Facutly & Staff

Students from U of T Mississauga's first spoken-word course take the mic for live performance

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 18:22:12 +0000

Students from U of T Mississauga's first spoken-word course take the mic for live performance

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 04/10/2023 - 14:22

Ali Raza

Topic

Our Community

Current Sudents

Facutly & Staff

creative writing

Poetry

School of Continuing Studies

U of T Mississauga

Students at the University of Toronto Mississauga had the chance to take a unique course this past semester, learning all about the art of spoken word.

The course, taught by poet and U of T Mississauga lecturer Andrea Thompson, aims to cultivate students' skill in the "empowering art form," Thompson says.

Andrea Thompson

“The goal is to create a transformative experience that changes students’ lives.”

The students in the third-year course are set to show off what they learned at a showcase at the MiST Theatre on April 11.

Thompson had previously taught spoken word at U of T’s School of Continuing Studies, but the U of T Mississauga class – offered as a special topics in creative writing course – is the first credit course in spoken word offered at that campus.

“There aren’t a lot of spoken-word courses being taught [anywhere] as credit courses,” Thompson says. “I was really excited about this, and so were the students.”

Sumyia Hashmi, who will be performing at the showcase, says the course has enhanced her writing and poetry skills.

“I hope it’s a recurring course at the university,” says Hashmi, a fourth-year student studying English with a minor in creative writing.

Hashmi had been writing short stories and prose since Grade 9, but didn't become interested in poetry until coming to U of T Mississauga. After taking a series of courses on poetry and literature, including Thompson's spoken-word class, Hashmi says she's "come out of her shell."

The course taught her not just how to write poetry and recite it, she notes, but also to collaborate with other students, develop critical thinking and articulate her ideas.

Instead of a typical lecture format, Thompson gives her students weekly assignments and writing prompts, encouraging them to work interactively and share their work in open discussions before they perform their poetry.

“A lot of us were nervous at first,” Hashmi says, adding that after hearing Thompson read from her own work and inviting discussion, the students became more comfortable with spoken word as an art form.

A spoken-word performance involves much more than reading words on a page, Thompson says. There is a dramatic element to reciting the poem that involves body language, word choice, pauses, gestures and more.

“You want to use everything in your physicality,” she says. “You use stance breaks, line breaks, word choice – all these tools."

Thompson, who recently released her own spoken-word album, The Good Word, says she's excited to see her students' takes on performing the work they developed in the course.

"Your voice is the number-one tool to take what’s in your head and heart – and on the page – and make that come alive.”

U of T explores university housing development at Bloor and Spadina

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:49:32 +0000

U of T explores university housing development at Bloor and Spadina

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 03/16/2022 - 17:49

Cutline

The proposed development of “Site 1,” visible at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, would provide academic space and housing for U of T students, faculty and staff, as well as their families (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

City & Culture

University Family Housing

Four Corners

Scott Mabury

Cities

Faculty of Arts & Science

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

School of Continuing Studies

St. George

The University of Toronto is in the early stages of exploring how the northwest corner of the St. George campus can be revitalized to provide much-needed and attainable university housing, including academic and amenity space – all while supplying carbon-friendly energy and advancing Indigenous place-making.

The proposed development of “Site 1” – bounded by Bloor Street West, Spadina Avenue, Huron Street and Washington Avenue – would provide hundreds of apartment-style units for students, faculty and staff, as well as their families. It would also provide academic space for the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and the School of Continuing Studies, and would continue to host the University of Toronto Schools, which is a current occupant of 371 Bloor West.

Envisioned as a major gateway into the northwest quadrant of the St. George campus, the proposed development also aims to better link the university with the surrounding neighbourhood and provide more open spaces for community-geared activities.

Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships, said the Site 1 project exemplifies U of T’s Four Corners Strategy, which seeks to advance the university’s mission to build much-needed university housing and innovation space while also contributing to the university overall and enhancing the vitality of city life.

“This site, located at a prominent downtown intersection, represents a unique opportunity for U of T to help address its growing need for housing, provide renewed academic space and enrich the surrounding neighbourhood,” Mabury said.

He added that the site would also house an energy centre and electrical distribution hub that would make important contributions to U of T’s ambitious goal of achieving a climate-positive St. George campus by 2050.

“This site serves as an ideal location from which to supply the northwest quadrant of the St. George campus with energy derived from high-efficiency, zero-carbon technologies,” he said. “As such, it will play a vital role in helping us meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets.”

The project is currently in its nascent stages and has not yet gone to the university’s Governing Council for consideration. Consultation is underway through a working group – led by the local city councillor and involving neighbourhood associations, student groups and campus stakeholders –as the university seeks early input on how the property can advance the university’s mission while supporting local planning goals and reinforcing the neighbourhood’s character.

Due to the complexity of the project, the university plans to seek the expertise of the development industry to help support its project delivery and aims to select a development partner this summer. Selection of the design team will follow in late 2022 or early 2023 and there will be ongoing consultation throughout the design phase leading to the project’s development application and municipal approval process. It is expected that construction on the project could begin near the end of 2024 and be completed by 2028.

Shannon Simpson, U of T’s director of Indigenous initiatives, said the project will establish an engagement process to help members of the Indigenous community share their thoughts on how design choices, landscaping and common spaces can be harnessed to foster Indigenous acknowledgement and placemaking at the site.

“There was a time when the Indigenous community wouldn’t be brought into conversation early enough – so we would have ideas, but it would be too late to implement a lot of them,” she said. “Now, people at U of T are really embracing bringing us into the conversation early on.”

