2 RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
Photo Booth: Alternative Spring Break 2012 in Ghana by Tyler Webb
Ryerson Folio September 25, 2012
Editor-in-Chief Elayne Teixeira-Millar Associate Editors Fashion Christian Allaire Sports Chris Babic Film/Music Nadya Domingo Arts Maria Siassina Opinion Megan Jones News Desk Brian Boudreau Food Megan Matsuda PHOTOGRAPHY Joseph Hammond Jacob Louvelle-Burt Tyler Webb CONTRIBUTORS Ola Mazzuca Sinead Mulhern Aimee O’Connor Samatha Sim
Cover photo by Joseph Hammond
04. Happenings and Listings Fall Reading Week, Nuit Blanche at Ryerson, Word on the Street Fest Brian Boudreau, Nadya Domingo, Aimee O’Connor 06. survival guide Tips for a successful Nuit Blanch experience Brian Boudreau 07. Iv(A)N Ryerson graduates showcases work at Nuit Blanche Nadya Domingo 08. Saturday double=header
An Alumni Weekend story of the then and now Chris Babic
12. TransforminG a business school The retirement of Dean Ken Jones Samantha Sim 18. Photo Booth: Alternative spring break Tyler Webb Photography 21. Alumna takes NYFW Christian Allaire 22. Italian food finds Ola Mazzuca SUBSCRIPTIONS ryersonfolio.com/subscribe Online: ryersonfolio.com Twitter: @RyersonFolio Facebook: RyersonFolio
RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 3
HAPPENINGS Crafted by the Department of Architectural Science, Aura is described as a “glowing membrane.” Visitors can manipulate the project by pressing one area of the membrane, and creating a glowing pattern on another. The patterns are unexpected and can be created by visitors at any point in the night. Mixed reactions for Fall reading week by Sinead Mulhern
Nuit Blanche: Ryerson Lights Up The Night by Nadya Domingo
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his year’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche promises for a radiant Ryerson campus. For the sixth consecutive year, Ryerson students and staff will participate in the annual event that brings art to life across the city. Participants include students and staff from physics, architectural science, engineering, and image arts. Here are Ryerson’s Light Up the Night projects to look forward to seeing on Sept. 29.
O The walkway connecting Kerr Hall East and the Rogers Communication Centre will become a light show for spectators below. A collaboration between engineering and physics students, Light Seeds allows participants below the bridge to control the light show with musical, percussive, optical and kinetic sensors.
Archival Dialogues: Reading the Black Star Collection Artists: Stephen Andrews, Stan Douglas, David Rokeby, Christina Battle, Vera Frenkel, Michael Snow, MarieHélène Cousineau, and Vid Ingelevics.
RDIGITALIVE Artist: Ramona Pringle
An anonymous donor brought the Black Star collection to Ryerson in 2005. Although the collection itself contains more than a quarter of a million photographs, eight internationally renowned Canadian photographers have narrowed the collection down to create the Archival Dialogues. Each of these artists have viewed the Black Star collection to create their own work inspired by the photojournalistic pieces.
Is there anything Ramona Pringle can’t do? The new media professor started her rdigitalife project in early 2012, and is now bringing the series to life for Nuit Blanche. RDIGITALIVE features an interactive video confessional for participants to talk about their experiences in the digital age. The videos will be played on a loop throughout the evening, and then later featured as part of rdigitalife.
Light Seeds Artists: Flavio Firmino-Lunda, Keith Poore, Rawan Ibrahim, and Frances Tonolete. Faculty Advisor: Graham Pearson (Department of Physics Technologist)
Aura Artists: Antonio Cunha, Alan James Munroe, Nicholas Sibbet, Matthew Suriano, Sajith Sabanadesan, and Filip Tisler.
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RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
n Thanksgiving Monday, Ryerson students will breathe sighs of relief as the school’s first fall reading week kicks off. Those enrolled in engineering though can be thankful only for a longer semester and a campus to themselves. They are exempt from the break. Implementing time off during the first semester has been a topic under review by Ryerson’s senate since 2010. Last March, they decided there would be no class from October 8 to 12 this year, giving the autumn session 12 weeks instead of 13. The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science opted out of the reading week saying they needed more than a dozen weeks to teach course content. “We cannot have a break or something would be missing,” says Lamya Amleh, director of first year and common engineering. “We don’t have enough weeks to deliver all the lectures. It’s as simple as that.” Some programs in the Community Services and the Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) also had qualms with a tighter teaching timeline but managed to find a way to condense the semester, leaving the engineers alone on campus for the days post turkey dinners. But is it fair for one group of students to be at school while the rest are catching up on work and relaxing? Engineering students Edward Jupe, third year, and Alexander Schenkel, first year, don’t mind plugging through for the four months. “Personally, I wouldn’t want any extended weekends or holidays because it means that some material gets cut out or squished into other lectures,” says Jupe.
