drake himself.

The superstar rapper is also a fan of Scarborough’s culinary offerings. As one of the most multicultural communities in the Greater Toronto Area, the neighbourhood’s eclectic food options are in abundance. From halal restaurants to East Asian comfort food to stuffed patties recommended by Drake, culinary adventures are always around the corner in Scarborough.

Not to be outdone on the nature front, the U of T Scarborough campus sits on 300 acres of lush green parkland, with a system of trails showcasing the splendor of the Highland Creek Valley.

(Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

“I saw that there was this beautiful trail in the campus, and since I’m an outdoor person I’ll probably be there every day,” says Emeka Okolo, an incoming life sciences student from Oshawa who will be living in residence.

An avid football player, Okolo is also looking forward to finding a gym buddy. U of T Scarborough boasts the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a sprawling athletics facility that hosted diving, fencing and swimming and other competitions during the 2015 Pan American Games. In 2017, former U.S. President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden joined Prince Harry at the centre for the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded military servicepeople.

The campus is one that aims to reflect the diversity of the Toronto region in which it operates, as evidenced by its strategic vision: Inspiring Inclusive Excellence. It is also playing an important role in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion well beyond U of T. To take one recent example: Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, played a key role in helping to co-ordinate the National Dialogues and Action for Inclusive Higher Education and Communities, which brought together colleges and universities across the country to address anti-Black racism.

(Photo by Ken Jones)

When it comes to academic programs, U of T Scarborough has the distinction of being the university’s co-op campus, with co-op programs offered in over 80 programs across the arts, science and management disciplines. The curricula combine U of T’s hallmark academic excellence with eight to 12 months of paid full-time work or research experience during your degree – giving graduates a precious leg up in the job market.

U of T Scarborough also has plentiful resources for budding entrepreneurs (as do all three U of T campuses). The campus’s startup incubator, The Hub, has helped students and recent alumni launch more than 150 businesses. Meanwhile, the next generation of corporate innovators can hone their skills at The BRIDGE, a business research space complete with an advanced trading lab and state-of-the art boardroom.

At the height of the pandemic, when few employers were hiring, Melody Bagaa, who graduated in 2020, told U of T News she harnessed the practical experience she gained through U of T Scarborough’s co-op program and other employment-focused resources to land a finance job that she loved.

Go for a swim, then hit the books? How key U of T services will operate this fall

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 17:49:40 +0000

Go for a swim, then hit the books? How key U of T services will operate this fall

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 08/14/2020 - 13:49

Cutline

The Olympic-sized pool at U of T's Athletic Centre, closed since the spring, will be reopening with reduced occupancy (photo by Thomas Bollman/Seed9)

Topic

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Hart House

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Libraries

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

With the province entering stage three of its reopening plan, many University of Toronto services and resources – from libraries and athletic facilities to food services – will also be resuming more normal operations this fall, albeit with key COVID-19 precautions in place.

In many cases, the university has introduced digital alternatives to traditional programs or services so that students can take advantage of campus resources remotely with the click of a button.

It has also taken steps to alter the physical environment of buildings to promote distancing, manage traffic flow and remind people to wear masks indoors in common areas.

In all cases, U of T will meet or exceed current health guidelines surrounding COVID-19 in an effort to keep students, faculty, staff and librarians safe and informed on all three campuses.

Here’s a closer look at how some important U of T services and resources will operate this fall.

Sport and Recreation

U of T Sport and Recreation has partnered with Hart House to offer group fitness classes on the back campus, from high-intensity interval training to yoga and dance (photo by Arnold Lan)

The Athletic Centre and Hart House gyms on the St. George campus will reopen by the start of the fall semester with safety measures that meet or exceed public health standards.

At the Athletic Centre, gym equipment will be spaced four metres apart instead of the required two metre-distance. Weights and machines will be moved to the field house to provide more room for distancing during exercise. Masks will need to be worn on the way in and out of the building but are not required during physical activity.

Gyms across the three campuses, like those elsewhere in the city, will require users to book a time slot for their workout.

The Olympic-sized pool in the Athletic Centre, which has been closed since the spring, will reopen with reduced occupancy.

Varsity and U of T tri-campus competitions are suspended for the semester, but students can still compete in a range of mainly outdoor intramural sports, including badminton, spike ball, table tennis and dodgeball.