To that end, Simpson said First Nations House is being engaged to help amplify student voices while consultations are also being planned with Indigenous faculty, staff, Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

She noted the commitment to Indigenous engagement is important given that the Bloor and Spadina area is home to the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council, Wigwamen Terrace housing and the Spadina Road branch of the Toronto Public Library – reputed for its strong collection of Indigenous literature.

“It’s a little piece of Indigenous community in Toronto, so it’s a special corner,” Simpson said, adding that the proposed redevelopment stands to benefit both Indigenous Peoples and the broader U of T community.

“Whether if it’s a common room or study space that’s named after one of the Indigenous host territories, or a bench that has elements of Indigeneity, or native plants and medicines in and around the area – those kinds of things are important and meaningful for Indigenous students,” Simpson said. “The Indigenous community will obviously, 100 percent benefit from that, but I think everyone – every student, staff, faculty and community member – will benefit from being a part of these spaces.

“So, I don’t think it’s something that U of T or the City of Toronto are just doing for the Indigenous population. It really is for everyone.”

At present, Site 1 envisions the construction of two taller residential towers that would be integrated with the heritage building at 371 Bloor Street West. With 600 to 700 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms, the new buildings would help meet the growing demand for attainable university housing – accommodation that enables U of T community members and their families, including those coming from abroad, to live close to campus without having to participate in the competitive Toronto housing market.

While housing arrangements are crucial for students, they are also important for faculty members making the transition to U of T and Toronto.

“The fact that the university is able to provide some new faculty with a place to live as they take up their research and teaching at U of T enables them to embed themselves immediately in the community they are joining,” said Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, which is U of T’s largest faculty.

“Just as with students, faculty members living on campus will have the opportunity to absorb the vibrant energy of the U of T community and reap the benefits of being steps away from their home departments, their peers and colleagues, and the students they can expect to engage with daily.”

At the same time, the creation of new academic space for OISE would ensure that it maintains its longstanding relationship with the University of Toronto Schools, while continuing the more than 115-year history of teacher education programs at 371 Bloor St. West. The space provided to the School of Continuing Studies, meanwhile, would support the university’s commitment to lifelong learning.

The surface parking lot that currently dominates the block would be moved underground, allowing for increased open space. The proposed development envisions a passageway to connect Matt Cohen Park to the Huron Washington Parkette – and then onward into campus via the campus open space network. It also envisions the house forms along Washington Avenue being integrated into the proposed development to maintain the streetscape. On all sides, the development would be designed to transition appropriately to the surrounding area, from the Huron-Sussex and Annex neighbourhoods to the south and west respectively to the more urban character of Bloor Street to the north.

The redevelopment would also create new accessible open spaces for pedestrians and enhance the public realm.

When it comes to supporting U of T’s climate-positive campus plan, Site 1 would play a key role by housing energy facilities discreetly integrated into the fabric of the 371 Bloor Street West building. That includes an underground nodal plant or energy centre, which would provide low-temperature heating water, chilled water and carbon-friendly energy to the immediate facility as well as campus buildings in the Huron Sussex neighbourhood.

The nodal plant will utilize a proposed geo-exchange field located under the facility to store surplus heat generated by building systems in the summer to be used for heating in the winter. The field will improve the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems while decreasing carbon emissions significantly.

Finally, the facility would be home to a central electrical distribution substation – one of five on the St. George campus.

Going forward, Mabury said the Site 1 project planning team looks forward to working with the community and its development partners to re-imagine a key part of the St. George campus for the future.

“From providing more attainable housing and sustainable energy to forging better connections through the neighbourhood and providing welcoming spaces for Indigenous Peoples, this project seeks to advance the many shared goals of the university and the community around it,” Mabury said.

“We want this corner of campus to stand out as a jewel – not just for the university, but for the entire city.”

Figure skating furor: U of T expert on the doping scandal gripping the Beijing Games

geoff.vendeville — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 20:43:48 +0000

Figure skating furor: U of T expert on the doping scandal gripping the Beijing Games

geoff.vendeville Tue, 02/15/2022 - 15:43

Cutline

Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva and her coaches attend the women's short program event at the Capital Indoor Stadium (photo by Valery Sharifulin/TASS/Getty Images)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

Global Lens

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Olympics

Sport

Russian teenager Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women’s figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test. A Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel ruled that the 15-year-old athlete – the favourite for the women’s individual gold – doesn't need to be provisionally suspended pending a full investigation.

Valieva tested positive for the heart medication, trimetazidine, at the Russian national competition in December, but the lab result didn't surface until a week ago – only after she had helped Russian Olymic Committee win the team gold.

Doug Richards

In allowing Valieva to compete in Beijing, the arbitrators said they “considered that preventing the Athlete from competing at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in these circumstances.” The panel noted that Valieva is a minor and hadn't tested positive in Beijing, but in December.

The ruling allows Valieva to skate at the women's singles event on Thursday, but the International Olympic Committee has said no medals will be awarded in any event in which Valieva places in the top three until her case is resolved.

The IOC also said there will be no ceremony for the team event won by Valieva and the Russian team a week ago, because “it would not be appropriate.”

The decision to withhold medals affects clean athletes, who may leave Beijing without having their moment on the podium or knowing their standings. The case could have implications for Canada, who could move up from fourth to win bronze in the team event.

Doug Richards, an associate professor, teaching stream in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), was medical director of the university's David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic for more than 30 years and served as a team doctor for U of T's Varsity Blues intercollegiate teams, Canada's basketball and beach volleyball women's teams, and the Toronto Raptors. He was also chief medical officer of the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

Richards recently shared his thoughts on the Valieva controversy with KPE writer Jelena Damjanovic.

What is trimetazidine and how might it enhance an athlete’s performance?

Trimetazidine is the generic name of a drug sold under multiple different brand names in various jurisdictions.

