Vic Report Spring 2011

spring 2011

Living History: President’s Annual Report 2009–2010 p. 8 vic report spring 2011

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president ’s page

The Symbols of Our University Education by paul w. gooch An essential element in the identity and history of Victoria University is our crest. As Vic goes on to make history throughout this 21st century, its four symbols will continue to represent the kind of experience which our founders hoped would constitute an effective university education.

It’s worth pausing to reflect on their meaning as the context for this annual report.

Recall that on the left side, there is an owl in the upper quadrant and a sphinx in the lower one. On the right side, the upper panel has a lamp and the lower a phoenix. On one diagonal, then, both panels have birds; and on the other diagonal (top right to bottom left), the lamp and sphinx are linked.

How do these images call up ideas about education? Each has an ancient meaning, bringing to mind important themes in the history of the cultures that have shaped the societies to which we belong: the owl has to do with wisdom, and the lamp with learning. The sphinx is associated with Egypt and with riddles. The phoenix is a mythological creature that builds its nest, sets it on fire, and is consumed in the flames; but it rises from its own ashes to a new cycle of life.

These four symbols, taken together, encompass vast ranges of cultural history. Representations of both the phoenix and the sphinx are found in Asia as well as in the Mediterranean world.

Though the lamp is a universal symbol, the founders of Victoria must have had in mind images from the Bible, where the Hebrew scriptures refer to God’s commandments as a lamp to light one’s path. The owl is perhaps most famously associated with Athena, the patron goddess of Athens.

So our crest displays images from classical culture, from Hebrew and Christian sources, from Egypt and Asia. There’s more to meaning than discovering origins, however. What, more specifically, does the crest have to say about university education?

Go back to the lamp on the upper right. Elementally, human beings link physical darkness with ignorance. Plato’s famous story of the Cave in which we’re all prisoners to shadowy beliefs trades on this association; only when some few people manage to struggle free of the chains of ignorance, to escape to the sunlit world, do they attain knowledge. Our founders wanted this to be a place where light could be found—in a curriculum that passes on knowledge to the next generation. Then slide down the diagonal to the sphinx. She stands for the riddles of life that we can’t quite puzzle out, the mysteries that continue to remind us that we need to have intellectual humility. On the stained glass in the Chapel are the words of Isaac Newton, under his image: “The great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” He had compared himself to a little boy playing with pebbles on the beach, when there was so much more to try to understand. While learning enlightens, it should also be an education in the limits of knowledge, and indeed in the unknowabilities of the human condition.

The other two symbols are not so much about learning and knowledge as they are about character, into which (as our motto has it) studies should pass. These avian images, of owl and phoenix, stand for wisdom and rebirth from the ashes of destruction. Like the owl who can turn its head well past each shoulder, and peer effectively into the darkness, so we covet a wisdom that is broad, perceptive, and not afraid to seek when the light of knowledge is dim. Those are intellectual qualities that go far beyond the mere accumulation of factual knowledge. Again, though, there are limits. As with the phoenix, some institutions, ideas and practices have come to the end of their lives and need to be reborn in new circumstances. That belief in cross and resurrection comes from the Christian faith that motivated the founding of this university 175 years ago; but it is a set of convictions about human existence that can find expression in many forms of life, as indeed the phoenix symbol itself testifies.

In this issue you will be introduced to a selection of alumni and students who exemplify the transforming values of a liberal education, who in their own ways are making history. They too are symbols, representatives of all who have shared in the founding vision and have become wiser, adept in casting light on unknown and dark places, respectful of the limits of human understanding, and full of hope for new beginnings.  2

vic report spring 2011

Spring 2011 Volume XXXIX No. 2 Published under the authority of the Board of Regents of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

Publisher: Deborah Scott, Executive Director of Advancement Executive Editor: Alison (Massie) Broadworth Vic 9T7, Director of Alumni Affairs Editor: Jennifer Little Vic 9T5, Manager of Marketing and Communications Copy Editor: Frank Collins Design: DDB Canada Cover: Outside the Vic Chapel, from left to right: Belle Song Vic 1T1, The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman Vic 5T3, President Paul W. Gooch, Dora Chan Vic 1T1 and Catharine Whiteside Vic 7T2.

Photograph by Babak.

Vic Report is sent to all alumni, faculty, associates and friends of Victoria University.

Published three times a year; circulation 23,000; ISSN 0315-5072.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40741521 Send letters and undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Vic Report c/o The Victoria Alumni Office 150 Charles Street West Toronto ON M5S 1K9 Tel: 416-585-4500 Toll-free: 1-888-262-9775 Fax: 416-585-4594 E-mail: vic.report@utoronto.ca Website: www.vicu.utoronto.ca Do we have your correct address?

Please send your updated address, phone number and e-mail address to the Victoria Alumni Office.

Please notify us if the graduate named in the address is deceased (enclose obituary or equivalent) and we will remove his/her name from the mailing list.

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President Paul W. Gooch’s Term Extended to 2014 Success of Vic One and Academic Excellence Highlights of Tenure Paul Huyer Vic 8T1, chair of the Victoria University Board of Regents, is pleased to announce that at its February meeting, the Board of Regents voted to extend Paul W. Gooch’s term as president of Victoria University until June 30, 2014. “Paul’s accomplishments, including the hugely successful Vic One, have been very impressive and we are fortunate to be able to draw on his energy, passion and commitment to Victoria University for another three years,” said Huyer.

