Victoria University

Charmaine Williams, Catherine Chandler-Crichlow, Rhonda McEwen and Njoki Nathani Wane – all leaders at the University of Toronto – recently sat down with CBC News’s Dwight Drummond to discuss their many accomplishments, as well as the challenges they faced, as Black women in academia.

Airing in time for Black History Month, the roundtable interview underscored the importance of inspiring future generations.

"I certainly think representation matters,” said Williams, professor and dean of U of T’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “I think that it's important not only for Black students, but for other students who don't see people like them in this space, to see us representing that possibility.”

McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, told Drummond she always believed she belonged in these spaces.

"I think in every one of our origin stories, somewhere along the line, some people built into us a belief that we could attain it and we could get it," said McEwen, who is also a professor at the Institute of Communications, Culture, Information and Technology at U of T Mississauga.

Chandler-Crichlow, dean of U of T’s School of Continuing Studies, said she was told early in her career to learn the system.

“You don't lose your culture, but you have to understand where you are,” she explained. “Because if you don't understand where you are, then you can't play the game. And we must be bold enough to see we are in the game.”

Wane, a professor and chair of department of social justice education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, has told her children to not let racism put them down.

“What you need to focus on is that you are grounded in your cultural identity, you are grounded in your goals, you are grounded in your vision,” she said.

Watch the CBC News interview

Remembering Norman Jewison, one of Canada's most celebrated filmmakers

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 20:50:38 +0000

Remembering Norman Jewison, one of Canada's most celebrated filmmakers

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/23/2024 - 15:50

Cutline

(supplied image)

Sally Szuster

Topic

Our Community

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Subheadline

The acclaimed director was a U of T alumnus and former chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto community – and film fans around the world – are mourning the death of alumnus Norman Jewison.

One of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers, Jewison received many awards and accolades for his artistic vision that challenged the status quo and brought a deep humanity to the characters and stories he told.

Jewison, who graduated from U of T in 1949 as a member of Victoria College, served as chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto from 2004 – 2010. One of U of T’s most distinguished graduates, he also received an honorary doctorate from U of T in 1985 and from Victoria University in 2001.

The Jewison stream of Vic One, the award-winning first-year program at Victoria College, is named in his honour. There is also a Norman Jewison Fellowship in Film Studies at Innis College.

Norman Jewison (photo by Peter Bregg)

“Norman Jewison embodied a dazzling sense of curiosity and creativity that is such a big part of the Vic U ethos,” says Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, which is planning to lower its flag to half-mast to honour Jewison’s legacy.

“He was an inspiration to others while he was a student on campus and continued to evoke a sense of awe in generations of students, alumni, staff and faculty who watched as he went on to make films that are now an indelible part of our cultural landscape.

“He showed his gratitude for his university experience with generous donations to Victoria University throughout his life. I had the pleasure to meet his son and granddaughter recently and we enjoyed recounting his Vic U adventures. He will always be remembered here.”

Victoria University Library (E.J. Pratt Library) holds a large collection of Jewison’s photographs and publicity materials, papers and correspondence, shooting scripts and schedules primarily for films directed or produced by Jewison between the years 1975 and 2003. Materials related to the films Fiddler on the Roof, …And Justice for All, A Soldier’s Story, Moonstruck, The Hurricane, The Statement and others are held in this collection.

As a student, Norman Jewison was involved in various theatrical productions, including the Vic “Bob Revue,” Canada’s longest-running collegiate sketch comedy show (supplied image)

As a U of T student pursuing a bachelor of arts degree, Jewison was involved in writing, directing and acting in various theatrical productions, including the All-Varsity Revue in 1949 and the Vic “Bob Revue,” Canada’s longest-running collegiate sketch comedy revue, which was founded in 1874.

Ira Wells, director of academic programs at Victoria College, wrote the biography Norman Jewison A Director’s Life in 2021.

