Alumni Archives - YFile /yfile/tag/alumni/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:03:02 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.10 Explore 91亚色鈥檚 evolving equity story /yfile/2026/10/23/explore-yorks-evolving-equity-story/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:02:58 +0000 /yfile/?p=411003 The 91亚色 Equity Timeline brings together community-identified milestones from across the University鈥檚 history in an interactive resource designed to grow through participation. Find out how to get involved.

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What moments have shaped equity at 91亚色 鈥� and which ones are still waiting to be told? 

The (YET) brings together community-identified milestones from across the University鈥檚 history in an interactive resource designed to grow through participation.聽

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees can explore the timeline, engage with 91亚色鈥檚 equity journey and contribute perspectives that can help the timeline continue to grow. 

Built with contributions from 91亚色 community members, the timeline captures experiences and developments that have helped shape equity at 91亚色. Milestones range from incremental changes to bold initiatives and may relate to particular social issues, identity groups, academic or staff units, or have broader relevance across the University. 

The project builds on a community consultation launched in 2025 that invited submission of events, initiatives and experiences. 聽

The digital timeline allows visitors to navigate an interactive collection of key moments across 91亚色's history, search by topic and learn more about the events, initiatives and experiences included. 

Community members can provide instant feedback on milestones by selecting a reaction, sharing reflections and suggesting additions. 

Feedback is reviewed by the YET team and helps inform the timeline鈥檚 continued development of an engaging living resource that encourages storytelling, connection and dialogue across generations of the 91亚色 community. 

The project traces its roots back to 91亚色's founding vision. At his installation as the University's first president, Murray Ross described 91亚色 as a "new university" with a responsibility to foster social progress, critical thinking and human development. The timeline invites community members to consider how that vision has taken shape through decades of collective action. 

"This timeline, created by 91亚色 community members, charts the University's path toward equity, starting with its founding," says Laina Bay-Cheng, interim provost and vice-president academic, who led the project in her former role as vice-president equity, people and culture.  

"I hope it helps people reflect on how far we've come, celebrates moments where 91亚色 has led the way and reinforces the next steps toward equity.鈥� 

The project supports 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to advancing decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion across the institution. It recognizes the work reflected in 91亚色鈥檚 DEDI Strategy while highlighting the decades of contributions from the community who have helped shape a more equitable University.听听聽

聽"The timeline is a creative way to bring together different perspectives on what equity means, how we can advance it and how we measure progress across the 91亚色 community," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president, equity, people and culture.听听

"I hope it helps build a shared sense of pride and belonging and encourages people to stay involved." 

For Bay-Cheng, one of the strengths of the project lies in its ability to place individual moments within a broader story of institutional change. 

"I know from my own research how meaningful life history calendar methodologies can be. Creating a timeline isn't just about identifying events, it's a chance to see past experiences in context: what came before, what was going on at the same time and what came after," she says.  

"The timeline allows us to understand the history of equity at 91亚色 and to consider what we want it to be in the future." 

The 91亚色 Equity Timeline is a living project that grows through community participation. While it captures many significant moments in 91亚色's history, community members are encouraged to continue contributing milestones, stories and perspectives that help tell a fuller story of the University's ongoing pursuit of equity. 

Explore the .

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President celebrates Fall Convocation鈥檚 Class of 2026聽 /yfile/2026/10/23/president-celebrates-fall-convocations-class-of-2026/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:56:57 +0000 /yfile/?p=410836 91亚色 Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps shares congratulations and a message of inspiration with the Class of 2026.

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Voir la version fran莽aise

The following is an edited version of the speech delivered by 91亚色 Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps to the Class of 2026 at this year鈥檚 Fall Convocation ceremonies.听听

To the exceptional Class of 2026, my warmest congratulations to you all. Today is yours, you did it, and I am honoured to celebrate it with you. 

This ceremony will close one chapter of your life, and speaking for myself, I know I spend a lot of time racing ahead to the future and planning what鈥檚 next. Today, however, I鈥檓 hoping you can slow down a little, be present here with people who know and care about you as an individual and reflect on your accomplishments. Getting here today was no trifling matter, and you grew a lot on your way to this milestone.    

