YURA 1986-1996

World Events

1986: Chernobyl nuclear disaster; explosion of the Space Shuttle “Challenger”
1987: Single European Act lays the groundwork for the European Union
1988: Pivotal moment in the Cold War with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall; Tiananmen Square protests; birth of the World Wide Web; Exxon Valdez oil spill; Reagan ends his term and G.H. Bush is elected as US president
1990: German reunification; release of Nelson Mandela; Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope
1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union; the Gulf War follows Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait;
1992: Russian Federation replaces the USSR; end of the Cold War; Maastricht Treaty signed to create the European Union and a common currency; Apartheid referendum held in South Africa; Rodney King riots in Los Angeles
1993: Dissolution of Czechoslovakia; World Trade Centre bombing; Iraq disarmament crisis; GH Bush ends his term and B Clinton is elected US President
1994: End of Apartheid in South Africa with Nelson Mandela elected president; Rwandan genocide; North American Free Trade Agreement in effect
1995: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in Tel Aviv; establishment of the World Trade Organization
1996: Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, marking the 100^th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games

Canadian Events

1986: Brian Mulroney is Prime Minister of Canada (since 1984) and David Peterson is Premier of Ontario (since 1985); Canadian dollar hits a new low of 70.2 US cents on international markets; Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to John Polanyi
1987: Frobisher Bay re-named Iqaluit; Meech Lake Accord signed: Reform Party formed
1988: Calgary hosts the Olympic Winter Games; Supreme Court decision to repeal the nation’s abortion laws; B. Mulroney apologizes for WWII internment of Japanese Canadians; Svend Robinson is first openly gay MP; Jacques Parizeau becomes leader of the Parti Québécois
1989: US-Canada Free Trade Agreement comes into effect; Canadian Space Agency is created
1990: stand-off between police and the Mohawk people during the Oka Crisis; Petro-Canada is privatized; Bob Rae elected Premier of Ontario; Canada enters a recession
1991: introduction of the Goods and Services Tax; Canada participates in the Persian Gulf War with women serving in combat roles; Lucien Bouchard forms the Bloc Québécois
1992: Roberta Bondar is the first Canadian woman in space; failure of the Charlottetown Accord; celebrations of the 125^th anniversary of Confederation
1993: Brian Mulroney resigns; Kim Campbell serves as Prime Minister for several months and is defeated by Jean Chrétien in October; the Bloc Québécois and Reform Party reshape the political landscape; Bob Rae announces a three-year Social Contract and imposes austerity measures including wage freezes and mandatory unpaid leaves known as “Rae Days”
1994: North-American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect; Liberal budget cuts spending under Paul Martin to address the deficit; Parti Québécois wins Québec election
1995: Québec referendum on Sovereignty narrowly rejected; new gun control legislation introduced; Mike Harris wins a majority and becomes Premier of Ontario leading to budget cuts for post-secondary education
1996: fighting the national deficit remains a focus of the federal government; Marc Garneau flies on a second space mission; a major AIDS conference is held in Vancouver; last federally-run Indian residential school is closed in Punnichy Saskatchewan

Some “fun facts” and interesting phenomena

Top Gun was a movie hit (1986); first episode of The Simpsons aired (1987); Best Musicals were Les Misérables (1987) and Phantom of the Opera (1988).;
DNA fingerprinting first used in a criminal case (1987); first computer virus—the 1988 Internet worm; the rise of “grunge” and hip-hop has mainstream success (1990-91).
Hubble space telescope sends its first clear images, Windows 3.1 is released as well as Internet browser Mosaic.
Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you” reaches record sales (1992); Sony PlayStation is released (1994); Disney’s Lion King is movie hit (1994); Microsoft launches Windows 95 (1995); Dolly the sheep is cloned (1996).
Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup (1989) and Wayne Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings later that same year.
Sky Dome opens in Toronto (1989); Northrop Frye dies (1991); Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series (1992) and again in 1993; Barbara Frum dies (1992).
Juno winners of album of the year in this decade include kd lang, the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Céline Dion, Bare Naked Ladies, Neil Young, Alannah Myles, Roch Voisine, Leonard Cohen, the Rankins, and Sarah Maclachlan.
Words of the decade (from the American Dialect Society which started their lists in 1990) include right-sizing, bungee-jumping, roller blades, snail mail, grunge, McJobs, Information superhighway, to morph, cyber (prefix), Casual Fridays, Emotional Quotient, soccer moms, food insecurity, the World Wide Web and WWW and W3.