Since joining Victoria University in 2001, President Gooch has made improving the undergraduate education a priority.

Beginning with the launch of Vic One in 2003, a unique, personalized academic experience for first-year students, Gooch has transformed the undergraduate experience at Victoria.

Vic One is an academic program divided into four streams, with a fifth to be launched in September 2011. The seminarstyle classes have no more than 25 students who are taught by prominent scholars and decision-makers. The success of this program has most recently been recognized with the 2011 Northrop Frye Award for connecting teaching and research, one of the University of Toronto Awards of Excellence. It is the first time a first-year academic program has been so honoured.

Provost Cheryl Misak remarked that “Vic One has transformed the undergraduate experience at the University of Toronto.”

Vic One has demonstrated excellence that has led the provost

to encourage all colleges at U of T to create similar firstyear programs.

Gooch has also focused on making the first-year experience more personal for all students by introducing the small-class requirement for all students at Victoria.

This requirement can be met through the Vic Pathways courses or Vic Seminar courses. Through fundraising initiatives Gooch has increased the number of Paul W. Gooch was installed as student awards for nationalVictoria’s 16th president on October 10, and international-student 2001. The Board of Regents has exchange, further enhancing extended his term until June 30, 2014. the student experience.

“There is no better place in the country for undergraduate arts and science education than Vic at U of T, and no better place than Emmanuel for theological education. I am grateful for the renewed opportunity to serve this splendid institution, which keeps on making history,” says President Gooch. 

Goldring Student Centre Groundbreaking May 28

Photograph: (Top) Peg McCarthy

Another Milestone Achieved

Goldring Student Centre design by Moriyama and Teshima Architects.

Major milestones in the construction of the Goldring Student Centre continue to be reached. The costing and design phase is 90% complete, and the Board of Regents has approved the budget through to the tender phase. Tenders were opened in mid-April and a contract will soon be awarded. Each of these steps is an important accomplishment as we work toward creating the gathering place for students on the Vic campus.

Construction on the new Goldring Student Centre is slated to begin in May. The Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, at 150 Charles Street West.

The Goldring Student Centre brings together the generosity of Blake Goldring Vic 8T1 and Judy Goldring Vic 8T7 along with that of the Vic students and alumni of Victoria.

Please call the Office of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement at 416-585-4500 to register for the ceremony.

There is still time to have your name included in the Goldring Student Centre at the Vic 175 or Goldring Circle levels. Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement at 416-584-4500, or vic.alumni@utoronto.ca for more information about supporting the Goldring Student Centre. To make a donation online visit www.alumni.utoronto.ca/victoria.  vic report spring 2011

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The Friends of the Vic Library are Celebrating 20 Years Annual Book Sale Key to Goodwill and Support for Library Twenty years ago the Friends of Victoria University Library came together to support and promote the wonderful libraries at the heart of Vic’s intellectual life. Over the years, Friends have presented a rich and varied programme of exhibitions, lectures, readings and Christmas gatherings for its members.

The largest event in the Friends’ calendar is the annual Victoria College Book Sale. This year’s sale will be held from September 22 through to September 26 in Old Vic. From modest beginnings in 1992, the sale is a much anticipated autumn event which draws huge crowds to the

Vic campus every September, and has raised, so far, close to $1.5 million for Vic’s libraries and students. The goodwill generated is incalculable!

The Friends are always pleased to welcome new volunteers to help with all areas of the Book Sale, throughout the year and during the sale period itself. Lifelong friendships will be made, and fun and laughter are guaranteed!

To volunteer, or for more information about the Vic Book Sale contact 416-585-4585 or vic.booksale@utoronto.ca.

To learn more about the Friends contact 416-585-4471 or library.vicu.utoronto.ca/friends.htm. 

2010 Arbor Award Recipients Honoured The University of Toronto Arbor Award recognizes exceptional volunteer service to the University. Seen here from left to right are the 2010 Victoria, Emmanuel and University of Toronto recipients: Kenneth Inkster Vic 5T7, Kathryn Cumming Vic 7T8, Michael Hlinka Vic 8T7, Diane Dyer Vic 6T2, Randy S’ad Vic 0T5, Ann Fleming Emm 9T5, Robert Worthy Vic 5T1 and Anne (Wood) Tough Vic 5T8.

VIC PRIVATE LABEL WINE Now available for purchase Victoria University has launched four private label wines by Cave Spring which will be served at all Victoria University events. The wine is also available for purchase: Riesling ($17.95/bottle), Chardonnay ($14.95/bottle), Gamay ($14.95/ bottle) and Cabernet Merlot ($15.95/bottle). All purchases of the Vic wine must be in cases of 12 bottles, however purchasers may mix and match from the four varieties of wine available. Cases of wine can be delivered to addresses within the Greater Toronto Area, a delivery charge applies.

Visit the Vic website for more information (www.vicu. utoronto.ca/Hospitality_Services). To order the Vic wine please contact Maya Dille, Cave Spring Sales Representative at 416-801-1806 or by e-mail at m.dille@cavespring.ca.