“Norman Jewison was among the greatest film directors of his generation,” says Wells. “His films were animated by a profound social conscience and commitment to civil rights and human dignity – and by a belief in the integrity of film itself. He believed that film could change its audience, even in a small way.

“Mr. Jewison was fond of saying, ‘film is forever.’ His unwavering support for Canadian talent through the Canadian Film Centre, and for Victoria College and University of Toronto students, made concrete differences in the lives of many. His abiding belief in the power of cinema will inspire generations to come.”

U of T community members mobilize aid for Türkiye and Syria earthquake survivors

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 15:17:50 +0000

U of T community members mobilize aid for Türkiye and Syria earthquake survivors

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 03/03/2023 - 10:17

Cutline

Ayşenur Ince, a graduate student in a program offered conjointly by U of T and Emmanuel College at Victoria University, is counselling residents and rescuers following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria (photo courtesy of Ayşenur Ince)

Topic

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

When a catastrophic series of earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria, graduate student Ayşenur Ince knew she had to do something to help alleviate suffering in the wake of a tragedy that has now left more than 50,000 people dead, thousands injured and millions more without homes and other necessities.

Ince, who is in the first year of a master of pastoral studies program offered conjointly by U of T and Emmanuel College at Victoria University, is currently living in Istanbul. Seeing shock and grief all around her, she decided to put what she was learning about spiritual care and counselling into immediate practice.

“The devastation is so widespread that even though the government is exhausting all the power they have, we still need civilian help,” Ince said by phone from Istanbul. “I started doing counselling for people, including those who have worked in the rescue operations, because they’re really unwell – these are people who had to triage; to pick and choose who they saved. Many others have earthquake nightmares – there’s a lot of post-traumatic stress right now because they're constantly scared that an earthquake will happen again.”

Residents walk amid the rubble in Hatay, Türkiye (photo by Yavuz Ozden/dia images/Getty Images)

Ince is just one of many U of T students, faculty, staff, librarians and alumni who have pitched in to help raise awareness and funds, as well as mobilize resources to help in the aftermath of the earthquakes – from fundraisers by student groups to donation drives by individual programs and faculties.

In a statement on Feb. 6, Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, urged members of the U of T community to support each other and to reach out for help if needed. Student Life units at the university have been touch with student groups and individuals from affected regions to offer support.

Ince, who completed her undergraduate degree at U of T Scarborough, says she drew on the skills she was learning in her master’s program and sought the advice of her professors about how best to counsel people going through so much trauma.

“When this first happened, I was in fight-or-flight mode. And then I reached out to my professors to ask them what I should do and to send me some sort of training specific to crisis management,” Ince said.

“At the college, I had classes that gave me a universal approach to everything – I even had the chance to take some disaster training. At the time, I felt like, ‘When am I ever going to need this?’ But being here when this actually happened, I felt like I was prepared. I keep wondering what I would have done if I hadn’t started the program.”

Tents errected by the Turkish disaster and emergency management organization (AFAD) for earthquake victims in Kahramanmaraş (photo by Yan Zhigang/VCG via Getty Images)

One of the professors Ince contacted was program director Nazila Isgandarova, who was able to advise her on trauma resources and connect her with peers who also wanted to help. “The damage due to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria is beyond any imagination. Ayşenur met many people who suffered and continue to suffer from earthquake-related experiences and losses,” Isgandarova said. “As a psychotherapy student, Ayşenur volunteered to help people not only with trauma-focused counselling and spiritually integrated grief counselling, but also tried to arrange support for people who faced financial hardships.”

Ince received financial donations from her fellow students, which she used to purchase dozens of portable coal stoves for those left without electricity following the earthquakes. Emmanuel College also sent boxes of nonperishable food overseas and held a vigil a week after the disaster to remember the victims.

Efforts to raise funds to assist people in Türkiye and Syria and increase awareness about the scale of the disaster continue across U of T on all three campuses, particularly among student groups.