It is not widely prescribed in North America, but perhaps used somewhat more in Europe. In clinical settings, it is occasionally used as an adjunct or secondary treatment of angina pectoris, a symptom of myocardial ischemia (limited blood flow to the heart muscle). Clinical trials have not shown it to be of substantial benefit in such treatment, which is why it is not widely prescribed.

It has an interesting and complex mechanism of action that involves inhibition of one of the enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism in mitochondria, thereby increasing the use of glucose as muscle fuel. It has been shown in some well-controlled research to enhance cardiac and muscle performance in oxygen-scarce environments, such as at altitude, at least with short-term usage.

As a result of this perceived ability to enhance performance, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added trimetazidine to its list of prohibited substances in 2014 – initially as a stimulant substance – later switching it to the category of hormones and metabolic modulators. Its use is prohibited at all times in sport – both in and out of competitions.

Why was there such a long delay between Valieva's test in December and the reported result? Is that common?

Great question. To my knowledge, the results from the A-sample ordinarily do not take that long to process. It begs suspicion of suppression of an adverse analytic finding (an AAF is a positive test). It may have something to do with her legal minor (protected person) status under WADA rules, but I would still expect a prompt announcement of an AAF without identification of the athlete, and that did not happen for unknown reasons.

Valieva is one of the youngest Olympians ever to fail a doping test. What's your take on how this could have happened?

It is not conceivable that such a medication would have been prescribed to a 15-year-old for legitimate medical reasons – myocardial ischemia is unheard of in normal 15-year-olds, let alone an extremely athletic superstar. And, I have seen no claims that she took it for legitimate reasons – there are no reports of her having applied for a medical exemption for a prohibited substance. So we can assume that if the reports of her adverse analytic finding (positive test) are true, she was taking it for performance enhancement, not medical purposes.

In that context, it is difficult, if not impossible, to conceive of a 15-year-old independently researching, sourcing and self-administering this unusual, rarely used medication that is prohibited by WADA in order to boost her performance capacity. Of course someone else has to be involved. The question is how far up the hierarchy of the Russian sport system that involvement goes.

What do you think of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling?

The CAS ruling this week does not deal with the merits or substance of the case; it is strictly procedural. They have ruled that she should be allowed to compete pending the outcome of the investigation of the merits of the case, which would include B-sample analysis and hearings in which involved parties can present evidence to the anti-doping agency and international sport federation with jurisdiction.

So, Valieva can skate in Beijing and, if she wins, whether she gets to receive or keep her medals will depend on the future outcome of a process that includes further investigation, hearings and possibly administration of sanctions.

In my opinion, if she is eventually found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation that occurred two months ago, then she should be suspended and any medals won in Beijing should be rescinded.

However, anti-doping agencies (ADAs) and international sport federations (ISFs) – not to mention the Court of Arbitration for Sport, to which the rulings of ADAs and ISFs can be appealed – have wide leeway in regard to sanctions for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs), including administration of simple warnings with no significant penalties. I think such leniency should be reserved for cases where there is iron-clad evidence that the athlete was an unwilling and uninformed dupe of others manipulating them; but sanctions should then be administered to those parties – and that is not always the case.

U of T marks entrustment of Antisemitism Working Group Report

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 21:25:23 +0000

U of T marks entrustment of Antisemitism Working Group Report Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 02/14/2022 - 16:25

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Semitism

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Kelly Hannah-Moffat

Diversity and Inclusion

Equity

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Law

Meric Gertler

Provost

The University of Toronto released a video to mark the entrustment of the Antisemitism Working Group’s final report and affirm the university’s commitment to tackling anti-Semitism in all its forms.

The report outlines eight recommendations to tackle antisemitism and religious discrimination on campus while also addressing the extent and limits of academic freedom in a university setting.

All of the recommendations – which range from developing measures to respond to harassment to addressing definitions of antisemitism and providing kosher food on campus – were accepted by university leadership when the report was released in December, 2021.

“The principles of equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the institutional identity and academic mission of the University of Toronto,” said U of T President Meric Gertler during the virtual entrustment ceremony.

“As an integral part of that commitment, we are profoundly opposed to antisemitism, which remains an unwelcome source of discrimination, harassment and violence in our society, and a threat to free societies everywhere.”

President Gertler thanked the members of the Antisemitism Working Group, as well as individuals and organizations at U of T and beyond who took part in the working group’s consultations and surveys, for making “a vital contribution to the university.”

He noted U of T’s institutional response to the report outlines a concrete plan of action to implement all eight recommendations. “We’re hopeful it will ensure that all members of the Jewish community feel safe and welcome on our campuses. This, in turn, will strengthen the ability of the University of Toronto to fulfil its academic mission,” President Gertler said.

The Antisemitism Working Group was established in December 2020 to examine antisemitism on campus, craft a framework to inform U of T’s response to the issue and recommend ways to improve education about – and responses – to the various manifestations of antisemitism.

This entrustment marking the official handover of the working group’s final report to university administration, was emceed by Jodie Glean, interim executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion.

“Over the course of the pandemic the world has been called to grapple with and address the many forms of systemic inequities, racism and discrimination that continue to impact the lives and livelihoods of many communities,” Glean said in her introductory remarks. “We must activate our collective responsibility to foster inclusive and respectful environments so that we may all share in and experience the sentiment of belonging across the tri-campus.”

Glean welcomed the eight recommendations outlined in the working group’s report, saying they provide the university with a “critical tool and guide” to address antisemitism.

The group – chaired by Arthur Ripstein, a University Professor in the Faculty of Law and the department of philosophy in the Faculty of Arts & Science – consulted with students, faculty, staff and librarians on how to foster an environment that’s welcoming to members of the Jewish community.

