convocation Archives - News@91��ɫ

91��ɫ to confer eight honorary degrees during 2024 Spring Convocation

lewiskay — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:39:00 +0000

Eight changemakers in literature, health, journalism, law, music and more will receive honorary degrees throughout 91��ɫ's annual spring convocation ceremonies taking place June 7 to 21.

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91��ɫ community celebrates Spring Convocation as leaders of tomorrow prepare to create positive change

manton — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:36:20 +0000

Throughout the month of June, the 91��ɫ community is celebrating convocation, a time-honoured tradition that celebrates every student’s academic accomplishments.

Spring Convocation 2023 began on June 9 with graduates crossing the stage at Glendon Campus’ Glendon Green and continues from June 16 to 23 with ceremonies at the Keele Campus Convocation Pavillion located in Sobeys Stadium.

In her first public act since being installed as 91��ɫ’s new Chancellor last month, Kathleen Taylor is conferring degrees on thousands of new graduates at this year’s 13 convocation ceremonies.

Chancellor Kathleen Taylor; with Dr. Carl James, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora, and named a Distinguished Research Professor at 91��ɫ during this year's convocation ceremonies; and, President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton.

In remarks delivered at a Keele Campus convocation ceremony, Taylor reminded graduates that success is not an endpoint, but a continuous pursuit in a life-long journey.

“So embrace change, seize opportunities,” Taylor said, “and continue to strive for excellence to better yourself and the world around you.”

Not only a celebration of life at 91��ɫ, convocation is also an opportunity for new graduates to share this significant milestone with family and friends.

While in many ways 91��ɫ’s spring convocation represents a return to the familiar, many aspects of the ceremonies have been reconsidered with the goal of creating a more inclusive and student-centered celebration.

The changes aim to advance the University’s new Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy through the culture of convocation, and more strongly align this and future years’ ceremonies with 91��ɫ’s values.

In addition to changes in the order of proceedings that see the national anthem sung following a land acknowledgement and, where relevant, an Honour Song, the University’s mace has been repositioned as a symbol of university scholarship, leading the academic procession into the ceremony rather than positioned in front of the Chancellor as in previous years.

Student performers are replacing the bagpipers who traditionally play the procession into the ceremonies, and each ceremony features an alumni guest delivering a welcome message.

Communications have been updated to clarify that students, faculty and guests who identify as First Nation, Metis or Inuit are welcome to wear traditional ceremonial dress of their people and culture, and every ceremony includes either a volunteer or professional name reader.

After receiving their degree, graduates and their loved ones can celebrate with several fun and interactive features, including a Spotify playlist and graduation song, a social media wall and “360 camera,” and the opportunity to view and participate in student success story videos. Those sharing their celebration on social media are encouraged to use the hashtag #91��ɫUConvo and can add special convocation stickers to customize Instagram stories.

There are also two new grad celebrations that have been added: which takes place on June 28 and the will be held on June 29.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Denis Mukwege was honoured at a reception at Glendon Campus on June 15 and received an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Education convocation ceremony on June 16.

As in previous years’ ceremonies, 91��ɫ will confer honorary degrees to prominent individuals in recognition of their contributions to community building, social justice advocacy and philanthropy. These changemakers will also offer words of encouragement and congratulations to graduates.

This year’s honorary degree recipients include Chief Justice of Ontario Michael Tulloch; author, journalist and activist Cory Doctorow; Iron Chef judge and one of the “Ten Chefs of the Millennium” Susur Lee; Nobel Prize in Economics-winner Daniel Kahneman; community volunteer and retired public servant Joan Andrew; Nobel Peace Prize-winner Dr. Denis Mukwege; author and activist Ruth Lor Malloy; social enterprise leader Shaun Loney; filmmaker Nancy Archibald; and, engineering innovator and educator Thomas Lee.

In her remarks delivered at a Keele Campus convocation ceremony, university President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton encouraged this year’s graduates to use the knowledge and experience they have gained at 91��ɫ to create positive change in their communities and around the world.

“You are perfectly positioned to help reimagine our world into a place that is more equitable, inclusive and sustainable – values that are core to 91��ɫ’s vision.”

Lenton concluded by urging graduates to think about what matters to them, whether the fight against climate change, social justice, or something else.

