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

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. 听

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.听听听

听"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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Titled The Equestrian, the life-sized sculpture depicts a horse at rest atop a rough stone base with a small robin perched on its back. Rather than presenting the horse in the heroic pose associated with traditional equestrian monuments, Vickerd鈥檚 work focuses on stillness, sensitivity and rest.听

The sculpture is expected to be installed on the grounds of the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in early November, with an official unveiling planned for Nov. 24.

鈥淒eveloping public art for a health care context is a unique challenge, as the artwork needs to be therapeutic in nature,鈥� says Vickerd. 鈥淐ommunity members visiting or working at the hospital can be facing acute stress; in this context, an artwork can be employed to create a calm and therapeutic presence, relieving stress and providing a reprieve." 

The project draws on Grimsby鈥檚 agricultural history and the surrounding landscape. Horses played an important role in the development of the area, from its early agricultural communities to transportation, military history and recreation. 

For The Equestrian, Vickerd chose a quarter horse, a breed known for its muscular build, versatility, intelligence and calm temperament. Seen resting on the stone, the animal appears less like a monument and more like a horse that has wandered in from one of the surrounding farms and settled down. 

The robin and locally sourced stone further connect the work to the natural environment of the Niagara Escarpment. 

Vickerd was selected to create the sculpture through a juried public art competition for the redevelopment of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. He then met with members of the Grimsby community to hear their perspectives on the region and their hopes for the artwork that would become part of the hospital site. 

The resulting work is a physically and conceptually accessible sculpture that creates a welcoming presence for patients, visitors, staff and members of the surrounding community. For Vickerd, creating accessible art that people can encounter in a shared public space for free was an important consideration for a health care setting. Public art is more than an exhibit, he says, and can influence how people experience the spaces around them and offer moments of connection, reflection or relief. 

The Equestrian builds on Vickerd鈥檚 ongoing work at the intersection of public art and health. 

In 2020, his Monument to the White Squirrel was installed at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto as part of its Therapeutic Art Program. The six-foot sculpture draws on the story of the white squirrels associated with Toronto鈥檚 Queen Street West neighbourhood, using a familiar local symbol as a point of connection within the CAMH community. 

Vickerd is also developing a new work for CAMH鈥檚 Therapeutic Art Initiative that is planned for the exterior of its Secure Care and Recovery building. The project, titled Overcast Tranquility, is expected to be installed in Summer 2027. 

Together, the works reflect Vickerd鈥檚 broader exploration of the relationship between public art and its contributions to the social and emotional experience of shared spaces. 
 
Learn more about and Vickerd鈥檚 . 
 

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Dear 91亚色 community, 

Today we launch 91亚色's new 2026-30 University Academic Plan (UAP). The UAP sets our academic direction for the next four years, built on six principles that will guide how we teach, learn, research and engage with each other and the world beyond 91亚色.  

The UAP is a plan for the entire 91亚色 community, and we all have a role to play in bringing it to life.  

Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps and I will host drop-in engagement sessions on each campus. Join us to learn more about the plan's principles, ask questions and share your hopes for where the UAP can lead us. You can also explore the new UAP website and read YFile to learn more about the plan.

听
Monday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.听
Vari Hall Rotunda听

听
Monday, Nov. 2, 9 to 11 a.m.听
Atrium听

听
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.听
Centre of Excellence (COE) Atrium听

Bring your ideas. At the events, you can write your hopes for the plan on seed paper and post them under the principle that speaks to you. The seed paper will later be planted on our campuses, allowing those ideas to grow both symbolically and literally. 

Faculty, staff, students and instructors are all welcome and no registration is required. Stay a while or drop by for 15 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. 

I hope to see you there. 

Laina Bay-Cheng 
Interim Provost & Vice-President Academic 

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WWF-Canada named 91亚色 as one of seven Canadian post-secondary institutions recognized for translating environmental commitments into conservation initiatives, learning opportunities and community action.

During the 2025-26 academic year, 91亚色's Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services, Biodiversity Working Group, faculty, student organizations and community partners worked collaboratively to advance initiatives spanning ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable food systems and environmental leadership.