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vic report spring 2011

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Cultural Interpreter Receives Distinguished Alumni Award Paul Wilson Honoured in April Writer, editor, translator and radio producer Paul Wilson Vic 6T3 was named the 2010 recipient of the Victoria College Distinguished Alumni Award which was presented at a special dinner on April 18, 2011. An English language and literature graduate, “Wilson’s work embodies Vic’s strong literary and arts tradition and it is wonderful to celebrate his accomplishments during Vic’s 175th anniversary,” said Rita Schepok Vic 9T1, chair of the selection committee.

Following graduation, Wilson attended King’s College, University of London, followed by 10 years in Czechoslovakia, where he taught English. After being expelled by the Communist government Paul Wilson Vic 6T3 (right), the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, with fellow South House in 1977 for his association with the resident Bill Danbrook Vic 6T3 at the award dinner on April l8. dissident movement, and his role as a He wrote and produced several major documentaries for member of the rock band The Plastic People of the Universe, CBC Radio and was a producer on CBC’s The Arts Tonight, Wilson returned to Canada and actively promoted the work Morningside and This Morning. He was a senior editor of of dissident writers and musicians in the West. He has Saturday Night, edited the National Post’s “Review” section published over 20 books of translations of Czech literature, from 2001 to 2003, and was a founding editor of The Walrus including major works by the former Czech president, Vaclav magazine. A book he co-authored about the takeover of a Havel, and by contemporary Czech novelists such as Bohumil Moscow Theatre by Chechen Rebels in 2002—called FiftyHrabal, Ivan Klima, and Josef Skvorecky. His translation of seven Hours—is being work-shopped as an opera by the Skvorecky’s masterpiece, The Engineer of Human Souls, won National Theatre Company in London, England. the Governor General’s Award for fiction in 1984.

In 2009, Wilson was awarded the prestigious Gratias Over the years, Wilson has contributed to many North Agit prize by the Czech government in recognition of his American and European publications including The New contributions to Czech literature and culture abroad.  Yorker, The New York Review of Books, Granta, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, not to mention Acta Victoriana.

Eisenbichler Knighted by President of Italy

Photography: Victoria Alumni Office

Professor Konrad Eisenbichler, of the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies and Renaissance Studies Program, was appointed a knight commander (commendatore) in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. Founded in 1951, the O.M.R.I. is the first and highest of the various orders of knighthood of the Republic of Italy and the commendatore is the third degree (comparable to the rank of officer in the Order of Canada or of commander in the Order of the British Empire). Eisenbichler received the distinction in recognition of his scholarship and of his volunteer work for Italian culture.

Konrad Eisenbichler inside his office in Northrop Frye Hall. vic report spring 2011

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VIC 175: A YEAR IN REVIEW A BOB REVUE RESTROSPECTIVE: THE TRADITION CONTINUES

By Stanley Farrow Vic 5T8 For those involved in any particular moment of a tradition, the here and now usually blocks awareness of its long-term history. The Bob Revue is a case in point. I was heavily involved in its production for the last two years of my Vic career— the autumns of 1956 and 1957. I did not know that it had its beginnings as an entertainment presented by sophomores for the “reproving and receiving of frosh.” I did not know that the title of “Bob Revue” and the presence of women on stage were less than 10 years old at the time. Like Vic types before and after my time, I’m sure, I assumed that the Bob had always been more or less the way I saw it.

That lesson was made quite clear when I began digging through the archives in preparation for The Bob Retrospective evening, held on November 18, that would help get the Vic 175 celebrations under way. Of course I knew that the show was a tribute to Robert Beare, the janitor who organized an entertainment for the young men of the Cobourg college back in 1872. We were pleased and honoured that Don Harron Vic 4T8 entertained us as host of the evening, in the role of Bob Beare. We were always made aware of the proud fact that it was probably the longest-running revue (student-produced or otherwise) in Canada. Beyond that, we were too busy writing dialogue, lyrics and music to worry about other details.

From 1872 to 1950, The Bob was for men only. Women were not even allowed in the audience until about 1909. The rules were bent in 1946 when Phyllis Reid was the piano accompanist, but not officially on stage! During all those years, the show was a welcome to the freshmen (later replaced by Freshman Weekend, Orientation, et al.), ostensibly from the sophomores, although other years were involved in its preparation. One tradition that emphasized that aspect of the evening was the annual sing-along of parody lyrics set to popular tunes, to be sung by either the sophomores or the freshmen as insults and challenges to their “enemies.” Many of these song sheets survive in the archives. We need to remember the Victoria University Archives when purging college-era mementos.

It’s quite amazing what that first get-together in 1872, complete with a basket of apples and Bob’s violin, has wrought.

Thousands of undergrads have taken part in The Bob, and quite a number have gone on to careers shaped by their participation.

The high spirits that accompany any Bob reunion, such as that of November 18, bear witness to a proud legacy. Floreat Robertus Beare!

VIC THROUGH THE AGES Alumni, students and faculty gathered in Vic Chapel on Saturday, Oct. 16 to hear reminiscences spanning 80 years of Vic history. Seen here, Alexandra Johnston Vic 6T1, former principal of Victoria College, sharing her memories of Vic since the late 1950s. The ceremony was followed by tea in Alumni Hall which provided the chance to chat with Chancellor Wendy Cecil Vic 7T1 and President Paul Gooch.

