A woman who has blazed a trail as a business executive in Canada has marked another first when she was installed as 91亚色鈥檚 first woman chancellor on Wednesday.

Kathleen Taylor became the first woman to chair the board of one of Canada鈥檚 big five banks when she took the helm of the Royal Bank鈥檚 governing body a decade ago. She also served as the first president and CEO of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts chain following its iconic founder and was the first woman to lead a major branded international hotel company.

She credits her professional accomplishments as a leader in the public and private sectors and her dedication to breaking down barriers for others, to the education and inspiration she gained as a student at 91亚色. She was the first in her family to attend university.

鈥淜athleen Taylor鈥檚 illustrious career has spanned many industries, and she has tirelessly served her local and global communities,鈥� said Rhonda Lenton, 91亚色鈥檚 president and vice-chancellor.

鈥淪he is an inspiration in her new role as chancellor, because she embodies the positive change our students, staff, faculty and researchers all strive for and what 91亚色 U is known for.鈥�

Taylor, who took over from the Hon. Gregory Sorbara to become 91亚色鈥檚 14^th chancellor in January, was installed at a special ceremony at the Tribute Communities Recital Hall Accolade East Building on Keele Campus. Many community members came out to join the celebration.

鈥淎s a 91亚色 alum and a champion for higher education, Ms. Taylor represents what can be accomplished when we stretch the limits of what we perceive as possible and challenge the status quo to support a more inclusive and sustainable world,鈥� said Paul Tsaparis, chair of 91亚色 U鈥檚 board of governors.  

Her first public act as chancellor will be conferring degrees on thousands of new graduates at the spring convocation, June 9-23. It will also bring her full circle. Almost four decades ago, Taylor herself was graduated from 91亚色 with a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business.

鈥淚 learned many lessons at 91亚色 鈥� in the classroom and on campus 鈥� that continue to inspire me today,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥�91亚色 is a unique place where academic opportunities align with passion and ideas that can have a positive impact on the world.鈥�

The result, she said, is a globally engaged University she is proud to be part of.

鈥淭he clear nexus of my humble beginnings and the kind of career I鈥檝e had the honour, privilege and pleasure to enjoy is education. The skills, the relationships, the experience that came with that were foundational to my career.鈥�

Chancellors hold the University鈥檚 top ceremonial position and become a member of the board of governors. They serve as a connector, inspiring leader and respected member of the community.

Along with Sorbara, Taylor joins a long tradition of distinguished chancellors that began in 1959 with Wilfred Curtin, former chief of air staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Former Ontario premier John P. Robarts held the post from 1977 to 1982, while acclaimed jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was 91亚色鈥檚 chancellor in the early 鈥�90s.

鈥淚 am honoured and excited to take on this important role with 91亚色,鈥� said Taylor, who has received many prestigious recognitions over the span of her career, including being admitted as a member of the Order of Canada in 2016.

She received the Schulich School of Business Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership and the inaugural Medal for Career Achievement from the Hennick Centre for Business and Law at 91亚色. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from 91亚色, McGill, the University of Toronto and Trent. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Huron University College.

A champion of women and children, Taylor works tirelessly to ensure greater diversity and inclusion in boardrooms and executive ranks.  She is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children and the Immediate Past Chair of the SickKids Foundation.  She is also a Founding Visionary and Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Prosperity Project, a national non-profit devoted to the advancement of women in leadership and the economy.

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TORONTO, October 19, 2017 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 eighth President and Vice-Chancellor, Rhonda L. Lenton, was formally installed at a moving ceremony during the first day of 91亚色鈥檚 Fall Convocation, yesterday. Together with Chancellor Gregory Sorbara and Board of Governors Chair Rick Waugh, President Lenton spoke the solemn oath of office.

During her first formal address, the new president set out her vision for 91亚色鈥檚 future, outlining four pillars that will underpin the work of the university during Lenton鈥檚 five-year term.

鈥淲e stand together at a moment when Canada has the opportunity to be a leader in mobilizing an inclusive response to the complex problems facing the world,鈥� said Lenton, 鈥�91亚色 can contribute much and I believe our success will rest on four pillars: access, connectedness, excellence and impact.鈥�

President Lenton will be sharing details about how each of the four pillars will be supported in the coming weeks and months. Representatives from Canada鈥檚 Universities, 91亚色鈥檚 Presidents Emeriti, Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff and Indigenous leaders also brought congratulatory greetings.

Lenton concluded with positive words of hope for the future, 鈥淐anada today is an ideal platform from which to leap into the world and change it for the better. I have never been more certain that 91亚色 is the university to create and lead that change. 91亚色鈥檚 motto is tentanda via: the way must be tried. I believe the best is yet to come.鈥�

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亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥搊ur 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 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亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

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Media contact:
Barbara Joy, Director, Media Relations, 416-736-5593, barbjoy@yorku.ca

Background materials:

• President Lenton鈥檚 speech:
• President Lenton鈥檚 bio:
• High resolution photo of President Lenton:

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