2021/22 Innis Alumni & Friends Magazine

INNIS Alumni

& Friends

2021 2022

FIRST LOOK International student Javid Guliyev believes that finding a sense of community was the key to his fun and fulfilling first year. His journey from Azerbaijan to Innis was challenging, but the award-winning student, who is majoring in molecular genetics and microbiology, and biochemistry, with a minor in immunology, soon became the International Committee co-chair of the Innis Residence Council. He loves his busy schedule, valuing the long-lasting Innis connections he’s forging.

INNIS ALUMNI & FRIENDS

2021/22 Edition

No. 007

Editor

Ben Weststrate (HBA ’08 Innis)

Editorial Committee

Ennis Blentic

Fiona Irvine-Goulet

Charlie Keil

Art Director

Samantha Edwards, RGD, samiamcreative.ca

Contributors

Larry Afun, Aliyyah Ahad, Daniel Amaze, Shayla Anderson, Shivani Baldeo, Andrew Black, Shauna Brail, Lara Bruce, Janet Cho, Martha Davis, Samuel Engelking, Dianthi Fernando, Germaine Fung, Denise Grant, Javid Guliyev, Tony Hu, Sana Imran, Don Jackson, Eva-Lynn Jagoe, Moontasir Kabir, Denise Kara, Jasmine Kara, Meenaz Kassam, Jaren Kerr, Nana Koomson, Sharon Lewis, Wen-Hsuan Esther Lu, Ella Ma, Joanne Mackay-Bennett, Mark McDowell, Luis Mora, Laura Murphy, Tapfuma Musewe, Emily Nadjiwon, Robert Nadjiwon, Kassia Neckles, Chelsea Nichols, Ava Nourbaran, Michelle Nurse, Maryka Omatsu, Rahul Parhar, Robert Patrick, Emma Paulus, Alex Pavlakis, Alexandra Petersen, Mayfair Photography, Amisha Punja, Erin Ray, Peter Russell, Lisa Sakulensky, Richard Samuel, Beth Savan, Mark Selby, Maurice Shen, Russell Shen, Stephanie Silverman, Chiao Sun, Lucy Sun, Greg Sutton, Melissa Tait, Thelma Tamaki, Jinwen Tao, Cam Tolton, Kevin Turpin, Joanne Uyede, Joe Uyede, Ashley Waggoner Denton, Jesse Wente, Robin Whalen, Bryan Wong, Alice Xue, Andrew Yin, Louisa You, Nancy Zhao

Printing is five communications

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Javid Guliyev

(photo by Shayla Anderson)

“The connections you make at Innis College will prove to be extremely valuable, as long as you are determined to build upon those networks and use them to broaden your reach and involvement within a community.”

Up front

Following the theme of “storytelling,” my illustration tells a story of past and future, represented by the two figures. Their world is mountainous and dry, while their walking path is watery. This contrast is reinforced by the stepping-stone lotus leaves: the lotus only grows in water. For each of us, the progression from past to future can be a journey of finding individual lotus leaves in the wilderness. Changing from who you were to who you would like to become may be a painful process, but it is a rewarding one. —Cover artwork by Jinwen Tao (HBSc ’22 Innis)

Principal Keil celebrates graduation with some of the College’s most accomplished student leaders. All five are UTSLA recipients, featured on pp. 32-33. Left to right are Mukti Patel (HBA ’22 Innis), Amisha Punja (HBA ’22 Innis), Ella Ma (HBSc ’22 Innis), student Shivani Baldeo, and Emma Paulus (HBA ’22 Innis) (photo by Rahul Parhar).

A message from the Principal

“Storytelling,” as Eva-Lynn Jagoe reminds us in “Every perspective tells a story” (pp. 26-27), “can reinforce a sense of belonging and history.” Certainly that is true of the stories we craft about our youthful experiences. At Innis, we believe that we can help students ensure that their undergraduate years will prove the foundation of future stories that speak to resilience and the joy of community. Recognizing that positive experiences don’t always emerge naturally, we have committed ourselves to developing strong student supports, as evidenced by the mental health initiatives spearheaded by Sana Imran, the College’s assistant dean, community wellness, and described by student Shivani Baldeo on pp. 16-17. And we continue to build on the calls to action generated by the Black Student Experience Working Group, as exemplified by a new mentorship program linking Black students and alumni (featured on pp. 18-19). Ideally, the Innis Renewal and Expansion project, championed by invested alumni such as Greg Sutton and Laura Murphy and by the Later Life Learning community (profiled on pp. 20-22), will be the home to future heartening tales of college life.

Alumni also have stories to tell, stories that can illuminate the knotty dimensions of identity (Charlotte Gill, pp. 10-11), the vital claims of diversity (Sharon Lewis, pp. 1213), and the value of empathy (Robin Whalen, pp. 14-15). And those stories resonate from across the globe (“On top of the world,” pp. 24-25) and spread into exciting new roles in an ever-evolving world (“Great job,” pp. 2829). And as we take note of those we lost (“In remembrance,” pp. 37-39), we are reminded of their centrality to our own stories and the indelible contributions that they made to a larger narrative.

Here at Innis, our story keeps changing, as it should. We have witnessed exciting new

arrivals, such as Vice Principal Eva-Lynn Jagoe, who has been enlivening the College since last January, and Acting Principal Karen Reid, who is already winning the hearts of students in the role she will occupy until the summer of 2023. And we must also acknowledge departures, as with Ennis Blentic, associate director of advancement at the College for nearly a decade, and a driving force behind the creation of this very magazine, who is moving on to a new position at the University. The one enduring story at Innis that never ceases to enthrall and inspire is one of students discovering their best selves in serving and bonding with their peers. One can discern that story throughout the magazine, writ large in the beaming faces of so many depicted within these pages.

Acting Principal Karen Reid and Principal Charlie Keil (photo by Rahul Parhar)

We celebrated

CLASS OF 2022 JUNE GRADUATION RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY

The June 2022 celebration went live at the Innis Town Hall and Green, hosted by Principal Charlie Keil, Dean of Students Steve Masse, and Registrar Donald Boere, who welcomed community organizer and activist Winston LaRose (Hon. LLD ’22) as speaker and honorary degree recipient.

ALUMNI MENTORSHIP PROGRAM & BLACK ALUMNI MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

In November 2021, Innis launched its seventh annual alumni mentorship program, and piloted the Black Alumni Mentorship Program, matching Black students and Black alumni. Read more about the latter on pp. 18-19.

Student mentee Larry Afun addresses participants at the mentorship program closing event.

FALL 2021 GRADUATION RECOGNITION

With keynote speeches by Bahi Kandavel (BASc ’01, MMF ’02) and Sharon Lewis (BA ’89 Innis), and video contributions from alumni and staff, hosts Principal Charlie Keil, Registrar Donald Boere, and Dean of Students Steve Masse celebrated the newest grads in virtual style. Learn more about Sharon Lewis on pp. 12-13.

Winston LaRose (right) with alumnus Kofi Hope (HBA ’06 Innis) outside of Convocation Hall

Recipient of the Robert Patrick Student Initiative Award, Amisha Punja (HBA ’22 Innis) celebrates with namesake alumnus Robert Patrick (BA ’67 Innis) in the Green.

Alumni Radheyan Simonpillai (HBA ’07, MA ’08 Cinema Studies) and Alicia Fletcher (HBA ’07, MA ’08 Cinema Studies) co-open the virtual celebration.

Left: photo by Lisa Sakulensky

Right: photo by Rahul Parhar

Photo by Rahul Parhar

5TH ANNUAL REFUGEE STUDENT FUND BENEFIT CONCERT

Hosted by Charlie Keil, Andrew Zhao (HBA ’20 Innis), and student Emily Shi, the December 2021 concert showcased entertainment by students, alumni, and staff, and raised funds to support resettled refugee students at Innis. Watch the concert on our YouTube channel and learn how you can support the fund.

We watched

Scan the QR codes with your phone to view the event online

ONE OF OURS

To recognize and celebrate February 2022 Black History

Month, Innis College and the Cinema Studies Institute (CSI) hosted filmmaker Yasmine Mathurin for a virtual presentation of her documentary feature, followed by a Q&A moderated by culture critic Huda Hassan.