Visit the Vic 175 website to read the recollections given by alumni from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

CELEBRATING FILM AND WALKING THE RED CARPET Students and alumni gathered to celebrate the 83rd Academy Awards and walk the red carpet at the Isabel Bader Theatre on February 27, 2011. The evening began with a panel discussion moderated by Pauline Zvejnieks Vic 8T8 and featured: Julian Patrick Vic professor of English literature, David Weaver, Toronto-based film director and Mike Zryd, film studies professor. The panel was followed by the live broadcast of the awards ceremony viewed on the big screen.

Follow Vic and the 175th anniversary celebrations on Twitter and Facebook.

Visit www.vicu.utoronto.ca and start today.

LECTURE SERIES: A YEAR OF GREAT DISCUSSION ABDULAZIZ SACHEDINA LECTURE AND DISCUSSION OF END-OF-LIFE ISSUES The first lecture of Vic’s 175th anniversary celebrations, held October 28, 2010, featured a lecture given by Abdulaziz Sachedina, bioethicist and Isalmic scholar, that explored issues of social and political ethics with respect to end-of-life issues. The lecture was followed by a stimulating discussion from other faith viewpoints featuring scholars Hille Haker, David Novak, Wayne Sumner Vic 6T2 and Ross Upshur.

ENGAGING BUSINESS FOR CHANGE

IN CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET ATWOOD What would Northrop Frye Vic 3T3, Emm 3T6 think of the success that Margaret Atwood Vic 6T1 has had since graduating from Vic? This was one of the questions posed by Carol Off, co-host of CBC’s As It Happens, during the evening conversation with Atwood held in March. The candid discussion gave alumni and students in attendance a glimpse into what life at Vic was like when Atwood was a student while also delving into current issues such as the recent election.

TEACHING PEOPLE THE WAY THEY LEARN

Photography: Dave Merrow

Monte Hummel Vic 6T9 (centre) received Victoria’s first honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on January 19, 2011 at a special convocation in honour of Victoria’s 175th anniversary (see President’s Annual Report, page 13). Hummel gave a public lecture which challenged businesses to rethink the way that they do their business to create more sustainable, environmentally aware methods of mining. The address was followed by a panel discussion with mining industry executives Randall Oliphant Vic 8T4 (left) and John Carrington (right). The panel was moderated by Ingrid Stefanovic, professor of philosophy.

Alison Gopnik, psychology professor at University of California Berkeley, shared her research and insights into early child development and learning.

The discussion explored how research shows that traditional models used in education encourage the correct answers but may limit the range of answers considered. It also emphasized the importance of play in early learning. The lecture was followed by a panel with professors Michel Ferrari and David Haley. TVO’s Steve Paikin Vic 8T1 moderated the panel discussion.

To hear these lectures and panel discussions visit www.vicu.utoronto.ca/about/vic175

LIVING HISTORY PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010

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ou might say that everyone who enrols at Victoria is a student of history. Its most famous alumni are always present, in the buildings, sculptures and programs that preserve their names. Its rich traditions persist, some of them dating back 175 years to the school’s humble beginnings as a post-secondary academy in Cobourg, Ontario. And its founding ideals—to seek the truth through inquiry, to make higher education available to all—remain constant as touchstones, for students and faculty alike.

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vic report spring 2011 – president’s annual report

In 1836, no one could have foreseen a campus as diversely populated and technologically complex as the Victoria of today has become. But a look at the college’s activities over the past year alone reveals an institution whose bold future will always be shaped, to a great extent, by the values forged in its past.

“Vic is a very interesting place,” says Kelley Castle, dean of students.

“Not many schools can boast the same ability to maintain tradition and fun anachronisms—such as school cheers and welcoming ceremonies—and still

Photograph: Babak

president’s annual report

be so forward-looking.”

Castle says that this year Vic will be expanding the scope and number of opportunities for students to have non-credit academic experiences outside the classroom. In accordance with Vic’s adherence to non-exclusionary learning, some of its new programs combine academic, social and community outreach.

“This year, with Trinity College, we offered Humanities for Humanity, a course that allows disadvantaged people to attend humanities lectures, then have guided discussion groups

with undergraduate students. These students also attend the lectures and serve as mentors.” In the fall, a similar program will make its debut: Theatre for Thought, wherein students will perform small theatrical pieces for their peers and community members, then discuss the implications of the work afterward.

Vic’s new selection of lunchtime discussions on current issues (such as academic freedom or engineering) reflect the school’s ongoing commitment to personal learning and to its respect for the knowledge already present within students. Learning through dialogue is nothing new, of course; it stretches back thousands of years, to the time of Socrates. Yet somehow, many institutions have forgotten its great benefits. Not Victoria. “Personal learning is essential,” affirms Victoria President Paul Gooch, who guides one of the luncheon series.

“It’s not necessarily the way you learn everything, but it’s a way of developing your ability to learn.”

Vic’s commitment to the personal experience is epitomized by its Vic One program. Here, first-year students are permitted to explore ideas from a multidisciplinary perspective in classes of only 25 people. A weekly roster of guest lecturers provides them with valuable outside perspectives. Vic now boasts five streams of study; each one bearing the name of a distinguished Victoria alumnus or alumna: Northrop Frye, Lester Pearson, Augusta StoweGullen (the first woman to graduate from a Canadian medical school) and Egerton Ryerson, Victoria’s first principal.