Bake sales and fundraising drives by the tri-campus chapters of the Turkish Students’ Association (TUSA), Syrian Students’ Association, Muslim Students’ Association and Amnesty International, among others, have raised more than $25,000 to date – much of which is being matched dollar-for-dollar by the student groups.

Immediately following the disaster, the Turkish Students’ Association at U of T Scarborough began collecting funds and in-kind donations on campus, raising close to $9,000 and 18 boxes of donated goods, said TUSA-UTSC co-president Yasmin Din.

“Staff and students have generously contributed to our campaign,” Din said, adding that student volunteers can be found overseeing the donation location with their schoolwork in tow. “There are no words to describe this level of dedication and support.”

From left to right: Turkish Students Association members Lilaf Salman, Irem Demirel, Selcuk Maslak, Elif Baran, Yasmin Din and Sedika Salman at their donation table at U of T Scarborough (photo supplied)

A fourth-year psychology student, Din first heard about the earthquake from her father, who was in Ankara, Türkiye’s capital. While her family in the region remained safe, Din lost a friend in Malatya, one of the most-affected provinces, and heard from another U of T graduate whose father was among the casualties.

“She had to patiently wait for 11 days for the rescue teams to recover her father’s body,” Din said. “At the same time, as there was no electricity in the city, she and her husband had to stay in their car at night or rest in the semi-collapsed buildings, which was very tough because aftershocks were constantly happening. So many millions of people have been affected by this mega-quake – for them, life will never be the same.”

TUSA has been working with the Turkish Consulate General in Toronto to arrange for airlifts of the donated goods – including winter clothing, hygiene kits, baby formula and diapers – to the region, while cash contributions will be transferred to organizations in Türkiye who are managing the situation on the ground, including Turkish nonprofit Ahbap. Din noted that some of the financial support will go toward temporary shelter and repairing damaged homes in the region, which is crucial to rebuilding while so many are living in makeshift housing following the earthquakes.

Providing shelter is also a major issue in neighbouring Syria, which has been destabilized by a 12-year-long civil war.

“There is still a great need for housing for those who have been displaced, as well as the allocation of medicines and other requirements. This is especially important in Syria, where the infrastructure has been greatly strained,” said Oya Mercan, an associate professor in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering who received her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul.

Kenana Al Kakouni

“If the building safety assessment indicates that the structural components – the beams and the columns – of a building are not damaged, it will be cost-efficient to fix the damage to the nonstructural components such as the partition walls. As such, it is an important initiative to raise funds and awareness for this purpose.”

The Syria Solidarity Collective (SSC), co-founded by U of T PhD graduate and staff member Kenana Al Kakouni, is also raising funds at St. George campus to assist with rebuilding homes in Syria, among other aid efforts. Funds raised will go to the Molham Volunteering Team, an international organization that works in northern Syria to rebuild homes for displaced people.

Al Kakouni, who currently works as an imaging facility lead technician in the department of cell and systems biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, said while her relatives in Syria are safe, they are mourning the loss of a family who were their neighbours.

The earthquake only further exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria after more than a decade of conflict in the country, Al Kakouni said.

“People there were already suffering from lack of food, heat, medical supplies – right now, what we’re hearing is that what is most needed is tents, given that so many are still without shelter.”

At U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), Dean Erica Walker, advancement staff and the OISE Alumni Association Student Advisory Committee (SAC) organized an in-kind donation drive for non-perishable food, winter clothing, equipment such as tents, blankets, sleeping bags and thermoses, as well as hygiene items including menstrual products and diapers. The donation bins will be available in the OISE lobby until March 6.

“OISE has a really diverse student body, and we wanted to not only send a message of hope to our U of T community, but also to take action,” said SAC chair Seema Hooda, a graduate of OISE’s master of education program. “The donation drive is an extension of our purpose and mission, and it has been a joint effort from both students and staff. It’s a way to show support for our Turkish and Syrian peers – and also to engage people to make a contribution that could help save lives.”