You鈥檙e graduating at a very particular time when our long-standing assumptions about the world seem to be upended on a daily basis. You may be surprised to hear that I believe this is the perfect time for you as a 91亚色 graduate to carve out a future that is full of meaning and possibility. The world needs your talents more than ever. Systems and institutions we once took for granted are again up for grabs. The solutions of yesterday are not always the ones we need for tomorrow. And, you are the very people we need to reinvent them, to create new ways of doing things that step beyond the threshold of what previous generations of graduates could see.   

Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps congratulates a 91亚色 graduate crossing the stage.

I don鈥檛 want to deny this is a time of risk in human and planetary history 鈥� it is. Therefore, it is also a time when the actions and agency and voice of the next generation of leaders really matter. I am also confident that you are prepared and ready to create that better future for yourselves, your families and your communities. Because, during your time here, you did far more than complete courses or acquire technical knowledge. You learned how to learn, how to think independently, rigorously and from multiple perspectives. You learned how to formulate good questions, and asking better questions is a vital step in designing the best possible version of ourselves and our world.  

I know this firsthand, because I too am a proud 91亚色 alumna. My education here took me beyond what was familiar. It introduced me to people and ideas that challenged and widened my view of the world. And that foundation has served me well ever since.  

That happens at 91亚色 because diverse lived experiences and ways of knowing come together here. This creates an advantage for you, because the problems you will be asked to work on will not arrive labelled by academic discipline. Climate change does not belong to one faculty. Neither does inequality, public health or the future of work. 

The same is true of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or quantum computing. The real question is what kind of society we want to build as these technologies develop. That is a human question. Answering it takes judgment and creativity, looking at problems from many different angles, seeing how they connect. It takes the ability to understand someone whose experience differs from yours, and to work with people even when you disagree. These qualities have always mattered.  

91亚色's founding president, Murray Ross, saw this coming more than 60 years ago. He warned of 鈥渢he threat of the automation of man鈥� (and by 鈥榤an鈥� he meant people) and urged us to protect human imagination, empathy and shared values. He understood that technological change always comes back to people: who we choose to be, and what kind of world we choose to create. 

As 91亚色 graduates, you carry something with you that cannot be downloaded or automated: the capacity to build human relationships, to navigate complexity with integrity and to bring people together around difficult problems. In a world too often still marked by polarization and injustice, those qualities are not just valuable 鈥� they are essential.  

Technology will continue to evolve. Industries will shift. Some roles will change in ways none of us can fully anticipate. But the foundation you have built here 鈥� the habits of mind, the networks, the resilience, the instinct to ask 鈥淗ow can I open a door for others?鈥� and 鈥淗ow could I do this better next time?鈥� 鈥� that is yours. And it will serve you across every stage of what comes next. 

I urge you never to stop questioning, learning and staying open to views different from your own. At the same time, listen to your own honest inner voice. I guarantee you can do more than you think today, and when an opportunity comes that stretches you, take the leap and trust yourself to figure it out. 

While you may not know exactly what the next chapter holds, you are ready to write it 鈥� with courage, curiosity and purpose. We are all immensely proud of you. 

F茅licitations, congratulations, class of 2026. Bonne chance. Merci. Miigwetch. 

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Kristian Alexander challenges grads to build the future聽 /yfile/2026/10/21/kristian-alexander-challenges-grads-to-build-the-future/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:11:54 +0000 /yfile/?p=410755 Honorary degree recipient Kristian Alexander challenges 91亚色 graduates to trust their ideas, take risks and build opportunities that do not yet exist.

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Internationally acclaimed conductor Kristian Alexander encouraged graduands to embrace creativity, take risks and build opportunities as he accepted an honorary doctor of letters degree during a 91亚色 Fall Convocation ceremony on Oct. 15. 

Alexander is a music director of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra and Orion Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the Markham Contemporary Music Festival and the International Music Competition. Having led hundreds of orchestral and operatic performances, he has built a reputation for championing artistic excellence, cultural exchange and opportunities for emerging musicians. Through his leadership, mentorship and community initiatives, he has helped expand access to the arts for more than 1,000 young people, including neurodiverse youth, at-risk youth and students from low-income families. 

鈥淔or more than three decades, Maestro Kristian Alexander has dedicated his life to advancing the role of music in education and social connection,鈥� said Brandon Vickerd, dean, (AMPD).  

鈥淭hrough his work as a conductor, educator, scholar and humanitarian, he has enriched the cultural life in Canada and around the world, inspiring audiences, artists and communities alike.鈥� 

Chancellor Kathleen Taylor, Kristian Alexander and Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

Addressing graduands from AMPD and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Alexander reflected on a career spent building artistic institutions and creating new opportunities for musicians and audiences alike. 