“We’re looking for ways to enhance the feeling of community spirit on campus and enhance the student experience while being safe,” says Beth Ali, U of T’s executive director, co-curricular athletics and physical activity programs.

An e-sports league, which proved popular with students after it was introduced this summer, will return in the fall. Students can challenge each other in NBA 2K20, FIFA 20, NHL 20 and Madden NFL 20.

U of T Sport and Recreation has partnered with Hart House to offer group fitness classes on the back campus starting in August, from high-intensity interval training to yoga and dance.

The Hart House Fitness Centre is planning to reopen with new safety measures in time for back to school. Pending final approvals, the centre will move to a booking system and, to facilitate physical distancing, a new entry through the north laneway. During the phased-in approach, online fitness programming will continue seven days per week, with some live broadcast classes.

“Essentially we will be focusing on fitness classes outdoors – and indoors there will be a process in place for people to use cardio, Nautilus and free weights,” says Michelle Brownrigg, senior director and chief program officer for Hart House.

The Hart House pool will not reopen in time for back to school in September but is expected to reopen later in the term.

U of T Mississauga, meanwhile, is emphasizing online and outdoor fitness activities for students as part of its safe and gradual return. That includes one-on-one consultations with a trainer over Zoom and a six-week progressive running program called RunUTM, with weekly group discussions and check-ins. Outdoor facilities – fields, tennis courts and beach volleyball courts – are expected to be open for use in September with health and safety protocols in place.

“We're working to meet the challenges of providing adaptable fitness to our students,” says Andrea Carter, U of T Mississauga’s assistant dean, student wellness, support and success.

“It's important to stay active during this time, and we are hopeful that the online programming with a personal touch helps students remain engaged and look forward to outdoor activities on our fields in September.”

At U of T Scarborough, students can exercise at the Pan Am Sports Centre while following certain precautions. Like at other U of T gyms, they are expected to book an appointment and wear a mask in the building. The fitness centre, training pool and climbing wall are open.

Libraries

U of T students continue to have access to all electronic resources available through the library’s catalogue, including e-books, online journal article databases, primary source databases and streaming videos.

Students at U of T will also have remote access to 2.5 million books and other references through the online repository, HathiTrust. If an item isn’t available through Hathi, students, staff or faculty can make a request for curbside pick-up at Robarts Library, the U of T Mississauga library or U of T Scarborough library. (U of T Libraries expects to expand curbside service to other libraries on campus, too. Please check individual library websites for updated information.)

Libraries across the three campuses will also quarantine books that are physically loaned out for at least three days after they are returned.

On the St. George campus, the Robarts and Gerstein libraries will reopen their doors, although the stacks will remain off limits. At Robarts, floors one to five will be open to students looking for a quiet place to study, as will Gerstein’s main floor. Furniture in study spaces will be spaced out or taped off to facilitate physical distancing. Those who need research support can reach out via the Ask Chat with a librarian service, request a virtual consultation with a librarian or take a workshop.

Students will continue to have access to library equipment such as computers, scanners and printers. They will also be able to log into a library computer remotely to use specialized software, including data analysis and design tools.

While the family study space in Robarts will remain closed, U of T librarians are reading from their favourite picture books in an online story time for kids ages three to eight. Look for the next session on the library’s workshop page.

Libraries across the three campuses will quarantine books that are physically loaned out for at least three days after they are returned (photo by Jesse Carliner)

At U of T Mississauga, the library’s main floor will reopen and computers, Wi-Fi and printers will be available for use. Library staff may open the third floor for study use if there’s a need for more space.

Shelley Hawrychuk, U of T Mississauga’s chief librarian, says librarians are ready and available to help students online if they need advice on research or citations.

“Most of the services we offer students are available in some shape or form online,” she says. “I encourage them to take advantage of these services and seek out a librarian if they need help because that’s what we’re here for.”

The U of T Scarborough Library will reopen in the fall semester as a study space. Curbside pick-up is available while the stacks are closed. Two floors of the library will be open for physically distanced studying. Study rooms for small groups will be limited to individual use while the larger rooms will be reserved for three people.

Liaison librarians will continue to provide course support and provide online research consultations to students upon request. The Makerspace, with access to 3D printers, Arduino and Adobe Creative suite programs, will be closed, but, in the meantime, the library is offering online workshops and orientations to help students learn how to use the tools available in the facility.