From left to right: OISE staff Sim Kapoor, Latifa Soliman, Helen Huang, Dean Erica Walker, Perry King, Reesa Barkhouse, Biljana Cuckovic (photo supplied)

SSC co-founder Al Kakouni urged U of T community members looking to support aid efforts on campus to follow student groups’ social media accounts for upcoming fundraisers and other initiatives, write to political representatives to raise awareness of the disaster, and donate to reputable organizations such as the White Helmets and Syrian American Medical Society in Syria, as well as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders internationally.

For Türkiye, TUSA co-president Din recommends donating to Ahbap, the disaster and emergency management organization AFAD and search-and-rescue non-profit AKUT.

Students have also recognized the need to support their peers who may have been affected by the disaster, creating a “solidarity space” for reflection and connection at the Multi-Faith Centre on the St. George campus.

“The students' idea was to allow students from the region to get help in their own languages: Arabic and Turkish,” said Adrien Zakar, assistant professor in the department of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations. “With the support of the department, the Turkish Students’ Association and the Syria Solidarity Collective, more than 50 Turkish- and Arabic-speaking volunteers from U of T received health and wellness training to provide further guidance to visitors.”

In addition to donating money and goods to help people affected by the earthquake, it’s equally important for those far away from the region to recognize and amplify the sheer scope of the disaster, Emmanuel College student Ince said.

“The aftermath of this is going to be huge. We can see physical injuries, but no one sees psychological wounds,” she said. “Right after the earthquake, one of my professors, Angela Schmidt, changed the whole subject of her class to focus on the issue – it was just what I needed. She explained what to do when you face certain situations. After a situation like this, we have to think about how to view calamity. Why do bad things happen to good people? It really makes us question everything in life.”

Resources for U of T students, staff, faculty and librarians:

Student groups can post their fundraisers and other events on the Student Organization Portal to broaden awareness
The university has emergency funding available for students in need, which can be accessed by completing the U of T grant application:

Undergraduate students

Graduate students

Students can access mental-health supports through:

Mental Health Portal

My SSP (24/7 support via phone or chat)

Faculty, staff and librarians may contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program at 1-855-597-2110
The Scholars at Risk Award Program, established in part in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in 2016, remains open for applications each year from students who are accepted to U of T

Creating 'Julia,' the first Muppet on the autism spectrum

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:07:30 +0000

Creating 'Julia,' the first Muppet on the autism spectrum

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 02/03/2023 - 12:07

Cutline

Professor Rhonda McEwen recently discussed working with Sesame Street Workshop to create the first Muppet on the autism spectrum. "Julia" made her debut on the Sesame Street TV series in 2017 (photo by Minh Truong)

Daniel Blackwell

Topic

Our Community

Diversity and Inclusion

When most people think of Sesame Street they envision cherished childhood memories of singalongs and fun with Big Bird and Cookie Monster.

But for Rhonda McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, the show’s loveable cast of Muppets represent something even greater – a form of technology and media that can improve accessibility and inclusivity across the world.

McEwen recently discussed her experience working with Sesame Street Workshop on the first Muppet on the autism spectrum, a red-haired little girl named Julia. As part of Sesame Street in Communities, Julia was created to support families and care providers while creating public awareness about autism. The project made headlines around the world for its ground-breaking inclusion of autism within programming designed for children.

“They reached out to me and said they were gathering a group of the world's leading researchers to inform the project,” said McEwen, who is also a professor at U of T Mississauga’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, during a recent talk held by the Victoria Women’s Association. “Initially, though, they were not going to create a Muppet because they were very costly, take many years and require very careful research.”

As a Canada Research Chair in tactile interfaces, communication and cognition and co-author of the peer-reviewed book Understanding Tablets from Early Childhood to Adulthood, McEwen says it was her research on touchscreen technology for children on the autism spectrum that initially caught the eye of program co-ordinators at the Sesame Street Workshop. 