91亚色 is transforming its campuses into places where environmental action is not only studied but put into practice, says Nicole Arsenault, director, Office of Sustainability. Students, staff, faculty and community members participated in biodiversity monitoring, pollinator garden stewardship, sustainable food programming at the Maloca Garden and Earth Month activities.

Those efforts translated into hands-on sustainability learning and measurable action across 91亚色鈥檚 campuses, including the planting of close to 400 trees and campus cleanups that collected 36 bags of litter.

鈥淥ur campuses are important places for both learning and biodiversity,鈥� says Arsenault. 鈥淓arning the Living Campus certification for a third consecutive year reflects 91亚色鈥檚 ongoing approach to sustainability as something we put into practice across our campuses."

WWF-Canada highlighted 91亚色鈥檚 biodiversity work, including the planting of native vegetation to restore an area of Glendon Campus affected by a water main break.

The University鈥檚 wider habitat enhancement work included naturalization, invasive species management, biodiversity monitoring and stewardship of campus green spaces.

As well, students and staff recorded more than 200 species observations during two inventories of plants, wildlife and other biodiversity on campus.

The Sheila Colla Pollinator Garden 鈥� a memorial garden celebrating the late 91亚色 Professor Sheila Colla 鈥� provides another example of biodiversity in action, bringing together research, remembrance, community participation and conservation to create habitat for pollinators at 91亚色.

Through these initiatives, Arsenault says 91亚色 community members developed knowledge and skills related to ecological restoration, waste reduction, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems.

鈥淏y bringing together students, faculty, staff and community partners, we鈥檙e creating opportunities for hands-on learning while restoring habitat, supporting biodiversity and advancing the goals of 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030," she says.

The work advances priorities identified in 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030, Sustainability Policy, University Academic Plan and Well-being Strategy, as well as its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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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. 

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.

"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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Presented by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the awards honour individuals whose work has made a significant impact in communities across Ontario. This year鈥檚 awards are presented to Distinguished Research Professor Carl E. James, student Tonny Muzira and alum Rana Espiritu Nasrazadani. 

Lifetime Achievement Award: Carl E. James, Distinguished Research Professor and Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at 91亚色 

Awarded to an individual for significant contributions over their lifetime to advance human rights. 

One of Canada's leading scholars on race, racialization and education, James has has spent decades examining the experiences of marginalized communities and the barriers they face in education and society. 

His research has shaped public policy and education practices across Canada. Notably, his report Towards Race Equity in Education: The Schooling of Black Students in the Greater Toronto Area helped spotlight inequities in Ontario's education system and informed discussions about academic streaming and student success. 

James holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at 91亚色's Faculty of Education and has served as equity advisor to the dean. Through community partnerships and the national Securing Black Futures initiative, he works to improve educational experiences and expand pathways to post-secondary education for Black students.

鈥淚t is always a privilege to be recognized for contributions to community 鈥� particularly when the contribution helps to advance human rights and social justice," James says. "I am pleased to receive this recognition knowing that others have worked with me to make this possible.鈥� 

The Lifetime Achievement Award adds to numerous honours recognizing James' impact as a scholar, educator and community leader. His influence extends beyond research and is reflected in the generations of students, educators and community members he has inspired. 

Distinguished Service Award: Tonny Muzira, Bachelor of Public Administration

Awarded for outstanding contribution to advancing human rights.  

Muzira is an organizational policy and development specialist whose work focuses on housing, public health equity and community empowerment, particularly for Black immigrant and refugee communities in Ontario. 

During the 2023 Toronto refugee housing crisis, Muzira helped coordinate advocacy efforts that secured a federal commitment for emergency housing relief for hundreds of refugee claimants sleeping outdoors. He has since contributed policy recommendations to the City of Toronto on chronic homelessness. 

As co-founder of the Centre for Black Development Options Canada (CBDOC), Muzira has championed issues affecting Black immigrants and refugees, including organizing Toronto's first International Conference on Black Immigrants and Refugees in 2024. His work also supports HIV prevention and equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services for Black newcomers. 

