The 91亚色 community is celebrating an important phase in the construction of its new Markham Campus, as the final structural I-beam was placed 鈥� completing the building鈥檚 frame. 

The recent ceremony was marked by the announcement of a $5-million donation from Metropia, presented by Metropia founder and CEO Howard Sokolowski, a 91亚色 alumnus. In honour of this generous gift, which will go toward the capital construction costs of the campus, 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton announced that the student life centre will be named the Metropia Student Success Centre.   

鈥淚 was a student at 91亚色 50 years ago, when it was an emerging institution in North 91亚色,鈥� shares Sokolowski. 鈥淪ince then, 91亚色 has grown into an internationally recognized university, and I am so proud to be a part of 91亚色鈥檚 further expansion with a campus in the heart of Markham.鈥�  

Located on the first and second floors of the new building, the Metropia Student Success Centre will be a dynamic and central hub for all student supports and services at Markham Campus. The suite will include the student success and academic advising office, an interfaith centre, multipurpose wellness studio and spaces for academic success, mentoring, counselling and student life. It will also feature areas for student organizations, including student government and clubs, to collaborate and plan events on campus and within the community. 

鈥淗oward is a proud alumnus, and long-time friend and supporter of 91亚色, who has been involved in various capacities throughout the years," Lenton says. "I want to thank Howard for his continued friendship and support of the University, his family and Metropia for this generous donation to support our Markham Campus.鈥�

In addition to honouring Metropia鈥檚 gift, President Lenton thanked partners, including the Government of Ontario, the City of Markham, 91亚色 Region, the R.P. Bratty Family Foundation, as well as valued donors and business partners who are helping to transform this vision into reality. 

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti echoed Lenton鈥檚 thanks, and praised Sokolowski for his passion, drive and commitment to 91亚色 and Markham. 鈥淭here is a responsibility Howard recognizes,鈥� Scarpitti says, 鈥渢o make sure that good things happen in our community.鈥�

Sokolowski sees Markham鈥檚 thriving city centre and growing neighbourhood as a perfect match for 91亚色鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit and curriculum. 鈥淚 care deeply about this community and institution and am so excited to see this project progressing towards opening day,鈥� he concludes.

Gordon Binsted, 91亚色鈥檚 Deputy Provost for Markham Campus, underscores the new campus鈥檚 wide-reaching potential. 鈥淭his gift goes beyond financial support for capital construction of the campus," Binstead says. "It represents the commitment and confidence of our alumni and friends in its success. Markham students will know that their campus was built with community buy in and vested interest in the future.鈥�

The high-tech, research-intensive campus will embed 91亚色 in the heart of one of the most diverse and dynamic urban communities in the province and country, while supporting research and academic programs that reflect the local economy 鈥� offering opportunities for students, faculty and staff to collaborate directly with employers, startups and community partners with a shared commitment to right the future. 

Scarpitti shares his optimism for the positive change Markham Campus students will be inspired to create. 鈥淲e know that our world needs to change, progress, evolve and get better,鈥� he remarks. He adds that as far as he鈥檚 concerned, the real celebration will be when the first cohort of Markham Campus students crosses the convocation stage, before going out in the world and making a difference 鈥� righting the future.

Claire Del Zotto, third-year biology student who resides in 91亚色 Region while studying at 91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus, reflects on how the University鈥檚 science programs available at the new campus will enhance the student experience. 鈥淚 personally found the greatest value in the endless research experiences available to students,鈥� Del Zotto explains. 鈥淥nce the Markham Campus is open in 2024, experiential learning opportunities will be increasingly accessible to students in the sciences and beyond.鈥�

While building of the new campus is well underway, the University is still accepting donations toward the capital construction costs. 鈥淥nce completed,鈥� Del Zotto concludes, 鈥淢arkham Campus will fortify the one-of-a-kind student experience that 91亚色 has worked to build, and ultimately guide thousands of the world鈥檚 future leaders, innovators and visionaries to success.鈥�

The post 91亚色 U honours latest major gift at Markham Campus construction milestone celebration appeared first on News@91亚色.

MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 1, 2023 鈥� Today, President and Vice-Chancellor of 91亚色, Rhonda Lenton, together with dignitaries, University leadership, local community members and philanthropists, marked an important phase in the building of its new Markham Campus with a 鈥榯opping-off ceremony鈥� and the announcement of a $5-million donation toward capital construction costs from Metropia, presented by Howard Sokolowski, a 91亚色 alumnus and the company鈥檚 founder and CEO.

The milestone was recognized with a ceremonial signing of the final beam attended by local dignitaries, University leadership and community members. The final structural I-beam was then lifted and placed by a crane 鈥� completing the building鈥檚 frame. 