AKILLA’S ESCAPE

In a second virtual film presentation commemorating Black History Month, filmmaker Charles Officer brought his crime-drama to Innis, with a Q&A moderated by filmmaker Yazmeen Kanji (HBA ’20 Innis, Cinema Studies).

BEYOND MOVING

Innis College and the CSI welcomed filmmaker Vikram Dasgupta and film subject Siphe November for a screening of their acclaimed documentary, the College’s third film in recognition of Black History Month. Deirdre Kelly (BA ’83 Cinema Studies, MA ’84), writer and dance critic, moderated the Q&A.

BEANS

In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this Sept. 30, 2021, Canadian Film Forum presentation of Tracy Deer’s award-winning Beans featured an informative post-screening discussion with the filmmaker, moderated by Alexandra Lazarowich

“I was 12 years old when I wanted to become a filmmaker, and 12 years old when I lived through the Oka crisis, and I knew that even back then I wanted to tell the Oka story from a child’s point of view.” —Tracy Deer on her film Beans

WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

In a special fundraising event—and a return to in-person events at Town Hall—Innis was proud to host a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom. Director Evgeny Afineevsky answered questions in a discussion moderated by Lucan Way, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

The April 2022 event raised money for the Innis College Ukrainian Community Scholars-at-Risk Award, which supports displaced students, including those from Ukraine, who wish to continue their education at U of T. To date, $30,000 has been raised. In another support initiative, Innis Residence also housed Ukrainian refugee-students this past summer.

Innis College and U of T administrators welcome Ukrainian students living at Innis Residence with a barbecue in the quad (photo by Shayla Anderson).

PIG

In the September 2021 inaugural “Innis and Rotman Movie Night,” now an annual event, virtual viewers were treated to a screening of Pig, an odyssey of love and loss starring Nicolas Cage. The postfilm discussion featured Laurie May (LLB ’93), co-founder and co-president of Elevation Pictures, and was moderated by Charlie Keil, Innis College principal and Cinema Studies Institute (CSI) professor.

NIGHT RAIDERS

Filmmaker Danis Goulet brought her acclaimed science-fiction feature, Night Raiders, to the Canadian Film Forum in March 2022. Award-winning journalist Duncan McCue moderated the Q&A that followed.

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK

Innis College, Victoria College, and the Cinema Studies Institute welcomed director Alan Taylor (BA ’81) in a March 2022 presentation of his film prequel to the groundbreaking television series, The Sopranos. Innis principal and CSI professor Charlie Keil moderated the Q&A.

We learned

“AN UNLIKELY ICONOCLAST” AN EVENING WITH PETER RUSSELL

In a wide-ranging November 2021 discussion moderated by political science professor Rob Vipond (BA ’75 Innis, MA ’77), Peter H. Russell, Innis’s second principal, offered insights from his latest book, Sovereignty: The Biography of a Claim

Photo by Chiao Sun

WRITERS ON WRITING DISCUSSION SERIES WITH CANISIA LUBRIN

Innis College’s Writing & Rhetoric Program (W&R) launched its first instalment of the Writers on Writing series in March 2021, with Canisia Lubrin, poet, writer, and professor of English at the University of Guelph. Andrea Williams, W&R director, moderated.

“CAN YOU SAY THAT ON THE INTERNET?” INNIS ALUMNI LECTURE WITH VIVEK KRISHNAMURTHY

In April 2021, Vivek Krishnamurthy (HBA ’02 Innis), director of the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic and law professor at the University of Ottawa, explored the law and politics of online speech, moderated by Philip Dawson, policy lead at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society.

“WHILE NATIONS TALK, CITIES ACT” HAROLD INNIS LECTURE WITH DAVID MILLER

November 2021 saw former Toronto mayor David Miller deliver the annual Harold Innis Lecture, a topical presentation of the leadership role cities are taking in response to environmental crises.

Journalist Jaren Kerr (HBA ’17 Innis, Writing & Rhetoric) moderated.

Moderator Philip Dawson led a lively Q&A with Innis Alumni Lecture presenter Vivek Krishnamurthy.

Photo courtesy of David Miller

Photo courtesy of Vivek Krishnamurthy

Photo by Samuel Engelking

We explored

JESSE WENTE’S UNRECONCILED

In November 2021, Jesse Wente (HBA ’96 Innis, Cinema Studies), Indigenous activist and chair of the Canada Arts Council, spoke movingly about his award-winning memoir, followed by a Q&A moderated by broadcaster Falen Johnson.

MICHELLE ORANGE’S PURE FLAME

Michelle Orange (HBA ’98 Cinema Studies) opened the 2022 Innis events calendar with a January presentation of her affecting memoir, a reckoning between mother and daughter. Writer Pasha Malla led the discussion.

SARAH POLLEY’S RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER

Speaking to a packed Town Hall audience in May 2022, renowned writer, actor, and filmmaker Sarah Polley discussed her acclaimed bestselling memoir with Eva-Lynn Jagoe, Innis vice-principal. Read more about Eva-Lynn on pp. 26-27 and 41.

SHARON ENGLISH’S NIGHT IN THE WORLD

In May 2022, Innis W&R associate professor Sharon English presented her compelling new novel of the interwoven stories of three people deeply affected by what we have done to our natural world. Andrea Most, a professor in U of T’s Department of English, led the Q&A.

Sharon English (left) discusses her novel with Andrea Most in Innis Town Hall (photo by Shayla Anderson).

Mixed emotions

Acclaimed author Charlotte Gill (HBA ’96 Innis) mines her mixed-race heritage to

I am a teacher and bestselling author of Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber, and Life with the Tree-Planting Tribe, and Ladykiller, a collection of short fiction. My latest book, Almost Brown, will be published in 2023. I was born a twin in London, UK, to an English mother and Sikh father. I live on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia where you’ll often find me on the ocean, in the mountains, or on the forest trails.

The theme for this year’s magazine is storytelling, and we are highlighting alumni who are, in some aspect of their work or their lives, storytellers. In your about-to-be-published memoir, Almost Brown, you tell your story of growing up mixed race. What prompted you to write this book now?

This next book is about my brilliantly mixed international family. The story has always been turning around in my brain; I think this is pretty common for writers whose subjects are childhood and home. As a reader, I’ve always been hungry for books that show the bittersweet tragicomedy of intercultural family life, which is just as funny as

it is painful at times, as well as the second-generation immigrant-kid experience, which shares so many of those juxtapositions. These days, there’s an emerging space for writers to cover the subjects of ethnicity and identity in ways that perhaps weren’t as available in the past, and that’s a great chance for a lot of people.

I’ve been really interested in the broader existential questions that arise from the experience of racial inbetweenness. What does it mean to be a “person of colour,” and where does that compartment cleave to whiteness when so many of us are “both-and?” Race is all about the classification of human beings, and although it’s a sociohistorical fiction at heart, this phenomenon still has the power to govern much of what happens to us in our childhoods, our families, and our professional and economic lives. At least in my experience, mixedness is stirred into so many levels of being and consciousness, it becomes hard to tell where it seeps into belonging, identity, and even emotion—states of being we typically define as strictly personal. I was so curious about how these larger historical and political forces had shaped the little history of the Gill clan, with all its rifts and scandals, in ways we, perhaps, hadn’t realized or had the words to describe at the time. I think it probably took a number of years of hindsight and

writerly experience to connect the tiny lived moments with those much larger forces in the world.

Besides being a bestselling, awardwinning author, you are the Rogers Communications Chair in Literary Journalism at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, and on faculty in the MFA program in creative nonfiction at the University of King’s College. As a mentor and teacher, what is your best advice for emerging Canadian writers?

I don’t really think of myself as a teacher but more like a kind of accompanist. I work with writers at every level, from seasoned journalists to absolute beginners, and I’ve learned we come to the writing desk with a lot of ideas—about what is a worthy subject, about what is good writing. Most writers I know have a style all their own that exists on Day One; it’s just a question of uncovering it. Writing is all about the application of technique, but it’s also a subtractive process of clearing out preconceived notional clutter. It’s about seeing the world in one’s own special way. I read a lot of people’s work when it’s just them and me and the pages in between, and when it’s great, it often sounds like the unadorned voice of the writer, no more and no less, and all the places they’ve come from.