"Receiving the Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Award is a profound honour," says Muzira, a student at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.听"Daniel Hill showed that human rights are built through steady work in our communities, and I accept this award on behalf of the refugees, newcomers, youth and colleagues at the Centre for Black Development Options Canada who do that work every day. Housing, health and belonging are not charity. They are rights, and we will keep fighting until every person in Ontario can claim them."听

Young Leader Award: Rana Espiritu Nasrazadani (BA 鈥�20, MPPAL 鈥�22), 91亚色 Senate representative, 91亚色 Alumni Board member 

Awarded to a person under age 30 for their outstanding contribution to advancing human rights.  

Nasrazadani is a disability rights advocate and policy advisor whose work focuses on accessibility, human rights and education. 

Drawing from her lived experience and professional expertise, she works to advance the rights of people with disabilities and address systemic barriers to equity and inclusion. Through her advocacy and policy development work, she has led initiatives and informed policies that strengthen accessibility, challenge ableism and foster inclusion in education and public policy.  

Recognized for her contributions to disability rights and accessibility, Nasrazadani was named one of 91亚色's inaugural Top 30 Alumni Under 30 in 2021. An active member of 91亚色's alumni community and a Senate representative, she has contributed to several University accessibility initiatives, including advising on the accessible design of the 91亚色 Markham Campus. 

"I am deeply honoured to receive this award," says Nasrazadani. "To be recognized alongside such inspiring leaders and changemakers is truly humbling. This recognition is deeply personal to me, reflecting both the progress made in advancing accessibility, inclusion and disability rights, and the work that continues ahead." 

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Dear 91亚色 community, 

Get ready 鈥� 91亚色 U鈥檚 Spirit Day is almost here! On Tuesday, Oct. 20, our Keele, Glendon and Markham campuses will come alive with celebrations, and I can鈥檛 wait for you to be part of it. 

This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淢ake Connections,鈥� is all about the friendships, community and the shared experiences that make 91亚色, 91亚色. Expect a day packed with games, interactive activities, contests, giveaways and plenty of surprises 鈥� every one of them a chance to strike up a conversation, meet someone new and celebrate what brings us together.  

Visit the Spirit Day website to see everything happening across all three campuses 鈥� then dress the part. Wear your red and white and show the whole University what 91亚色 U pride looks like. 

Thank you for bringing your energy and spirit to 91亚色 every single day. I鈥檒l see you on Oct. 20 鈥� let鈥檚 make it our best Spirit Day yet. 

Sincerely, 

Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

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The Julia and Robert Foster Petite Gallery will be a flexible, multi-use space, says Lauren Gould, interim director of Goldfarb. Starting in late Spring 2027, visitors can use the area to read about and reflect on works featured in the gallery鈥檚 next round of exhibitions.

The Petite Gallery will showcase works from 91亚色鈥檚 permanent collection of nearly 2,000 artworks. It will also be used as an extension of the gallery鈥檚 three main exhibition spaces, complementing the Goldfarb鈥檚 design that encourages visitors to explore different paths through the facility and encounter art along the way.

鈥淸It鈥檚] a space that will create opportunities for students to engage with art, for artists to share their work and for our community to come together around new ideas and perspectives,鈥� said Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps at a special unveiling event on Sept. 22.

She noted the Petite Gallery represents a milestone for the gallery, as Julia and Robert Foster are the first donors to name an individual space within the building.

Julia Foster has a longstanding relationship with 91亚色, including serving as Chair of the University's Board of Governors from 2012-15, when she became the first woman to hold the position. A member of the Order of Canada for her service promoting the arts and Canadian culture, she has also chaired the National Arts Centre, Ontario Arts Council and Stratford Festival.

The Fosters made their gift in recognition of Rhonda Lenton's service as 91亚色's former president and vice-chancellor.

For Gould, the naming reflects the couple's commitment to education, arts and culture.

"It is important to recognize and honour those individuals that place emphasis on giving to spaces and organizations that help us connect more to each other as people," she says.

Gould hopes the gift will encourage others to support the gallery and expand what it can offer.

鈥淥ur hope is that this inspires others to 鈥� enable the gallery to continue to build upon its programming, provide more engagement opportunities for students, and to serve as a bridge from our local to global artistic communities,鈥� she says.