This fall, the Norman Jewison Stream for Imagination and the Arts will be added to the mix. In keeping with the type of commitment blazingly evident in the well-known filmmaker’s achievements, students in this course will probe the relationship between art and social problems. All told, the Vic One model has been so effective in developing the writing, critical thinking and presentation skills of its students, that all other colleges at U of T either offer or are now developing similar “intimate learning” seminar programs. “The rest of the colleges are being encouraged to copy the wonderful work that [President Gooch] has put into Vic,” says Jill

Matus, vice-provost students, University of Toronto. “There will be a suite of different foundational programs at each college, as well as at the University of Toronto Mississauga and the University of Toronto Scarborough, each with its own distinctive focus. Hopefully, they will all be ready to go by 2012.”

Tradition and innovation are always in balance at Emmanuel College, Victoria University’s theological school. It is worth noting that Victoria itself began life as a Methodist academy, but, says

“ Not many schools can boast the same ability to maintain tradition and fun anachronisms—such as school cheers and welcoming ceremonies—and still be so forward-looking.”

President Gooch, “From its founding, Vic had no test of religious belief for its members. When Darwin published the Origin of the Species, for example, scholars here said this is scientific truth and we’re going to embrace it.”

To this day, Emmanuel continues to teach Christian principles within the context of a changing world.

Affiliated with the United Church since its founding in the mid-1920s, the college has long welcomed the notion of ecumenical inquiry. But as Principal Mark Toulouse affirms, times are most certainly changing: inter-Christian dialogue has paved the way for a new, interfaith world.

“We’ve been working on the creation of a Muslim Studies Program,” says Toulouse. “We created the Canadian Certificate in Muslim Studies, which is a continuing education program.

We’re also nearing completion of two degree tracks in our existing master’s programs—a Master of Pastoral Studies degree and a Master of Theological Studies degree. The latter will help to educate Muslims who are interested in serving as chaplains in public institutions in Canada, places such as hospitals and prisons.”

Until Emmanuel started this program, Muslims wishing to serve

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as chaplains have found it almost impossible to receive certification.

“There’s no other program in Canada, and there are only a couple in North America,” says Toulouse. The Muslim population in this country, particularly Toronto, is increasing, hence the need for Emmanuel’s initiative. That it is offered through a United Church college may strike some as surprising, to say the least.

“It’s not something that’s outrageous,” says Douglas Jay Vic 4T6, Emm 5T0, principal emeritus of Emmanuel, “rather, it is consistent with commitments the church has already undertaken.” Jay points out that a strong United Church impulse toward interfaith dialogue was undertaken as far back as 1966. “People have been very committed [since then] to developing ways by which we could hear each other with respect, and work together in the interest of the community of which we’re all part,” he says.

With alumni such as Margaret Atwood Vic 6T1, Northrop Frye Vic 3T3, Emm 3T6 and Margaret Avison Vic 4T0, Emm 8T8, Victoria’s literary tradition is a solid one. The centrepiece of this legacy is the E.J. Pratt Library, named after the poet and former Vic professor. Chief Librarian Robert Brandeis reports that this year, the Victoria University Library launched a revised and re-designed

“ Young people come here thinking that they are joining a community that has persisted through many decades.” website (library.vicu.utoronto.ca), which has over 3500 pages of content. He also points to the fact that Pratt now boasts over 80 named collections (such as the newly acquired Bentley Collection of William Blake and his Contemporaries), which attract a substantial number of visits, both real and virtual.

“The Special Collections have enhanced Vic’s international presence and reputation through the library’s participation in various exhibitions,” he says. Sites in Poland, Paris, England and the United States have all recently played host to Victoria’s archival material.

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Another great tradition soon to be revived at Victoria is its dedication to material culture and the preservation of ancient artifacts. The college is situated in close proximity to the Royal Ontario Museum, a building with which it has intimate ties. From 1914 until 1946, the museum was headed by Charles T. Currelly—an 1898 Vic graduate who was trained as a Methodist minister, but whose life was dedicated to collecting and preserving art and archeological material. According to the museum’s website, “Charles Trick Currelly, more than anyone else, created the art and archeology collections of the ROM.” “The founding of public institutions has historically been something in which Vic has always been involved,” says Victoria College Principal David Cook Vic 6T9. Up until relatively late in the 20th century, “the museum was part of the University of Toronto, so there was quite an exchange of professors.”

After the two institutions separated, U of T’s ties to the ROM in the realm of science continued. But its “Currelly” links—to artifacts, ancient culture and history—languished. Victoria is now attempting to remedy this by offering a new, introductory course in material culture. “At the ROM,” says Cook, “there are also curatorial staff who can provide students with lectures and classes to help with their academic formation. It’s an opportunity for those who have an interest in teaching.”

Registrar Susan McDonald has noticed the changes over her long tenure.

“Vic has changed tremendously during my time here. The quality and increased size of our applicant pool is amazing.

We now require all applicants to Victoria College to complete an application profile and from reading these profiles it is clear that a large number of students have their heart set on coming to Vic as they want to be part of the incredible student community we have here.”