Schenkel isn’t stressed about the lack of a reading week and says he understands the faculty’s decision to opt out. “I don’t think it will affect me,” he says, adding that “the course load is a lot bigger than other faculties.” This isn’t to say that Ryerson engineers will be the only ones hard at work. Students at the journalism school, another demanding program at our university and member of the FCAD, say that having five days without scheduled classes only shifts the focus off of class and onto more diligent reporting. Second year student Rhee Joseph says that the “time off ” will be used to put more energy into the New York music publication that she writes for. Steven Tzemis, also in second year, says that an assigned long form feature article comes with a heavy workload and requires students to revisit a specific location a number of times – something that can be hard to pull off when attending lectures daily. “When we’re in school it’s tough to make this a priority,” he says. He will be taking advantage of the free days to give his article a lot of attention. Come Thanksgiving Monday, Ryerson students will have joined the majority of Ontario university scholars in the fall reading week. But, really, it’s up to you how you use up that time. Word on the Street Festival by Aimee O’Connor
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t is a Sunday afternoon in Toronto and Queen’s Park Circle is filled with people of all ages flipping through recently purchased books, enjoying barbecued corn on the cob, and wandering from tent to tent at the annual Word On The Street Festival. Among the well-known speakers at the festival including David Suzuki, Adrienne Clarkson and Food Network’s Michael Smith, was Ryerson journalism professor Kamal AlSolaylee. The former Globe and Mail theatre critic was featured in the nonfiction tent where he spoke about his book Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes. The memoir outlines his life as a gay man living in an unbearable country, and how his Arab family endured
the political turmoil in the Middle East. While Al-Solaylee read from the introduction of his book, his audience learned quickly about his love for his illiterate mother. He states that writing his book “became very much about my mother.” Since his book sheds light on his sexuality, Al-Solaylee admits that most of his family members were angry when the book was published. On the other hand, his niece and nephew were very supportive of his work. His first name, Kamal, means “perfection” in Arabic. Al-Solaylee admits that living up to the meaning of his name is a form of self-destruction. He remains humble and calls himself pretentious when it comes to the abstract art that decorates his apartment. He also expressed how he wants his text to help gay men in intolerable countries embrace their sexuality. Al Solaylee stated, “If I can do something that gives them hope and tells them there is nothing wrong with you…this is who you are.” People laughed when Al-Solaylee admits that his first pop music crush was Olivia Newton John and that Barbara Streisand taught him everything he knows about being gay. In the 30 minutes Al-Solaylee was speaking, spectators were able to get a glimpse into the novel and an understanding of the man who wrote it. Intolerable is dedicated to Toronto for, “giving [Al-Solaylee] what [he’s] been looking for: a home.” His dedication is relatable to the people celebrating reading at the Word On The Street Festival in a city full of opportunities for people like Al-Solaylee. LISTINGS Ryerson History Society and the International Issues Discussion (IID) series will be presenting their first lecture of the Fall 2012 term, “1812: The Big Picture 200 Years On”, in recognition of the bicentennial of the war this year.
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Sept 26, 630-830 pm, in ENG 103. Please visit iid.kislenko.com for more information. RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 5
Nuit Blanche Special through the downtown area, all of which have a fair share of cool displays. Try getting an all-night TTC pass so your little piggies don’t get too worn out! You can visit the official Nuit Blanche website to see what interests you and to create your own personalized planner, which you can then access on your mobile. Nuit Blanche Survival Guide by Brian Boudreau
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f you’re a Ryerson newbie, you’ll get to experience Nuit Blanche - a night of vibrant colors, inspiring creations, and new technology - for the first time. The evening of September the 29th will be yours to go around town and see all the sights; but without taking the proper steps, you might end up wishing you were cuddled up in your bed watching Say Yes to The Dress reruns. Follow these handy tips though, and you might find something worthwhile at Toronto’s white night.
Tip # 2: Drink and Dress for the Occasion There will be millions of people walking on the streets , that alone making it difficult to navigate around town. Add a few shots of alcohol and several pints of beer, and voila, you’ve got chaos. Try to avoid hard liquor (I know it’s hard) and go for coffee instead! The festival will last from 7pm to sunrise, so you’ll need the caffeine. Something else you’ll need: proper shoes. Ladies, leave the heels home and bring out the sneakers.