Ripstein said the recommendations are designed to help the university make progress in coming to terms with antisemitism – not a direct response to specific incidents.

“Our aim was to make recommendations for the ways in which the university can deal with problems of antisemitism in light of its distinctive place in society – a place that is, on the one hand, dedicated to equity and inclusion for everyone, and on the other hand, committed to fundamental principles of free speech and academic freedom,” Ripstein said.

Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture, said that antisemitism at U of T takes many forms, from blatant to subtle.

“As the report shows, antisemitism can mean perpetuating stereotypes of what it means to be Jewish, it can be demanding that all members of the Jewish community adhere to a single set of beliefs or values, it encompasses faith-based discrimination as well as racism,” she said.

Hannah-Moffat outlined some of the steps that the division of people strategy, equity and culture will take to promote equity, expand education and protect the safety and well-being of members of the Jewish community. They include: providing workshops and training led by the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) to address antisemitism and promote inclusive practices; working with partners inside and beyond U of T to provide programming to promote the well-being of Jewish community members; engaging in a critical review of U of T’s Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment s and sharing resources pertinent to the responsibilities of employers to accommodate religious observances.

“We will be accountable and communicate our progress in implementing the recommendations of the Antisemitism Working Group report,” Hannah-Moffat said.

In addressing the topic of academic freedom, the working group’s report says U of T must emphasize that members of its community are entitled to take the positions they wish on difficult and controversial questions, and that their positions must not impede their ability to participate in activities or access resources at the university.

“In our community, the principle of academic freedom, which involves the right to investigate, speculate and comment without reference to prescribed doctrine, is core to scholarship,” said Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine who was acting vice-president and provost when the final report was delivered. “Academic freedom lies at the heart of the open debate that advances knowledge across the disciplines, and we uphold its protection.

“We are grateful to the working group for recognizing that academic freedom can indeed exist alongside our efforts to build a more inclusive space for Jewish members of our community.”

Healing the Hurt: Indigenous women lead campaign to educate health-care providers on culturally safe care

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:32:34 +0000

Healing the Hurt: Indigenous women lead campaign to educate health-care providers on culturally safe care

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 02/11/2022 - 16:32

Cutline

The Healing the Hurt campaign features voices of Indigenous mothers, including advisory board member Christena Lopez, who have faced discrimination, anti-Indigenous racism and culturally unsafe care from health providers.

Topic

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

The voices of Indigenous mothers who have faced discrimination, anti-Indigenous racism and culturally unsafe care at the hands of health-care providers are being brought to the forefront in a new campaign project called Healing the Hurt: Caring for Indigenous Mothers and Infants.

The awareness campaign features video messages of Indigenous women telling their stories and sharing their traumatic experiences of health care.

Christena Lopez, one of the women featured in the campaign, came up with the idea to share the stories visually, and was actively involved in the project as a member of its advisory board. She and Shawna Hill, who is also a member of the advisory board, describe the impacts of trauma, racism, poverty and bias in how they were cared for as pregnant women and as mothers in some of the first videos to be published as part of the campaign.

They call on health-care providers to treat them and anyone Indigenous with more respect and care.

“I was a statistic, I wasn’t a human being,” says Lopez in a video recounting her prenatal care experience and the loss of her infant daughter. “They [doctors] have power to save people’s lives … they don’t realize that.”

“It makes you wish that you weren’t Native,” says Hill, who describes on camera how she and her daughter were mistreated by a family doctor and racially stereotyped, with the doctor looking for “burns, bite marks and bruises,” on her healthy daughter, and her fear that with just one phone call, “my kids could be gone.”

Amy Wright

Amy Wright, a nurse practitioner and assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, helped guide the project. It was created with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in collaboration with the Ontario Friendship Centre – Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, a space that provides social services to Indigenous families with inclusive Indigenous ways of knowing.

“This campaign has demonstrated the resilience of these mothers, and how strong they are,” says Wright. “Even though hearing their stories may be hard or even shocking for health-care providers, it is that discomfort we need to sit with in order to rid ourselves of old perceptions and learn about what is culturally safe care.”

While Wright applied for the project’s funding, she emphasizes that it was Lopez, Hill and other members of the advisory board who led the campaign, including initiating the idea to share their experiences through social media.

Wright says that, in addition to helping women have a voice and educating health-care providers, Healing the Hurt also helps meet one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for students of health professions.

“It is important for health-care providers and learners to hear these lived experiences and adjust care appropriately,” says Wright. “They need to also remember that they cannot rely on their own perception of what is culturally safe – it is about the patient and what their perception is.”

A lack of culturally safe care can mean Indigenous women do not feel comfortable attending health-care appointments because they are fearful of discrimination or worse. For many young and vulnerable mothers, Wright points out that high rates of Indigenous children being taken from their parents makes mothers afraid to seek the health care they deserve.

“A lot of times women will not even disclose that they are Indigenous because they are so fearful of losing their children,” says Wright. She explains that it was only in the last few years that Ontario stopped the practice of birth alerts, a system that sent notifications to all hospitals in a surrounding area when a pregnant Indigenous patient sought care. Wright says the alerts would often label the woman as unfit and subsequently alert child protection agencies.

“This is why we need health-care providers to check their own biases and prejudice and to educate themselves,” says Wright. “It is one of our main goals of this campaign to invite health-care providers to listen, and to take on the responsibility of learning about the actual history behind these systemic and discriminatory practices in order to change how they provide care.”

She is also hoping that heightened awareness through the Healing the Hurt Campaign will illustrate the importance of connecting Indigenous patients with appropriate and targeted services, including those provided by the Ontario Friendship Centre, where a variety of needs are met – from nutrition services to access to computers and the internet, addiction and mental health services, childcare, as well as programs for residential school survivors.