Serving on an international advisory board for the Sesame Street Workshop, McEwen joined a team of experts tasked with determining how Sesame Street could best provide educational resources to represent autism. The result was a multimedia initiative called Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, which featured Julia in videos, apps and print and digital stories, such as the e-book We’re Amazing 1, 2 3!, which McEwen helped create.

In 2017, Julia appeared in her first Sesame Street episode, titled “Meet Julia.” In the episode, Julia is introduced to audiences as a little girl on the autism spectrum – a creative, friendly child who does things a little differently, or, in the words of fellow Muppet Abby, “in a Julia sort of way.” The 10-minute YouTube video of this episode has since garnered more than 7.7 million views.

McEwen emphasized that Julia was not intended to be a universal depiction of all children on the autism spectrum – a condition that can present itself differently on a case-by-case basis – but was developed through meticulous research and consultation with families. “Every single line of dialogue was carefully scripted and there is meaning behind every expression we chose,” she says.

Even though working on a Muppet may appear to be outside the wheelhouse of somebody with a PhD in information, a master's degree in telecommunications and an MBA in information technology management, McEwen says Julia is like any other form of technology.

“How do we define technology? If technology is how we use science and mathematical thinking to carry out a particular goal or aim, then Julia is a technology,” she says. “Whether we use Julia in her analogue or digital form, we’re using her to spread and share information about autism across the world.”

All technology, says McEwen, can enhance inclusion – an issue of significant importance to her both as a researcher and leader at Victoria University.

“One of the Sesame Street lines I often repeat when speaking with students, staff and faculty is, ‘Who are the people in your neighbourhood?' Getting to know and understand the diverse members of [our] community will allow us to address individual needs so that everyone feels that they belong,” she says.

“Working on Julia has just been one of the best parts of my research career – to see the work that I do translate into real people's lives in a way that some of my most exciting papers do not,” says McEwen.

McEwen, who remains on the advisory board with Sesame Street Workshop, sees plenty of exciting opportunities to continue making a difference in the years ahead.

"Nothing energizes me more than seeing young people inspired by learning, and I have the pleasure of that experience every day at Vic and in my work with Sesame Street."

In memoriam: Isabel Bader (1926-2022)

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 19:47:09 +0000

In memoriam: Isabel Bader (1926-2022)

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 08/31/2022 - 15:47

Cutline

Isabel Bader was a teacher and a scholar. Her deep compassion for students found expression in generous gifts for scholarships in the humanities and the construction of a much-loved theatre.

Topic

Prominent philanthropist Isabel Bader has died at the age of 95.

Bader – a long-time supporter of the University of Toronto who earned a bachelor’s degree from Victoria College in 1949 and received an honorary degree from Victoria University in 1995 – passed away on August 28, 2022.

Together with her husband Alfred Bader, she built a remarkable philanthropic legacy that benefited students, scholarship, research and the arts across Canada and the United States. At U of T, the name “Isabel Bader” is instantly recognizable in connection with the 500-seat theatre that bears her name and is a prominent part of Victoria University on the St. George campus.

“With the passing of Isabel Bader, the University of Toronto has lost a great friend and champion,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “She was a person of great passion and sustained commitment, as demonstrated so clearly in her philanthropic pursuits and her personal life story. On behalf of the U of T community, I extend condolences to her family on their loss.”

A philanthropic force rooted in a love for theatre and poetry

Isabel was born in Northern Ontario in 1926 and graduated from Victoria College in 1949. Shortly afterwards, on a sea voyage to the United Kingdom, she met Alfred Bader (1924-2018), a gifted chemist and budding entrepreneur. The two shared such an immediate bond that Alfred proposed marriage nine days later.

Isabel, however, was raised strictly Protestant and she felt that Alfred, who had escaped Nazi persecution in Austria just before the war, needed a wife who was also Jewish. After months of writing to one another, Isabel eventually made the heart-wrenching decision to move on. She later published the letters she wrote to Alfred during this period in a book called A Canadian in Love.

