91亚色's Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion (CHREI) is kick-starting the Fall 2024 term by offering staff, faculty and students a new REDDI (Respect, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization and Inclusion) Mini-Series: Promoting Accessibility and Proactive Accommodations. In this four-workshop series, which will run from Oct. 3 to 22, participants will learn important concepts and skills to challenge the various forms of ableism.

The workshops on accommodation provide participants with a deeper understanding of the key principles that guide the accommodation process, and insights into universal design approaches.

CHREI鈥檚 accommodation sessions are offered in partnership with Student Accessibility Services and the Teaching Commons. to earn a REDDI Mini-Series Certificate.

As promised, CHREI is offering more REDDI Core Series sessions throughout November. This fall鈥檚 sessions include:

• Employment Equity Principles towards Inclusion;
• Understanding Freedom of Expression at 91亚色; and
• Advancing Organizational Change to Foster a Culture of Belonging.

Register for all three and earn your REDDI Core Series Certificate. Learn more about our REDDI series certificates on the .

is now available on YU Learn.

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The Nursing Simulation Centre (NSC) in 91亚色's School of Nursing hosted two community engagement events this summer to help local youth gain knowledge and interest in the health-care profession. The first event 鈥� part of the NSC鈥檚 collaboration with the Faculty of Science鈥檚 Science Engagement Programs 鈥� brought close to 70 elementary school students, in Grades 7 and 8, to the centre for an experiential learning opportunity aligned with their summer camp curriculum. The second event welcomed members of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, who led a hands-on workshop for high-school students.

"The School of Nursing鈥檚 Simulation Centre is excited to work with nursing students to support future health-care professionals," said Laura Nicholson, a professor in the School of Nursing and director of the NSC. "Annually, since 2018, the Nursing Simulation Centre has been working with high-school student groups and various camps to showcase elements of nursing to prospective students."

As part of the Science Engagement Programs visit to the NSC 鈥� a collaboration celebrating a decade of inspiring the next generation of health-care professionals 鈥� students from 91亚色 U's Mini-Med School 1.0 and 2.0 summer camps were treated to a morning full of engaging experiences complementing their camp curriculum focused on exploring the science behind the health-care system. The objective for the Mini-Med School 1.0 workshop participants was to learn how to take a pulse, while the Mini-Med School 2.0 students learned how to measure blood pressure.

The NSC was able to host these prospective future health-care leaders because of the support provided by the enthusiastic team of facilitators made up of 91亚色 U graduates and current students from direct-entry, collaborative and second-degree undergraduate nursing programs. The facilitators were organized by Igor Kabanov, director of the Nursing Student Tutoring, Ambassadorship & Mentorship Programs (NSTAMP), a student-led peer support organization that provides services to help ensure nursing students have a positive experience at 91亚色 U.

For the other NSC community outreach initiative this summer, the centre worked closely with James Ehiagwina, president of the 91亚色 chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA-YU), and the wider CBNA team to plan and implement a three-hour workshop for high-school students from the Greater Toronto Area.

Outreach and planning for the workshop were supported by the 91亚色 U-TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC), which seeks to support Faculties in community engagement initiatives. The CEC also provided bus tickets for student attendees, in an effort to reduce barriers to participation. Facilitated by members of CBNA and NSTAMP, the workshop taught participants how to put on personal protective equipment and assess a patient, among other practical skills.

"This summer, the sessions were facilitated by record numbers of nursing graduates and current students," said Nicholson. "The professionalism, knowledge and skill displayed by the facilitators was outstanding. They displayed not only passion for the nursing profession but a commitment to educating the next generation."

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The latest issue of 91亚色鈥檚 nationally recognized, student-run literary magazine, Existere, features new fiction, non-fiction, art and poetry from a diverse array of Canadian literature鈥檚 rising stars. Available for purchase now at the 91亚色 Bookstore, Existere, vol. 43 includes work by Francesca Ekwuyasi, who was awarded the Writers鈥� Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers in 2022; acclaimed poet Ellen Chang-Richardson; Saeed Teebi, a finalist for the 2022 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize; and Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize winner Fawn Parker. The issue's cover was created by Kate Sinclair, lead designer at Penguin Random House Canada.

While previous issues of Existere relied on open calls for international writers, the latest issue presents a curated mix of local and national contributors. The new approach is the result of intentional editorial direction and decision-making by new faculty advisors 鈥� Matthew Bucemi and Christopher Morris, both assistant professors in the Writing Department 鈥� and new student editors currently enrolled in the Writing Department.