Furniture in library study spaces will be spaced out or taped off to facilitate physical distancing (photo by Jesse Carliner)

Angela Hamilton, U of T Scarborough’s chief librarian, says the library will host drop-in sessions as a replacement for the reference desk to give students an opportunity to talk with staff about their assignment or research needs.

“We are also looking to collaborate with librarians across the tri-campus to offer co-curricular workshops to hone essential research skills.”

Food

At a time when take-out meals are in particularly high-demand, U of T chefs have put their minds together to create a wide-ranging menu of dishes that students can grab on the go.

“The chefs have been planning menus around trying to make as many different options available for take-out as possible,” says Anne Macdonald, assistant vice-president of ancillary services.

“We’ve increased the amount of packaged and quick-service options that are made fresh every day.”

To minimize line-ups, U of T is rolling out a mobile app so students on the St. George and U of T Scarborough campuses can order and pay for their food in advance. The app’s official launch is planned for the same week as students move into their dorms.

Using the app, students can order burgers à la carte or build their own with local ingredients such as Ontario smoked bacon and cheddar (a veggie option is available, too, with portobello mushroom, goat cheese and red pepper jelly). Other dishes include chicken burrito bowls, fajitas, the “not-so-classic” cobb salad and ramen.

Bacon cheddar burger, burrito bowl, deli sandwiches and pork ramen (photos by Jackie Shapiro/Ancillary Services)

Across all three campuses, larger seating areas will be reconfigured for physically distanced eating. The university is also exploring the use of greenspace for outdoor dining.

“We will certainly encourage people to eat outside while the weather is good,” Macdonald says.

At New College, for example, U of T staff are discussing the possibility of putting furniture in the courtyard next to the dining hall so students can eat al fresco.

At U of T Mississauga, diners this fall will find food services in the Davis Building and Oscar Peterson Hall. Both dining spaces have been rearranged to offer physically distanced seating.

In Oscar Peterson Hall, Colman Commons stations are open for take-out or dining in. Seasonal Chef’s Table specials include surf ‘n’ turf steak and lobster dinner and international cuisine.

In the Davis Building, the Meeting Place stocks grab-n-go sandwiches, salads and cold drinks, along with fair trade coffees and teas and a daily hot lunch special. In early September, there are plans to debut “Sally,” a new vending machine offering customized salads at the touch of a button. Temperature controls and daily replenishment of ingredients by kitchen staff means a fresh and tasty salad will be available any time of day.

Vending machine across the campus have been restocked to offer hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Hospitality & Retail Services has also opened a satellite office in the Meeting Place where staff are available to offer support services Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the newly renovated section of the building.

Seven transformational things that happened at U of T over the past decade

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 21:19:44 +0000

Seven transformational things that happened at U of T over the past decade

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 12/20/2019 - 16:19

Cutline

(photo by Wei Fang via Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

City & Culture

Indigenous Initiatives

Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre

Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society

Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Black Grad

School of Cities

Artificial Intelligence

Boundless

Creative Destruction Lab

Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Hatchery

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Health Innovation Hub

Impact Centre

Indigenous

Landmark

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Meric Gertler

ONRamp

Research & Innovation

Research and Innovation

Rotman School of Management

Sustainability

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

Truth and Reconciliation

As we prepare to usher in a new decade, U of T News is looking back at some of the defining and impactful things that happened at the University of Toronto over the past 10 years.

The U of T community has left an indelible mark on the 2010s by making groundbreaking achievements in artificial intelligence, taking strides toward Indigenous reconciliation and promoting sustainability throughout its operations – to name just a few. Many of these initiatives have set in motion ideas and actions that will pave the way for the university’s success for decades to come.

Here’s a list – admittedly a non-exhaustive one – of transformational things that happened at U of T over the past 10 years:

Campus Transformation

The Myhal Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship on the St. George campus (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

The past decade has seen U of T complete numerous construction and renovation projects as it continues to grow its campuses, expand the facilities available to students, faculty and staff, and lay the groundwork for more ambitious campus-building projects to come.

To take one, high profile example: The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering last year opened the Myhal Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, a building designed to foster multi-disciplinary partnerships, experiential learning and entrepreneurship opportunities. Named after alumnus George Myhal and his wife Rayla, the building features technology-enhanced active learning rooms, dedicated space for student clubs and state-of-the-art fabrication facilities for design projects.