He recalled his time as a young conducting student who envisioned a different kind of orchestra at a time when the practice was largely defined by tradition and established structures. 

"I wanted to develop an orchestra that could make its own artistic decisions, one that could operate according to a different model," he said. "There was no such orchestra, so I decided to create one." 

What began as an idea eventually grew into an internationally recognized organization, though not without setbacks and moments of self-doubt. The experience, he said, taught him lessons about perseverance, leadership and innovation. 

"You don't always have to find your place in an existing institution," he said. "Sometimes you can create the institution yourself, and sometimes the fact that something is difficult is precisely why it must be done." 

Almost 20 years later, he applied the same philosophy when he founded the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, despite warnings that the venture was too ambitious or unlikely to succeed. 

"When you believe in an idea, you must have the courage to make it happen and trust that others will join you," he said. 

Alexander noted that creating something new is only one part of the process; equally important is ensuring it can grow, adapt and continue to evolve through the contributions of others. 

"As graduates, you have enormous opportunities to create, but creation is not about keeping something under your care forever,鈥� he said. 

鈥淭here comes a point when the most important thing you can do for what you have created is to allow others to shape it, to carry it forward, to make it their own.鈥� 

That philosophy informed his advice to graduands preparing to enter an uncertain and rapidly changing world. Rather than feeling constrained by traditional career paths, he encouraged them to recognize the possibilities that emerge when existing models no longer meet people's needs. Alexander encouraged graduands to think big and to see uncertainty as an opportunity for innovation.聽

鈥淵ou have spent all of these years learning how to create, to imagine, to question, to experiment, to make something real,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow you are standing at the beginning of something higher. A world that is waiting for you.鈥� 

Alexander concluded by urging graduands to trust their ideas, take risks and embrace the responsibility of building the future. 

"When you leave here today, carry two questions with you: What is missing, and what could I create?" he said. "Don't wait for permission. Don't wait for the right moment. Don't wait until you feel completely ready. 

"Create what doesn't exist. Nurture it. Build it. Give it everything you have." 

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Learn from failure, Bill Graham advises graduands聽 /yfile/2026/10/21/learn-from-failure-bill-graham-advises-graduands/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:09:19 +0000 /yfile/?p=410781 Schulich alum and business leader Bill Graham encouraged graduating students to embrace failure as a lesson after receiving an honorary degree from 91亚色.

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Honorary doctor of laws recipient Bill Graham shared lessons on leadership, responsible business and giving back during a 91亚色 Fall Convocation ceremony Oct. 16 celebrating graduates of the and . 

Graham's career has spanned more than five decades across the financial services, technology and automotive sectors. He was the founding chief executive officer of Proponix Inc., a global financial technology company, and previously held senior leadership positions with Citibank in Canada and Asia. 

As a Schulich alum, Graham has been a key contributor to the University. Serving for more than two decades as president of the Schulich Global Alumni Network, Graham has supported generations of students through mentorship, philanthropy and alumni engagement. 

Introducing him during convocation, Schulich Associate Professor Emerita Lorna Wright described him as "one of the school's most dedicated and influential alumni" and highlighted his long-standing commitment to creating opportunities for others. 

"Bill's legacy can ultimately be measured not only by the distinguished career he built, but by the many people he has helped along the way," she said. 

In his address to graduands, Graham reflected on the two lasting gifts Schulich provides its graduates: access to a global alumni network and a foundation in responsible business leadership. 

Chancellor Kathleen Taylor, Bill Graham and Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

He encouraged graduates to view the school鈥檚 network of more than 38,000 alumni as a valuable resource for building relationships, accessing advice and learning from others鈥� experiences.  

鈥淥ver the last 40 years, I've used this network extensively, and what I found in almost all the cases were alumni who were willing to connect with me and build a relationship because it was valuable to them as well,鈥� he said.   

Graham reminded graduands to support future generations of alumni and students. 

"It is important to recognize that this ... is reciprocal," he said. "It comes with a responsibility to give back, support and advise your fellow alumni and future students." 

Turning to the lessons he learned throughout his own journey, Graham reflected on his career in global financial services, using the rise and fall of Citibank and Citigroup to illustrate why responsible business practices, ethical leadership and a commitment to society are essential to long-term success. 