“The centre wraps a family in these social services to strengthen them and give them access in one place,” says Wright. “Providers being made aware that they can refer patients here is a huge step in addressing the social determinants of health for the Indigenous community.”

‘A message of hope, optimism and humanity’: U of T’s Defy Gravity brand to showcase the university to the world

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:32:32 +0000

‘A message of hope, optimism and humanity’: U of T’s Defy Gravity brand to showcase the university to the world

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/10/2022 - 11:32

Cutline

The Defy Gravity brand will showcase how U of T brings together top minds in every discipline, background and perspective in one of the world’s most diverse urban regions – and gives them the platform to achieve incredible things (photo by Neil Ta)

Topic

Diversity and Inclusion

Alumni

Division of University Advancement

Research and Innovation

Climate change. Racial injustice. Mass technological disruption and pandemic recovery.

These are just a few examples of the pressing challenges the University of Toronto seeks to address by drawing on the depth, breadth and diversity of research and scholarly expertise across its three campuses – all informed by a core commitment to inclusive excellence.

They also play a central role in U of T’s new brand – Defy Gravity – which focuses on the many ways that students, faculty, staff, alumni and others are stepping up to solve intractable global problems, create new knowledge and effect meaningful change in the world, defying obstacles and expectations along the way.

“From groundbreaking medical discoveries to reinventing literary criticism and revolutionizing artificial intelligence, the University of Toronto has a long history of breaking barriers, challenging conventions and transforming society through research, teaching, and innovation,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “Defy Gravity is our way of capturing the spirit and mindset of a place that has never viewed the impossible as a foregone conclusion.”

Created by U of T’s in-house Brand Hub marketing team, the Defy Gravity brand was developed following consultations with students, faculty, staff, alumni, prospective students and others who are invested in U of T’s mission. The team also drew on the global research capacity, data and insights of U of T’s agency of record, McCann Global.

The new brand will inform a storytelling approach that showcases how U of T brings together top minds in every discipline, background and perspective in one of the world’s most diverse urban regions – and gives them the platform to achieve incredible things.

“Having a sterling academic reputation and ranking among the world’s best universities goes a long way, but you also need a strong brand to help convey who you are, what you stand for and the urgency and relevance of your mission,” said David Estok, U of T’s vice-president, communications. “Defy Gravity does that.”

The brand aims to support and amplify the important work of U of T’s many faculties, colleges and divisions, and underpins U of T’s new fundraising and alumni engagement campaign, which was launched in December.

“Defy Gravity presents a positive and hopeful vision for the world at a time when we need it most,” said David Palmer, vice-president, advancement. “It speaks powerfully to our values of inclusive excellence and reminds all of us that U of T is one of few places in the world that can bring talent, ideas, and disciplines together to solve complex challenges and deliver much-needed change – at home and abroad.”

U of T News recently spoke to Estok and Tanya Kreinin, assistant vice-president, brand strategy and integrated marketing, about how the Defy Gravity brand came together – and the types of stories it will be used to tell.

Can you explain the importance of developing a brand for a university like U of T?

David Estok

Estok: The post-secondary sector is a highly competitive market where we are all vying for people’s time, attention and interest. The stakes are high, compounded in turn by the pressures brought on by the pandemic.

Just like everyone else, we want the best talent. We want students, faculty and staff to come here. We want our researchers to get the funding they need to thrive and succeed in groundbreaking research that will impact the country and the world at large. Our success depends on attracting the best students, faculty and staff, and building excellent partnerships with government, industry, alumni, donors and other supporters.

Having a sterling academic reputation and ranking among the world’s best universities goes a long way, but you also need a strong brand to help convey who you are, what you stand for and the urgency and relevance of your mission. Defy Gravity does that. It captures not only the impact and excellence of our university, across so many different disciplines, but it also speaks to our aspirations and optimism for the future.

With Defy Gravity, we’ve created a brand that speaks to our immense diversity, our excellence, our commitment to providing opportunities for all and our status as one of the world’s top public universities. And it does so in a warm, inviting and emotionally appealing way that will help our community tell a more consistent, inspiring and memorable story about our impact on the world.

What would you describe as the core elements of the new brand?

Estok: The brand is a distillation of the university’s vision, mission, values and spirit. We spent several months consulting with students, faculty, staff, alumni and other key internal and external stakeholders to capture insights on what made U of T unique and compelling.

The responses were remarkably consistent. They were proud that U of T is one of the few universities worldwide that’s not only excellent in so many fields but also accessible to students from every background. They were also proud of our record of discovery, innovation and impact and our insatiable drive to take on complex problems. And they highlighted our ongoing efforts to build more supportive and inclusive environments for students, faculty and staff across our three campuses. These insights helped us develop a brand that stood for excellence, as well as being accessible – and for caring, inclusive communities.

Tanya Kreinin

Kreinin: Defy Gravity captures these insights in a vivid and relatable way. It speaks to how our university somehow competes with the world’s top private universities on a sliver of their budgets and without compromising on our commitment to access and equity. It describes a community of problem-solvers that sees the impossible as a dare and are willing to defy all obstacles and expectations to solve problems and accomplish great things.

We think it’s an ideal way to express our values, character, mettle and collaborative DNA. You’ll see that through the stories we’ll be sharing of brilliant people coming together to create a more just and inclusive world and simply refusing to give up when things get tough.

Can you describe how conversations with students, faculty, alumni and others helped shape the brand development process?

Kreinin: This is the first time in U of T’s history that we’ve developed a brand at such a scale. We conducted hundreds of hours of interviews and received fantastic input from stakeholders across all three campuses and from alumni worldwide. And it’s really thanks to their time, generosity and thoughtfulness that we were able to build something that represents our community’s vision and aspirations.