Charlotte Gill (photo by Kevin Turpin)

pen a personal story of belonging and identity

No translation needed

I am living the dream, which doesn’t mean it’s always dreamy, as, like most artists, I am constantly doing a balancing act. In between hustling the fun and well-paying gigs, like directing television shows such as Law and Order, I am also carving out time to direct films that welcome my bold cinematic lens, and tell stories that reflect my own experience and those of my communities. What is true is that I bring who I am to everything that I do. I am a proud hyphenate: queer/ Black/South Asian/artist/activist/ mother/partner/... (and the list goes on), who loves my job as a director. Oh, and as this is an interview for Innis, a proud Innis College graduate!

You graduated in 1989 with a BA in political science from Innis. Now you are an award-winning director, producer, writer, showrunner, actor, and storyteller who elevates the voices of Black women, Black queer women, and the BIPOC community. Was there a defining moment that set you on this journey?

I recently returned to Innis College to screen Brown Girl Begins, my Afrofuturist feature film. I felt that same sort of awe and remnants of the “not belonging” that I did when I attended the College some thirty-plus years ago. Back then, as a child of immigrants who came here for a “better” life, I was too afraid to change my major from political science to cinema studies. Studying film would not have cut it with my parents. But I believe that the thought that I could be an artist started to permeate my unconscious by being around film posters, artists, discussions, and filmmaking. And that—fused with my political awakening—began to form my artist/ activist self.

You founded your own boutique production company in 2002 as a way of creating stories that showcase voices of often marginalized communities. Twenty years later, have those stories changed—and have audiences changed too?

Yes, the global majority is a changing, evolving, complex system of communities that are no longer defined exclusively by being “other.” My own storytelling focuses on giving voice to stories that are for and by our community with no eye to “translating” those stories for those outside our communities. I am taking the same privileges as a young, straight, white, male filmmaker who makes a story about falling in love with a young girl during the summer at camp, and doesn’t have to defend the film as universal, as it is assumed ALL audiences will relate to a “good” story.

Sharon Lewis (photo by Shayla Anderson)

Artist

and activist Sharon Lewis’s (BA ’89 Innis) stories speak brilliantly and unapologetically for her diverse communities

Her own brand of storytelling

Robin

As an agency veteran, I have spent the past 25 years at some of the world’s largest advertising networks, holding a variety of senior management roles; I am now president and CEO of independent agency Church+State. I speak/lecture/ judge at a variety of industry events, and am involved with the Canadian Marketing Association as a long-time instructor and volunteer. And I’m a mom to three kids: 24, 21, and 15, working diligently to convince at least one of them to step into my heels, and take the advertising and marketing community by storm.

The theme for this year’s magazine is storytelling, and we are highlighting alumni who are, in some aspect of their work or their lives, storytellers. Your own story, so far, has been marked by some life-changing events. Can you tell us a little bit about those and how they have contributed to where you are today?

My interests and passions generally align with my values and goals in life overall. I work and play in equal measure and believe it keeps me balanced, realistic, and hopefully,

interesting! While I take my work seriously, I don’t take myself seriously. I wear my heart on my sleeve and lead my company with compassion that can be, at times, mistaken for weakness. I’m fine with that, though—I consider empathy to be a superpower.

I experienced a significant loss when, as a 31-year-old mother of two young children, my husband died of leukemia. While this obviously changed my life dramatically, it also reinforced my belief that we have no time to waste. I was bound and determined to LIVE. To survive. To succeed. To honour the man I loved and to show my children we can persevere.

I made the decision to stay in the industry in which I had built my career. Advertising is renowned for long hours, poor work-life balance, and is generally dominated by men at the leadership level. I felt I could do things differently; find a way to thrive without sacrificing my personal time; show a new and different face of professional leadership; and generally, contribute to a culture that I wish had existed in my 20s.

I’ve stayed focused on this goal ever since. And I think it has worked.

“Brand storytelling” is a popular term right now that places the customer as the lead character in the marketing story, and not the brand. As president and CEO of Church+State agency, do you follow this strategy?

I think brand storytelling is not only about the customer, but also about the brand showing its authentic self. As “woo-woo” as that sounds, it’s real. Essentially, it’s about moving beyond product proposition to brand values. What does a brand believe about the world? How is it uniquely suited to serve that purpose? This is the essence of brand storytelling, and my agency’s strategy for all our clients and even ourselves.

Content and advertising used to live on opposite ends of the spectrum, but then came the internet and smartphones, and anyone could become a content creator. And with these two forces at play, we saw the rise of niche content, where anyone with a specific interest could make and distribute content for an audience, and where every piece of content can be advertising if it’s good enough, and every piece of advertising can be content if it’s responsible enough. They co-exist.

This is the approach we take for brand storytelling. Make sure your message is compelling, and differentiated. Let the soul of your brand shine. Otherwise, you’re a commodity. Today, consumers do business with brands that share their values. People used to vote with their wallets, and now they vote with their time. We help brands win the battle for time through brand storytelling rooted in truth, values, and persuasion.

Robin Whalen (photo by Shayla Anderson)

Marketing leader

Whalen (BA ’93 Innis) believes empathy is her superpower in life and work

Focus on wellness

Sana Imran (photo by Shayla Anderson)

A student perspective on new mental health initiatives at Innis

BY SHIVANI BALDEO (HBA ’23 INNIS)

University can be tough. And I’m not just talking academics. Add extra-curriculars, work, health, family—the stresses are multilayered and often unpredictable. The pandemic only heightened these tensions, leaving the mental health needs of students at an all-time high. In response, Innis College has developed programs and resources for students to better access supports and navigate their unique wellness journeys.

The new Community Wellness Portfolio, spearheaded by Sana Imran, Innis’s assistant dean, community wellness, in the Office of Student Life, offers educational campaigns and programs that destigmatize mental health, encourage students to find support, and create inclusive environments for them to learn about and practice self-care.

Sana also provides individual wellness advising appointments, supporting and referring Innis students as needed. As a recent member of Sana’s community wellness work-study team, I witnessed the positive effects of these initiatives on students: their needs were validated; they learned about mental health; and they made new friends.

Through another initiative, the Mental Health Skills Certificate program, which is offered annually, students learn how to recognize when they or others might be in distress, and how to make referrals and access supports and resources. They also discover how to practice self-compassion in academic, social, and personal environments.

Sana recently introduced two wellness-oriented groups. Students in the Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG) offered feedback on college events and programs, and a vision for future initiatives. In the Community Wellness Crew (CWC), student leaders developed and implemented programs and resources to support their peers’ holistic wellbeing across four streams: nutrition, media, academics, and community connection. These co-curricular initiatives are just some of the ways Innis is prioritizing wellness, accessibility, and community-building after a prolonged pandemic of disconnect.

Meanwhile, inside the classroom, an Innis alum and associate professor, teaching stream, Ashley Waggoner Denton, leads PSY194H1F: The Psychology of Student Success, a popular seminar she offers through Innis’s First-Year Foundations (FYF) program. Here, Ashley teaches students about wellness in a university context.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to perform well at school, focus, and improve memory,” Ashley tells me, “But students also learn how to navigate relationships and manage the emotional aspects of university.”

Capped at 25 students, the intimacy and safety of this FYF seminar enables participants to carefully explore topics, such as sense of belonging, imposter syndrome, stress, and anxiety. All the while, they are forming real friendships, sharing personal struggles, and collectively supporting one another. By learning about evidence-based coping strategies, and adopting a growth mindset to tackle the stressors of university life, students report feeling better-equipped to thrive—and not just survive—on campus.

“This course has been the most rewarding to teach because it has a great potential to have a lasting impact on students,” Ashley says.

Innis has a longstanding reputation for being a tight-knit community. Throughout my four years at the College, both living in residence, and as a commuter student, I found my home here. Sana and Ashley are exemplary illustrations of Innis’s deep commitment to students’ wellness, and helping everyone feel at home in their college.