U of T also laid the groundwork for the Landmark Project, a major initiative to revitalize the historic core of the St. George campus and enhance sustainability and accessibility. The project will feature the expansion of pedestrian-friendly areas around King’s College Circle, Hart House Circle and Tower Road, and will replace parking spots for cars with green spaces, granite paths and an underground parking garage.

The Landmark Project will make the historic centre of St. George campus more pedestrian-friendly and add new green space (rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.)

The St. George campus is also the proposed site of a 14-storey building constructed from engineered wood, which is prized as an innovative building material due its low carbon footprint, structural integrity, fire-resistant properties and aesthetic appeal. Another landmark building is proposed for 90 Queen's Park Crescent, providing a home to U of T's School of Cities as well as numerous departments from the Faculty of Arts & Science.

At U of T Mississauga, it’s been a similarly eventful decade for campus-building. In 2011, the campus unveiled the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex. In August, U of T Mississauga acknowledged the Indigenous history of the land, the future of the campus and the university’s commitment to reconciliation by revealing the name of its newest building: Maanjiwe nendamowinan. Sitting on the site the former North Building, Maanjiwe nendamowinan is home to humanities and social sciences and features a six-storey atrium and event space, as well as 40,000 square feet of new classroom space that’s outfitted with cutting-edge technology and hundreds of new study spaces.

Maanjiwe nendamowinan at U of T Mississauga boasts 40,000 square feet of new classroom space that’s outfitted with cutting-edge technology (photo by Drew Lesiuczok)

At U of T Scarborough, national-level athletes, Varsity competitors and intramural sports participants alike can all take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities on offer at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. After opening to the public in 2014, the facility hosted several competitions during the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. It is now home to numerous national sport organizations and high-performance centres, while also offering U of T Scarborough students top-notch fitness and wellness facilities.

Wheelchair basketball players practise inside the Toronto PanAm Sports Centre (photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

U of T Scarborough also opened the new Highland Hall building, creating a striking new gateway to the campus in addition to doubling the amount of space dedicated to students and adding faculty and administration space. And it unveiled the 500-metre Valley Land Trail, which was designed to offer accessibility and year-long enjoyment of the ravine abutting the campus.

Finally, the university recently completed comprehensive renovations of research labs across its three campuses. Driven by nearly $190 million in funding from the university, province and federal government, the upgrades increased the amount of space available for research activities, improved electrical and internet connectivity and will create utility savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability and climate action

The rooftop garden at U of T Scarborough (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Sustainability has been a central theme of U of T’s efforts to revitalize and expand its three campuses.

One of the most ambitious initiatives is the planned installation of a massive geo-exchange field beneath Front Campus. The project, part of U of T’s Low Carbon Action Plan, will see boreholes drilled deep into the ground to allow for storage of surplus heat. It is projected to yield annual greenhouse gas reductions of 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2024.

Sustainable design is also a hallmark of U of T Mississauga’s Maanjiwe nendamowinan, which has a 20,000-gallon rainwater re-use system, energy-efficient mechanical systems, green roof spaces and a green-cleaning initiative, and U of T Scarborough’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which boasts eco-friendly features including 1,854 rooftop solar panels and underground cisterns to collect rainwater.

Physical projects aside, the university has also taken steps to incorporate sustainability into all levels of academia including working on developing curriculum pathways for sustainability-minded undergraduate students across the university.

At an institutional level, U of T has played a leadership role by engaging with the challenges posed by climate change on the world stage. In 2018, U of T joined 12 other leading research universities in North America to form the University Climate Change Coalition, which aims to mobilize resources, expand research partnerships and leverage expertise to help businesses, cities and regions implement research-driven climate solutions.

This year, President Meric Gertler attended the inaugural U7+ Alliance in Paris, where he briefed French President Emmanuel Macron on the alliance's commitment to sustainability. U of T has also hosted numerous speeches, conferences and symposia to further dialogue on climate change.

Artificial intelligence

U of T University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton has been described as the “godfather of deep learning” (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Many predict that artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize everything from transportation to medicine – and some of the most exciting work is taking place at U of T thanks to pioneers like University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton, a Turing Award-winner who is known as the “godfather of deep learning.”

In bid to build upon its early lead in the field, U of T partnered with government and industry to launch the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and is now attracting several of the most promising AI researchers from around world. Toronto, in turn, is benefiting from the arrival of global tech companies keen to establish an AI footprint in the city. For example, Google, Uber, Samsung and NVIDIA have all established or expanded AI labs in Toronto that are headed by U of T researchers.