鈥淚t's not just the right thing to do; it is the smart and successful thing to do,鈥� he told graduands, encouraging them to carry the principles of responsible business into their professional and personal lives. 

Successful organizations must look beyond financial performance to consider their employees, governance, ethics, the environment and the communities in which they operate, he said. While generating profits remains important to sustaining a business and attracting investment, he cautioned against making shareholder returns an organization's sole priority. 

鈥淲hen that becomes your only focus, that so-called shareholder model drives adverse behaviours as well as negative value and cultural shifts that benefits no one, including the shareholders,鈥� he said.聽

He recalled the cultural and leadership shifts that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis and said that organizations can lose sight of their purpose when financial performance becomes the sole measure of success. 

"It is said that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, and we did learn from the failures of 2008," he said. 

Graham noted the crisis accelerated the rise of modern responsible business practices, which seek to strengthen the relationship between business and society while creating sustainable value. 

Addressing the next generation of leaders, he emphasized that the principles taught at Schulich and 91亚色 will only matter if they choose to apply them. 

In closing, Graham reminded the graduating class to use knowledge and responsibility to shape the future. 

"You are now going to be those people. You are now going to be those leaders," he said. "Schulich has given you the tools. Now go out and use them." 

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Passings: Nollaig MacKenzie聽 /yfile/2026/10/21/passings-nollaig-mackenzie/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:06:26 +0000 /yfile/?p=410800 Long-time Glendon College philosophy scholar Nollaig MacKenzie is remembered for his contributions to teaching, research and the University community.

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Long-time philosophy scholar Nollaig MacKenzie, associate professor emeritus at 91亚色's Glendon College, has died.

Born in Scotland, MacKenzie immigrated to Canada during childhood where he was raised in Duncan, B.C. He studied at the University of British Columbia, where he earned a BA and continued his study of philosophy at Cornell University, where he earned a PhD.

Nollaig MacKenzie
Nollaig MacKenzie

He joined Glendon College as a professor of philosophy in 1967 during the formative years of 91亚色 and one year after the Glendon campus was officially inaugurated. 

MacKenzie's work explored logic, social contract theory, utilitarianism and the structural aspects of human thought. His teaching and research centred on evaluating how humans construct logical arguments, detecting flaws in reasoning and examining principles of social justice 鈥� specifically drawing from John Rawls's theories. He published and lectured on these topics, making important contributions to the field of philosophy. 

His work often intersected with that of his wife, Ann MacKenzie, who also served Glendon as an associate professor of philosophy. The couple collaborated on several projects, specifically for historical research on philosophical concepts.聽

In addition to his scholarship, MacKenzie was deeply rooted in the community and identity of Glendon College. He was also immersed in community life, participating as a member of the Glendon Faculty Soccer Team. 

In June聽2026, the Ann and Nollaig MacKenzie Award聽for聽undergraduate students聽was formally presented to the 91亚色 Senate. The award was聽established by Glendon graduate Robert Stainton (BA'87, Hon. BA'88)聽to honour the MacKenzies as his聽professors and advisors. It will support undergraduate students at Glendon who are in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need.聽

After retirement, MacKenzie returned to Vancouver Island. He spent those years with family and friends, and learning how to play the piano. 

He is survived by his Ann, his wife of 58 years, and his brother Will (Sandra), sister Winnie and sister Fiona Middlemiss (Barry), seven nieces, two nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.  

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Flavio Volpe urges 91亚色 grads to lead responsibly聽 /yfile/2026/10/16/flavio-volpe-urges-york-grads-to-lead-responsibly/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 20:32:37 +0000 /yfile/?p=410684 Schulich alum Flavio Volpe returned to 91亚色 for Fall Convocation, sharing lessons on ambition, gratitude and responsibility with graduates.

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alum and business leader Flavio Volpe returned to 91亚色 to accept an honorary doctor of laws during an Oct. 14 Fall Convocation ceremony. 

Volpe is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers鈥� Association, representing one of Canada鈥檚 largest manufacturing sectors. A leading voice on industrial policy, trade and economic competitiveness, he has played a prominent role in advancing Canadian manufacturing interests and strengthening the country鈥檚 automotive supply chain.  

Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023, he serves on both the Prime Minister鈥檚 Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and the Ontario Premier鈥檚 Council on U.S. Trade and Investment. 

Volpe has built a career at the intersection of industry, public policy and public service, said Siu Ning (Sunny) Leung, vice-dean, faculty and inclusive excellence, Lassonde School of Engineering. 