Tip # 1: Be Prepared
Tip # 3: Bring friends
There will be more than 150 art pieces scattered around the city - only a fool would hope to see them all. But you might fit in a big chunk of the good ones if you’ve planned ahead. There are 3 zones (A, B, and C) spread out
The idea of the solitary artist might be romantic, but it could also be a tad bit boring. Remember that you’ll be scouting around town during the wee hours of the night. And during those long subway rides, you’ll want
someone to talk to! Plus, you’ll get to discuss how you feel about the pieces you’re looking at. Tip # 4: Don’t bring too many friends While you should bring along a small posse, trying to find your way through swarms of late-night revellers might pose a bit of a problem if you have more than 4 or 5 people in your group. Try to keep your group small, and stay together. We’ve all had the all-too familiar case of conveniently losing the one friend with a dead phone. Been there, done that, don’t ever want to do it again. Tip # 5: Have an open Mind Many a reader will choose to ignore most if not all of these tips, but the one indispensable rule to doing Nuit Blanche right is keeping an open mind. Give some thought to what you’re looking at and try to understand where the artists are coming from. Although you may be completely turned off by some of the art installations, you may find a thing or two of interest if you delve deeper than face value. But above all, have fun with it. You save Say Yes to the Dress for another occasion.
Map of Ryerson Nuit Blanche exhibits Map from ryerson.ca/fcad/events/nuitblanche/ 6 RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
Photo stills by Parker Kay.
NUIT BLANCHE SPECIAL
The Difference one letter can make by Nadya Domingo
Ryerson graduate Christopher Lacroix, aka afallenhorse, explains the inspiration behind his Scotiabank Nuit Blanche project
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hristopher Lacroix and his roommate are watching Degrassi. Suddenly, Lacroix’s roommate yells at the television, “It’s not a noun!” A character has just confessed that they are a transgender. A transgender. That small letter “a” made a huge difference to Lacroix’s roommate, who is transgendered themselves. The Ryerson photography studies graduate says that his roommate inspired a project that he has now been working on for two years. “That got me thinking,” Lacroix says. “It’s something that bothered me, I couldn’t put my finger on it.” Lacroix, who now works under the name of afallenhorse, began Iv(A) N two years ago. The project will be shown at this year’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche in collaboration with New Media student, Calvin Winter. Winter says that he wanted to work with afallenhorse after seeing the early stages of the project. “The message of it, I agree with,” Winter says. “People can say things
that affect people in negative ways without even meaning to.” Iv(A)N will combine video footage of Nuit Blanche visitors with text that they feel describes them most. Participants will select descriptions from an iPad, which will then correlate with their videos. afallenhorse says that he hopes the interactive experience will get people thinking about the way that they use language. “I think when people use language against you, it can negatively shape your identity. I think I’ve experienced that,” he says. “This is partially my attempt to fight against those experiences that I have.” The artist says that there is a huge difference between saying “a transgender” and “transgender” – when we describe ourselves as “a” something, we objectify ourselves. afallenhorse says that if a woman described herself as female rather than a female, the word would become a part of who they are, rather than
what they are. “I hope it just lets people become aware. I want them to be really cautious of the fact that words have power,” afallenhorse says. “It may be really subtle, and we may not know this, but they have power. It can affect the way people see each other and the way we see ourselves.” Iv(A)N will take place at The Gladstone Hotel in Room 214 on Sept. 29.
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Alumni Weekend Special
A Saturday Doubleheader A story of the then and the now meeting at Alumni Weekend by Chris Babic
Ryerson alumni assembled. Among them, seated at a table just ahead of the temporary stage set up in front of the long, modestly arched windows, sits a man with a refined silver-grey beard, trimmed neatly almost to the chin, and a broad, angular nose, which suggests an aura of authority about him. His face is the same one we saw upon the boards directing us from the hotel lobby, up the lifts to level C, and into the hall. His name is Edward Burtynsky, he is tonight’s keynote speaker at the 2012 Ryerson Alumni Association Dinner, and he is a wellsought-after man. The chance to see one of the great photographers of the modern era is what initially piqued the interest of Ryerson Folio, and it is what led Joe and I to the crowded hall on a Saturday night, ignoring the late calls to a journalism pub night at the Ram in the Rye. Yet, alumni weekend rapidly became more than the endeavor to meet Burtynsky, and I happily fell into a very long, but ultimately rewarding day, moving seamlessly through generations of Ryerson history.
F Photos by Joseph Hammond
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he Concert Hall of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel is of a modernized art deco style, and there are still vestiges of the original elegant, stately 1930’s charm, certainly in the delicate crystal chandeliers, hanging from a coffered ceiling soaring above the thin, Easter-palette, patterned carpet. It is beautiful, and sultry, reminiscent of the Cyprus Club which Philip Marlowe visits in Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled 1939 classic, The Big Sleep. Circular tables draped in a deep blue cloth are jammed in every available space, almost assuring that throughout the evening, one might expect a bump or two as dinner-goers sidle between matching blue-clothed chairs, each one filled by a Ryerson University alumnus.