Shivani Baldeo was a recent member of Innis’s communitywellness team and a student in Ashley Waggoner Denton’s FYF course.

Ashley Waggoner

Denton (HBSc ’06 Innis) (photo by Shayla Anderson)

I am, you are because

Pilot program connects Black students with Black alumni

BY DIANTHI FERNANDO (HBA ’19 INNIS, MT ’22)

Mentee Larry Afun

(left) and his mentor, Tapfuma Musewe

(photo by Shayla Anderson)

“Iam, because you are.”

In my conversation with Innis alumnus Tapfuma Musewe (HBSc ’06 Innis, GEMBA ’20) and current student Larry Afun, I learned this translation of ubuntu, a widely known philosophy that originated in southern Africa. Ubuntu states that a person is a person through other people; that our accomplishments are, in part, due to the work and achievement of others. This nebulous concept of common humanity guided Tapfuma and Larry, as one of four inaugural mentor-mentee pairs in Innis College’s Black Alumni Mentorship Program pilot.

Part of the College’s existing Alumni Mentorship Program, the pilot matched Black students with Black alumni based on, as much as possible, common experiences, goals, and values. The program was launched in response to calls to action set forth by the College’s working group on the Black Student Experience, specifically answering a recommendation to cultivate mentorship among Black students and Black alumni.

Tapfuma became a volunteer mentor to reconnect with the College in a meaningful way that would help fulfill the Working Group’s recommendations. He is an international trade and investment professional whose passions lie in Africa’s socioeconomic development and the advancement of the next generation.

After graduating with a degree in life sciences, Tapfuma travelled and worked across Africa, equipped with a foundation for critical thinking, process orientation, and detail orientation, the importance of which he impressed upon his mentee, Larry.

Larry entered the program with an open mind, excited to learn from a successful Black businessman’s experiences in Canada. As a first-year international student from Ghana, Larry embodied the ubuntu philosophy to learn from his alumni mentor. Tapfuma encouraged him to go for his BHAG—big hairy

audacious goal—supporting the publishing of Larry’s first book, Philosophies of Everyday Life. (Read more about Larry’s book on p. 30.)

Larry and Tapfuma connected over this bold vision, inspired by the collectivist mindset ingrained in African culture.

“Understanding that confirmed it was not my talent alone that got me where I am today,” Larry shared. “I am an accumulation of what I have been privileged to learn.”

Tapfuma enthusiastically reciprocated: “I was inspired by the opportunity to speak to a future leader who will, no doubt, have an impact on the world.”

When it comes to prospective mentors and mentees, Larry encourages them “to be the accumulation of someone’s experience.”

“When you believe ‘I am, because you are,’ you build communities,” Tapfuma concurred. “It is a privilege to share your accumulation of knowledge with young people and empower them to have choices.”

Dianthi Fernando was recently a student life coordinator at Innis, working in the Alumni Mentorship Program.

THE BLACK STUDENT EXPERIENCE WORKING GROUP’s recommendations are important calls to action to hold the College accountable in addressing anti-Black systemic barriers. If you are interested in volunteering as a Black alumni mentor, please contact mentorship.innis@utoronto.ca

To learn more about Innis College’s Black Student Experience, please visit innis.utoronto.ca/bse/

Pedestrian connectivity is a focus of the Renewal and Expansion. The design integrates the College with the campus through an enhanced passageway between St. George Street and bpNichol Lane (shown here from the east) that blends seamlessly into the Innis Green.

SUPPORT YOUR

NOW

Make a secure online donation now at uoft.me/innis-expansion or scan the QR code with your phone.

WE’RE INNIS TOGETHER

We are approaching the halfway point of our $10-million fundraising goal. In true Innis fashion, this has been a community effort; over 240 exceptional donors, both alumni and friends of the College, have generously donated to our ambitious project. Leading the charge are Innis students themselves, who have collectively pledged $1.3 million through a special levy (i.e., a fee they pay alongside their tuition).

Now we need your support to reach our goal. Get ready for the most exciting chapter in Innis’s history—look for your invitation to our launch party in spring 2023.

WHY WE NEED A REVITALIZED INNIS

Innis College was built in 1976 for 800 students; now 2,200 are crammed in, giving us the least amount of space per student of any college on campus. But it’s not just a lack of physical space compromising students’ ability to study and socialize. Beyond more space, Innis desperately needs to update how it physically supports its vital learning-strategy, library, and writing centre services. These are central to the Innis experience and create a positive environment for student success.

Innis is an in-demand college, known for its vibrant and diverse community, excellent academic programs, and engaged students and alumni. To continue—and build on—that reputation, we are launching the $10-million campaign for the Innis College Renewal and Expansion.

There are also many other ways to give, including monthly or multi-year pledges and a planned gift (e.g., bequests, insurance policies).

We invite you to learn more about giving opportunities that suit your personal circumstances and goals by contacting Innis’s development officer, Andrea Blackler, at 416-978-4492 or andrea.blackler@utoronto.ca or by visiting innis.utoronto.ca/renewal

Giving Back

Campaign leaders share unique reasons for their support

Meet Laura and Greg, two volunteer members of the Renewal and Expansion Campaign Cabinet, a group of alumni and friends mobilizing vital support for this unprecedented initiative.

GREG SUTTON (BA ’94 Innis)

When Innis Principal Charlie Keil reached out a couple of years ago to suggest I come back to the College for a tour and to meet him in person, I was excited, as so many great memories started flowing through my mind. Innis College was my homebase at U of T, and home it was. To walk the familiar halls again felt comfortable, as though I was there a couple of weeks ago.

When I heard all about the exciting expansion plans for the College, I knew right away that I wanted to help. A special part of my early adult years, both personally and professionally, Innis meant so much to me. From day one of “Innisiation,” my first days of university were warm and welcoming. I met so many great people at Innis, long-lasting friendships that continue to this day.

My family and I are so fortunate and pleased to support Innis’s Renewal and Expansion Campaign so that a whole new generation of students can feel at home like I did.

Greg Sutton is president and CEO of Sutton Special Risk Inc., a globally focused insurance company specializing in coverage for professional athletes, entertainers, and executives.

LAURA MURPHY (HBA ’99 Innis)

Innis College provided me with a rich experience as a student, and paved the way for my life in ways I am so grateful for. It taught me about community, leadership, and the importance of making a difference.

Contributing to the Renewal and Expansion Campaign was an opportunity for me to give back. The improvements will enable students to thrive as they pave the way to their future as our leaders and changemakers. Seeing the commitment and passion for this project, both in leadership and students, made me want to get on board and be part of the legacy of this wonderful part of U of T.

An important piece of this legacy for me is the new green roof. When I was studying the environmental and social benefits of green roofs in the nineties, Innis supported what became a passion of mine, and granted me permission to raise funds to build a green roof (behind the old house) in 1998. That green roof has not survived the past 24 years; however, we now have an opportunity to make it an official part of our shared legacy by building a new one. This would demonstrate Innis College’s leadership and innovation in green buildings and rooftops across campus and in Toronto.

Laura Murphy is a co-founder of VelocityEHS, an international software provider for environmental, safety, and sustainability management. An internship through the Environmental Studies Program (previously offered at Innis) inspired Laura’s career path.

Through the Renewal and Expansion, a new fourth-floor green rooftop will overlook the Innis Green courtyard. Garden beds will mitigate stormwater runoff and provide natural insulation.

Photo courtesy of Greg Sutton

Photo by Andrew Black

A wonderfully generous commitment

Later Life Learning pledges $250,000 to Renewal and Expansion Campaign

Over the last 40 years, Innis College has been a great facility for Later Life Learning (LLL), a collective community of highly engaged and interested learners. The academic setting of Town Hall, where our lectures are held, has greatly enhanced the learning experience for us. When we are not immersed in the Town Hall lectures, we are eagerly catching up with friends in the Innis Café, lobby, and hallways of Innis College. We’re also among the first to sign up for Innis’s film screenings and events. We feel very much a part of Innis’s diverse learning community. We also deeply understand the importance of investing in education, and providing an environment that encourages and nurtures learning. When an opportunity arose to participate in Innis’s Renewal and Expansion Campaign, we were immediately there to support it. This ongoing relationship with Innis will continue to be mutually beneficial for our members as well as the students of the College. A win-win situation! —Eunice Dong, LLL member and former Donation Committee volunteer

LATER LIFE LEARNING

is a volunteer organization dedicated to allowing seniors to continue the lifelong process of learning. Offering a wide variety of stimulating courses and discussions, LLL has operated out of Innis Town Hall for 40 years, and provides student scholarships and awards. Innis College is deeply grateful to all LLL members and volunteers for their continuing generous support.