Bucemi, whose professional experience in publishing includes serving as a founding managing editor for Sutherland House, wanted to lead the magazine in this different direction. Having taken on the role of faculty advisor in Summer 2023, he leveraged his experience and connections to implement a new approach that prioritized experiential education and community engagement.

With Bucemi鈥檚 guidance, students reimagined the magazine鈥檚 mandate to emphasize dynamic art that reflects Canada鈥檚 equally dynamic communities. Students actively identified local and national artists and directly solicited submissions that fit the new mandate.

Morris, a published poet and former technical writer, also lent expertise to Existere鈥檚 student editors who implemented the magazine鈥檚 reimagined vision. 鈥淲ith Dr. Bucemi鈥檚 insights from his time as an editor and with student leaders who truly love art, literature and collaboration, Existere has quickly become a unique professional development opportunity for 91亚色 students, as shown by the high quality of this latest issue," said Morris.

Earlier this summer, the magazine's student leadership team hosted a launch party on 91亚色 U's Keele Campus to celebrate the release of the new issue. Held at Founders Assembly Hall, more than 50 guests were in attendance to hear readings from contributors and to help the magazine raise over $400 for future publications.

Reflecting on their achievement, the student leadership team expressed gratitude and pride. 鈥淲e know how difficult it can be to navigate school and Existere,鈥� they said, 鈥渆specially while we found our footing with the revamp鈥� We truly feel we鈥檝e made something amazing this year.鈥�

Existere was founded and first published at Vanier College in 1978. The journal is currently stewarded by 91亚色鈥檚 Writing Department as a venue to showcase emerging and established Canadian talent 鈥� and as a place for 91亚色 students to gain valuable, hands-on, pre-professional experience in editing and publication production.

To support the magazine, visit .

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After more than a decade in the legal innovation field, Al Hounsell, an adjunct professor at 91亚色鈥檚 Osgoode Hall Law School, is no stranger to technology hype cycles 鈥� that is, the maturity, adoption and social application of emerging technologies.

His hiring at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, where he is currently director of strategic innovation and legal design, coincided with the first wave of artificial intelligence (AI) products to hit the legal market.

鈥淚 went through that initial cycle of AI excitement and disillusionment,鈥� Hounsell says of that time, when some in the legal profession wondered what impact the technology would have on the profession. 鈥淚 was able to witness everyone screaming that the sky was falling, and that AI was going to take all of our jobs. But once people actually started using these tools, very quickly they realized that AI 鈥� as it existed then 鈥� was nowhere remotely close to doing anything that could capture the full value of what a lawyer could provide, in basically any area at all.鈥�

Next up were the metaverse and blockchain, both of which Hounsell remains largely skeptical of.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really see the use case for either in terms of legal practice,鈥� he says.

Right now, the legal profession 鈥� like much of the rest of the world 鈥� is in the middle of a fresh wave of excitement around generative AI. But this time, something feels different to Hounsell.

鈥淚t is not the same as the older version of AI and it鈥檚 definitely going to significantly impact what lawyers do,鈥� he says.

Still, Hounsell is betting on the resilience that the legal profession has demonstrated time and time again in the past couple of centuries.

鈥淭he new technology can help us do the rote stuff: things that are highly structured and predictable,鈥� Hounsell explains. 鈥淭he legal industry is going to keep moving to the grey area, that ever expanding area of complexity and confusion where humans are needed to help their clients strategically mitigate their risk.鈥�

Hounsell will be sharing more of his insights on the topic at the Osgoode Professional Development (OsgoodePD) second Annual Forum on Artificial Intelligence and the Law on Oct. 9 and 10. Following the success of last year鈥檚 event, the online conference will feature two full days of programming led by a variety of industry experts who will decode need-to-know technology and terminology while offering practical insights and strategies for compliance with the constantly evolving AI regulatory framework. An online replay will follow in November for those who are unable to attend live.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be getting into the nuts and bolts of what鈥檚 actually happening in generative AI,鈥� says Hounsell, 鈥渋ncluding what it鈥檚 good at and what it鈥檚 not good at, as well as why it is so good at certain tasks and why it will probably never be good at others.鈥�

Hounsell has established himself as a leader on the intersection of law and technology. Named Innovative Leader of the Year at the , he got his start in the legal profession after first making an impression in the web development field, founding several successful businesses before deciding to pivot to law via the Osgoode-Schulich Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration Program.