Far from such choreographed chaos being an annoyance, Ian Horne, President of the Ryerson University Alumni Association, articulates between appetizers and the main course, that this packed house is a sign of Ryerson’s growing alumni base, important in building a world-class university. He says, “I’ve been going to these things a long time, and this is the first time I had to wait in line to register, that is great!” Standing in the soft yellow lighting, Joseph Hammond, the photographer who had accompanied me, remarked that it felt as though we had walked into a Christopher Nolan film, and there were several regal figures who might have passed as an elder Bruce Wayne among the hundreds of
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itting then, that my day begins at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), whose historical development has been raked-through innumerable times by media and general passersby alike, and whose generational impact cannot be overstated on the families who watched the Toronto Maple Leafs compete within these walls. Not long past noon on the western concourse of Ryerson’s gleaming new arena, the twenty-one members of the Rams 1962-63 men’s hockey team are inducted into the Ryerson Athletics Hall of Fame, the seventh such ceremony, and the second induction of a hockey team, after the 1958-59 provincial champions were enshrined in 2009. Over ten seasons, from 1953 to 1963, the Rams hockey teams brought home seven provincial championships, and were finalists in two other years. The Rams could have won eight titles had they not conceded the 196162 trophy to McMaster, because the players had exams to write so could not make the game. The hockey team became Ryerson’s most dominant
sporting dynasty, a feat unparalleled since, especially considering that the 1962-63 squad, under Hall of Fame coach Ron Scarcello, went undefeated en route to the last title-winning season in Rams hockey history. During the reception in the Alumni Lounge, which offers a wonderfully unimpeded view over the ice, Scarcello pulled me aside, glad to recant stories of games and some of his considerable antics in the five years he coached the hockey team, from 1959 to 1964, and before that, when he played for the Rams while an Architecture major. Only a year removed from graduation himself, Scarcello says his young age allowed him to become “one of the boys”, which meant he was well-liked by his players, and that he was able to pull a lot of shenanigans with them. At this, he puts his hand over my writing pad and leans in to say, “Don’t write some of these stories,” with a wink and a half-joking laugh. In truth, they were funny tales of boys will be boys, circa the early 1960’s, and a reminder of just how little we can get away with in school today. Some of them, like the story of a salacious Frosh Week in his second year, develop a sense of the lively, affable character of Scarcello, a charisma which made him destined to be a strong motivator: “My second year, everyone knew me because of the hockey team, so I went to this one event. They had all these pretty ladies lined up, and they were picking out guys for a kiss. Only none of the guys wanted to go up, so I turned my jacket inside-out and had a ball up there with them! Everyone was laughing because they knew I was a second year so I shouldn’t have even been there!” After laughing with Scarcello over a few more of the countless memories he has, I realize that we have spent a good deal of time talking, and was that not current men’s hockey coach Graham Wise, wanting a word with you, quite some time earlier in our conversation? We exchange goodbyes, and Scarcello leaves me with one last story, of the time he met former Rangers star Ott Heller. It was during a doubleheader at Varsity arena, and Scarcello was particularly distracted by
his team’s play during the first game, so much so, that when the opposing coach offered his hand, Scarcello rebuffed him. “Well, I turn to look at him, and it’s Ott Heller. Ott Heller mind you, I had his hockey card!” Scarcello searched out Heller to apologize, and in the kind of moment where time and happenstance converge into history, in the corridor he noticed a few guys who had been heckling from the stands all game, at the same time as a cleaner was taking out a bucket of water. “So I grab the bucket and really gave it to ‘em!” The hecklers did not much like being soaking wet, so advanced upon the coach. “We got into it pretty good, and would ya believe it, there was Ott Heller helping pull guys off me and ev-
erything!” Climbing the four floors on my way to the induction, I had cautiously hoped that, as if in some Roger Angell inspired story from the ballpark, I would stumble into a captivating game of ‘remember when?’ among the throes of old memories, when in fact, the entire day was constructed of them. “Remember the Waterloo game, when that huge guy, must’ve been eight feet tall, kept bugging me?” Jack Morgan awaits an answer from Alex Fex. Morgan, whom they call BlackJack - because his hair was black and his grisly beard was blacker - was the star goaltender on that ‘62 - ‘63 team, while Fex was the bruising enforcer.
Wearing a green jacket emblazoned with the Ryerson insignia, Fex measures his answer thoughtfully. “You threw both your gloves at him, and that bought me time to get there, otherwise I wouldn’t have fought him, he was a strong guy.” President Sheldon Levy, whose commitment to athletics has yet to waver, reminded Morgan of another, equally astounding man, upon whose tireless efforts Ryerson grew. “Dr. Kerr never missed a home game for as long as I can remember. He would come into the dressing room and just stand there and smile,” remembers Morgan of the former Ryerson principal. I felt an odd bit of nostalgia for an era I was never a part of, a yearning to be able to share in the stories of that team, to be able to say I remember when Bill McKenzie scored the opening goal of the final championship series with Waterloo, but that captain Jim Hayward stole the show, and next morning’s headlines, that night. Morgan’s throaty laugh brings me back to the lounge, where in a remarkably poignant piece of scheduling, a young junior team is taking to the ice for a Saturday practice. “I remember Dave Woodburn would load up the boys in his pickup truck, and there was so much bonding going on during rides to the arena.” It was Fred Shero, former General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers who once said, “win today and bond forever.” It is in that spirit which former player Jon Taylor keeps the guys informed on alumni events, such as the annual alumni golf tourney that five or eight of the teammates attend each year. The gentlemen drank plenty of the available cabernet merlot, and then, as slowly they made their way back to their lives, in Sudbury, in Vancouver, all over the country, a few turned toward the ice. They did the only thing I could expect them to do: laced up the leather and began to skate. Some, like Fex, and former third-liner Paul Cook, wore their unmistakable green blazers, others blended into the crowd of alumni and community skaters, family and friends, generations once again sharing in the mystery of the Gardens. Although the Mattamy Athletic
RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 9
Photo by Joseph Hammond
Centre, in all of its glass, open concourse modernity, is a far cry from the cramped, aging wooden barns where Rams hockey teams of old plied their trade, the men around me, all of whom were past retirement, seemed at home. Scarcello scans the room, then leans into me again, laughing. “They haven’t grown up. I haven’t grown up. Here we are old-grown men, and they still call me coach!”
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oach, and the rest of the team are to be honoured twice more - once at the men’s hockey season opener on October 19, the other, later this evening at the Alumni Dinner. In this way that men’s team became a part of the narrative on meeting Burtynsky, and I found myself thinking of that ‘62 - ‘63 team as Joe and I made our way into the Concert Hall for the next chapter of the day, this one titled the Alumni Dinner. The soft chime of silverware on porcelain fluttered throughout the evening, providing a resonating undertone as host Nneka Elliott, a Radio and Television arts alum of 2006, made her opening remarks, before turning our attentions to the grand stage, to the right of my standing spot by the entrance door. Joe had by this time wandered off to meander his way between the sea of tables, capturing images of the night. Under the flickering light of candles and the inconsistent flashes
of camera bulbs, four third-year students of the Ryerson Theatre School took to the stage singing of dreams, of spectacular nights, of the Beatles, and an encore rendition of Lean on Me, which had the crowd clapping along, enchanted. The theatre school’s production and operations manager, Peter Fleming, is leaning on the wall next to me. We exchange knowing glances - the likes of which are transferred between people who know just how much preparation is required to pull off a performance such as the one we are hearing, or in fact, the difficulty of organizing the entire alumni weekend: the look of two proud Ryersonian’s. It is the look Horne hopes to engender on everyone’s faces as he makes his speech. The look that Adam Kahan, Vice President of University Advancement, hopes to capitalize on, by imploring the alumni to purchase a seat title in the MAC, to support an exponential progression toward an elite educational institution. It is the look which President Levy has on his face, each time he talks about the Gardens, as he often does in his speeches of late, but also the same look he has when he takes us on a three-dimensional rendered tour of the yet to be completed Student Learning Centre. It is the first time anyone, including the board of directors, has seen with some degree of Simsian detail (that of the popular PC game franchise), each level of space that has been given over almost
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in its entirety to students. Ryerson is growing, and with over 67 000 applications each year for only 7500 undergraduate spaces, it is a rapid transition, requiring a strong-willed administration and backing from the over 130,000 alumni, who have all at some point walked through Kerr Hall just as we do today. President Levy reminds us about all of these things during his time at the podium, and the casual, affable and witty manner with which he speaks seems to endear him to the folks at my particular table at least, as we tucked into chicken and scalloped potatoes. At table with us is Meredith Jordan, an Alumni Relations officer, by whose grace Joe and I were able to find a seat at all. She gestured for us to get up, then leaned in, as if to tell a secret of particular import. “Do you want to meet him?” Him could only mean one person, and Joe and I exchange furtive looks of equal parts astonishment, anxiety and well, a little giddiness. Jordan leads us to the front of the hall, to table seven I believe, where we shake hands with Burtynsky himself. It is as if we had been granted royal audience, and thinking on it afterward, such a simile seems hyperbolic, but at that moment, it was how I felt. Burtynsky was due to speak right after desert, so we had little enough time to talk, but he happily tells us how meaningful it was for his works to be studied in Ryerson classrooms by