Past LLL presidents Nancy Green and Henry Hill present Innis Principal Charlie Keil with cheques, commemorating the first instalments of a $250,000 commitment to the College’s Renewal and Expansion.

Photos by Shayla Anderson

We couldn’t do it without them

Six exceptional volunteers receive 2021 Arbor Awards

NANCY GR EEN

Past president, Later Life Learning (LLL)

“Nancy’s work at the helm of LLL during the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on many, me included. Beyond bringing the joy of learning to LLL members, she has furthered partnerships between LLL and Innis, funding scholarships to support students.” —Tony Hu, Innis student and LLL Scholarship recipient

GREG KALIL

(BA ’83 Innis), member of Innis’s Renewal and Expansion Campaign Cabinet

“We are very grateful for Greg’s business acumen on the cabinet, especially in the area of real estate development and construction. His commitment to Innis, stemming from his Vlad Residence experience, is exemplary. Greg is an excellent co-worker, team player, and lifelong Innisian.” —Joanne Uyede (BA ’69 Innis), Campaign Cabinet co-chair

JAREN KERR

(HBA ’17 Innis, Writing & Rhetoric), co-chair of the Black Student Experience (BSE) Working Group and multi-event moderator

“In no small part due to Jaren’s dedication, the BSE Working Group has empowered me. His commitment to facilitating a safe space for Black students at Innis and U of T has helped create unprecedented institutional policies that will surely improve the experiences of Black students for years to come—that is exceptional.” —Kassia Neckles (HBA ’22 Innis, Cinema Studies), BSE Working Group member

MARK M C DOWELL

(BA ’88 Innis, MA ‘90), student-alumni dinner participant and graduation contributor

“It was a joy and honour to meet Mark, and to interview him for an alumni profile. I learned so much from his remarkable story and his advice, and I’m sure my fellow students did as well.” —Louisa You (HBA ’20 Innis, MA ’21), alumni dinner guest and interviewer

MERLE M C MURRAY

Past LLL president

“Merle’s tenure as LLL president was a master class in how to successfully manage a large, volunteer-run organization. She was exceptionally thorough, sensitive to members’ needs, open to discussion, and never ever failed to express her personal appreciation to LLL volunteers.” —Joanne Mackay-Bennett, LLL member and organizer

JESSE WENTE

(HBA ’96 Innis, Cinema Studies), champion of Indigenous filmmakers through the Canadian Film Forum, and advisor to the College

“I have had the pleasure of working with Jesse and observing his commitment to U of T firsthand. His passion shines at every Innis event. He continues to foster community between alumni and students. Jesse Wente is an exemplary alum.” —Raven Stoddart, third-year student who delivered the appreciation at Jesse’s Innis book talk

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Melissa Tait

Photo courtesy of Mark McDowell

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Luis Mora, courtesy of Jesse Wente

On top of the world

Alumni chart fulfilling global careers

ALIYYAH AHAD (HBA ’12 Innis)

Bonjour from Brussels! Brussels, Belgium, may be better known for its waffles and chocolate, but what truly makes this city special is its incredible diversity. As the capital of the European Union, Brussels is home to some 150 nationalities. And with about 60 per cent of residents being foreign-born, it is one of the most diverse cities on the planet. Consequently, Brussels is where I found the perfect place to combine my passions for international affairs, public policy, and public service—working in my dream role as the Brussels representative for the Government of Bermuda.

Nearly two years into my current role, and after almost six years here, it is nice to reflect on the many stops along the way. I have worked and studied in Bermuda (my home country), Toronto, Paris, Rabat, Washington DC, and London. I also studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

My interests in foreign affairs pre-date my time at Innis, but being part of such a vibrant and international college definitely expanded my curiosity about other cultures, and gave me the confidence to meet new challenges—wherever in the world they arise.

MEENAZ KASSAM (BA ’84 Innis, MA ’86, PhD ’96)

I am a retired associate professor of sociology, as well as a certified life coach based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where I taught at the American University of Sharjah for the last 10 years. Teaching in Dubai has been an interesting experience— generally I found the female students were brighter and more progressive than their male counterparts—contradicting the stereotypical image of the timid female in the Middle East.

My journey began at Innis after my husband and I immigrated from India to Toronto. I graduated from Innis, going on to do my master’s and PhD, also at U of T. I taught at the University of Waterloo and at OISE for the next six years.

We moved to Dubai about 12 years ago, and I went with mixed emotions as I love Canada. However, I looked forward to the challenges of teaching at a leading university where one must try to open minds while being aware of cultural and government restrictions. These were fertile grounds for research and publishing, and I wrote many books. I reflect in retirement now that Innis played a formative role in helping me prepare for my academic life and all that was to follow.

Photo courtesy of Aliyyah Ahad

Photo courtesy of Meenaz Kassam

CHELSEA NICHOLS (HBA ’08 Innis)

I am the senior curator at The Dowse Art Museum in Wellington, New Zealand, where I curate exhibitions of national and international art with a distinctively quirky edge. In my spare time I write The Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things—an online project exploring art and curiosities.

My appetite for the strange and interesting really took hold during my Innis years, studying art and art history, and exploring the creative riches of Toronto. Coming from small-town Nova Scotia, my time at Innis gave me a tantalizing taste of the wider world, and urged me to follow my weird interests down a more unconventional life path.

After Innis, I headed to Scotland to study museology at the University of St. Andrews, then landed an internship researching nineteenth-century mug shots at a teeny police museum in New Zealand. Love made me linger there awhile, then I dragged my Kiwi husband back to the University of Oxford in the UK to write my doctorate on human curiosities in art. We returned to New Zealand for a job at the national museum, but the itch to write and explore continued, so we packed up our young daughter and moved to China … before COVID-19 disrupted our grand travel plans.

RICHARD SAMUEL (BCom ’89 Innis)

After graduating with a BCom degree from Innis in the late 80s, career opportunities led me to London, England, where I still live today. For 25 years, I held senior corporate roles in some of the world’s leading global financial institutions: first in leverage finance for the likes of Deutsche Bank, and later in asset management at Bank of New York Mellon.

The multi-faceted and open-minded education I experienced at Innis came to the fore when my career evolved into angel investing. I now have an active involvement in shaping long-range vision and strategy for companies such as DynamiX Energy—a US-based renewable energy and electric mobility company, and Samba Investment Holdings—a global infrastructure investment company focusing on investment in renewable energy and humanitarian projects. I am also a partner in SCG Wines, a French-based luxury fine-wine producer known for its disruptive approach to wine production that challenges the traditional methods of the established chateaux of Bordeaux.

I found a real sense of community and positivity while at Innis. And my eldest daughter hopes to follow in my footsteps and attend Innis in 2023. Fingers crossed.

BRYAN WONG (HBSc ’12 Innis)

I am a vice president at Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, where I am part of the trading team covering all Asian markets.

The experience I had in Toronto and at Innis was life-changing. I came from Hong Kong to pursue a degree in architectural studies, and graduated with a degree in actuarial science. I also met a girlfriend who eventually became my wife! After graduating, we decided to move back to Hong Kong to be closer to our families.

Asia’s financial hub has turned out to be a perfect place for me to build my career and global insights. After spending time studying in North America and working in Asia, I hope Europe will be the next stop to explore and navigate. Needless to say, the diversity of Innis alumni has amazed me as I have come across so many Innisians in such a small city like Hong Kong, and I believe I am going to meet more of them in the future, no matter where I next set foot!