“You have the tools,” Lenton said, “and the world really needs your fresh ideas.”

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2022 YEAR IN REVIEW: Grandma graduates from 91��ɫ U, following in granddaughter’s and younger sister’s footsteps

manton — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:06:00 +0000

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Two international students graduating amid pandemic are available to share their unique stories

suhasini — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:33:00 +0000

CONTACT

Meet Syeda Fatima Abbas Rizvi, 19, and mature student Sabina Goranova – two women who started their post-secondary education in person before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and had to complete their programs online, overcoming all challenges the pandemic posed.

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91��ɫ U graduates to be honoured at first in-person Convocation in two years

mlaforge — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:52:11 +0000

Excitement is mounting as more than 9,000 graduates prepare to descend on 91��ɫ to attend the first in-person graduation ceremony since the beginning of COVID-19.

This Spring Convocation season will be like none before, as it celebrates not only 91��ɫ’s graduating Class of 2022, but also the Classes of 2020 and 2021 who were unable to experience the proud tradition of walking across the stage because their Convocation had to take place online during the pandemic.

This year, graduates are encouraged to put their hands over their hearts, in lieu of handshakes, when receiving their degrees.

“Graduating from university is a major accomplishment at any time, never mind having to complete your studies remotely during a pandemic,” says 91��ɫ’s President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. “It was important to 91��ɫ to recognize the resilience, courage and perseverance of our graduates and graduands in addition to their academic success with the magic of an in-person Convocation.”

Spring Convocation, led by Lenton and Chancellor Greg Sorbara will take place from Thursday, June 9, to Friday, June 17, at Convocation Pavilion at Sobeys Stadium (formerly Aviva Centre) at Keele Campus. Glendon Campus ceremonies will be held on Saturday, June 18, at Glendon Green, located at 2275 Bayview Ave.

This year’s Convocation is preceded by a weeklong alumni celebration, during which all 2020 and 2021 graduates who attended virtual ceremonies are being welcomed back to campus in celebration of their degrees. The Alumni Ceremonies at Keele Campus began Friday, June 3, and run until Thursday, June 9. Glendon alumni will attend the campus’s main ceremony on June 18 (full schedule here).

With safety in mind, attendees are asked to wear masks and graduates are asked to place their hands over their hearts instead of shaking hands, as they receive their diplomas. Graduates can invite two guests each – which could put total attendance well over 25,000 – and all attendees are invited to join a faculty reception immediately after each ceremony. More details about what to expect can be found on the Convocation website.

“Our University”, says Lenton, “is committed to driving positive change. I am confident that the Classes of 2020-22 will use their experience here to disrupt the status quo and speak out against injustices, inequities, violence, and threats to our planet and our humanity. Whatever they do, wherever they go, I know they will implement their vision and the knowledge they gained from 91��ɫ, to support a better future.”

Ignacio Isola, Class of 2022, Lassonde School of Engineering

Lenton says those who earned their degrees during the pandemic are graduating into a starkly different world than those before them. While there is still uncertainty about what the future holds, she says, 91��ɫ students have been prepared with the skills to lead the changes necessary for a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

Examples of such forward-looking talented graduates abound.

Ignacio Isola is realizing a boyhood dream as he graduates from the Lassonde School of Engineering with a Space Engineering degree into a full-time job at the Canadian aerospace company . During his time at 91��ɫ, he and his mentor Prof. Isaac B. Smith conducted groundbreaking research that advanced humankind’s understanding of space by solving a longstanding mystery about ice deposits at Mars’ south pole.

“My experience at 91��ɫ was amazing,” Isola says. “I always felt I was at home here, even though I was alone. Because of the sense of community that 91��ɫ has.”

Naima Sood, who is graduating with a Sociology degree from Glendon College, says she has newfound confidence in her abilities and sense of freedom in using her voice – both of which she struggled to find growing up in New Delhi.

“I came from India feeling doubtful about myself, and 91��ɫ truly gave me an opportunity to become the person I am today,” Sood says. “I definitely feel like I’m ready to take on what’s next for me, and if there are disappointments that come my way, 91��ɫ has better prepared me for that. 91��ɫ has prepared me for the journey ahead – the good, bad, the ugly, all of it. I’m ready to take it on.”

91��ɫ will confer honorary doctorates on 12 distinguished recipients who have made outstanding contributions in such endeavors as community building, social justice, mental health advocacy and Indigenous rights.

Elder Duke Redbird, an Ojibwe artist, poet and scholar, brings an Indigenous approach to art and design education. Among the first wave of Aboriginal peoples in Canada to enrol in a university, Redbird graduated from 91��ɫ with a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1978 and has gone on to be known in the academic world a “path breaker” – someone of great vision and experience. His books of poetry, theatrical productions and appearances on television and film have contributed to the written and oral repository of Indigenous thought and literature in Canada and around the world.

“Graduating from university is a major accomplishment at any time, never mind having to complete your studies remotely during a pandemic. It was important to 91��ɫ to recognize the resilience, courage and perseverance of our graduates and graduands."
Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor, york university

Olympic athlete and health advocate Silken Laumann won multiple medals in rowing at the Pan American Games, World Rowing Championships and the Olympic Games. But her story reveals more than athletic prowess. A favourite to win gold at the 1992 Olympic games, Laumann was told her rowing career was over after a horrific accident caused massive injuries to her leg and ankle. But less than three months after the injury, Laumann created one of greatest moments in Canadian sport history by coming from behind to win bronze at the Barcelona games. After revealing her long battle with mental illness, Laumann is now a motivational speaker and life coach on mental, physical, and spiritual health – inspiring others to overcome challenges.

Evolutionary biologist, paleontologist and popular science writer, Neil Shubin, will also receive an honorary doctorate. Shubin discovered the first Tiktaalik Roseae fossil skeleton on Ellesmere Island in Canada’s North in 2004, giving it an Inuit name at the suggestion of his hosts. The transition fossil is perhaps the most important paleontological find of the 21st century. Shubin continues to create positive change in the world of science, as a respected writer and public speaker who commands a global following.

Convocation 2022 is creating a buzz both on campus and on social media.

The community is invited to join the conversation using #91��ɫUConvo. Graduates are encouraged to post videos about what’s next for them, post photos using Convocation stickers and GIFs made specially for the Class of 2022 and submit a song that represents their time at 91��ɫ, for a curated Spotify playlist.

“Spring Convocation 2022 will be one to remember,” Lenton says.

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‘I wanted to give back to my community’: Meet two graduates who helped bring Keele campus back to life

mlaforge — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000

For about 25 months, 91��ɫ’s Keele and Glendon campuses were largely unpopulated. Even after classes and exams returned following the initial COVID-19 wave, social distancing requirements and other public health protocols meant that students, faculty and most staff stayed home while the campus – normally teeming with humanity – waited for their return.

When the return finally came, via a partial reinstatement of in-person activities in January 2022, everyone had to do a lot of readjusting, and many questions needed answering. What were the new rules? Masks everywhere or just inside? How would the University screen for symptoms and how often? And, just as a reminder, where’s that one building located? The grey concrete one with the Starbucks?

Among the returnees were Jessica Gamez and Constance Anson, two members of the graduating Class of 2022 who had decided they wanted to give back to 91��ɫ a measure of the support and mentorship that they had received when they were bright-eyed first-years.

Jessica Gamez

“I actually forgot myself, in my fifth year, where a lot of the buildings were on campus and where a lot of the services were located,” says Gamez, a Kinesiology and Health Sciences student who will receive her Bachelor of Science degree at Spring Convocation 2022. “So I had to do research myself. I could only imagine what an online-only first-year student would have been going through.”

Gamez and Anson were Care Ambassadors, the cadre of student mentors who in the early days of the return to in-person activities put themselves at the service of the 91��ɫ campus community as it resumed in person life. They spent the Winter 2022 term standing out in the open air on the Keele campus, distributing masks, answering questions, providing wayfinding directions, reminding everyone to use YU Screen, and generally helping out however they could.

Both Anson and Gamez say that the overwhelming majority of their interactions with students were positive and cordial.

“Seemingly small, casual interactions with students and coworkers would turn into longer, meaningful conversations about personal academic and career goals and even how we held up mentally during lockdowns,” Gamez says. “I had hoped to extend adequate support and care, but little did they realize that they did the same for me.”

“I was often surprised at how meaningful and almost intense my conversations would be,” Anson adds. “I watched as younger students, especially first-years, who had so many questions for us, got more confident every day.”

“I was often surprised at how meaningful and almost intense my conversations would be.”
Constance Anson

Conceived and operated by the Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development in the Department of Student Success, the Care Ambassadors Program ran from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18, the first six weeks of the 2022 winter term, the first with students returning to campus since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020.

91��ɫ’s Care Ambassadors were recruited in late 2021, when Student Success put out a call for applicants. Some 300 students responded, and about 150 were given positions.

Constance Anson

“We wanted to recruit a set of ambassadors that reflected our community,” says Dirk Rodricks, Director, Student Engagement, at the Department of Student Success. “So in recruiting we cast the net widely across both campuses. And, apart from being familiar with the campuses, we didn’t set any criteria other than being friendly, wanting to serve and support the community.”

Gamez says she felt compelled to serve the 91��ɫ community as a Care Ambassador because of the help she received from peer mentors as a younger undergraduate.

“I remember my first step on campus,” says Gamez, who grew up in Richmond Hill, Ont., and commuted from home all five of her undergraduate years. “It was in Vari Hall, where there’s that info kiosk. I had come early to get acquainted with my classes and to get a student card, and I remember having no idea where I was. So I asked a student, whose name was Hannah, and she helped me so much. She told me where to go and what I needed to do, but she also took time to chat with me for a while: ‘Oh, are you in first year? How are you doing? How are you feeling? Here are some tips and tricks.’ I never forgot how much that meant, and it was that experience that I wanted to reflect on and replicate for others when I decided to join the Care Ambassador program.

Anson, an international student originally hailing from Ghana who will graduate this month with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a certificate in Spanish, tells a similar story: “I wanted to give back to my community because when I first came to 91��ɫ people helped me a lot. So when I saw the posting for the Care Ambassadors, I thought this would be an opportunity to provide meaningful help to my peers.”

But Gamez and Anson admit that, because the Care Ambassadors’ mandate was to promote protocols and enforce rules such as mask-wearing and screening requirements, the job could sometimes be awkward.

“People were sometimes hesitant to complete their YU Screen before going into buildings,” Anson says. “And a few people were reluctant with masks…. but no one was ever angry or aggressive.”

Gamez and Anson both plan to enter graduate studies at 91��ɫ after walking the stage at Convocation. Gamez is currently studying for the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario Registered Kinesiologist Exam and has also applied to pursue a master of science in Occupational Therapy at 91��ɫ. Anson will begin work on a master of economics next fall.

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91��ɫ U return to in-person Convocation expected to draw 25,000 attendees

mlaforge — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000

TORONTO, June 8 2022 – 91��ɫ’s Spring Convocation celebrations will take place from June 9 to 18, the first in-person Convocation on the University’s campuses since the beginning of COVID-19. Throughout the ceremonies, 12 honorary doctoral degrees will be awarded.

“Convocation is one of the proudest events in the academic year, for students and their families, as well as faculty and staff,” says Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “I continue to be inspired by our students’ desire to drive positive change both locally and globally. In 91��ɫ’s largest convocation ceremonies in history, I look forward to recognizing the academic achievements of our 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduates and graduands, and extending my heartfelt congratulations to them in person.”

This year’s Convocation is preceded by a weeklong alumni celebration, during which all 2020 and 2021 graduands who attended virtual ceremonies are being welcomed back to campus in celebration of their degrees. The Alumni Ceremonies at Keele Campus began Friday, June 3 and run until Thursday, June 9. Glendon alumni will attend the campus’s main ceremony on June 18 (full schedule here).

Convocation ceremonies for the Class of 2022 will take place from Thursday, June 9, to Friday, June 18 (full schedule here). Keele Campus ceremonies will be held at the Convocation Pavilion at Sobeys Stadium (formerly Aviva Centre), located at 1 Shoreham Drive. Glendon Campus ceremonies will be held at Glendon Green, located at 2275 Bayview Ave.

Total attendance is expected to top 25,000, including more than 9,000 graduates from all three graduating classes, and their guests.

This year’s honorary degrees recognize outstanding contributions to community building, social justice, mental health advocacy and Indigenous rights.

“The individuals we are celebrating with honorary degrees represent the best of what 91��ɫ stands for – our commitment to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve – toward Reconciliation, human rights, social justice, and more,” notes Lenton. “Their remarkable accomplishments serve as inspiration for 91��ɫ’s newest graduates and for all of us.”

"The individuals we are celebrating with honorary degrees represent the best of what 91��ɫ stands for – our commitment to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve – toward Reconciliation, human rights, social justice, and more."
Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor, 91��ɫ

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Frank Vettese (Schulich School of Business, Friday, June 10, 10:30 a.m.)Frank Vettese is CEO Emeritus of Deloitte Canada, where from 2012 he served as managing partner and chief executive. He also served as the firm’s chief inclusion officer and was the first Canadian CEO to be recognized by the UN for commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace.

Elder Duke Redbird (Faculty of Education, Friday, June 10, 3:30 p.m.)
Elder Duke Redbird is a multifaceted artist, practising a variety of disciplines including literature, painting, theatre, cinema and most recently rap poetry. His 1978 91��ɫ master’s thesis, We Are Métis, continues to be a seminal text on the Métis people.

Dr. Steven Stein (Faculty of Health, Monday, June 13, 10:30 a.m.)
Dr. Steven Stein is clinical psychologist whose expertise in psychological assessment and emotional intelligence has made him a prominent consultant and commentator. He is former chair of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, and currently a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Steven Lewis (Faculty of Health, Monday, June 13, 3:30 p.m.)
Steven Lewis is a health-services expert and consultant who played a key advisory role in the establishment of 91��ɫ’s School of Health Policy and Management. He has been a member of the National Forum on Health, the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Health Council of Canada, among other organizations.

Silken Laumann (Faculty of Health, Tuesday, June 14, 10:30 a.m.)
Silken Laumann won three Olympic medals in rowing, including a bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games, only three months after suffering a career-threatening injury. She is now a motivational speaker and life coach who uses her unique experiences to promote mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Terri Lyne Carrington (School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Tuesday, June 14, 3:30 p.m.)
Terri Lyne Carrington is a professor and multi-Grammy-winning jazz drummer who has performed with such famous musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Wayne Shorter. She was the first woman to win a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Olive Senior (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Wednesday, June 15, 10:30 a.m.)Olive Senior is an award-winning Canadian writer and public intellectual of Jamaican heritage. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, and her Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage is a widely read and cited reference text.

Anna Porter (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Wednesday, June 15, 3:30 p.m.)
Anna Porter is a publisher, novelist, memoirist, historian, and cultural and political analyst. Her tenures as editor and then publisher with McClelland and Stewart as well as founder of Key Porter books, helped foster an explosion in Canadian literature that began in the 1970s and continues today.

David Miller (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Thursday, June 16, 10:30 p.m.)
David Miller is a lawyer, professor, international environmental activist, and former mayor of Toronto. His two-term administration emphasized waterfront renewal, public transit and municipal reform, and community safety.

Neil Shubin (Faculty of Science & Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, Friday, June 17, 10:30 a.m.)
Neil Shubin is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. His discovery of a Tiktaalik Roseae fossil skeleton on Ellesmere Island in 2004 is among the most important paleontological finds of the 21st century.

Constance Backhouse (Osgoode Hall Law School, Friday, June 17, 3:30 p.m.)
Constance Backhouse is multi-disciplinary scholar, social activist and cultural critic. Her extensive writing on such subjects as reproduction, family, sexual harassment and the legal profession has influenced government policy.

John Van Burek (Glendon, Saturday, June 18, 2 p.m.)
John Van Burek is a world-renowned theatre producer and translator with some 50 works to his credit. He founded Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre and le Théâtre français de Toronto and has taught at universities in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

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91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:
Matt LaForge, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-242-1547, mlaforge@yorku.ca

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Glendon will open spring Convocation season at 91��ɫ

roshanp — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:49:21 +0000

Businessman Gregory Belton will be honored for philanthropy

TORONTO, June 3, 2019 – Glendon Campus graduates will receive their 91��ɫ degrees on Friday at the university’s first Convocation ceremony of the spring.