image arts students, some thirty years since he had studied the works of past photographers with the same reverence. He tells us that no matter how the path meanders, if you have a goal in mind, you will get there. I ask him whether he has gotten to the level that he had dreamed for himself back when he graduated from photography, class of 1982, and the answer is an unequivocal yes. We shake hands once more, and over a delicious custard desert, Joe and I vow to speak with Burtynsky at length after his talk. That, of course, is another story altogether. We are chewing the last mouthfuls of desert, when, at nearly half-past nine, it is finally time for Burtynsky to step on stage. Joe wonders if he can fit in a cup of coffee before the talk, but thinks better of it and bolts away to some unseen corner of the hall to get his photographs. I anxiously grab my notepad in anticipation of a flurry of fine words about Burtynky’s life, his works, and muses. He is part of the one per cent of photographers whom are able to fly around the globe, making a living by selling their works, but his talk begins
with stories of his humble upbringing, and the friends he made at Ryerson. Then he launches into a colourful retrospective on his most prominent series, those of oil, mining, quarries, and his latest, water. The standing ovation closing his talk is well deserved for one of Ryerson’s most famous alums, but his are not the words I remember most clearly when all the plates have been cleared, and alumni are filing out of the doors. That honour I hold for Horne, whose words were delivered near the beginning of the evening. At the end of his speech, Horne holds his wine glass aloft, and leads the entire hall in a simple toast: “To Ryerson!” The resounding reply is swallowed by the merry clinking of hundreds of glasses before being swept away in a chorus of competing voices. It is the sound of the class of ‘72 meeting the class of ‘67. It is the laughter of the ‘77’s at table with the ‘82’s, and booming from several tables near the stage, are the stories of that ‘63 hockey team and the ‘62 class of Architecture and Technology. It is, above all, the sound of a university building a strong
united base, upon which to grow. As I sit near the speakers, blaring a jarring samba/soul/pop mix, absently watching staff clearing tables and packing equipment, jotting final thoughts on my pad in the blue light of a projector, I reflect on my juxtaposition between the then and the now. I resolve that in the years to come I will be sitting in perhaps this very same blue-clothed chair, telling this story, or perhaps a more interesting one to come. I suppose that is the essence of the evening; that the groundwork for building a strong future at Ryerson, is laid upon the continued strength and support of those who have come before. Joseph and I are among the last to leave the hall, and as we exit through the doors we are greeted by Alumni Relations staffers; Meredith Jordan, Erin MacDonald and Florence James, on whose gracious help we relied to fill our bellies, introduce us to guests and make sure we had everything we needed. We thank them humbly, before heading out into the blustery Toronto night, after a successful twelve hours. ■
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Transforming Ryerson’s Business School Since 2005, Ryerson’s ted rogers school of management has turned into one of canada’s top business schools. After announcing retirement for july 2013, dean ken jones reflects back on his years at ryerson by samantha sim photograph by joseph hammond for ryerson folio lighting assistant, Jacob Louvelle-Burt
Calling Dr. Jones, one last time W hen Dr. Ken Jones, Dean of Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), retires on July 1, 2013 he will leave a faculty that is more connected than it was when he assumed head position of it in 2005. In fact, TRSM didn’t even exist and the five departments that now make up the school (Business Management, Information Technology Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, TRetail Management and Ted Rogers School of Management Graduate Programs) were separate and located in the Victoria Building. “I inherited a school that didn’t have a locational focus. Students didn’t feel like they were a part of one faculty,” says Jones. “I wanted them to feel like they were a part of a bigger unit.” How do we differentiate ourselves from other business schools in Toronto? That’s the question Jones looked to answer when he first become dean. Recognizing that Ryerson is a professional-program oriented university located right in the heart of corporate Canada he sought a brand that would best show what the faculty could contribute to the business world. “Many of our students have an entrepreneurial spirit and I wanted the brand to recognize that passion,” he says. “I also wanted it to show the school’s energy, that this is a place where things are happening.” He stressed the importance of staff and students connecting with local, national and even international businesses all under the opinion that a business school shouldn’t be an ivory tower, it should be an agent of change. These connections are something Jones is very proud of and it shows when he makes a commitment to attending the 100 studentled events each year that he supports.