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Nichols

Photo by Mayfair Photography

Photo by Germaine Fung

Every perspective tells a story

The power of storytelling lives in our unique, individual truths

BY EVA-LYNN JAGOE , INNIS COLLEGE VICE PRINCIPAL

In my family’s finca in Spain, my ten-year-old brother was electrocuted by faulty wiring in the refrigerator. My cousin and I, playing in the garden, froze in fear when we heard his screams. He was saved by Engracia, the cook, who leapt into the air and knocked him over, breaking the circuit that had convulsed his grip around the handle. It was a story that served many purposes in my family—to admonish

children who walked into the kitchen barefoot; to laugh at the image of tiny Engracia lunging at my brother; to flood us all with relief as we imagined what could have happened.

Stories tell us who we are, and where we came from, and have an important function in shaping us as individuals and as a society. They can instill compassion and understanding, as we learn about other people’s

experiences and worldviews. They can reinforce a sense of belonging and history. Yet we can also become entrenched in our stories, repeating them over and over until they become the only truth.

In recent years, my brother told me that the electric-shock story had a grim counterpart. In the days after the incident, my uncle nonchalantly said, “Yes, I got a shock from that

Jagoe’s family finca in Spain

fridge the other day, I knew it wasn’t grounded.” This addendum to what had always been prized as a close-to-death, happy-ending story turned it into a much more disturbing and chilling tale. An adult knew that there was a danger in our summer house, knew that the house was full of young children, yet irresponsibly did nothing about it?

In my work as a teacher and writer, I encourage my students and readers to rethink their own dominant stories from different perspectives. As they shift the plot, even slightly, they discover the many possible tangents, additions, variations, and different points of view. These small changes transform the narrative. Like the alternating current frequencies that transmit electricity throughout the grid, story trajectories can switch directions, sometimes even reversing the flow and producing a startling new conclusion.

The story of my brother’s accident and my uncle’s comment led me to begin writing a book about my Spanish family. Casanoble: Electricity and Inheritance in Catalonia will tell the story of my grandfather, a British industrialist who was instrumental in the early twentieth-century electrification of Barcelona. The money that he made from big projects such as the lighting of the Magic Fountains of Montjuic enabled him to buy the country house, where all his

descendants gathered every summer to swim in the pool and wander its cool, dark, tiled rooms. Many stories were told there—about our grandparents, about the position of our family in Catalan society, about secrets that emerged as subsequent generations uncovered them.

My perspective on all these stories is slightly askew. I grew up in North America, only going to Spain for the summers, so I often felt that I couldn’t quite understand the context—social, political, historical—of the stories I was hearing. What made me feel left out when I was a child now strikes me as a unique standpoint upon which to build my story. As a humanities scholar, I have learned to read between the lines of a dominant narrative, questioning what is left out, who is ignored, and why this happens. I am now using these critical reading skills to tell a story that hinges on the irony of a boy almost being killed by the electricity that enabled his grandfather’s fortune.

How many other beings’ lives were irrevocably altered by the hydroelectric dams that Spain’s dictator, Francisco Franco, made all over the country? What happened to the Republican farmers who lived at the finca before the Spanish Civil War, but were gone when my mother’s family returned from exile in England? Why did my grandparents’ legacy loom so large that the next generation felt entitled to live in the house without taking responsibility for maintaining it for their children? And how does this relate to the ongoing resource extraction going on all over the world that contributes to the climate emergency we are now beginning to experience, and our children will inherit?

Like bolts of electricity, these questions zigzag my story in surprising directions. This is what is so generative about storytelling. Each different version renews the power of the story, illuminating new understandings and imaginings. It is through this kind of retelling that we know and create the world in which we live.

In my work as a teacher and writer, I encourage my students and readers to rethink their own dominant stories from di erent perspectives.

A young Eva-Lynn (seated) with her siblings, including brother George (second from left)

Eva-Lynn’s family at their Spanish finca

Great job

MOONTASIR KABIR (BASc ’12), senior technical program manager, Shopify

There’s a popular meme of a dog sipping coffee in a burning room, calmly telling himself, “This is fine.” That’s what working in program management can be like sometimes. What I love about my job is to be able to work with a diverse group of folks across the globe who are the best at their crafts (Data, Eng, UX, Product, etc.), and leading them to achieve larger organizational goals—regardless of how challenging or vague the outlook may sometimes seem (while respecting time, quality, and budget).

Alumni find exciting careers in fields that didn’t exist 20 years ago

Photo by Lara Bruce

ERIN RAY (HBA ’17 Innis, Cinema Studies), senior digital producer, UNIT9

The digital world is rapidly changing, and when you work in production, you need to be on top of these advancements. As a senior creative producer, I lead different teams to solve problems, bring stories to life, and test the boundaries of technology on a daily basis. From ordering a pizza with your mind, to creating AI beings with their own brains, it’s hard not to be excited when you make creative ideas a reality every day.

ALEX PAVLAKIS (HBA ’13 Innis), data scientist, Netflix

Data science is fundamentally about curiosity. At Netflix, we leverage massive datasets to understand and improve our app ecosystem so that our members have a smooth and entertaining experience. There is no shortage of interesting and challenging problems to work on, and I get to work on them with some of the smartest folks in the business. And when we have a good idea, it can delight hundreds of millions of people around the world.

LUCY SUN (HBSc ’11 Innis), talent partner (Enterprise Engineering), Meta

After graduating from life sciences at Innis, I’ve had an interesting trajectory in consulting and HR that eventually landed me in this role, which is to help our internal engineering team develop and navigate their own careers. The best part of my job is simply that I get to do this full time—and get paid for it! I also love that I have plenty of autonomy to identify problem areas and build solutions, which I find extremely rewarding.

Photo by Ava Nourbaran

Photo courtesy of Lucy Sun

Photo by Alice Xue

Respect and recognition

We give both to accomplished and award-winning alumni, faculty, and staff

LARRY AFUN

The current Innis student published Philosophies of Everyday Life as an e-book in June 2022.

STEPHEN BROOMER, MICHAEL ZRYD & JIM SHEDDEN

Authors Stephen (CSI instructor) and Michael (BA ’86 Innis, Cinema Studies) and co-editor Jim (BA ’86 Innis, Cinema Studies, MA ’90) published Moments of Perception in November 2021.

BARRI COHEN (BA ’84 Innis, Cinema Studies) directed Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children, which premiered at HotDocs in May 2022.

CORINN COLUMPAR

The CSI associate professor co-edited Mothers of Invention, published in April 2022.

JOANNE CULLEY (BA ’75 Innis, MA ’77) published Claudette on the Keys in fall 2021.

MARTHA DAVIS

(BA ’81 Innis, BEd ’90) received the Best Short Film Award at the 2022 Toronto Documentary Feature and Short Film Festival for PANDALAND: Making IT Count

SHARON ENGLISH

The W&R Program associate professor, teaching stream, published Night in the World in May 2022.

STEVEN HOFFNER (HBA ’06 Cinema Studies) directed, edited, and produced The Cannons, which had its world premiere in October 2021.

Photo courtesy of Martha Davis

CHARLIE KEIL

Innis College principal and CSI professor was the recipient of a 2022 U of T President’s Teaching Award.

SIMON LEWSEN

The Innis One and W&R Program instructor received a Mindset Award for Reporting on the Mental Health of Young People for his October 2021 Walrus story, “Inside the Mental Health Crisis Facing College and University Students.”

ADAM NAYMAN

(HBA ’05 Cinema Studies, MA ’09 Cinema Studies), Innis One and CSI instructor, published David Fincher: Mind Games in November 2021.

MARK SELBY

(HBA ’02 Innis, Cinema Studies) was awarded the Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research and Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series as co-producer of Oscar Peterson: Black + White, given at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards.

ROB VIPOND

(BA ’75 Innis, MA ’77) edited The Daily Plebiscite: Federalism, Nationalism, and Canada, published in November 2021.

KATIE WELCH

(BA ’90 Innis) published Mad Honey in May 2022.

BEN WESTSTRATE

(HBA ’08 Innis) was honoured with an Outstanding Staff Award (Student Life) from the Faculty of A&S for his contributions as communications officer at Innis.

JESSICA WHITEHEAD

The CSI instructor was recognized with a Superior Teaching Award (Sessional Instructor) from the Faculty of A&S.