U of T is also addressing AI through a multi-disciplinary lens following the launch of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. Set to be housed in the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, the institute leverages U of T's unique strengths across a wide range of fields to explore the role of humanities, social sciences, public policy and law in a rapidly changing technology landscape.

A global, inclusive student experience

Students at U of T were the first in Canada to organize a Black Grad event in 2017 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

By embracing diversity and expanding its international presence, U of T over the past decade has continued to further its reputation as an inclusive institution with a truly global outlook.

U of T’s student body has played a proactive role in this regard. For example, in 2017, U of T students organized Black Grad, Canada’s first ever graduation celebration for Black students. Black Grad has since gone on to become one of the most highly anticipated convocation-related events on the calendar. After two years of being held at Hart House on the St. George campus, Black Grad 2019 was hosted at U of T Mississauga in June and organizers say the first Black Grad of the new decade could be held at U of T Scarborough.

The year 2017 also saw the launch of the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship, which brings some of the most talented and driven students from around the world to U of T. The 2019 cohort comprised 36 students drawn from 27 countries.

U of T has also continued to expand its international footprint by way of research agreements with academic and industry partners around the world. Meanwhile, the university’s commitment to equity and diversity has also been formalized in the Institutional Strategic Research Plan, which aims to ensure an inclusive environment and increase the presence of marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, LGBTQ individuals and persons with disabilities.

Truth and Reconciliation

Skahendowaneh Swamp, a chair of Indigenous knowledge at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University, is flanked by U of T President Meric Gertler (right) and Kelly Hannah-Moffat, vice-president of human resources and equity (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

In early 2016, U of T President Gertler and Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr established U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee in response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to Canadians to engage in ongoing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

The report produced 34 calls to action focusing on the following areas: Indigenous spaces; curriculum; students and co-curricular education; faculty and staff; research ethics and community relationships; and institutional leadership and implementation.

Since then, U of T has moved forward with a range of initiatives including the creation of the Master in Social Work, Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work; organizing an Indigenous Mentoring Day to match Indigenous job-seekers with employers at the university; and the appointment of academic advisers for Indigenous research and Indigenous curriculum and education.

The university is also launching an Indigenous Landscape project, to be installed on 4,500 square metres of Hart House Green, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee's call for a “prominent, visible space at the very centre of the St. George campus be dedicated as an Indigenous space.”

“Indigenous students will be able to walk through campus and see an outdoor space and know it was created for them, with them and with their needs in mind,” said Shannon Simpson, U of T’s new director of Indigenous initiatives and co-chair of the Indigenous Landscape project.

The project is being planned on the basis of in-depth consultations with Indigenous groups at U of T and First Nations communities with historic ties to the area.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

U of T’s ONRamp co-working and collaboration space opened to entrepreneurs in 2017 (photo by Kenneth Cheung)

Over the past decade, U of T entrepreneurs have created more than 500 startup companies that have secured over $1.5 billion in investment and helped establish the university as an engine of Toronto’s thriving innovation scene.

U of T alone is home to more than 10 campus-linked accelerators that cater to startups at various stages of development. They include the Creative Destruction Lab, which was founded at the Rotman School of Management and has since expanded to seven other locations in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.; the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, which serves entrepreneurs in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering; ICUBE, based in the Institute for Management and Innovation at U of T Mississauga; and U of T Scarborough’s The Hub. Others include: UTEST, DCSIL (Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab), H2i (Health Innovation Hub), Impact Centre and InnovED.

Many entrepreneurs from U of T and partner universities work out of U of T’s ONRamp, a 15,000-square-foot space that opened in 2017 and offers co-working and collaboration spaces – not to mention ready access to downtown Toronto’s vibrant business community.

Unprecedented community support

The soon-to-be-built Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre will accelerate innovation in Toronto and Canada by creating the country’s largest university-based innovation node (rendering by WEISS/MANFREDI)

In March, U of T received $100 million from Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman – the largest single donation in its history. The funds are being used to support construction of the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre that will anchor U of T's growing cluster of AI scientists, biomedical experts and entrepreneurs.

But that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to supporting the university over the past decade.