Vic’s ever-evolving heritage is arguably best expressed through its extraordinary physical spaces. From the ivy-covered majesty of Annesley Hall and Old Vic, to the more modern lines of the Isabel Bader Theatre or the planned Goldring Student Centre, the college offers a fascinating trove of architectural

vic report spring 2011 – president’s annual report

marvels. Bursar Ray deSouza calls it “an environment that is unparalleled in Canada.” Indeed, when President Gooch asks students why they chose Vic, they often cite its beauty as a motivating factor. “Young people come here thinking that they are joining a community that has persisted through many decades.

And they are part of that community, which is represented in the architecture,” says Gooch.

The achievements of modern-day Victoria graduates are remarkable, but equally so is the way they so often bear historical antecedents. It is no coincidence that this school has produced not one

“ The founding of public institutions has historically been something in which Vic has always been involved.”

Nobel prize winner, but two (Lester B. Pearson Vic 1T9 and Arthur Schawlow Vic 4T1); not one provincial lieutenant governor, but three (William McDougall Vic 1846, Pauline (Mills) McGibbon Vic 3T3 and Henry N.R. Jackman Vic 5T3). Or that, having nurtured the country’s first woman to graduate from a Canadian medical school, it should also have produced the university’s first woman dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Many of the activities in which incoming students currently engage could never have been conceived by Victoria’s founders 175 years ago—a widespread commitment to international study being but one. Still, given Victoria’s continued insistence on staying in the vanguard of both education and greater trends in the world at large, it is safe to say its founders would be proud of how far the school has come. “I am amazed by the generosity and dedication of Victoria and Emmanuel graduates. This support has helped to create an unparalleled academic community in which the history makers of tomorrow may thrive,” says Deborah Scott, executive director of advancement. 

Journey of a Pioneering Clinician-Scientist By any measure, Catharine Whiteside Vic 7T2 is a pioneer.

When she graduated from U of T’s Faculty of Medicine in 1975, fewer than a third of her fellow classmates were women. Thirty-five years later, that proportion has risen to almost 60 per cent. It’s only fitting, then, that Whiteside has now served as dean of that same faculty since 2006, the first woman ever to occupy the office.

Whiteside was partially inspired to enter medicine by her mother, who was director of nursing at a hospital in Windsor, Ontario. While preparing for her training, the aspiring physician spent summers as a caregiver herself.

“Believe it or not, I can do complete bedside nursing,” she grins. In addition to her achievements in the academic world, Whiteside has enjoyed working with patients as much as she’s relished time in the laboratory. She was among the first Canadians to add a PhD to her MD, then obtain work as a clinician-scientist. This, she says, is a route that is “absolutely the norm” today.

The dean’s journey began at Vic, where she pursued an intensive science program. The college was a natural fit for her: “I’d been very engaged with the United Church of Canada, and a rather senior leader in youth activities,” she says. Whiteside spent three years at Annesley Hall, and was involved in intramural sports such as field hockey and basketball. Her best undergraduate memory isn’t

science-related: she was permitted to audit Northrop Frye’s course on symbolism in the Bible, an experience she calls “unbelievable.”

As women take their place in the medical profession, assuming dominance in certain specialties, Whiteside is surely the first of many female deans to come. Though she says that male and female doctors are equally matched in terms of skill, she also believes that feminine values (which men can have as well) are a worthy addition to the profession. “The new curriculum in medicine, which is much more interdisciplinary, interprofessional, patient- and family-oriented, is very well-suited to women,” she says.

Now starting her second term, Whiteside continues to build on the accomplishments of the past four years. She has successfully conducted a major fundraising effort in order to supply bursaries to students most in need, and is ensuring that metrics are put in place to measure the faculty’s outcomes. But the self-described “workaholic”— also a mother and grandmother—knows that work-life balance will be more and more critical to new doctors of both genders, as they embark on this high-pressure life.

“When I speak to students, faculty, or anyone who wants to listen,” she says, “my strong advice is to make sure you put those who love you first in your life.”

Photograph: Babak

Catharine Whiteside Vic 7T2 first woman dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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Henry N.R. Jackman Vic 5T3, former lieutenant governor and former chancellor of the University of Toronto, has a long family history with Victoria.

The Influence of the Humanities The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman Vic 5T3 has enjoyed a remarkable career: Bay Street financier, dedicated philanthropist, lieutenant governor of Ontario, chancellor of the University of Toronto. Before embarking on his professional journey, however, Victoria College provided Jackman with experiences he still remembers with great fondness. Truth be told, the young Jackman amused himself greatly at Vic—“I wasn’t a great student,” he admits. “I spent more time in the theatre than I did on my studies. I did that, and the debating union. I was also on the house committee at Hart House.” He starred in at least two Hart House plays a year but the lure of the greasepaint lost its appeal by the end of Jackman’s undergraduate years: “It was only a fantasy life, really. It was a very hard way to make a living. Still is!”

In addition to Jackman’s more than 50 years of history with U of T and Vic, his family shares a storied history at Victoria and University of Toronto. “My mother, Mary (Rowell) Vic 2T5 was a graduate, and her mother, Nellie Langford Rowell Vic 1896 and sister were graduates; my grandfather on my mother’s side, Newton Wesley Rowell, was chairman of the Board of Regents; and on the Langford side, which was my mother’s mother, there were several there. One was registrar, Arthur Leopold Langford Vic 1884, and another was principal of Emmanuel, Frederick William Langford,” says Jackman.