JEAN YOON

(BA ’89 Innis) won Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards for her work in Kim’s Convenience

Photo by Denise Grant

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Chiao Sun

Photo courtesy of Mark Selby

Celebrating student leadership

UTSLA recipients reflect on community and belonging at Innis

BY EMMA PAULUS (HBA ’22 INNIS)

SHIVANI BALDEO

The Innis community has given me a place to call home. I’ve never had a stable place to call home, but from my first day at Innis, student leaders welcomed me and made me feel like I belonged. As I got involved, I found new parts of Innis that made me feel even more included and appreciated. I was able to give back and hopefully create a place to call home for someone else.

JANET CHO

Innis provided me with many unforgettable, rewarding experiences. I am especially grateful for the opportunities to support different students through the WUSC Student Refugee Program over the four years of my undergraduate career.

I cannot wait to apply the new set of skills that I have gained with the support of the Innis community to creating memorable experiences for others.

NANA KOOMSON

I remember screaming “Innis is dynamite!” at orientation during my first year of university. I marvelled at the student leaders, and was in awe of how much they knew about the University and their willingness to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. I never imagined that the following year, I would still be screaming “Innis is dynamite!” but, this time, as a student leader myself.

ELLA MA

As an international student, finding solid ground to stand on is the crucial first step in succeeding at U of T. For me, that was being part of the Innis community. Innis was a home away from home, and my circle of inspirational staff and peers taught me so much more than what could be learned in lectures and textbooks. The challenges that we overcame together made memories that will last a lifetime.

MICHELLE NURSE

The Innis community has provided me with lifelong friends, memories I’ll cherish forever, and support through the highs and lows of university. Innis also provided me with invaluable opportunities to get involved and give back, contributing to the lives of students facing what I faced. Being part of this community meant that I had a strong foundation for personal development and success, and people to lean on and grow with.

MUKTI PATEL

Being part of the Innis community was a way for me to become a part of a family that exists much past my time at the University of Toronto. Innis offered me an opportunity to make meaningful and lasting connections, for which I will always be grateful.

EMMA PAULUS

Innis has been a second home to me for the past four years. It’s where I met most of my friends throughout undergrad, and where I had the opportunity to get involved in leadership roles. I am so grateful to the community for making me feel welcomed, and giving me somewhere on campus where I belonged.

University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards

AMISHA PUNJA

My first-year self would never have imagined the impact and influence the Innis community would have on me. Through my time in a variety of orientation activities and on the Innis College Council, I was able to make and nurture good relationships with both students and staff. My time at Innis has truly uplifted my university experience because of the sense of belonging the community gave me.

ANDREW YIN

Living off campus throughout my time at U of T, I had a home on campus at Innis. I loved the College’s informal vibe; the bright foyer with plenty of seating; the familyrun Innis Café; and the tremendous support I received from the Registrar’s Office staff. It’s easy to feel lost at U of T, especially while I was exploring my sexual and cultural identities, but I always felt at ease at Innis.

NANCY ZHAO

Being a part of the Innis community has meant growth, learning, and support. It was such a formative time—one that my first-year-student self could not have imagined, and that my post-graduation self is immensely thankful for. I’m grateful to everyone at Innis whom I met throughout the years and who has shaped my experience in so many great ways. I’ll always remember the feeling of togetherness that came along with being at Innis.

(UTSLA) recognize graduating student leaders demonstrating exemplary service and commitments to their communities within the University.

Finding community

Siblings discover new meaning of home at Innis

Robert Nadjiwon and his sister Emily hail from Neyaashiinigmiing, a small, tight-knit First Nations community on Ontario’s beautiful Saugeen Peninsula. They are Anishinaabe; Robert belongs to the Loon Clan, while Emily is from the Bear Clan. Robert graduated from Innis in June 2022 with an HBA in Indigenous studies. Emily is currently in her second year in ecology and evolutionary biology, also at Innis.

Robert

As someone who has always been involved in your home community, learning from elders, and working on land stewardship and language reclamation, how has your time in the communities you’ve built in Toronto and at Innis influenced how you see your place in Neyaashiinigmiing, now and in the future?

Recently, I realized that for generations my family has made this migration to Gchi-niisaajwanong (Toronto) and back to Neyaashiinigmiing. My mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother all moved back and forth between the two places. Gchiniisaajwanong takes on historical and familial meaning for me, and as I have adjusted myself to the craziness of the city, I have been thankful for friends, ceremonies, and Innis for helping me to make this place home. Every time I return to Neyaashiinigmiing it is more beautiful than I remember, and now, as I think of next steps, I am excited to continue with all that I have learned here in the context of my home.

For so long, I did not like the city, but now the city is constantly surprising me. When I first arrived, I saw it as only concrete and devoid of any nature and land-based activities. However, living here for a while has shown me that the language and the land still find a way to thrive in little havens within the city. I look forward to continually renewing this intergenerational movement and exchange between Gchi-niisaajwanong and Neyaashiinigmiing.

You were the recipient of the Mehler Paperny Family Innis Award for Indigenous Students. What does the award mean to you?

It was such an honour to receive an award that recognizes not only academic achievement, but also involvement with community. It is a subtle reminder that for me, the most important and fulfilling work lies within my community, in Neyaashiinigmiing, and also the urban Indigenous community.

Emily

What motivated you to follow your big brother to study at Innis? And what was it like spending the year together at the same college?

I had initially planned to go my own way and study in British Columbia. My plans changed when I realized that I wanted to be closer to my family, and to have my older brother for support through my first year. It was amazing to have Robbie to guide me and know what to expect from my time at Innis. The two of us are also quite close, so it was definitely comforting to see him in person or spend time together if I was ever feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Coming from a small community, have you been able to find your own sense of community or family here at Innis, U of T, or in Toronto?

The living situation at Innis Residence is actually what allowed me to make my closest friends at university. The roommates that I had are all amazing people that I got along really well with. We all have a place together and we’re hoping to keep it until the end of our undergrad. U of T can be intimidating, especially when you come from a small community. However, I have only met nice people in my time here.

Opposite: Robert Nadjiwon

Right: Emily Nadjiwon (photos by Shayla Anderson)

Brothers and sisters

Friendly rivalry and ribbing define these grad siblings

Sisters Denise and Jasmine Kara

“I had no clue what to expect when I joined Innis College. As I became more involved as a work-study student, I quickly came to love the close-knit community that surrounded me, making life-long connections I passed down to my sister. I take credit for paving her way.”

—Denise Kara (HBA ’14 Innis)

“With a seven-year age gap, I followed in my sister’s footsteps. From attending Innis College to getting involved on campus, I mimicked her every move—and did it better by winning three more awards than her! I owe her my success.”

—Jasmine Kara (HBA ’21 Innis, Urban Studies)

Brothers Maurice and Russell Shen

“Having a brother to look up to and compete with took me to where I am now, and I’m just glad that I got to keep my favourite napping spot all to myself”

—Russell Shen (HBSc ’10 Innis, PhD ’20)

“A little family competition doesn’t hurt the GPA!”

—Maurice Shen (HBSc ‘10 Innis, PhD ’15)

Jasmine (left) and Denise Kara (photo by Shayla Anderson)

Maurice (left) and Russell Shen (photo Wen-Hsuan Esther Lu)

Remembrances and re ections

Frank Cunningham

Sixth principal of Innis College, 2000-05 (1940-2022)

Frank was a teacher who inspired and engaged countless students, a scholar and social justice activist who was enduringly optimistic about the future of democracy, and a skilled administrator guided by a principled, good-humoured approach. Beyond his tenure as principal of Innis College between 2000 and 2005, he served as chair of U of T’s Department of Philosophy (1982-88), and also contributed to the establishment of the University’s Bioethics Program and Cities Centre.

“It seems oxymoronic to write about Frank Cunningham as a university administrator, but he was. Frank Cunningham and personal power do not fit well together but neither do Innis College and personal power. Innis College principals do not ‘run’ the College. The principal’s job is to know whom to encourage on the staff and among the students, and to perform diplomatic services for the College to the governing powers of the University. Frank was well suited for the job. His optimism, good nature, and sense of humour enabled him to be a very successful principal.”