The alumnus renewed his relationship with Osgoode in 2022, taking up an offer to teach a class on technology and innovation in legal service delivery and then speaking at last year鈥檚 inaugural Forum on AI and the Law. This year, Hounsell is expecting key players from law firms, in-house legal departments and legal technology companies to be among the program's attendees.

鈥淔or big changes to occur in our industry,鈥� he says, 鈥渨hat we really need to see are people who are thinking strategically about this technology.鈥�

And this program, he hopes, will help make that happen.

For more information and to register, visit the .

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When political science major Sara Harsini heard 91亚色 was hosting a Model European Union (EU) for university students nationwide, she signed up to participate and convinced her third-year classmate, Nawal Alhawari, to join her.

The Model EU, a simulation of the work done by the European governing body, was held this spring and organized by Heather MacRae, an associate professor in 91亚色 U鈥檚 Department of Politics. Sponsored by the Delegation of the European Commission in Canada, it brought 55 students from across the country to the Keele Campus to experience politics and diplomacy in action.

鈥淚t was an excellent experiential education exercise,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭he students had to do advance work, both reading and research, and then they put it into action. They learned a lot about how the EU works and a lot about climate change.鈥�

The event was the second of its kind to be held in Canada; last year, it was held in Ottawa. According to MacRae, the goal going forward is to have universities assume the role of hosting.

The Hungarian Consulate hosted the opening reception, an event that brought students and diplomats together to hear an opening speech by EU ambassador Melita Gabri膷 and to discuss the issues of the day. Many of the conversations centred around the European Green Deal 鈥� the EU climate law requiring a 55 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 鈥� since it was the focus of the weekend鈥檚 sessions. The students were tasked with creating a resolution, addressing how they would achieve its goals.

Students worked in pairs to represent the governments of the 27 EU nations. Alhawari and Harsini chose to represent Austria, because they wanted to embody a nation that was forward thinking in its environmental policies. After researching green policies and Austria鈥檚 contribution to the EU, they were delighted to meet a representative from the Austrian Consulate at the reception.

鈥淚t was fantastic to meet him and discuss Austria鈥檚 green policies,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淎 major part of our success came from his commentary and insights.鈥�

Gabriele Alexandru, head of the political, press and information section at the EU Delegation to Canada, gave the opening talk the following day, before the students got to work on their Green Deal resolutions. The event was entirely student run, with a pair from the University of Victoria acting as Chairs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to hone so many skills, including negotiation, co-operation, public speaking and research,鈥� MacRae said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an extra benefit getting to know people interested in similar issues from across the country. We鈥檙e building a community of European scholars.鈥�

This was the first time Alhawari and Harsini had participated in a simulation exercise. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are considering trying a Model United Nations simulation next.

鈥淲e always have a notion that government work takes too long, but this shed light on the fact that every nation鈥檚 voice had to be heard,鈥� said Harsini. 鈥淣ow, I understand why it takes time.鈥�

Added Alhawari, 鈥淭he actual Green Deal already exists, so we were just adding to it. I realized that if the real EU was able to forge an agreement, so could we.鈥�

MacRae liked the idea of giving students a sponsored opportunity to learn more about the EU.

鈥淭here is an EU study tour each summer, which our students can take part in, but it is expensive,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince not all students can afford to go to Europe, we bring Europe to them.鈥�

J.J. McMurtry, dean of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), believes the exercise was extremely valuable.

鈥淧articipating in opportunities such as the Model EU simulation is a vital component of experiential learning and internationalization at LA&PS,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese experiences enhance students鈥� understanding of global affairs, cultivate critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills. By actively participating in these activities, our students not only enrich their academic pursuits but also develop the necessary competencies to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.鈥�

By giving students a greater understanding of European governance, MacRae is helping to fulfil the University Academic Plan's goal of advancing global engagement and bring its new Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy to life.

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A ceremony to celebrate Pride Month on June 4 at 91亚色鈥檚 Vari Hall Rotunda was attended by staff, faculty, students and other University community members who took part in the day鈥檚 events organized by the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Events.

Beginning with opening remarks, the event featured a flag unfurling ceremony and booths to share information about 2SLGBTQIA+ resources and services available at 91亚色 U. Attendees were also invited to enjoy free treats provided by the Office of the Vice-Provost Students and snap a selfie with mascot Yeo.

See a photo gallery of the event below. Visit 91亚色鈥檚 Pride Month website to learn more.

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It was a successful day on the links on May 28, as 91亚色 Athletics & Recreation hosted the 21st annual Lions Cup Golf Tournament, presented by TD Insurance, in support of bursaries for 91亚色 Lions varsity student-athletes. $160,500 was raised through pre-event registration, while another donation of $5,000 was made on the day of the event, bringing the total to $165,500 鈥� a new Lions Cup record.

This year鈥檚 event saw 104 golfers take to the greens at King鈥檚 Riding Golf Club in King City, Ont., with the common goal to provide financial assistance to 91亚色 Lions student-athletes. As has been the case in previous years, the event featured several competitions along the course, including driving, chipping and putting accuracy challenges, the longest drive competition, closest to the pin and a beat-the-pro contest.

A number of 91亚色鈥檚 student-athletes 鈥� reaping the benefits of the funds raised 鈥� were on site to actively engage with golfers, fostering valuable relationships with professionals in their fields of study as they prepare for careers of their own.

Originally dubbed the Chair's Cup in 2001, the Lions Cup carries a rich history. Its creators 鈥� Marshall Cohen, the former Chair of the 91亚色 Board of Governors, his wife Judi and Guy Burry, current Chair of the 91亚色 Pension Fund Investment Committee and longtime men鈥檚 hockey coach 鈥� had a visionary goal: to establish an event that not only raised much-needed funds but also forged bonds among friends, alumni and community partners. In recent years, under Burry鈥檚 leadership, the event has centred on bolstering varsity student-athletes by committing all money raised to athletic bursaries.

鈥淭hese bursaries are possible thanks to the generous contributions of donors and sponsors of our long-standing tournament," said Bart Zemanek, director of development at 91亚色 Athletics & Recreation. "Their support is crucial in cultivating a culture of excellence in Athletics & Recreation, providing Lions student-athletes with the resources to achieve their goals, both in the classroom and within their given sport.鈥�

For a complete list of this year's tournament sponsors and donors, visit the .

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Now in its 11th year, the Walk with Excellence is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of graduating students from high schools in Toronto's Jane and Finch community. Signifying the beginning of their journey to post-secondary education, the event 鈥� taking place this year on Thursday, June 6 鈥� will see over 500 graduating students walk from five local high schools onto 91亚色's Keele Campus.

The students' supportive teachers and administrators will be cheering them on along the way, and all 91亚色 community members are invited join in welcoming the students onto the Keele Campus in true 91亚色 U style.

"The Walk with Excellence signals new beginnings and a new season," said Itah Sadu, founder of the Walk with Excellence and a 91亚色 honorary degree recipient. "Walking with the graduating students in this annual urban rite of passage is pure joy."

Organized by a coalition of community partners 鈥� including the 91亚色-TD Community Engagement Centre, local school principals and high-school leaders, the Blackhurst Cultural Centre and A Different Booklist 鈥� the Walk with Excellence will feature brief musical performances from each participating high school, remarks from community leaders and Toronto poet laureate Lillian Allen reading a poem she wrote specifically for the event. Organizers look forward to presenting several bursaries this year, generously funded by CUPE Local 4400/Toronto Education Workers, Blackhurst Cultural Centre and 91亚色.

鈥淲e are proud to stand alongside our students and school board partners in celebrating the hard work and dedication that define the Jane and Finch community's collective journey toward excellence," said Byron Gray, manager of the 91亚色-TD Community Engagement Centre. "Together, we are fostering a brighter future for all."

All 91亚色 community members are invited to take part in the event by cheering for students as they enter the Keele Campus and witnessing the presentation of scholarships and remarks. The students are expected to arrive in front of Vari Hall at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Those who cannot attend or would like to further support the cause can consider contributing to for 2025, which will offer bursaries to five future 91亚色 U students 鈥� one from each of the five participating high schools.

鈥淭his event exemplifies the power of community, resilience and academic achievement,鈥� said Annisette. 鈥淚t is our vision that a newly initiated campaign will engage all of 91亚色 in funding an ongoing Walk with Excellence Bursary.鈥�

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Dear 91亚色 community,

Since its founding, Pride has been more than a celebration of sexual and gender diversity and of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It is a call to advocacy and action to counteract interlocked forms of social injustice, the effects of stigma on physical and mental health, and the imposition of rigid norms on individuals鈥� identities and self-expression.

91亚色 answers this call by:

• enacting equity workplace policies and practices, this year earning recognition as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers;
• supporting the learning of 91亚色 students, faculty and staff, 700 of whom have received training regarding sex and gender discrimination by 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion;
• generating research and resources regarding the complexity of gender and sexuality, such as Professor You-Ta Chuang鈥檚 to further understand the prevalence of workplace discrimination against LGBTQ2S+ employees in Canada and how they cope, and the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty Project led by professor Nick Mul茅;
• encouraging our community to take action by implementing the principles of 91亚色鈥檚 Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Strategy and by accessing the DEDI Toolkit; and
• collaborating with external community organizations on projects such as the Art Gallery of 91亚色's , a fundraiser for Maggie鈥檚 Toronto, a QT/BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ led sex worker organization.

We invite you to visit the Pride website to learn more about how you can play a part in affirming 2SLGBTQIA+ rights at 91亚色 and beyond. There, you will find the events calendar and opportunities to join us for events throughout Pride Month, including the flag unfurling on Tuesday, June 4 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Vari Hall Rotunda.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Rhonda L. Lenton
President & Vice-Chancellor      

Laina Y. Bay-Cheng
Interim Vice-President, Equity, People & Culture

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Ch猫re communaut茅 de 91亚色,

Depuis sa cr茅ation, la Fiert茅 est plus qu鈥檜ne c茅l茅bration de la diversit茅 sexuelle et de genre et des communaut茅s 2ELGBTQIA+. Il s鈥檃git d鈥檜n appel 脿 la sensibilisation et 脿 l鈥檃ction pour contrer les formes imbriqu茅es d鈥檌njustice sociale, les effets de la stigmatisation sur la sant茅 physique et mentale, et l鈥檌mposition de normes rigides sur les identit茅s et l鈥檈xpression des individus.

91亚色 r茅pond 脿 cet appel en :

• mettant en 艙uvre des politiques et des pratiques d鈥櫭﹒uit茅 sur le lieu de travail, ce qui lui a valu cette ann茅e d鈥櫭猼re reconnue comme l鈥檜n des meilleurs employeurs canadiens en mati猫re de diversit茅;
• soutenant l鈥檃pprentissage des membres de la communaut茅 茅tudiante, du corps professoral et du personnel de 91亚色, dont 700 ont re莽u une formation sur la discrimination sexuelle et de genre par le Centre pour les droits de la personne, de l鈥櫭﹒uit茅 et de l鈥檌nclusion de 91亚色;
• g茅n茅rant des recherches et des ressources sur la complexit茅 du genre et de la sexualit茅, comme l鈥� du professeur You-Ta Chuang visant 脿 mieux comprendre la pr茅valence de la discrimination sur le lieu de travail 脿 l鈥檈ncontre des employ茅s聽2ELGBTQ+ au Canada et la mani猫re dont ils y font face, ainsi que le projet聽2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada project dirig茅 par le professeur Nick Mul茅;
• encourageant notre communaut茅 脿 agir en mettant en 艙uvre les principes de la strat茅gie de d茅colonisation, d鈥櫭﹒uit茅, de diversit茅 et d鈥檌nclusion (DEDI) de 91亚色 et en acc茅dant 脿 la bo卯te 脿 outils DEDI;
• collaborant avec des organisations communautaires externes sur des projets tels que de la GAUY, une collecte de fonds pour Maggie鈥檚 Toronto, une organisation de travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe dirig茅e par des membres QT/PANDC 2ELGBTQIA+.

Nous vous invitons 脿 visiter le site Web de la Fiert茅 pour en savoir plus sur la mani猫re dont vous pouvez jouer un r么le dans l鈥檃ffirmation des droits des personnes 2ELGBTQIA+ 脿 91亚色 et ailleurs. Vous y trouverez le calendrier des 茅v茅nements et les possibilit茅s de vous joindre 脿 nous pour les 茅v茅nements du Mois de la Fiert茅, y compris le d茅ploiement du drapeau le mardi 4 juin de 13 h 脿 14 h 30 dans la rotonde du Pavillon Vari.

Merci. Thank you. Miigwech.

Rhonda L. Lenton
Pr茅sidente et vice-chanceli猫re      

Laina Y. Bay-Cheng
Vice-pr茅sidente int茅rimaire de l鈥櫭﹒uit茅, des personnes et de la culture

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