When you interview so many bright, diverse and passionate people, you always face a strong possibility of receiving a lot of conflicting opinions and expectations. But David and I were pleasantly surprised – and encouraged – to see tremendous alignment in our community’s views.

Estok: We really were. People had a very strong sense of what makes U of T special and relevant in today’s world. It definitely made our job easier as we translated these insights into a cohesive brand strategy that’s so authentic. We also partnered with our agency of record, McCann Global, to conduct additional local and global research to ensure we came up with something that would resonate and stand out.

A collection of marketing materials created by U of T's Brand Hub for the launch of Defy Gravity.

Did you encounter any challenges during the brand development process?

Estok: U of T is a large, complex place with a huge variety of stakeholders. This presents a challenge for brand development because you have to come up with something that captures the aspirations and strengths of so many distinct faculties, colleges, divisions and communities. It’s hard to get it right.

How will the Defy Gravity brand support the work of the U of T community now and in the future?

Estok: Telling a consistent and powerful brand story about U of T will benefit everyone. It will help our target audiences internalize why we exist and why we matter, and give them reasons to care about our work. It will help our faculties and divisions craft messages and marketing materials that help them recruit the best talent, attract funding, engage alumni and spark partnerships and collaborations with other top institutions.

Kreinin: Our goal with Defy Gravity is to create a unified voice for our institution. But for us, unity is not the same thing as conformity. We know that U of T has many distinct communities and they all defy gravity in their own way. We strongly believe that our communities need to tell their stories in their voice. What a strong, central brand offers is a way to connect this storytelling to a much larger story about the institution. It allows people to tell their stories in a way that enriches the university as a whole.

How are the challenges posed by the pandemic – and the U of T community’s response to them – reflected in Defy Gravity?

Estok: It’s difficult to overstate how challenging the last couple of years have been for so many people in our community and beyond. But the way people have risen to the challenge is truly inspiring. Our experts have worked tirelessly to lead us through this crisis. Our students and faculty have adapted to new ways of teaching and learning with unflagging creativity and ingenuity. To see how well our community has responded to the pandemic gives me hope for the future. Obviously, this reality was on our minds constantly as we developed the brand – and Defy Gravity is a testament to that hope and optimism.

Kreinin: The pandemic revealed just how resilient and indispensable our community could be during a time of crisis. This is a community that doesn't shrink from complexity or just accept the world as it is. We have a defiant streak. We're a community that wants to change the world for the better. We may not always succeed, but we don't let that hold us back. We use every setback as motivation to push onwards. We’ve seen this time and again during the pandemic. We’re a place where people come together to work on problems and overcome seemingly impossible challenges. This is a message that we think will resonate with people as we help our city and world recover from this pandemic.

What do you hope people ultimately take away from the Defy Gravity brand? What personally excites you about it?

Kreinin: As David said, it’s really a message of hope, optimism and humanity. And ultimately, we hope it will instill even greater pride in our community and inspire others to join us to take on the massive challenges we’re facing. I think what excites me the most is that it’s not a stodgy brand but one that’s incredibly human and emotional. It will allow us to tell so many great stories both locally and globally, individually and collectively.

Estok: I’d have to say it’s the storytelling that excites me the most, too. Stories not only about scholars revolutionizing their fields or trying to cure diseases, but students who are the first in their family to attend university and people who have overcome adversity, dug in their heels and kept going. These stories, featuring an incredibly diverse range of people and perspectives, are all around us at U of T and it’s an immense privilege to be able to help share them with the world.

Gut bacteria linked to immune suppression in pancreatic cancer: Study

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 17:20:25 +0000

Gut bacteria linked to immune suppression in pancreatic cancer: Study

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/09/2022 - 12:20

Cutline

Tracy McGaha, a senior scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and a U of T professor of immunology, says that "in some conditions, the constituency of the microbiome may have a negative impact" on cancer outcomes (photo courtesy of Tracy McGaha)

Jim Oldfield

Topic

Breaking Research

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Cancer

Immunology

Research and Innovation

University Health Network

Researchers at the University Health Network (UHN) and University of Toronto have shown how probiotic bacteria in the gut could undermine immunity in pancreatic cancer, pointing toward more personalized cancer treatments.

Lactobacillus – a type of bacteria thought to promote gut health – can alter the function of immune cells called macrophages in the pancreatic tumour environment and spur cancer growth, the researchers found.

“Most studies focus on positive correlations between the microbiome and cancer outcomes,” said Tracy McGaha, a senior scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, and a professor of immunology in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. “This work focused on negative correlations of the microbiome with cancer, and suggests that in some conditions, the constituency of the microbiome may have a negative impact.”

The research was published this week in the journal Immunity.

Macrophages are tissue-resident immune cells thought to play an important role in tumour growth and metastasis. The researchers showed that Lactobacillus affects macrophage function by metabolizing dietary tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in protein from plant- and animal-based foods.

Indoles, a class of metabolites resulting from microbial tryptophan metabolization, activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or AHR – a protein that regulates gene expression, and which can enable both beneficial inflammation and immune suppression in other areas of the body.

Deletion or inhibition of AHR in macrophages led to reduced growth of pancreatic cancer, better sensitivity to treatments and increased numbers of inflammatory T cells, the researchers found. The activation of AHR thwarted these beneficial effects.

McGaha said he was surprised the microbiome had such a strong impact on AHR and immune function.

“We weren’t thinking about the microbiome at first, we were just interested in AHR as a factor in the tumour microenvironment,” McGaha said. “But when we blocked the mammalian genes that can activate AHR, it had no effect.”

The researchers then looked to Lactobacillus in part because previous studies had shown that the bacteria correlated with AHR activity and reduced inflammation – both of which can enable cancer growth.