Flavio Volpe delivering an address to graduands.

鈥淧rogress takes more than good ideas; it takes people who can bring others together and turn those ideas into action,鈥� said Leung. 鈥淔ew careers demonstrate that more clearly than that of Flavio Volpe.鈥澛�

After accepting an honorary degree before graduands of , Glendon College, and the Faculties of , Education and Science, Volpe reflected on the family and experiences that shaped his journey. 

Returning to 91亚色 nearly three decades after completing his MBA, he said one lesson had become increasingly clear over time: "Nobody gets here alone.鈥�   

That lesson, he noted, was rooted in his own family's connection to 91亚色. Before Volpe earned his degree, his mother, Mirala, returned to school as a mature student while raising four children, becoming the first university graduate in her family.  

鈥淗er effort and her success were both a warning and an inspiration,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he was showing us, through her own work, what we could and should ask of ourselves.鈥�  

Volpe encouraged graduands to recognize the family members, teachers, friends and mentors who helped them reach this milestone, and reminded them that opportunity comes with responsibility.  

Chancellor Kathleen Taylor, Flavio Volpe and Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

"Your education gives you tools. What you do with those tools gives meaning," he said. 鈥淵ou are graduating in different disciplines. You will help communities understand themselves and the world. Your work will affect people you may never meet.鈥� 

Looking back on his own career, Volpe recalled representing Canada's automotive manufacturing sector and the importance of keeping people at the centre of decision-making. 

"When I visit an office or a factory, I see skill, ingenuity, investment. I also see people paying their mortgages and raising their kids and making plans." 

He pointed to the automotive sector's response during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he led efforts to shift production to ventilators and personal protective equipment, as an example of people coming together to solve urgent challenges. 

"When you have the ability to help, you have a responsibility to try," he said. 

Volpe also shared insights from Project Arrow, the nation's first all-Canadian zero-emission concept vehicle created to showcase Canadian technology, talent and innovation. Drawing on this example, he challenged graduands to think boldly about their futures and ability to make an impact. 

"You do not have to shrink your ambition to fit somebody else's assumptions about you," he said. "Confidence does not require you to have every answer; it requires you to believe that your effort can make a difference, and to be willing to learn from the people who sit beside you. I hope you leave 91亚色 with that confidence." 

Volpe encouraged the graduating class to carry forward both the opportunities they have received and the responsibility that comes with them. 

"Wherever you go, carry that responsibility with you. Make room for someone else. Share what you know. Stand up when it would be easier to sit down and be quiet." 

He concluded with a reminder about the values that matter most as graduates begin the next chapter of their lives. 

"Keep your kindness. Keep your honesty. Keep your loyalty to the people who trust you, be ambitious about what you can accomplish and thoughtful about who benefits when you do," he said. 

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Bruce Kidd calls on grads to champion change聽 /yfile/2026/10/16/bruce-kidd-calls-on-grads-to-champion-change/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 20:29:35 +0000 /yfile/?p=410699 After receiving an honorary degree from 91亚色, Olympian, educator and advocate Bruce Kidd encouraged graduands to advance inclusive, equitable change in their work and lives.

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Scholar, educator and Olympic athlete Bruce Kidd received an honorary doctor of laws from 91亚色 on Oct. 14 and shared a message of advocacy, inclusion and social responsibility with the graduating class. 

Kidd is a professor emeritus and founding dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education whose career has influenced sport and physical education in Canada. A member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and an Officer of the Order of Canada, Kidd has spent more than five decades advocating for human rights and athletes' rights while advancing national sport initiatives.  

Parissa Safai, vice-president equity, people and culture, introduced Kidd as 鈥渁n internationally recognized expert on sport history, policy and political economy,鈥� during the Fall Convocation ceremony. 

鈥淲e honour your commitment to the physical, social and civic well-being of people and communities around the world, and your call to protect access to sport and physical education for all,鈥� she said.聽

In his address to graduands, Kidd reflected on a lifelong connection to 91亚色. His father, educator J. Roby Kidd, was among the University's founders and helped champion its commitment to accessibility, inclusion and innovative approaches to learning. 

Chancellor Kathleen Taylor, Bruce Kidd and Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

Recalling stories he heard around the family dinner table, Kidd said he grew up listening to discussions about the creation of 91亚色 and its mission to serve students whose educational goals might otherwise be out of reach. 