Following his graduation from U of T’s Faculty of Law in 1956, Jackman went to a Bay Street company, ultimately becoming president and board chairman. A signature

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moment for Jackman was his appointment as lieutenant governor of Ontario in 1991. Jackman is decidedly a “people” person and the role suited him well. “You meet everybody. And there are so many towns that I visited that I would never have gone to if I hadn’t been lieutenant governor. It was a hugely educational and heart-warming experience because invariably you’re invited to give recognition to something volunteers have done. You see the best of people.”

Jackman’s extraordinary business acumen has allowed him to regularly support causes close to his heart. Over the past decade, Jackman has contributed over $30 million to support the humanities at U of T—the largest contribution in support of the humanities ever made by an individual Canadian. “My wife (Maruja) was a humanities scholar and had taught humanities,” he says. “All of my five children have post-graduate degrees in the humanities, and two of them are academics at universities. That had an influence on me.” Through the Hal Jackman Foundation, he also supports cultural activities vital to the life of Toronto.

Jackman’s hands-on involvement with the arts community has helped him construct a very modern opinion about our 24/7 world. “Technology isn’t threatening the arts; it just means the arts can be presented in a different form,” comments Jackman. “We didn’t used to have movies. We didn’t used to have television. That doesn’t mean the art form dies, but it may be a little different. But I don’t think the arts are dying. In many ways I think they’re much stronger now than they were when I was younger.”

Environmental Studies and Advocacy from its Infancy “Folks get tired of people like me waxing rapturously about the 1960s,” laughs Monte Hummel Vic 6T9, “but it was a very exciting time to be around!” Victoria College was no exception. It was there, at the decade’s end, that philosophy student Hummel enthusiastically partook in a vibrant culture of teach-ins and rabblerousing—one that helped to inspire his lifelong commitment to environmental advocacy. Hummel was recognized for his contributions on January 19 when he received Victoria’s first honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at a special convocation.

Hummel is without question one of Canada’s true eco-pioneers. In 1969, while still a U of T student, he cofounded Pollution Probe, one of the country’s first modernera environmental organizations. In fact, he cheekily admits to pinning a “Fight Pollution” button onto the chancellor’s chair as he was hooded at graduation. “There had just been a big oil spill and we couldn’t resist making a point,” he smiles. “It was that kind of time.”

Later, after completing two master’s degrees (one in philosophy, the other in forestry), Hummel went on to join World Wildlife Fund-Canada as its executive director, then as president. In the 26 years that he held this position, WWF-Canada managed to remove fully 30 wildlife species from endangered status and doubled our country’s protected parks and wilderness areas. As president

emeritus since 2004, he is still active in forest and Arctic conservation. It’s been a fruitful career, and a happy one too: “The panda and I were made to be,” he says, with reference to WWF-Canada’s well-known bear symbol.

Among his many other activities, Hummel acted as coordinator of U of T’s Environmental Studies Program some 30 years ago. He personally came of age in an era when the idea of studying—not to mention protecting— the environment was only in its infancy. But he says his own training in philosophy offered a perfect springboard to his future. “I have a passion for big ideas, and I really wanted my university days to be a period where I set aside time to think about questions and issues,” he says. “I didn’t see it as a training ground for a profession.”

Hummel turns 65 this year, but with his boisterous, energetic manner, it’s easy to see the long-haired student he once was. Having grown up in the northern Ontario bush, he is most happy in the embrace of nature—which is exactly where he intends to spend his golden years, whether in his canoe or just gazing out at the lake. “I do want to spend the rest of my life enjoying what I and others have worked so hard to protect,” he smiles. “For a guy who’s worked as hard as I have, people would be quite shocked at how I can just put my feet up on the porch of my cabin!”

Photography: (Opposite page) Babak; Dave Merrow

Monte Hummel Vic 6T9, president emeritus WWF-Canada, received Victoria’s first Doctor of Humane Letters on January 19, 2011.

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Commitment to Interfaith Education as a Means to Peace and Justice Douglas Jay Vic 4T6, Emm 5T0 is one of Canada’s most respected theological educators and one of the few appointed to the Order of Canada. His contributions to teaching, social justice, intellectual inquiry and interfaith cooperation have all been invaluable. But at 85, Douglas Jay is something more—a living witness to the history of Emmanuel College, a school that recently honoured him with the title of principal emeritus.

Jay was born shortly after the birth of the United Church itself. His father was a Methodist (later United) minister who had been educated at Vic, and was “always grateful for the education he got. At a very young age he took me there, just to look at his intellectual home,” Jay remembers. It seemed natural for the younger Jay to attend Victoria, earning a degree in philosophy and history during the war years.

Soon after he graduated, the nation’s campuses were inundated with war veterans. Jay found himself recommended by the chair of U of T’s Department of Philosophy to teach philosophy at Queen’s. At 20, armed

only with a bachelor’s degree, he complied. “It was a heady experience, because they treated me as if I was properly qualified,” he says. “I was teaching people up to 10 years older who’d gone through the war and survived; I had to grow up in a hurry.”

In 1955, Jay joined the Emmanuel faculty as a professor of religious philosophy and ethics. There he stayed until his retirement 20 years ago. But a sabbatical in the early 1960s was to change his life.

“I decided to go to India. I’d done four degrees, all in western thought at western universities, and I wanted to get inside eastern cultures and eastern religions.”