Coupled with curtainwall installation up to the fifth level and the completion of the concrete structure, this final beam placement means that interior work to support the campus鈥檚 academic programs and research grounded in core themes of technology and entrepreneurship can progress.

The $5-million donation from Metropia and Howard Sokolowski, a 91亚色 alumnus, will go toward the capital construction costs of the campus. In honour of this generous gift, the student success centre on the first and second floors of the new building will be named the Metropia Student Success Centre.

The Metropia Student Success Centre will be a dynamic and central hub for all student supports and services at Markham Campus. The suite will include the student success and academic advising office, an interfaith centre, multipurpose wellness studio and spaces for academic success, mentoring, counselling and student life. It will also feature areas for student organizations, including student government and clubs, to collaborate and plan events on campus and within the community.

The high-tech, research-intensive campus will embed 91亚色 in the heart of one of the most diverse and dynamic urban communities in the province and country, while supporting research and academic programs that reflect the local economy 鈥� offering opportunities for students, faculty and staff to collaborate directly with employers, startups and community partners with a shared commitment to right the future.

Together with YSpace, the Markham Small Business Centre, the City鈥檚 Economic Development initiatives, and technology companies already based in Markham, this new campus will help foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Markham and the Regional Municipality of 91亚色. It will also attract more skilled, diverse talent to study, work and settle in Markham, further growing the city as a forward-thinking community and a leading technology and innovation hub.

Markham Campus is set to open in Spring 2024. To learn more, visit yorku.ca/markham

QUOTES

鈥�91亚色鈥檚 mission as a progressive and modern university is to drive positive change through the transformative power of 21st century learning, research and innovation, and strong partnerships to enhance the well-being of the communities we serve. Markham Campus will be helping 91亚色 do just that.鈥� 

- Rhonda Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor, 91亚色

鈥淚 was a student at 91亚色 50 years ago, when it was an emerging institution in North 91亚色. Since then, 91亚色 has grown into an internationally recognized university, and I am so proud to be a part of 91亚色鈥檚 further expansion with a campus in the heart of Markham. Markham鈥檚 city centre is a thriving, rapidly growing neighbourhood that is a perfect match for 91亚色鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit and curriculum. I care deeply about this community and institution and am so excited to see this project progressing towards opening day.鈥�

- Howard Sokolowski, Founder and CEO, Metropia

鈥淢arkham Campus is more than a building. It is a tunnel of raw hope and opportunity for the city, the region and ultimately the province and country. The final beam placed on top of the building structure today is the capstone that advances this campus to be a beacon of positive change.鈥�

- Gordon Binsted, Deputy Provost, 91亚色 Markham Campus

鈥淭he City of Markham congratulates 91亚色 on this latest milestone, an important next step in realizing our dream of a post-secondary institution in Markham. The new campus will complement our growing downtown with its beautifully designed architecture and inviting entrance. We look forward to the official opening in 2024.鈥�

- Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham

鈥淎ttracting high-quality post-secondary opportunities has been a long-standing priority for 91亚色 Regional Council and is a key goal in our Economic Development Action Plan. As we celebrate the completion of the 91亚色 Markham Campus structure and Regional Council鈥檚 $25-million capital investment in this project, we look forward to welcoming students to the City of Markham and creating new opportunities for research, innovation and business growth.鈥�

- Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, Regional Municipality of 91亚色

"Congratulations 91亚色 on reaching this significant milestone and for bringing the community, private sector and all levels of government together to support this important project. The new Markham Campus will not only serve as a physical building that provides a space for learning, but also as a foundation for knowledge and lifelong success. Together, we are creating opportunity for the people of 91亚色 Region, giving students access to the best learning environment possible, where they can prepare for their careers and the jobs of the future."

- Hon. Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities

"I am grateful that 91亚色 has chosen Unionville, which is not only well-connected to Toronto but also embraces some vibrant and diverse communities. The 91亚色 Markham Campus will be the first publicly assisted university in the 91亚色 Region. By choosing Unionville and the 91亚色 Region, I have no doubt the university will be rewarded by the many talents in our strong business and tech clusters here. I can't wait to see the positive impact of the new Markham Campus for generations to come."

-    Billy Pang, MPP, Markham - Unionville

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Media Contact:
Kayla Lewis, News Manager & Deputy Spokesperson at lewiskay@yorku.ca or 416.452.0282

91亚色 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亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 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.

The post 91亚色 U celebrates Markham Campus construction milestone and latest major gift appeared first on News@91亚色.