"In the 66 years since, 91亚色 has realized those visions and prospered far beyond the dreams of its founders," he said. "And it's always retained its progressive focus. I followed your fortunes with a son's pride ever since." 

Kidd also reflected on his own time as a 91亚色 graduate student and shared a formative piece of advice he received from economics professor Ian Macdonald. 

"I said, 'Professor Macdonald, can I still be a world-class athlete and a top student at the same time?' And he smiled and said, 'You'll never know unless you try.'" 

That willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities became one of the central themes of his address. 

"Always have a plan, but when an intriguing opportunity comes along that you never expected, and it looks interesting, give it a try," he said. 

Having competed at a time when athletes were expected to remain silent on social and political issues, Kidd said he came to recognize the inequalities that existed within sport and began using his platform to advocate for change. 

Drawing on experiences that included competing at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games following South Africa's expulsion over apartheid policies, Kidd became involved in the international campaign against apartheid sport, a movement that helped isolate the regime from global competition. 

"The lesson is wherever you can, be it in sport, health, education, or something else, be aware of your circumstances and employ that knowledge to advance progressive change," he said. 

"The challenges are daunting, but there's always something you can do to include the unjustly excluded, and call out unfairness," he said. 

Turning to the struggles facing society today, Kidd encouraged Faculty of Health graduands to use their education and expertise to address two issues he considers urgent public health concerns: declining rates of physical activity and the rise of sports betting and online gambling. 

鈥淎s your lives after graduation become even more stressful, don't forget that we are embodied creatures,鈥� he said.  

鈥淏e sure to develop a regime of physical activity and healthy eating that gives you pleasure and satisfaction for yourself and your families help realize such opportunities for the entire community.鈥� 

Kidd encouraged graduands to combine professional excellence with a commitment to social responsibility as they move into the next step of their journeys. 

"Today, more than ever, we need professionals in every field who will not only be very good at what you do, but look out for others and serve as beacons for innovative, effective, inclusive and equitable change."

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Virtual Qaggiq game supports Inuit youth mental health聽 /yfile/2026/10/14/virtual-qaggiq-game-supports-inuit-youth-mental-health/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:57:14 +0000 /yfile/?p=410649 A video game co-created by 91亚色 and Inuit youth is bringing culture, community and mental health strategies together to help young people build coping skills and resilience.聽

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Rooted in Inuit knowledge and shaped by Inuit youth, a 91亚色-led research project is using a culturally grounded video game to support mental health and well-being.

The five-year , funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), brought together more than 61 Inuit youth researchers, Elders, cultural advisors, musicians, artists and voice actors to co-create a psycho-educational video game grounded in Inuit knowledge and culture.

Led by Professor Yvonne Bohr at 91亚色's , the initiative was developed in partnership with communities across Nunavut and was guided by Inuit youth for everything from the game's story and artwork to its music, voice acting and wellness content.

Inspired by Inuit Qaggiq, a traditional Inuit gathering space for learning and community renewal, the game combines Western therapeutic strategies (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), a set values based on Inuit philosophy, Elder teachings and other tactics shared by Inuit youth.

During the game, players follow a young protagonist named Alaasua through seven quests exploring wellness topics identified as important to Inuit youth, including interpersonal conflict, substance use and relationship loss. 

The seven quests in the game range from substance use and bullying to boredom and self doubt.

Between October 2025 and July 2026, 276 Inuit youth from 37 communities across Canada tested the game and provided feedback through surveys, interviews and evaluation workshops. 

Bohr says the findings suggest the game is both safe and beneficial for participating youth. The research team found improvements in participants' confidence and ability to manage difficult emotions, challenge negative thoughts and use coping strategies such as seeking support from others. 

For many involved, the impact extended beyond gameplay. Inuit youth who co-created the game gained experience in research, leadership and mental health advocacy, while sharing Inuit culture and advancing traditional IQ principles.

youth members of the Nunavut-based research
Members of the research collaboration.

"We have learned that young people in Nunavut have a great passion for supporting mental wellness in their communities," says Bohr. "While youth leaders and Elders are eager to evaluate Western mental health interventions for youth, Inuit knowledge about healing must be front and centre in those interventions. Ideally, any mental health intervention should be developed by youth themselves with the support of their communities."

The game鈥檚 success is attracting attention. Earlier this month, Virtual Qaggiq was featured by CBC News for its innovative approach to supporting Inuit youth mental health through culturally relevant digital spaces. 