They tested the effects of the bacteria in mice with surgical models of pancreatic cancer, working in U of T’s germ-free animal facility and in collaboration with Dana Philpott, who is also a professor of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

They also moved the project forward with single cell analysis – a technology that provides genome-scale data on individual cells, and which McGaha said was a big draw when he moved to Toronto from the U.S. in 2015.

“The technology was new then, but it’s been invaluable for us to see population responses in the gene expression patterns of macrophages and other immune cells, and what’s going on around them.”

The researchers later used tissue samples and data from human trials to show that high expression of AHR correlates with disease progression, immune suppression and patient survival.

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat. It is the third-most deadly cancer in Canada, despite being relatively rare, and patients with the disease have not seen the gains in survival common in other cancers over the last three decades.

To help address the urgent need for more effective treatments, McGaha is working with clinician scientists at UHN on a clinical trial called PASS-01. The study is a collaboration with other Canadian and U.S. cancer centres that aims to uncover personalized predictors of patient response to chemotherapy.

The team will collect stool samples before and after chemotherapy to look for enrichment of Lactobacillus, and whether the bacteria correlates to treatment response, patient survival and their observations on how it acts in the tumour environment.

“It’s exciting as a basic scientist to be involved in translational research, and it’s been nice to see the physician scientists interested in this work,” McGaha said.

Longer term, McGaha said his lab will pursue a deeper understanding of how immune cells interact with the microbiome. The hope is to improve on promising therapies such as fecal microbiota transplants, which have been hampered by the complexity and variety of gut bacteria – or to try a new approach.

“It could be possible to bypass the need to manipulate the microbiome, through precise targeting of the immune response to microbial metabolites,” said McGaha. “That’s a cool new direction we’d like to explore.”

The research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Terry Fox Research Institute, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund through U of T’s Medicine by Design, the John R. Evans Leaders Fund and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

U of T students, staff and faculty return to campus as more in-person activities resume

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:08:37 +0000

U of T students, staff and faculty return to campus as more in-person activities resume

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 02/08/2022 - 16:08

Cutline

Students, staff and faculty navigated a snowy St. George campus on Monday as the university increased in-person learning and activities (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Students, staff and faculty are making their way back to campus this week as the University of Toronto increases its in-person learning and activities with appropriate safety measures in place.

Students navigated the snow-covered St. George campus Monday while professors delivered more lectures face-to-face – although in fewer numbers than would normally be the case at this time of year. That’s because specific plans for the return of in-person learning are being determined by individual campuses, divisions and departments depending on their specific needs.

U of T Scarborough welcomed community members back in person for a limited number of courses, while U of T Mississauga continued to increase the number of in-person courses available to students after navigating a limited return to campus earlier this year.

“We’re excited to welcome more students, staff and faculty back to all three campuses,” said Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost. “The importance of an in-person learning environment cannot be overstated. It allows our community to not only learn together, but to support one another.

“We are committed to providing a safe and stimulating environment for our community to learn and will continue to follow public health guidance closely.”

(Photo by Johnny Guatto)

U of T’s 12-step plan for a safe return to in-person learning includes a focus on vaccines, mask-wearing in indoor spaces and ventilation in classrooms and buildings, as well as self-screening via the UCheck online tool.

UCheck now includes the option to voluntarily upload proof of vaccine booster doses.

The university continues to encourage all members of its community to get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. New appointments for booster doses are being added daily to the provincial booking system and at local pharmacies. More information on vaccine clinics on all three campuses can be found on UTogether.

Devlin Grewal (photo by Eric Kular)

Devlin Grewal, a U of T Scarborough student in his final year of the integrative biology program, said he is looking forward to more “organic” interactions with other students when his in-person lectures resume in a few weeks.

“We’ve all seen our circles contract during the pandemic and whether we realize it or not, that kind of limits our experiences and our worldview,” said Grewal, who moved to Toronto four years ago from Fiji to pursue his studies.

“The thing that I love about U of T Scarborough is that we have such a diverse community so going back to in-person and interacting with people, it gives you an opportunity to challenge yourself and broaden your worldview.”

At U of T Mississauga, the increase of in-person teaching has some professors excited to see students beyond a computer screen.

Jordana Garbati, assistant professor, teaching stream, at the Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy, said that in-person classes strengthen the sense of community among students.

“The students sort of knew one another before meeting in-person because of our weeks on Zoom, but now they can get to know one another a bit better, make friends, bounce ideas around, chat with their desk neighbour, and practise their verbal communication skills with students, staff, and faculty across campus,” she said.

It's hard to believe that for the first time in just about 2 whole years, I'll be teaching IN PERSON. I hope I remember how! (See you on Tuesday, Zoom!) @UTM @utmisup @RGASC_UTM
— Jordana Garbati (@DrGarbati) February 6, 2022

Beyond the classroom, Garbati, who started teaching at U of T Mississauga in 2020, said she is excited to “work among colleagues, make regular trips to the library and bookstore, enjoy a change of scenery and set up a positive workspace.”

While Grewal still harbours some anxiety around events like exams, he said he’s a social learner and enjoys speaking to a professor after class or sticking around to discuss something with his classmates.

“We grow up getting told that university is going to be some of the best days of your life,” he said.

“It’s easy to feel like that’s not true after spending two years doing online university. So, I think it will be great for everyone to have that little bit of fulfillment and to be able to form those memories that you’ll carry with you.”

Mending the gap: U of T's Molly Shoichet joins team developing new treatments for spinal cord injuries

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:59:48 +0000

Mending the gap: U of T's Molly Shoichet joins team developing new treatments for spinal cord injuries

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 01/14/2022 - 15:59

Cutline

U of T researcher Molly Shoichet is a member of Mend the Gap, an international collaboration developing new ways to treat spinal cord injuries that received $24 million in federal funding (photo by Sylvie Li/NSERC/CRSNG)

Tyler Irving

Topic

Breaking Research

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Global

Research & Innovation

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating – and there are currently few options to reverse the effects, which can include paralysis, chronic pain and loss of bladder control.