More than 250 students are expected to attend Convocation, the ceremony at which their degrees will be conferred, along with family and friends. Businessman and philanthropist Gregory Scott Belton, a Glendon alumnus, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

“Convocation is a time to recognize the hard work and dedication of our students, and to celebrate individuals who have made a significant impact on the communities served by the University,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “Since graduating from Glendon, Mr. Belton has achieved great success in the insurance industry while raising millions for at-risk youth. His commitment to excellence and to providing opportunities for young people in his community makes him a worthy role model.”

Gregory Belton

Gregory Belton is Executive Chairman of HUB International Ontario, a global insurance brokerage and Canada’s largest property insurance brokerage firm. An insurance industry leader who has combined business success with social conscience, Belton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Glendon College in 1980.

He joined the insurance industry soon after and went on to found HKMB at age 29 which grew to be Canada’s largest privately-owned insurance brokerage and was then sold to HUB in 2008, a tremendous start-up success story in a crowded industry.

While developing his business, Belton was active in philanthropy. He has worked in a leadership role with many charitable institutions over the years including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As national president, he launched the Charter for Business, which has generated corporate donations of more than $30 million for work with at-risk youth. He was Chairman of The Duke of The Edinburgh’s International Award from 2007-2016, when he was succeeded by HRH Prince Edward, and is a director of St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation.

In 2009, Belton was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II and in 2016 was made a member of the Order of Canada.

Convocation will be held on the Glendon Green at Glendon Campus, located at 2275 Bayview Avenue, on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2:30pm. ()

91��ɫ champions 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-disciplinary 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 25 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 300,000 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 Contact: Yanni Dagonas, 91��ɫ Media Relations, yannidag@yorku.ca, 647-468-7850.

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Glendon will open spring Convocation season at 91��ɫ

roshanp — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:49:21 +0000

Businessman Gregory Belton will be honored for philanthropy

TORONTO, June 3, 2019 – Glendon Campus graduates will receive their 91��ɫ degrees on Friday at the university’s first Convocation ceremony of the spring.

Gregory Belton

In 2009, Belton was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II and in 2016 was made a member of the Order of Canada.

Convocation will be held on the Glendon Green at Glendon Campus, located at 2275 Bayview Avenue, on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2:30pm. ()

Media Contact: Yanni Dagonas, 91��ɫ Media Relations, yannidag@yorku.ca, 647-468-7850.

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91��ɫ U to confer four honorary degrees at fall convocation

roshanp — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:32:34 +0000

TORONTO, October 17, 2017 ─ Four outstanding individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees at 91��ɫ's fall convocation ceremonies, taking place Wednesday, Oct. 18 to Friday, Oct. 20.

The honorary degrees will mark the contributions of an innovative entrepreneur, a business leader, a social justice activist and a champion of gender equality.

Ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday will take place at the Aviva Centre, 1 Shoreham Drive, 91��ɫ, Keele campus. The Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA ceremony on Friday will take place in the McEwen Auditorium, Seymour Schulich Building, also located on the Keele campus.

Here are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Vincent Tao – innovator, entrepreneur and visionary
Doctor of Laws
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 3:30pm – Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health and Lassonde School of Engineering
A founding faculty member of 91��ɫ's Geomatics Engineering program at the Lassonde School of Engineering, Vincent Tao has evolved into a global entrepreneur in the fields of technology, media and the Internet. Growing up in Shanghai, China, Tao moved to Canada in 1995 and proceeded to change the global approach to technology.

His pioneering research in the field of geomatics led to Tao's work with spatial mapping, and eventually to the development of 3D mapping software – a precursor to Google Earth. In 2005, he was invited by Microsoft to join Bill Gates' strategic program – Internet mapping. After a career at Microsoft, Tao founded PPTV, which is now China's leading online TV provider, with more than 320 million users. In 2014, he founded Z Ventures Group, designed to invest and develop companies in the fields of technology, media and the Internet.

Tao has continued to author hundreds of papers and holds a number of patents. He has received many awards, most specifically, the 2016 Top 30 Tech Investor, and the Ernst & Young Most Impactful Entrepreneur Award. He currently holds adjunct professor positions with five international universities and sits on the board of a student-oriented charity organization in China. From 2001 to 2006, Tao was honoured with a Canada Research Chair professorship at 91��ɫ.

As a technological visionary, Tao embodies the admirable qualities of a leader, innovator and entrepreneur. He inspires new generations with his groundbreaking research because he recognizes the importance of education to change the world.