Spanning a period of seven years, U of T’s Boundless campaign raised $2.6-billion from more than 104,000 donors in nearly 100 countries. The generous contributions from individuals, families, corporations and charitable organizations will go towards an array of initiatives aimed at accelerating research and educational opportunities, enriching the student experience and transforming the university’s three campuses to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

What's more, the campaign saw endowments for student aid and student support cross the $1-billion mark for the first time in the university's history.

In an interview with U of T News this past summer, David Palmer, U of T's vice-president, advancement, said the Boundless campaign’s success suggests the best is yet to come.

"People ask me all the time: 'Have we exhausted the capacity of our donors and the time and efforts of our volunteers?' And I have to say we all feel we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of together, and what our donors and volunteers are so generously willing to do for us," Palmer said.

"We think there’s a very, very exciting future ahead of us right now."

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate

noreen.rasbach — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate noreen.rasbach Mon, 09/09/2019 - 00:00

Isabel Armiento

Topic

City & Culture

Back To School 2019

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Graduate Students

Hart House

Hart House Theatre

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Theatre Erindale

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Libraries

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

University College

Varsity Blues

Victoria College

The University of Toronto is a large community, so it can be easy to let exciting opportunities pass you by while here. Whether you’re new to U of T or getting ready to graduate, try these 23 tips for a fun-filled university experience – or use them as inspiration to create a bucket list of your own.

(photo by Ken Jones)

1. Join the ranks of students who #BleedBlue and cheer on the Varsity Blues at a sports game. With 44 Varsity teams competing in 26 sports, there’s something for every sports fan.

2. Audition for a campus play. While it may sound intimidating, theatre troupes such as the Victoria College Drama Society, UTM Drama Club, UTSC Drama Society and many others welcome total beginners. For all you wannabe thespians, this may be your chance to score a callback – and maybe even land a role.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Scarborough)

3. Check out the daily specials at Nasir’s Gourmet Hot Dog stand. Boasting low prices and rave reviews, this U of T Scarborough establishment is a student staple.

4. Treat yourself by taking an elective that’s purely for fun. Choose a course that’ll actually get you excited about homework. Some examples: If you’re obsessed with fantasy then pore over The Lord of the Rings in Tolkien's Middle Ages (U of T Scarborough), or if you’d prefer to spend an evening watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, then Queer Popular Culture (St. George campus) might be for you.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Scarborough)

5. Visit the Farmers' Market at U of T Scarborough to buy fresh, locally sourced jams, honey, veggies, meats and more and debunk the myth that U of T students subsist entirely on food truck fries.

6. Take academics to new heights by studying for finals in a suspended pod at the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building – or to new depths by taking your books to the Library Mindfulness Space at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by David Lee)

7. Get an authentic tri-campus experience by riding the UTM Shuttle (which is free for all U of T Mississauga students).

8. Attend a campus formal. Even if dances aren’t your thing, think of it as a rare opportunity to shed your sweatpants-and-a-T-shirt student aesthetic in favour of something chic.

Theatre Erindale is the production company of the theatre and drama studies program at U of T Mississauga (photo by Paul Orenstein)

9. Watch a show at a campus theatre, such as Hart House Theatre at the St. George campus or Theatre Erindale at U of T Mississauga. Tickets are often discounted for students – bonus points if you score free tickets by writing a review for a campus newspaper. Plays range from Shakespearean tragedies like Portia’s Julius Caesar to cult classics like The Rocky Horror Show, both featured in Hart House’s upcoming 2019/2020 season.

10. Visit Diabolos’ Coffee Bar at the University College Junior Common Room to grab a coffee – or, for that matter, lunch. With selections ranging from Nutella lattes to butter chicken, this café will satisfy any midday craving you might have.

U of T Service of Remembrance at the foot of the Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

11. Attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Soldiers' Tower for a moving recitation of U of T alumnus John McCrae’s iconic poem In Flanders Fields. Remembrance Day services are held on all three campuses.

U of T Scarborough students play a game of quidditch (photo by Ken Jones)

12. Compete in the Canadian Quidditch League (yes, they use actual brooms) by joining one of U of T’s quidditch teams.

13. Listen to a carillon concert in Hart House Circle. There are 51 bells making up the carillon, and they range in weight from 23 pounds to four tons.