For the next 30 years, Bader worked in England as a teacher of drama, English and history, and developed a keen interest in theatre and poetry. Meanwhile, Alfred became highly successful after forming his own international chemical company based in Milwaukee. Despite this long separation, the spark between Isabel and Alfred never waned, and remarkably, they eventually managed to reconnect and were finally married in 1982.

Isabel and Alfred became a philanthropic force and were particularly generous to U of T. In 1998, the couple supported construction of the Isabel Bader Theatre. The building is indispensable to the Victoria College community, serving as a lecture hall, a learning space for student groups and a venue for concerts, theatrical productions and conferences.

“There is no other name more closely associated with philanthropic leadership at Victoria University – the impact that both Isabel and Alfred Bader have made is unmatched. We are profoundly grateful. Isabel and Alfred’s legacy will be felt for many generations of Vic students,” said Dr. Rhonda McEwen, president and vice-chancellor, Victoria University in the University of Toronto. “We will miss her deeply.”

(Photo by Blaise Calaycay)

A generous and committed supporter of students in need

The Baders were extraordinary supporters of educational institutions around the world. Beyond their involvement with U of T, they were significant benefactors to Alfred’s alma mater, Queen’s University, and made awards for excellence in chemistry at other institutes of higher education.

At U of T, Isabel and Alfred gave generously to establish bursaries and scholarships at Victoria College for students in need. They also supported Victoria College’s Scholars-in-Residence program through Bader Philanthropies. The program addressed the shortage of research opportunities available to undergraduates in the humanities and has been life-transforming for its student participants by enabling them to acquire hands-on skills while adding substantially to scholarly knowledge.

In recognition of her tremendous contributions, Victoria University bestowed an honorary degree on Bader in 1995. In 2018, U of T inducted both Isabel and Alfred into the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors, which recognizes the university’s most generous donors.

“Isabel never forgot her roots at the University of Toronto and the experience of being a student,” said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement. “She and Alfred were quiet, caring and committed donors over decades and were especially generous to students, supporting scholarships, awards and bursaries that have helped ease the financial load for many.”

Read a tribute from Victoria University

With smiles and stoles, student-run event celebrates U of T's Black graduates

geoff.vendeville — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:15:29 +0000

With smiles and stoles, student-run event celebrates U of T's Black graduates

geoff.vendeville Mon, 07/04/2022 - 10:15

Cutline

Black graduates recognized one another's achievements at a student-led event held at Hart House following U of T's spring convocation ceremonies (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Hart House

St. George

St. Michael's College

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Victoria University

Women and Gender Studies

“Understand that your presence here, and what you achieved here, is monumental and that cannot be denied.”

The words of Adriana Williams, president of the University of Toronto's Black Students' Association (BSA), echoed through Hart House’s Great Hall, where dozens of Black U of T students who graduated earlier this spring gathered recently to celebrate their achievements.

Students at U of T began organizing Black Grad celebrations in 2017 and over the years the events have been held on the St. George and U of T Mississauga campuses, as well as virtually during the pandemic.

The theme of this year's student-run celebration was “trials and tribulations.” It was meant to underscore challenges each student overcame to earn their degree – both as Black students and as students navigating university during a pandemic.

The event itself marked a triumph over difficulties since it was the first in-person celebration in two years due to COVID-19. “I feel the biggest thing about this entire ceremony is it's a really good example of overcoming adversity, which is something our community does all the time,” Williams told U of T News.

“Post-secondary was never created with people of colour – let alone Black people – at all,” said Williams, who graduated this spring with a degree in linguistics, history and African studies as a member of St. Michael's College. “I feel like the Black student experience in general is just very unique, so I think it's imperative that we highlight what we've done here.”

U of T News senior reporter and associate editor Geoffrey Vendeville captured the following images of this year’s event: