TORONTO, Tuesday, September 12, 2017 – Build it and they will come. Expected to be the largest telescope situated on any Canadian university campus, once in place, it will open the night skies for students, faculty and the wider community.

Media are invited to learn more about the future new telescope, the generous gift that made it possible, and take a tour the 91��ɫ U Observatory with its existing telescopes.

The observatory on 91��ɫ's Keele campus

WHAT: 91��ɫ Observatory funding announcement

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 14 at noon to 1pm, followed by tours of the observatory

WHO:

• Rhonda Lenton, President & Vice-Chancellor
• Ray Jayawardhana, Dean, Faculty of Science
• Allan Carswell, Carswell Family Foundation
• Jeff O’Hagan, VP Advancement
• Paul Delaney, University Professor, Faculty of Science

WHERE: Lobby of Life Science Building, Keele campus, 91��ɫ, (number 90 on the .)

-30-

91��ɫ is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contacts:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22097, sandramc@yorku.ca

The post Media Advisory: Gift to reveal night skies to students, community appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

��TORONTO, November 17, 2016��– 91��ɫ and the will establish a new research chair in music education, and develop a new partnership through a $2 million gift from the Carswell Family Foundation (CFF). 91��ɫ professor emeritus Allan Carswell announced the donation at an event held at 91��ɫ on November 16. In addition to the new research chair, the funding will support the RPSM’s collaboration with the Jane-Finch community, benefiting more than 1,300 children.

“It is an honour to thank the Carswell Family Foundation for this incredible gift, which will strengthen evidence-based research in music education and music programming, and transform the lives of children for years to come,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor, 91��ɫ.

The celebration included a number of performances including the 91��ɫ Gospel and Regent Park choirs and featured Grammy and two time Juno Award winning singer, Liberty Silver.

Professor emeritus Allan Carswell announced a $2M donation to music education at an event at 91��ɫ, November 16. Part of the funding will support the Regent Park School of Music collaboration with the Jane-Finch community, benefiting more than 1,300 children.

The $2 million CFF gift will fund the Helen Carswell Chair in Community Engaged Research in the Arts, a permanent endowed chair position within the 91��ɫ. The Chair will facilitate and direct interdisciplinary projects and enhance community music and art programs. The gift will also fund an important new partnership between 91��ɫ and the RPSM to strengthen community music programming and research, increase reach and impact on students; and enhance community music education initiatives in Toronto.

“This remarkable gift from the Carswell Family Foundation will be a game-changer for Regent Park School of Music and the 1,300-plus kids we are currently reaching in Jane-Finch and across the city,” said Richard Marsella, executive director of the Regent Park School of Music. “The partnership with 91��ɫ will give us access to academic researchers, who will inform, improve and refine what we do to help kids succeed through music.��We are delighted to be part of this truly unique community and academic initiative.”

Dr. Allan Carswell and the CFF focus on community philanthropy that has direct impact. The Foundation has previously, generously supported 91��ɫ with funding for new scientific research labs, awards, and scholarships. Earlier this year, the Foundation gifted $1 million to fund graduate scholarships in the University’s Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering.

“The Helen Carswell Chair will amplify the scope and impact of the research being done by artists and scholars at 91��ɫ��in collaboration with community partners, and the outstanding work being done by the Regent Park School of Music,” said AMPD Dean Shawn Brixey. “It establishes a crucible in which scholarly research, creative practice and community art-making come together to generate even more powerful, more influential and more lasting outcomes to benefit our local community and society at large.”

For 30 years, Dr. Allan Carswell served as a full-time professor of physics at 91��ɫ, where he developed a new remote sensing laser technology that is now used worldwide. At 91��ɫ, he also founded his company, Optech Incorporated, which commercialized the technology.

91��ɫ recently launched “Impact: The Campaign for 91��ɫ”, a $500-million fundraising and alumni engagement initiative. The campaign aims to build stronger communities on campus and throughout the University’s local and global networks to enrich learning and research. The creation of the Helen Carswell Chair in Community Engaged Research in the Arts directly supports that priority.

��is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university—our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200-plus leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

-30-

Media contact:
Gloria Suhasini, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094,��suhasini@yorku.ca

The post 91��ɫ announces “game-changing” $2M gift for music education partnership appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

TORONTO, June 1, 2016 – 91��ɫ Professor Emeritus Allan Carswell and the Carswell Family Foundation have donated $1 million to fund graduate student scholarships in the University’s Faculty of Science and Lassonde School of Engineering.

91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri thanked Professor Emeritus Carswell, and his family for their generous gift, which will create a permanent endowment and an expendable fund to establish the Carswell Scholarships.

“In his role as a professor here at 91��ɫ, Allan experienced firsthand the significant contributions that students make to the research enterprise, as well as the financial challenges of being a graduate student,” said Shoukri. “He also understands the challenges of being a faculty member trying to recruit great students. This gift will go a long way to addressing those challenges so that our students and faculty members in the Faculty of Science and the Lassonde School of Engineering have the support they need to continue to conduct groundbreaking research.”

The gift will allow 91��ɫ to start awarding Carswell Scholarships as early as this September. The endowed component of the donation has been matched by the University with the support of the Provost and the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies to ensure that the Carswell Scholars program continues long term.

“This is a very special occasion and opportunity for the Carswell Family Foundation,” said Carswell. “It’s a win-win-win situation: a win for not only students, but also for the professors and their research activities, as well as more broadly for the advancement of science and engineering. The Foundation is extremely pleased to be a part of this.”

This is not the first gift that Carswell, who received an honorary degree from 91��ɫ in 2014, and his family have made to 91��ɫ. In 2004, Optech, a global company founded by Carswell during his tenure at 91��ɫ, became a significant supporter of research at the University with a donation of $125,000 to establish what is now called the Optech Lab. To this day, the Optech Lab at 91��ɫ continues to stage a unique-in-Canada course on experimental techniques in laser physics and atom trapping.

Ray Jayawardhana, dean of the Faculty of Science, and Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, expressed the incredible impact Carswell’s gift will have for their students moving forward.

“As a pioneering scientist and a long-serving physics professor, Allan understands the transformative potential of research and the vital role that graduate students play in the research enterprise,” said Jayawardhana. “He appreciates that graduate students are not only the `scientists of tomorrow', but also of today... I can’t wait to see the exciting discoveries and meaningful contributions that Carswell Scholars will make at 91��ɫ and beyond.”

“With this gift we can guarantee that more of our young talent will have the resources and the support to get started on their journeys into the unknown,” said Kozinski. “It will be up to them to show the courage, the skill, the perseverance and the will it takes to get to the top of their fields. We have no idea where their journeys will take them or where they will end. What we do know, is that for many of them here at 91��ɫ – thanks to the Carswell Foundation – it started here today.”

This gift comes at an opportune time in the University’s journey, particularly with the launch last month of , a $500-million fundraising and alumni engagement campaign. This Campaign celebrates the University’s impact on the world – past, present and future – and acknowledges alumni and donors, like Carswell and the Carswell Family Foundation, whose financial support has contributed to this remarkable success.

91��ɫ has always been known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our 52,000 students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and our 283,000 alumni worldwide push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide.

Media Contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 736 2100 ext. 22101 /��wallsj@yorku.ca

The post 91��ɫ receives $1M gift from Carswell Family Foundation for graduate student scholarships appeared first on News@91��ɫ.