But an international team of researchers, including the University of Toronto’s Molly Shoichet, hopes to change that.

“Over the past few years, we’ve made a lot of progress in tissue engineering, drug delivery and regenerative medicine,” says Shoichet, a University Professor in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research.

“With this ambitious project, we bring world leading experts together to try to do something that no one else has been able to do: promote repair and regeneration in the injured spinal cord.”

Shoichet is a co-principal investigator with Mend the Gap, an international collaboration of more than 30 researchers, engineers, scientists, surgeons and social scientists from Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia. The collaboration this week received $24 million from Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund to advance their work.

The team takes its name from the fact that only a small gap, just a few centimetres long, is responsible for blocking the nerve impulses that normally flow through the spinal cord. Bridging that gap requires collaboration from some of the world’s top experts in a wide range of fields.

Shoichet is known internationally for her work on hydrogels – biocompatible materials that can help facilitate tissue repair. Hydrogels can function as scaffolds, enhancing or augmenting natural processes that serve to repair damaged tissue.

Hydrogels can also serve as controlled-release mechanisms for drugs that aid healing, or to protect stem cells that are being injected into the body by keeping them alive and healthy while they integrate into damaged tissues.

Another important line of research involves dealing with the glial scar that forms in the wake of a spinal cord injury. In the short term, this protective shield of cells and biochemicals prevents further injury in the damaged nerve, but in the long term it can serve as a barrier to nerve repair.

Shoichet and her team bring their expertise in hydrogels and local delivery strategies to deliver innovative biomolecules locally and directly to the injured spinal cord. For example, she re-engineered an enzyme to selectively degrade some of the biomolecules that make up the glial scar. This redesigned enzyme is both more stable and more active than the wild type.

By breaking through the glial scar with this new delivery strategy, the enzyme can enable other therapies – from advanced drugs to stem cells – to further promote tissue regeneration and repair.

“The environment in the injured spinal cord is a very complicated place,” says Shoichet. “There are a whole range of natural processes at work – some of which we want to enhance, others of which we need to find ways to circumvent. I am very excited to be part of this multidisciplinary team, which has the breadth and depth of expertise that we need to make a real difference when it comes to treating spinal cord injury.”

Shoichet is the only person to be elected a fellow of all three of Canada’s national academies and is a foreign member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the Royal Society of London. She was the 2020 recipient of the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, Canada’s highest honour for science and engineering research. She is also a member of the Order of Ontario and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

'A visual healing experience': Que Rock mural adorns John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 18:09:40 +0000

'A visual healing experience': Que Rock mural adorns John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 01/13/2022 - 13:09

Cutline

Indigenous artist Que Rock stands in front of the mural he created for the north facade of 1 Spadina Crescent (photo by Nadya Kwandibens/Red Works Photography)

Topic

Our Community

Indigenous

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Undergraduate Students

The north facade of the building housing the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is now home to a sprawling work by multidisciplinary artist Que Rock, a member of Nipissing First Nation.

The design – first selected on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day – honours the 215 children whose unmarked graves were discovered in May of last year at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., as well as the graves that continue to be uncovered across Turtle Island.

The mural itself was completed in late November.

“My goal is to portray the teachings of my ancestors, sacred geometry and the Laws of Nature in all my art forms,” says Toronto-based Que Rock, who is also a musician and dancer. “The goal for the Daniels Mural Project is a visual healing experience.”

Symbolizing the Seven Grandfather Teachings of humility, courage, honesty, wisdom, truth, respect and love, the mural features a sun anchoring the eastern end of the facade extends westward toward the opposite side, where a Grandmother Moon represents the connection to Turtle Island, the water nation and Mother Earth. At the centre of the mural, which is shaded with the colours of traditional medicine wheels, children are carried by eagles to the spirit world. The eagles also carry fish for a healing journey.

The installation was initiated by Elder Whabagoon, the First Peoples Leadership Advisor to the Dean, in partnership with the Daniels Art Directive (DAD), a student-led group that spearheads exhibitions, workshops and community projects. At their behest, the faculty put out an open call for mural proposals from First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists living in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. Submissions were reviewed by an advisory panel comprising members of U of T’s Indigenous communities: James Bird, Melissa Deleary, Jaime Kearns, Robin Rice and Brenda Wastasecoot.

“We wanted to initiate a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Report and to U of T’s Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin,” says Michelle Ng, a fourth-year Daniels student and co-founder of DAD.

“This inaugural Indigenous public-art piece brings people together for healing. It is only the beginning.”

Students from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design added 215 red circles to the installation (photo courtesy of Daniels)

Que Rock’s visual art, including large street-art projects and works on canvas, draw from both Anishnaabe culture and daily urban interactions. With each piece, he aims to convey Indigenous knowledge, the meaning of sacred symbolism and the primacy of nature, articulating it all in a style he describes as “making the woodlands dance.”

After applying the main motifs in the Daniels mural, Que Rock invited students from across disciplines in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design to add 215 red circles to the installation and to participate in workshops aimed at augmenting the circles based on Indigenous teachings. The workshops, led by Que Rock, are being be held in January, February and March.

“I applaud those involved in the mural project for utilizing our building as a canvas of Indigenous expression and for collectively advancing the process of Canadian reconciliation,” says Professor Juan Du, dean of the Daniels Faculty.

The project, which also includes an educator’s guide for discussing the mural with high-school students, is part of equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at Daniels.