More than 200 people, many of them senior educators, members of the community and representatives of government agencies, joined with 91亚色 faculty and students in celebrating the launch of the Faculty of Education鈥檚 first Organized Research Unit (ORU), the 91亚色 Centre for Education & Community (YCEC), on Oct. 22. The successful event was held at the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre in the Accolade East building.
Left: Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario's former minister of children and youth services, with Carl James, director of the 91亚色 Centre for Education & Community
As an ORU, the centre will be involved in research activities on the appropriate and efficient delivery of educational programs in both formal and informal educational settings.
In their remarks at the event, Alice Pitt, dean of the Faculty of Education, and Carl James, the Centre鈥檚 director, noted that the YCEC builds on the Faculty of Education鈥檚 more than 17 years of experience working in Jane-Finch schools and the community, as well as in the outer suburban schools. James also noted that the centre continues 91亚色鈥檚 history of being socially responsible, community-minded and accessible to members of communities, giving attention to interdisciplinarity, diversity, social justice and equality of opportunity.
The evening鈥檚 entertainment was provided by the talented stage band from Emery Collegiate Institute, a school in the 91亚色-Westview Partnership. As host of the event, James welcomed Amos Key, executive director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, who gave the invocation in recognition of the Aboriginal peoples of this territory. Key, who is also a faithkeeper from the Mohawk Turtle Clan of Six Nations of the Grand River, is one of 10 members of the Centre鈥檚 advisory council who were in attendance.
Left: Amos Key
Speakers for the evening included Rhonda Lenton, associate vice-president, academic, who brought greetings from the Office of the President and 91亚色鈥檚 senior administration, Pitt and Stephen Gaetz, associate dean of research & field development. Pitt also recognized special guests, including former MP Jean Augustine, Ontario鈥檚 fairness commissioner and sponsor of the new Jean Augustine Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment in the Faculty of Education.
Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario鈥檚 former minister of children and youth services and former minister of training, colleges and universities, gave the keynote address, titled 鈥淎ccess to Opportunity 鈥 an imperative not to be ignored鈥. Chambers spoke about the gap between young people鈥檚 dreams and their achievements, and of the need for healthy communities that will lead to productive, inclusive and effective educational programs and practices.
Chambers complimented the Faculty of Education for taking the crucial step of inaugurating the 91亚色 Centre for Education & Community. She also expressed her hope that all involved in the centre will demonstrate a commitment to building stronger communities by conducting and disseminating widely research that engages communities in exploring all possibilities for helping young people achieve their full potential. Chambers ended by challenging educators and researchers to be passionate and committed community builders.
The 91亚色 Centre for Education & Community was established to enable, support and encourage opportunities for collaborative inquiry and innovative programs among faculty members, education researchers, educational administrators, teachers and learners, community and government agencies, and graduate students. Through collaborative research and initiatives, the centre will also contribute to the development of policies, programs and practices in education that strengthen the intricate links that exist between education and community.
For example, the YCEC, in partnership with the Elementary Teachers鈥 Federation of Ontario through the Equity and Women鈥檚 Services Department, will host a one-day workshop on Nov. 17 to encourage Grade 7 & 8 students from under-represented groups to consider a career in teaching. Students will learn about the teaching profession and how to become a teacher in Ontario. Participating teachers will have the opportunity to find out about programs in their areas that support such initiatives.
The YCEC together with the Toronto District School Board is conducting a three-year project titled School and Community Engaged Education (SCEE), initiated in 2008. The SCEE project team works with teachers in five schools to develop more inclusive curriculum and programs that are responsive to students鈥 cultural, social and economic needs, interests and circumstances, thereby improving students鈥 participation and achievement in schools. The idea is that an inclusive approach to curriculum and pedagogy correlates with an understanding of community life and the experiences of students.
To find out more, visit the YCEC Web site, where a 33-minute audio file of is also available.
From YFile - 91亚色's daily e-bulletin