“Our students really do want to make a change and that’s evident through the level of volunteerism at TRSM,” he says. “Take a walk around the building and you’ll find that he knows everyone and everyone recognizes him,” says Abdullah Snobar, Manager of Undergraduate Student Relations and Development at Ted Rogers School of Management. Snobar was in first year of the business management program when Jones first became dean and came to know him well as he became involved with the Ryerson Commerce Society. He’s now worked full-time in the dean’s office for three years. Snobar says that he’s been to many business schools and finds that he rarely sees the same level of connection between a dean and its students as there is at TRSM. Jones also saw the renaming of the Faculty of Business into the Ted Rogers School of Management early in his term, something he is very proud of. “When I found out Ted Rogers was giving us the name I was very happy,” he says. “Everyone knows who he is and it’s a very recognizable national brand.” He also saw the school’s move to its 55 Dundas St. W location. Eight years later TRSM has become the largest undergraduate business school in Canada. Jones likes to call it “Canada’s most connected business school”. Last year it joined an elite group after receiving its business accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), only six other Ontario universities and 18 Canadian universities have this distinction. Not bad for a man who says he never aspired to become a dean and only considered after former Provost and Vice President Academic Errol
14 RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
Aspevig approached him to run. After learning that there would be an opportunity to help with the creation of a new building, brand and opportunity to grow the faculty he became interested. Although, he does admit that to this day he still doesn’t know why they chose him for the job. “I’m proud that TRSM is a better place than when I arrived,” says Jones. “Our students are truly making a difference in the business world and beyond.” But in true humble fashion Jones refuses to take all the credit. “I wasn’t the person who made this happen. A dean is simply an orchestra leader. All you can do is create an environment where people can try new ideas, create and be entrepreneurial,” he says. “It’s the staff and students who’ve made this happen. It’s not my legacy, it’s there’s.” Snobar couldn’t disagree more with Jones’ perspective. “I think he’s left one of the biggest legacies at the school,” he says. “TRSM was never what it was before Ken.” It’s his openness to listening to all different ideas that Snobar says is a part of the stamp Jones will leave on the school. “One of the great things about Ken is that he truly does listen to any idea. You can go to him with the craziest idea and instead of dismissing it he’ll help you find a way to make it happen,” he says. Despite Jones’ opinion, it’s clear that he has made a mark on the Ryerson community. Joining the university in 1970 as a geography professor, Jones jokes that he’s been at the school so long he can probably give a history lesson on the place, he specialized in business geomatics, geo-spatial analysis and marketing geography. He then founded the Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity (CSCA) in 1992. The Centre is a non-profit research unit based at Ryerson that specializes in studying private-sector economic activities that deal directly with consumers. He received the Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award in 2000 and earlier this year he won the
The résumé Errol Aspevig Award for Outstanding Academic Leadership, which is presented to an individual who has advanced the mission of the university through extraordinary and outstanding academic leadership and who has contributed significantly to the enhancement of academic life at Ryerson and beyond. On top of all this he’s also a published author of three books. For someone who has spent most of his life in school, Jones does admit it will be an unfamiliar feeling come next September when he’ll no longer have to make the commute. “For me the real new year starts the day after Labour Day,” he says. “For the first time in 60 years I won’t be going to school that day. That’s a good feeling.” There aren’t any grand plans in the works for the man who swears he doesn’t have a bucket list. He’s just looking forward to relaxing, spending time with family and no more 6 a.m. wake ups. But before he leaves Jones has a few things left to accomplish. Successfully seeing the launch of the School of Accounting and Finance is one. He also plans on completely rethinking what a business curriculum looks like. All this in the hopes that he can leave the school knowing that it’s a place where leaders are created and where students’ interests are top of mind. He insists that he has no regrets and that there’s no point on dwelling on things you can’t change. He’s focused more on enjoying every day of his last year as it comes and making sure that the next person to takeover can lead the ship smoothly into the future. “Where do I hope TRSM looks like in the next 5, 10, 25 years? I hope it evolves as a great business school known for focusing on careers, students, entrepreneurship and having an international reputation as a leader in business education.” No matter who’s chosen as the new dean Snobar says it’s clear TRSM will miss the “great humility and charisma” of Dr. Ken Jones. ■
2005 Announced as Dean of Business 2006 Ted Rogers School of Management 2007 Launched MBA/MMSc program 2007 Student engagement reached an all time high 2008 Ted Rogers Leadership Centre 2009 Helped launch Ted Rogers Management Conference 2009 Achieved significant increase in corporate support 2010 Launched Centre for Labour Management Relations 2011 Completes AACSB Accreditation for TRSM 2012 Launched the Business Career Centre 2012 In process of implementing the School of Accounting and Finance
2012 Students
9,248 Full-time faculty:
132 First-year enrollment
1,782 Statistics from: ryerson.ca/upo/statistics
RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 15
Photo booth
Alternative Spring Break Alternative Spring Break Ryerson is a student-run organization that offers students a rare chance to volunteer their time and work in developing countries to experience and learn from another culture. Ryerson Folio photographer Tyler Webb goes through his experiences from last year’s ASB trip to Ghana. Photography by Tyler Webb.
18 RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
Photo booth
Alternative Spring Break By Tyler Webb
L
ast year I had the chance to be a part of a one of a kind student led volunteering program available to any Ryerson student. The group, Alternative Spring Break Ryerson (ASB), sets itself apart from other student volunteering opportunities through its basic philosophy. At it’s heart, ASB is about growing up in the world instead of the campus bubble. Shunning traditional large scale NGO’s for student selected and even home-grown organizations, ASB puts community involvement, sustainability and a unique team-based experience at the forefront of its project selections. With the announcement of it’s trip for this year to Kenya (and possibly Mongolia), I wanted to offer an inside look at what makes ASB tick and what prospective applicants can expect from the amazing adventure that is ASB Ryerson. For more information on this years projects and ASB in general check out their website: asbryerson.tumblr.com. Keep updated with ASB Ryerson for more information before applications are due on October 5th.
RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 19
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Fashion
Ryerson Alumna Takes New York Fashion Week
Amanda Lew Kee takes New York Fashion Week with sleek, practical separates by Christian Allaire Go, Ryerson, go! Recent fashion design grad Amanda Lew Kee, who found notable success within the Toronto fashion scene after graduating, went international this season by showing at New York Fashion Week. Lew Kee was a part of the GenArt Fresh Faces in Fashion show, where fellow Canadian label Chloe Comme Paris presented their Spring 2013 collection as well. Lew Kee was inspired to create “refined conditional separates,” presenting athletic-inspired pieces that are meant for an active lifestyle. But like many other sportswear collections we’ve seen lately—Stella McCartney and MaxMara come to mind— athletic doesn’t have to mean anti-feminine. Lew Kee showed feminine pieces made with quick-dry materials, including silk aqua pants with a
black racing stripe on the side, deconstructed jackets with baseball collars, and straight-cut dresses with sheer paneling. Among the riskier offerings included double-slit skirts and pants (Angelina Jolie, much?). Lew Kee graduated from Ryerson’s fashion design program in 2010 and has been featured in top publications like Flare, Elle Canada and Fashion. She has also created custom pieces for celebrities like Shenae Grimes, Deadmaus, and Miss Piggy. See Amanda Lew Kee’s work at amandalewkee. com, or on Twitter, @AMANDALEWKEE
Ryerson Street Style by Christian Allaire
Jennifer Joseph, Journalism ‘14
Hillary MacDonald, Journalism ‘14
Bianca Venerayan, Fasion Comm. ‘14
RYERSON FOLIO / SEPTEMBER 25, 2012 21
Photo by Ola Mazzuca
For Italians, eating food is a tradition, not a practice True Italian food finds in toronto by Ola Mazzuca
I
n Italian culture, food is more than a means of survival and fuel for the body; it is a practice of social customs, a symbol of values, and a way to connect with people you love. Restaurant franchises like Pizza Pizza should be ashamed for touting menu items like Fettuccine Alfredo or Penne Bolognese as an authentic choice, especially when it’s storebought and probably from a can. With over 20 regions from its Alpine north to southern toe of the boot, Italy offers a variety of local ingredients and dishes that reflect its geographical makeup. Staples of the north include Milanese risotto with aromatic saffron, rich Extra Virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar of Modena, and crisp focaccia bread. Dishes can become more intricate with fried zucchini flowers from the southern region of Calabria, fresh seafood from Puglia, and creamy buffalo mozzarella from Campania. Based on the Mediterranean diet, Italians begin their day with a small breakfast, consisting of a cornetto, a butter pastry similar to a croissant often filled with jam, and an espresso. This leaves room for the main meal of the day: pranzo. Lunch is the most important for its three courses: primo, secondo and dolce. Primo is the first course, which is usually pasta in dif-
ferent forms and sauces. The second course includes meat or fish with a side of vegetables or starch. Italians never refuse dessert, which can range from biscotti, twice-baked cookies, or small pastries with coffee. After a midday break known as a “siesta,” dinner includes a lighter fare such as soups, salads, proteins like beans or cheese, and cold meats.
An Italian’s Recommendations:
Toronto has a growing list of true Italian joints serving up traditional eats. Terroni, 720 Queen Street West, and others, Toronto, (416) 504-1992 Terroni.com Terroni offers an extensive menu of unique, southern fare ranging from roasted veggie salads to hearty meat ragù. Nino D’Aversa Bakery, 1 Toro Road, North York, (416) 638-3271 For staple ingredients and snacks on the go, Nino D’Aversa Bakery is a great place to grab a veal sandwich or pick up fresh bread, cheese and baked goods.
As the final basil leaf is layered under cheese on a chewy Margherita pizza or dropped onto spaghetti pomodorini, laced with juicy cherry tomatoes, loud conversations and laughter ensue over glasses of Sangiovese red wine. Both dishes are green, white and red, just like the Italian flag. A family gathers around the dining table. Their meal is more than a cultural tradition; it is where memories are passed onto future generations to teach the world a greater love of food.
22 RYERSON FOLIO / september 25, 2012
Pizza e Pazzi, 1182 Saint Clair Avenue West, Toronto, (647) 352-7882 pizzaepazzi.ca Enoteca Motorino, 4101 Rutherford Road, Woodbridge, (905) 264-1911, motorinoenoteca.com North of the city, this Vaughan restaurant serves traditional sfizi, appetizers of fish fritters, to the bubbly burnt crusts of Neapolitan-style pizzas. ■
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