About 91��ɫ and those who served in various roles during this decade

Chancellor : J. Tuzo Wilson, Larry D. Clarke, Oscar E. Peterson, Arden R. Haynes
President: Harry W. Arthurs, Susan Mann
Chair of Board of Governors : R. Bruce Bryden, William A. Dimma
Chair of Senate: K.H. Michael Creal, H. Michael Stevenson, Allan D. Stauffer, Naomi Black, John B. Crozier, Louise M. Ripley, Stuart G. Robbins, A. Saber Saleuddin, Ruth Grogan, Paul F. Wilkinson
University Secretary: Malcolm W. Ransom
VP Academic : Kenneth G. Davey, Stephen Fienberg, H. Michael Stevenson
VP Administrative (various roles): Ian Lithgow, Sheldon Levy, Elizabeth D. Hopkins
Faculty of Arts Dean : Thomas Traves, Ross Rudolph (acting), H. Michael Stevenson, Robert Drummond (acting), George B. Fallis
Atkinson Dean: Ronald Bordessa, Stephen Griew, Thomas Meininger (acting), Harold A. Bassford
Dean, Graduate Studies: David V.J. Bell, Sandra Pyke, David R. Leyton-Brown
Principal, Glendon College: Philippe Garigue, Elizabeth D. Hopkins (acting), Roseann Runte, Jean-Claude Jaubert (acting), Dyane Adam
Dean of Administrative Studies/Schulich : Alan B. Hockin, Deszö J. Horvath
Dean, Science/Science and Engineering : Kenneth G. Davey, O. Robert Lundell (acting), Kimmo A. Innanen, Robert H. Prince
Dean, Osgoode Law School: John D. McCamus, John M. Evans (acting), James C. MacPherson, Marilyn L. Pilkington
Dean, Environmental Studies: Edward S. Spence, David V. J. Bell
Dean, Fine Arts: Joyce Zemans, Alan Lessem (acting), Joy Cohnstaedt, Seth Feldman
Dean, Education: Andrew E. Effrat, Stanley Shapson
Chief Librarian : Ellen Hoffmann

Building and changes to the campus during this decade

Centre for Film and Theatre (1988)
Passy Gardens Graduate Residences (1989)
Physical Resources Building (1989)
Computer Methods Building (1989)
Ross Building Ramp demolished (1989)
Vari Hall (1990)
First Student Centre (1990)
Calumet College Building and Residence (1991)
University Common, later named the Harry W. Arthurs University Common
Chemistry/Computer Science Building (1993)
91��ɫ Stadium (1995-96)
The Ice Gardens (1995-96)

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1986: 91��ɫ earmarks funds from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to hire women faculty
1988 91��ɫ’s policy on smoking takes full effect; campus is now completely smoke-free except for designated area
1988 also year of first enrolments in Atkinson’s Women Studies Certificate Program –only program of its kind in Canada
1988 Harriet Lewis hired as first on campus counsel
1991 91��ɫ Lanes opens along with new bookstore
1991 91��ɫ launches its Pre-retirement Education Program at its Retirement Consultation Centre established in 1985
1992 91��ɫ and YUSA agree on a pay equity settlement and joint job evaluation system
Oct/Nov 1992, Canadian Astronaut and 91��ɫ graduate, Steve Maclean, flew onboard Space Shuttle Columbia a payload specialist for Mission STS-52. He performed a set of seven experiments known as CANEX-2, which included an evaluation of the Space Vision System
1993 during the Rae Government’s Social Contract, 91��ɫ faces an $11.5 million funding cut in operating grants; the University announces a Special Early Retirement Program and a pension fund holiday to help buffer the cuts.
1994: Ontario give $55 million to create a third campus on Seneca College on land leased at 91��ɫ’s Keele campus to develop linked academic programs; Seneca@91��ɫ programs are announced in 1995
1994 Human Resources Development Canada awards its Employment Equity Award to 91��ɫ
1994 The Association of Retired Faculty and Librarians (ARFL) founded at 91��ɫ
1995 Bob Rae announces $15 million for design work on a subway to 91��ɫ despite a “no” to the project by Metro Council
1995 In recognition of Seymour Schulich’s donation of $15 million, the Faculty of Administrative Studies is re-named the Schulich School of Business

About YURA: Beginnings

Interest in the establishment of a retirees’ association arose from meetings sponsored by the Retirement Consultation Centre. A questionnaire sent to all retirees during the summer of 1986 reflected strong support and endorsement of the objectives enunciated by the Interim Committee. An organizational meeting of the 91��ɫ Retirees Association attended by 34 retirees was held on October 16,1986 with William Small in the Chair. Consultation with President Harry Arthurs and Vice-President William Farr indicated their support and encouragement for this initiative. An Executive Committee was elected comprised of J.R. Allen, Y. Aziz, J. Bone, J. Burnet, C.D. Fowle, A.N. McLeod, G. Neilson, D. Nesbitt, B. Rowland, T. Seager and W.W. Small.

At the next meeting on October 23, 1986, the following members of the Executive Committee were elected as officers of the Association – President, C. David Fowle; Vice President, Yvonne Aziz; Secretary, William W. Small; Treasurer, J.R. “Jack” Allan. The Association was invited to appoint a member to the Retirement Consultation Centre Programme Committee. A draft constitution was reviewed and approved with amendments by the Executive Committee on October 23,1986 and distributed to members on February 12, 1987.

Support for the new Association was provided by the Retirement Consultation Centre (RCC), which had been established in 1983 as a provision in the collective agreement between 91��ɫ and the 91��ɫ Faculty Association. (That provision remains in place today.) The Coordinator of the RCC, Melissa Spore, played a facilitative role in the early years of the Association, providing use of the RCC office space in the West Office Building and some administrative support, whenever needed.

When YURA was created in 1986, 91��ɫ had an existing practice of providing library privileges to retired faculty (for continuing their scholarship) that was also offered to non-academic retirees. The University’s Parking Office had already created a retiree parking pass that was offered free to any University retiree who requested it. From the outset, YURA was able to promote these privileges to its members, in addition to the opportunity to continue career-long relationships with former colleagues and co-workers through activities that it offered, while also representing the interests of retirees to the University. An item in the 91��ɫ Gazette of March 31,1992 indicates that YURA has grown to 600 members in 6 years. Members pay a $10 membership fee and the Association is planning to establish a $500 Mature Student Bursary.

91��ɫ Retirees’ Association – Executive Committee Members 1986-1996

1986 – William Small (Secretary), Jack Allen (Treasurer), Yvonne Aziz (Vice-President), Joan Bone, Jean Burnet, C. David Fowle (President), A.N. (Alexander) McLeod, Don Nesbitt, Beryl Rowland, Thomas Seager

1987 – C. David Fowle (President), William Small (Secretary), Jack Allen (Treasurer), Yvonne Aziz, Michael Boyer, Fred Elkin, Gladys Neilson, Thomas Seager, Chris Sloan, Richard Storr, Jean Ward

1988 – Yvonne Aziz (President), William Small (Secretary), Jack Allen (Treasurer), Michael Boyer, Fred Elkin, Sam Madras, Jack Moore, Virginia Rock, Olwyn “Polly” Wakelin, Jean Ward

1989 – Michael Boyer (President), William Small (Secretary), Jack Allen (Treasurer), Joyce Aspinall, Fred Elkin, Sam Madras, Jack Moore, Virginia Rock, Olwyn “Polly” Wakelin, Jean Ward

1990 – Joyce Aspinall (President), William Small (Secretary), Jack Allen (Treasurer), Fred Elkin, Sam Madras, Jack Moore

1991 – Joyce Aspinall (President), William Small (Secretary), John Becker (Treasurer), Michael Boyer, Gerry Hebert, Madeline Little, Jim Megaw, Jack Moore, Virginia Rock, Jean Ward, Elizabeth Wodzianska

1992 – Jean Ward (President), William Small (Secretary) John Becker (Treasurer), Joyce Aspinall, Michael Boyer, Gerry Hebert, Madeline Little, Mike London, Jim Megaw, Jack Moore, Virginia Rock, Etta Rutherford, Elizabeth Wodzianska

1993 – Jean Ward (President), William Small (Secretary), Etta Rutherford (Treasurer), Michael Boyer, Gerry Hebert, Mardeline Little, Michael London, Jack Moore, Virginia Rock, Elizabeth Wodzianska

1994 – Michael London (President), William Small (Secretary), E. Rutherford (Treasurer), Joyce Aspinall, Michael Boyer, Madeline Little, Jack Moore, Sylvia Meade, Virginia Rock, Ken Thomson, Albert Tucker, John Warkentin

1995 – Michael London (President), William Small (Secretary), Heather McIndless (Treasurer), Joyce Aspinall, Lucie Cantrell, Mary-Anne Marmorek, Virginia Rock, Etta Rutherford, Joan Stewart, Ken Thomson, Albert Tucker, John Warkentin, Mavis Waters

1996 – Virginia Rock (President), Joan Stewart (Secretary), Heather McIndless (Treasurer), Baker, Anne Cannon, Lucie Cantrell, Walter Carter, Michael London, Mary-Anne Marmorek, Jean McNeil-Smith, Sylvia Meade, Ken Thomson, Albert Tucker, John Warkentin

In its very early years, YURA did not have an office; when on campus, YURA members assembled at the Retirement Consultation Centre office in West Office Building, courtesy of Melissa Spore, Coordinator of the RCC, who arranged meeting spaces as needed. Retirees could obtain a complimentary library card for library privileges and there was a retiree parking permit (per Donna Hubbert), evidently for unlimited visits to the campus. Recreation 91��ɫ offered "Fit for Life" classes geared to older employees and retirees and William Small campaigned for free or nominal recreational membership fees for retirees (without success).

It seems that Melissa Spore and William Small lobbied to get an office for YURA in reasonable proximity to the RCC office in WOB. Both YURA and the RCC (re-named the Retirement Planning Centre) were later consolidated in the office space in Central Square, possibly as early as when the retail stores were relocated to 91��ɫ Lanes and the various faculty, registrar-related, and student program functions were consolidated in WOB under the Registrar around 1992-93. By then, Melissa Spore had been replaced by Karen Gray as RPC Coordinator.