—Peter H. Russell, second principal of Innis College

“My memories of Frank feature his warm smile, jaunty bowtie, and encouraging presence. Frank was the mentor we had read about in books but never met inperson before. A leading intellectual light, and a non-discriminating friend to many, Frank will be sorely missed.”

—Stephanie Silverman (HBA ‘05 Innis)

NEW SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD ESTABLISHED IN FRANK CUNNINGHAM’S NAME

Established by Justice Maryka Omatsu, wife of the late Frank Cunningham, the Cunningham Social Justice Award at Innis College is to be given annually to two incoming Innis College undergraduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Arts & Science. The recipients will exemplify Frank Cunningham’s work on socialism and democracy while embodying his values of equality and diversity. Preference will be given to an Indigenous student and/or a student with financial need.

To make a secure online donation, please visit https://engage.utoronto.ca/ cunningham. For more info, please email andrea. blackler@utoronto.ca or phone 416-978-4492

Innis’s past principal Peter H. Russell (left) and then principal Frank Cuningham at the 2001 Convocation

Frank Cunningham (front row, right) marches in a 1980s Toronto peace protest (photo courtesy of Maryka Omatsu).

Photo courtesy of Maryka Omatsu

Douglas MacDonald, Environmental Studies Program director and Innis professor, 1988-2005 (1947-2022)

“Outstanding scholar, devoted teacher, loyal colleague, and committed environmental activist—Doug was a model of engaged scholarship and teaching, living the connections between deep understanding of environmental issues and determined activism, using his expertise to push for solutions to environmental degradation in the unique Canadian context. His award-winning book, Business and Environmental Politics

in Canada, and recent Carbon Province, Hydro Province represent his outstanding scholarship.

“Doug was a sincere, generous, modest, and always curious man. Innis was very fortunate to benefit from his many contributions to the College and its environmental programs. Doug set a very high bar for those continuing this work, and we will sorely miss his wisdom and persistence.” —Beth

Savan, environmental studies professor

Arthur Tamaki (BCom ’69 Innis), (1946-2022)

“Art was an Innis rarity at the time, in an honours commerce and finance program, but still a regular in the Common Room and involved in so many Innis activities and sports teams. Art’s enthusiasm, sense of humour, warm smile, and intellect made him a popular early Innisian. After graduation, a CA designation, global CFO for the Bata Shoe Company, and then early retirement, Art continued to be a lifelong supporter of Innis College and its alumni.”

—Joe Uyede (BSc ’69 Innis)

Gino Matteo, founding director and professor of cinema studies (1938-2021)

“Although a graduate of St. Michael’s College (1959), and a long-time professor there, Gino’s name is also indelibly associated with Innis. In 1973-74, he was appointed by the then dean of Arts & Science to persuade a disparate group of instructors from all corners of the campus to organize their various film courses into a coherent program. This he did, smoothly ushering the proposed program through some oftentimes reluctant faculty committees. Like the program, Gino found himself housed (part-time) at Innis for the following decade of his leadership. The present institute owes him much.” —Cam Tolton, professor emeritus of cinema studies and French

Photo courtesy of the School of the Environment, University of Toronto

Photo courtesy of Robert Patrick

Photo courtesy of Thelma Tamaki

Catherine Pampe (née Smith) (BA ’67 Innis), (1944-2022)

“I first met Cathy in September 1964. She was one of the six students who were elected by fellow students to form, along with Professor Peter Russell and assistant registrar Mary-Pat McMahon, an interim student government to draft the Innis College Student Society constitution. Cathy was a fine-arts student, who later volunteered her time for many years at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Throughout her time at the College, she brought much warmth, enthusiasm, and energy to anyone near her. She will be remembered for her kindness, wonderful laugh, grace, and poise, and her special way of lighting up a room.”

—Robert Patrick (BA ’67 Innis)

Patricia Petersen Urban Studies Program director and professor at Innis, 19842005 (1940-2022)

Je rey Hutchings (BSc ’80 Innis), (1958-2022)

“Jeff was an exceptional scientist who fearlessly challenged governments, including the Canadian government, to use evidence-based decision making in their management of fisheries and wildlife conservation. Early in his career, Jeff became heavily engaged in science, policy, and controversies related to the collapse of the Newfoundland cod fishery. He pushed this decisionmaking principle throughout his career, including as the chair of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

Jeff was internationally renowned for his contributions to fisheries research, publishing over 250 scientific papers and books. He was a great mentor of students and a valued colleague to many.”

“Pat Petersen was the director of the Urban Studies Program when I was an undergrad student in the late 1980s; she remained in that role until her retirement in 2005. She was unusually approachable for a professor, eager to both talk and listen, and someone who genuinely cared about students, and cities. She was a strong proponent of experiential learning long before it was popular, teaching an internship course that became a model for other departments many years later. Pat and I kept in touch over the years, and I’ll always remember her as a trailblazer in urban studies, and as an unfailingly generous and encouraging mentor.”

—Shauna

Brail,

former Urban Studies Program

director

—Don

Jackson, ecology and evolutionary biology professor at U of T

Photo courtesy of Dalhousie University

Bottom: Patricia Petersen (front left) with Councillor Anne Johnston and members of the Urban Studies Program. Inset: Patricia Petersen with her husband, Hans (photo courtesy of Alexandra Petersen)

Meet our contributors

SHAYLA ANDERSON

is Innis’s events and mentorship coordinator and an alumna of the College and its Urban Studies Program (HBA ’19). Shayla is passionate about photography and has taken photos of many Innis students, alumni, and faculty over the years. In her free time, Shayla enjoys the creativity of directing her freelance editorial photoshoots and exploring the world of film photography.

Inside front cover, 1, 6, 9, 12, 14, 16-20, 22-23, 31-36, 40-41

SHIVANI BALDEO

is a graduating student completing a sociology specialist and criminology major. She has been a student leader at Innis and U of T, including as orientation coordinator; member of Innis’s Community Wellness Team, IRC, and ICSS; a program union mentor; and editor of the Undergraduate Sociology Journal She is now working as Innis’s overflow housing program assistant, and aspires to attend law school.

“Focus on wellness” (pp. 16-17)

DIANTHI FERNANDO

is an Innis grad (HBA ’19) with a Master of Teaching from OISE. During her time at Innis, she supported residence and student life initiatives with the Office of Student Life. Dianthi is now a front-line advisor at University College’s Academic Advising and Registrar’s Office. She is fully committed to supporting students holistically through their lifelong learning journeys.

“I am, because you are” (pp. 18-19)

Photo by Daniel Amaze

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo by Shayla Anderson

We can’t do it without the talents of students, alumni, staff, and faculty

EVA-LYNN JAGOE has been Innis’s vice principal since January 2022 and is also a professor of Spanish and comparative literature. She is passionate about creative nonfiction writing, and has written a memoir, Take Her, She’s Yours. Her current writing project is a book about family, place, and land; Eva-Lynn has yet to decide if it is fiction, a memoir, or something entirely different.

“Every perspective tells a story”

(pp. 26-27)

EMMA PAULUS

is a recent U of T grad (HBA ’22), where she studied religion, English, and Spanish. Emma served as an Innis College orientation coordinator, president of the ICSS, and intern with the Office of Student Life. Currently, Emma is in the Master of Education program at OISE, U of T. “Celebrating student leadership”

(pp. 32-33)

JINWEN TAO

is a recent Innis College graduate (HBSc ’22), who majored in mathematics and statistics. She started exploring digital arts in her second year, and began designing. Although she is a science student, her love for the arts inspires her to move forward. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in statistics in the UK and plans to apply to a Master of Game Design in the future.

Cover artwork

We’re looking for contributors!

If you are a student, alum, staff, faculty member, or friend of Innis, and have an idea for a story, or know an Innisian whom you think should be profiled in the magazine, we invite you to lend your creative talents—which may include interviewing, writing, and/or illustrating—to the next edition of Innis Alumni & Friends. Please contact editor Ben Weststrate (HBA ’08 Innis) at ben.weststrate@utoronto.ca.

Photo by Shayla Anderson

Photo courtesy of Jinwen Tao

Photo by Shayla Anderson