Visit for upcoming exhibitions and events.

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Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, a day to honour Survivors of residential schools, the children who never returned home and the families and communities forever changed by this system.

The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, to deepen our understanding of their intergenerational effects and to renew our shared commitment to truth, healing and meaningful reconciliation. 

For non-Indigenous members of our community, this is a day for learning, accountability and reflection: to listen to Indigenous voices, engage with the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and consider our individual and collective responsibilities. For Indigenous members of our community, it may be a day for rest, remembrance, reflection and care. We ask everyone at 91亚色 to approach Sept. 30 with compassion and humility, recognizing that reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility that requires sustained commitment and action. 

This year marks 11 years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada鈥檚 final report and 94 Calls to Action. The Calls to Action urge governments, institutions and all Canadians to confront the legacy of residential schools and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation. This anniversary invites us to reflect honestly on the progress made, acknowledge where challenges remain and consider where we must continue to do better. 

At 91亚色, we remain committed to advancing reconciliation, guided by the Indigenous Framework (2017), the Indigenous Framework Review (2024) and the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028. These commitments remind us that reconciliation must be embedded across the University, including in teaching and learning, research, policies and practices, and in our relationships. 

We recognize that, as an institution, we are still on a long journey. We are grateful to the individuals and communities who offer guidance, share knowledge and help us understand what meaningful reconciliation requires. We remain committed to building respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities and to continuing to listen, learn and act. 

We invite all members of the 91亚色 community to reflect on how reconciliation informs your studies, research, practice, teaching and service at the University. We encourage everyone to explore the resources available on 91亚色鈥檚 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation website and to participate in events that create collective space for reflection, remembrance, learning and healing. 

Reconciliation is a responsibility we all share. As a community, may we approach this day with compassion, humility and care, and come together in a spirit of healing, recognizing that meaningful reconciliation begins with listening, is sustained through action and requires all of us to remain committed to the journey. 

Lisa Philipps
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor 

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Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy. Recipients will offer words of encouragement, motivation and congratulations to graduands.

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

Flavio Volpe: Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� Glendon College; Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change; Faculty of Education; ; and Faculty of Science

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.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Volpe helped mobilize automotive suppliers to produce ventilators and personal protective equipment. He also launched Project Arrow, Canada鈥檚 first all-Canadian zero-emission concept vehicle, showcasing domestic innovation on the global stage. 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.

Bruce Kidd: Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Faculty of Health

Kidd is a scholar, educator and Olympic athlete whose career has shaped sport and physical education in Canada. A professor emeritus and founding dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, he has written extensively on the history and social impact of sport, authoring or editing 14 books and hundreds of articles over a career spanning more than five decades.

A member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and an Officer of the Order of Canada, Kidd has been a lifelong advocate for human rights and athletes' rights. He helped advance national sport initiatives including Sport Canada's Athlete Assistance Program and the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and played a key role in establishing the Toronto Track and Field Centre at 91亚色.

Kristian Alexander: Oct. 15, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� ; Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Alexander is an internationally recognized conductor, music director and cultural entrepreneur whose career has taken him to major concert halls across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. He serves as music director of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, the Orion Symphony Orchestra and the International Music Academy, and has built a reputation for championing both classical masterworks and contemporary music.

As artistic director of the Markham International Music Festival and the International Music Festival and Competition, Alexander has helped create opportunities for professional and emerging musicians while fostering cultural exchange through music. Over more than three decades, he has collaborated with leading artists and ensembles in Canada and around the world, combining artistic excellence with a commitment to mentorship, community engagement and institution-building.

Bill Graham: Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� ;

Graham is a business leader whose 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, including serving as head of institutional banking operations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Beyond his corporate career, Graham has been a dedicated supporter of business education and alumni engagement at 91亚色's Schulich School of Business. He served as president of the Schulich Global Alumni Network for 21 years and as an executive-in-residence for the school's International MBA program. A recipient of both the Schulich Alumni Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution and 91亚色's Bryden Alumni Award, he continues to serve on Schulich's Dean's Global Council.

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