"What excites me most about the Virtual Qaggiq project is the promise the game has shown as a culturally grounded mental health resource for Inuit youth," says project coordinator and 91亚色 research assistant Yogita Singh. "Seeing Inuit youth on the team grow from project council members into research assistants and emerging leaders in mental health and research has been incredibly inspiring." 

The research team is working with the Nunavut Department of Education to explore making Virtual Qaggiq available to youth through schools and afterschool programs across the territory. The team is also considering future initiatives that build on the project's community-led model to address other priorities identified by Inuit youth. 

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CIHR supports 91亚色 research to improve 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity聽 /yfile/2026/10/09/cihr-supports-york-research-to-improve-2slgbtqia-health-equity/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:08:17 +0000 /yfile/?p=410619 A 91亚色-led study, backed by $700,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), will investigate where gaps in health care emerge for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations across Canada and how the findings can improve programs and services.

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A 91亚色-led research team has received $700,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to examine health care access and long-term health outcomes among 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada. 

The project 鈥淒eveloping LGBTQI+ Health Surveillance Capacity in Canada: Longitudinal Linked-Data Analyses of Primary Care, Prevention, Chronic Disease, Disability, and Unmet Need鈥� aims to generate evidence that can help reduce health inequities and improve health care services, programs and policies for sexually and gender-diverse communities. 

Antony Chum
Antony Chum

The study is led by Antony Chum, associate professor in 91亚色's , with co-principal applicant Yihong Bai (University of Manitoba) and co-principal knowledge user Jennifer Rayner (Alliance for Healthier Communities). The team also includes co-investigators from 91亚色 and partner institutions, including 91亚色 graduate鈥嬧�� Alex Abramovich and 91亚色 postdoctoral research fellow Peiya Cao, as well as Brittany A. Jakubiec, Caley B. Shukalek, David Brennan, Devan Nambiar and June Lam. 

Previous research on 2SLGBTQIA+ care has largely focused on mental health and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, including HIV. As a result broader health needs remain understudied. Addressing this gap is important because stigma, discrimination and barriers to inclusive care can delay screening and treatment, contributing to poorer outcomes, says Chum. 

The project aims to develop public health surveillance capacity for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada using census, survey and health administrative data, the team will track the outcomes of millions of Canadians over periods of up to 20 years. The findings will provide a comprehensive picture of their health and examining primary care access, cancer screening and incidence, vaccination, chronic disease, disability, and preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

The findings will identify when and where gaps in care emerge and who is most affected. Working with community and health system partners, the team will use this evidence to inform improvements in primary care, preventive services and chronic disease management for 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada. 

The funding was awarded through CIHR鈥檚 Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health Through Research program. 

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President鈥檚 report highlights collaboration, innovation, social impact at 91亚色 /yfile/2026/10/07/presidents-report-highlights-collaboration-innovation-social-impact-at-york/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:16:39 +0000 /yfile/?p=410502 Featuring stories from students, faculty, researchers, alumni and partners, 91亚色鈥檚 2026 President鈥檚 Report illustrates how connections across disciplines and sectors are helping address complex challenges and create opportunities for future generations.

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Voir la version fran莽aise

Dear 91亚色 community,

As 91亚色鈥檚 interim president and vice-chancellor, I am reminded again and again of what makes 91亚色 distinctive: our sense of social purpose to leave no talent behind, our ability to bridge disciplines to spark fresh thinking about complex challenges and our focus on convening people across sectors and borders to work as partners.

In the 2026 President鈥檚 Report, The Power of Connection, you will have the chance to hear directly from a few of the many gifted members of our community who are bringing these principles to life every day: a 91亚色 alumna, professor and donor who supported the growth of our Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica; the faculty, staff and partners who are developing our new School of Medicine; Indigenous researchers who are championing language revitalization; students who discovered unexpected career pathways; the faculty behind two unique interdisciplinary programs; and bold entrepreneurs who leveraged 91亚色鈥檚 innovation ecosystem, one an alumnus and the other a professor.

Their stories reflect something fundamental about 91亚色. We are at our best when we bring together different fields and perspectives to serve the public good.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this report, and to everyone in the 91亚色 community for creating positive change through your teaching, learning, research and community engagement.

I hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire me.

Read the 2026 President鈥檚 Report.

Sincerely,

Lisa Philipps
Interim President & Vice-Chancellor

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