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre at U of T Scarborough (photo by Ken Jones)

14. Take a gorgeous dip in Hart House’s pool. With its columns, vaulted ceilings and skylight, you’ll feel like you’re in Rome. Alternatively, pretend you’re a world-class athlete and go for a swim in one of the Olympic-size pools at U of T Scarborough’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

15. Attend a campus trivia night – after all, university students like nothing better than proving how smart they are. Impress your professors at a faculty trivia night or join a trivia club like the one at U of T Scarborough for a longer-term commitment.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Student Life)

16. Train with a niche intramural sports team (or start your own) – there are a variety of options to choose from, ranging from ultimate Frisbee to cricket.

17. Experience outer space without leaving campus with AstroTours. Offered by the department of astronomy and astrophysics, each tour includes star-gazing through the McLennan Physical Laboratories’ telescopes, as well as a trip to U of T’s planetarium.

18. Venture beyond Robarts and study at least once in each of U of T’s more than 40 libraries. Hot tip: It is often easier to get the latest bestseller at U of T Libraries than it is to wait months on hold at the Toronto Public Library.

(photo by Paul Orenstein)

19. Experience U of T’s natural beauty. Plan a picnic at one of U of T’s scenic quads or a hike through a U of T Mississauga or U of T Scarborough trail. You might even encounter the local wildlife – it’s seemingly impossible to avoid spotting a deer on a walk through U of T Mississauga.

20. Hang out with a prof during an Engaging Faculty Event at U of T Mississauga. These events offer students the perfect opportunity to get to know campus faculty and staff, whether it’s through a scenic nature walk across campus trails or a quirky The Office-themed murder mystery.

(photo by Laura Pedersen)

21. Wander through Philosopher’s Walk and have a deep philosophical debate. Or an existential crisis. Or an ethical dilemma. Or an afternoon nap.

22. There's a lot to do at Hart House, but here's a practical suggestion: Think about getting a haircut there.

23. Write for a campus newspaper or magazine. Join the ranks of U of T’s journalistic goliaths like The Varsity (tri-campus) or The Medium (U of T Mississauga) – or if you’re feeling creative, try a literary journal such as The Spectatorial or a satire paper like The Boundary.

#Rio2016: Investing in the best can bring out the best in all of us

lavende4 — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 17:58:49 +0000

#Rio2016: Investing in the best can bring out the best in all of us

lavende4 Mon, 08/22/2016 - 13:58

Cutline

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre represents the largest investment in amateur sport development in Canada and is the home of three Olympians (Ken Jones photo)

Bruce Kidd

Author legacy

Bruce Kidd

Topic

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

Subheadline

“When we fail to invest in public facilities, we shortchange those who cannot afford to pay out of their own pocket”: Bruce Kidd

The breakout performance of 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak and the success of our women’s swim team made Canadians proud during these Olympic Games.

For all Canadians – and especially those living in Ontario and in Toronto – there is a special element to Oleksiak’s stellar performance in which we should take particular pride. She achieved it while training in a state-of-the-art public facility that is open to people of all ages and abilities, not just elite athletes, and serves as a site for research and education.

Four years ago when we broke ground on the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus there were many skeptics. The $205-million price tag of the project raised eyebrows among those inclined to cut costs. But with the support of the city, province and federal government and $30 million from our own students at U of T Scarborough, we built a facility that is the envy of many.

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is co-owned by the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto, with the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario as the major tenant, and represents the single largest investment ever made in amateur sport development in Canada. Now it also is the home of three Olympic medalists – Oleksiak, U of T Varsity Blues swimmer Kylie Masse and Winnipeg native Chantal Van Landeghem, as well as other Olympians and Paralympians competing in Rio.

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

'It's OK to ask questions': Four tips for new and returning U of T students

Need help navigating campus? Just ask!

Remember to prioritize health and wellness

Seek out places to find your community

Be conscious of online and campus safety

Learn more at UTogether

Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

Students pack Pan Am Sports Centre for Scarborough Shooting Stars game

Which U of T campus is best for you? A quick look at what makes each one unique

St. George

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Go for a swim, then hit the books? How key U of T services will operate this fall

Sport and Recreation

Libraries

Food

Seven transformational things that happened at U of T over the past decade

Campus Transformation

Sustainability and climate action

Artificial intelligence

A global, inclusive student experience

Truth and Reconciliation

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Unprecedented community support

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate

#Rio2016: Investing in the best can bring out the best in all of us

Read more about U of T at #Rio2016