With excitement continuing to build for 91亚色鈥檚 new Markham Campus, more than 50 people recently gathered to mark the unveiling of a community art exhibit called 鈥淩ight The Future.鈥� The carefully curated exhibit has transformed the generic wooden hoarding in front the busy construction site into a public gallery depicting stories representing 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to driving positive change in its communities, and to truth and reconciliation 鈥� while first and foremost honouring the site's which is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

"From time immemorial art was woven through every aspect of traditional Indigenous life, yet in many Indigenous languages, there is no single word for art. Rather concepts of art contained in ancestral languages describe process and movement," said Susan Dion, 91亚色鈥檚 inaugural associate vice-president of Indigenous initiatives, at the exhibit's opening ceremony in the nearby Markham Pan Am Centre on Sept. 28. "Today the definition of Indigenous art continues to expand and evolve, but one thing that is certain, Indigenous peoples are the makers of Indigenous art. It is through the practices of self-representation that we tell of our survival, our presence, and our resistance.鈥�

As Markham continues to grow, it retains a rich history and heritage that informs its future. Acknowledging that with its new campus, 91亚色 will be a part of this tapestry, artists were asked to consider what it means to right the future at the Markham Campus. They were encouraged to contemplate the dimensions of time 鈥� past, present and future 鈥� sustainability, how different academic disciplines merge and reconciliation with Indigenous communities. 91亚色 issued a call for artistic expression last spring, receiving 30 submissions. Eight artworks were selected to be part of the final exhibition. Featured artists received an honorarium per selected image and have been credited on-site as well as in all exhibit materials. The artwork will be displayed on the construction hoarding along Enterprise Blvd. until it is no longer required on site.

鈥淚 think you will agree that we achieved our goal of making the construction hoarding for our new Markham Campus visually appealing as people drive and walk by,鈥� said Rhonda Lenton, 91亚色鈥檚 president and vice-chancellor, at the unveiling ceremony. 鈥淏ut the art goes far beyond beautification 鈥� what you see here tells a series of stories that come from the imaginations and lived experiences of talented artists, all of whom are members of the 91亚色 community.鈥�

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Among the artists are Jasmine Swimmer, an Afro-Indigenous multidisciplinary artist and mother whose work depicts connection between community, identity and resilience, and Marissa Magneson, a Cree-M茅tis artist, photographer, educator and workshop facilitator whose featured ethnographic photograph 鈥淔rozen Chains of Childhood,鈥� reflects on the isolating and immobilizing pain Indigenous children endured in the residential school system. Magneson is pursuing a PhD in Education at 91亚色 this fall and her research explores Indigenous methodologies using beadwork as visual storytelling.

鈥淭his project has truly been a collaborative community public art project 鈥� and it is leading the way in the province on how public spaces and public art is considered by looking at untapped canvasses such as construction hoarding as locations to exhibit arts and culture鈥� and democratizing the communities鈥� access to art by showcasing it in the public realm,鈥� said Anjuli Solanki, the program director for STEPS Public Art, 91亚色鈥檚 partner on the project.

The award-winning charitable public arts organization, prides itself for being at the intersection of public art, city building and community engagement. When it comes to city building and community engagement in Markham, there is now greater champion than Markham's Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

鈥淗ere in the City of Markham, we couldn鈥檛 be prouder to have 91亚色 鈥� we couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the values that are part of your DNA 鈥� and I thank the artists for bringing those to light in a very public way with these wonderful examples of art," remarked Scarpitti. "This is a community that is certainly very proud about speaking the truth and I was so pleased to see that Indigenous art was included in this project. Congratulations to everyone who鈥檚 been involved in this project.鈥�

Scarpitti went on to say that he hopes to see the pieces of art incorporated into the Markham Campus building, once complete.

To learn more about Markham Campus, visit yorku.ca/markham.

The post Creating positive change through artistic expression appeared first on News@91亚色.

Earlier today, the main Markham Centre Campus partners met in Markham to begin a more detailed discussion about the $252 million shovel-ready project.

We remain equally committed to this vitally important project and to working together as we explore all possible options to build the campus.

The campus was designed to meet the聽forecasted steady increase in population growth and the demand for programs in areas like entrepreneurship, commerce, digital media and medical biotechnology, responsive to the emerging labour market needs of 91亚色 Region and Ontario. In the coming weeks, we will be reviewing other means to advance our plans including any adjustments that may be needed regarding the timeline and taking into consideration the fiscal constraints of the province.

A new campus in Markham Centre will be a critical economic generator and community asset for Markham, 91亚色 Region and Ontario.

We all remain steadfast in our commitment to seeing this project through to a successful completion. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from 91亚色 Region residents, current and future students, the business community and the many community groups who share our belief that this infrastructure is essential, valuable and beneficial.

Rhonda L. Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor, 91亚色

David Agnew, President, Seneca

Frank Scarpitti, Mayor, City of Markham

Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, The Regional Municipality of 91亚色

For more information: Barbara Joy, Director, Media Relations barbjoy@yorku.ca, 416-333-3374

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