Rudy Bratty – solicitor, developer, philanthropist and inspirational business leader
Doctor of Laws
Thursday, Oct. 19, 10:30am – Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies – I
Referred to as 'The Man Who Built Toronto', Rudy Bratty is synonymous with real estate development in Southern Ontario and indeed throughout Canada. Born in Toronto in 1932, Bratty was building and selling homes by the age of 17 to finance his education at the University of Toronto. He then obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School before being called to the bar in 1957, and was eventually appointed Queen's Counsel in 1970.

With his legal career focused on real estate and development law, Bratty expanded his interests by serving on sports, entertainment, and publishing boards including Canada Trust Company, Financial Post, Toronto Blue Jays, Cineplex Odeon, and Brampton Brick. He has also served on several hospital boards including St. Michael's Hospital, the North 91��ɫ General Hospital Foundation, and the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre.

A notable philanthropist, Bratty has supported Toronto's cultural communities for decades. As a result, he has an extensive list of accolades, including a star on the Italian Walk of Fame, Queen Elizabeth II Gold and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Human Relations Award by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, and the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association's Business Excellence Award.

He is the son of Italian immigrants, and so it is fitting that wing of the museum in Halifax's Pier 21 is dedicated the Rudolph P. Bratty Exhibition Hall. Bratty is a community leader who has pursued excellence in business and community service, and he continues to improve Canada with his generosity.

Angela Robertson – social justice activist and advocate for women's and low-income people's rights
Doctor of Laws
Thursday, Oct. 19, 3:30pm – School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, Faculty of Environmental Studies, and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies – II
Dedicated to people and communities facing discrimination, poverty and marginalization, Angela Robertson is a passionate feminist leader whose activism and career is focused on community support. A proud 91��ɫ alumna, Robertson is the type of action-person that cities yearn to have on their frontlines.

Beginning in the 1990s, Robertson worked as an editor of social issues manuscripts at Women's Educational Press, served as an advisor to the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, was a manager at Homes First Society and the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, and was the executive director of Sistering – A Woman's Place for more than a decade. Since then, she has expanded this impressive resume to include a directorship at Women's College Hospital, and is currently the executive director of Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre. Each vocation benefited from her undiminished passion and leadership.

Whether the challenge is battling the feminization of poverty, the struggles of the homeless, LGBTQ rights, racism, or eliminating the stigma of HIV/AIDS, Robertson has embraced the task. She has been recognized with a number of awards including: the Urban Alliance on Race Relations Award, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Social Change, the Rubena Willis Women of Distinction Award for work on violence against women, the Women's Post Top 20 Women of 2010 Award, and the Fred Victor Centre Mary Sheffield Award for work addressing poverty and homelessness in the City of Toronto. She has also been recognized by Toronto's NOW Magazine as one of the top 10 community activists on social justice issues and one of six Toronto LGBTQ heroes worth celebrating. She is co-editor with Ena Dua of the book Scratching the Surface: Canadian Anti-Racist Feminist Thought.

A proponent for equity and justice, Robertson embodies the principles of 91��ɫ and is an inspiration for all members of society.

Ronald Mock – corporate leader, investment guru and champion of gender equality
Doctor of Laws
Friday, Oct. 20, 10am – Schulich School of Business: Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA
As one of Canada's most influential CEOs, Ronald Mock has balanced his career with financial success and social responsibility. A proud 91��ɫ alumnus and member of the Schulich School of Business Dean's Advisory Council, Mock insists "Business is always about the people.”

Starting his career as an electrical engineer with Ontario Hydro, Mock worked in a variety of areas, including nuclear safety and licensing for the Pickering and Bruce nuclear generating stations. He eventually moved into the investment field and served with Burns Fry (now BMW Nesbitt Burns), and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Montreal Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade before founding Phoenix Research and Trading.

In 2001, he joined the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan before accepting the position of President and CEO in 2014. Since then, Mock has captained one of the world's largest pension funds that now encompass $171 billion in assets vested globally.

Earlier this year, Mock was named a Champion of Change by Women in Capital Markets, for his dedication to gender equality representation. A tireless champion of socially ethical business operations, Mock is an excellent example that positive change can start from the top.

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 Contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 736 5543, wallsj@yorku.ca

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