Jay’s object was not conversion, but interfaith dialogue.

During these years, he met with Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim scholars, trading ideas and creating a climate of mutual respect. This, he believes, was all in keeping with Christian social ethics: “There’s no way that peace and justice can be established in the world by Christians alone, or by any group alone. We all have a stake in developing civil society.”

Later, Jay was to become known as the founding director of the Toronto School of Theology. The school is remarkable not only for the breadth of its ecumenical spectrum, but also for its association with the secular University of Toronto. In 1969, the three Roman Catholic and four Protestant theological colleges and faculties agreed not only to federate, but also to seek recognition of theology by the University of Toronto. “U of T was founded with the exclusion of theology as a deliberate act,” says Jay. This was due to a stalemate between Bishop Strachan and the redoubtable Egerton Ryerson—Vic’s first principal, and a stalwart champion of public education based on academic freedom.

Jay and his colleagues did manage to bring theology to U of T by the end of his third term at TST, when he returned to Emmanuel as principal. Nothing in the founding of this ecumenical federation and its acceptance

by U of T contradicted Ryerson’s philosophy of open and democratic thought.

Principal Emeritus Douglas Jay Vic 4T6, Emm 5T0 was the founding director of the Toronto School of Theology.

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Belle Song Vic 1T1, Moss Scholar finalist, will attend Queen’s in September.

Sharing International Experience with the Community

Photography: (Opposite page) Emmanuel College; Babak, Victoria Alumni Office

Jong Park and Belle Song started planning for careers in medicine long before they entered university. Young, energetic and brilliant, they know their chosen profession is one that is constantly in flux. During their four years at Vic, the Moss Scholar finalists have acquired a broad range of experiences, in order to train for and embrace the challenges that await them as doctors in the 21st century.

“These days, you need both depth and breadth to really make a contribution,” says Park. He’s talking about global health, one of his chosen majors (the other being cell biology). As a student in this new and exciting field, Park spent two summers working in Africa, vastly expanding his conception of modern health care in the process.

In an urban hospital in Ghana, Park had the opportunity to shadow doctors, help out with community projects and work in a laboratory. “Toronto General is one of the cleanest and best-equipped hospitals in the world; the one in which I worked in Ghana was not,” he says. “The physicians were very competent and had their patients’ best interests at heart. The issue there is not training or dedication—it’s more of a systemic resource issue.” In Ghana, Park witnessed first-hand how questions of policy and infrastructure are as important to health care as scientific considerations.

Last summer, he took a Peace and Conflict Studies course offered by U of T’s Summer Abroad Program in Kenya. “I figured there was a strong link between violent

conflict and poor health outcomes, especially in Africa,” he says. Park remained in Kenya for a brief period after his course finished, to work with a group devoted to the cure of retinoblastoma, a childhood eye cancer.

Through her extensive volunteer work, Belle Song has already added a valuable social dimension to her own burgeoning medical career. While studying at Vic, Song (a specialist in pharmacology with a minor in English) has shown that social justice and the arts have their part to play in the careers of health care practitioners as well.

One of Song’s accomplishments has been to stage a series of music nights at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lodge. “We put on drumming circles and had sing-alongs,” she says. “I’ve gone in to play piano, too. I also organized a Chinese New Year event last year, so we brought in the U of T Tai Chi Club to do a demonstration.”

On campus, her tireless voluntarism has been extremely impressive. Song helped refugee students become acclimatized to Canada, under the auspices of the Student Refugee Program. “I was fortunate to be good friends with my student this year,” she says. An aspiring doctor herself, Song’s friend came from Rwanda via Kenya. Song extended her interest in raising awareness of global problems (such as HIV and unfair trade practices) by disseminating information and holding fundraisers on campus.

At Vic, she actively participated in a college-based antihunger initiative called Students Against Hunger. “We found that a lot of students had extra meals left on their meal plans, and if they weren’t used they just went to waste,” she says. “We work with Food Services at Vic to pack them into bag lunches and take them to a homeless shelter.”

Like Park, Song has already worked abroad; she performed medical research in Ireland, and is looking forward to working in Germany before starting medical school in the fall. “At Vic, there is an institutional effort to send kids abroad, then have them come back and share their experience with the community,” says Park. “I think that’s excellent, and I’ve benefited tremendously.”

Jong Park Vic 1T1, Moss Scholar finalist, will be attending Duke University School of Medicine in September.

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2010 Giller Prize Recipient Johanna Skibsrud Vic 0T1 makes history as the youngest recipient in the prize’s 17-year history.

Vic Literary Tradition Thrives When Johanna Skibsrud was called up to accept the 2010 Giller Prize, she didn’t quite hear her name. “I just looked at the reaction of the people around me,” she says, still a little shocked. “It was the strangest thing—such an extreme surprise and thrill.”

Awarded at an elegant dinner each November, the Giller is Canada’s largest prize for fiction. In last year’s competition, debut novelist Skibsrud was definitely the dark horse. Her book, The Sentimentalists, is a lyrical, searing meditation on memory and denial in the wake of the Vietnam war. While Skibsrud is an experienced poet and short-story writer, she was originally published by a little-known company (New Brunswick’s Gaspereau Press), and is still only 30 years old: the youngest winner in the Giller’s 17-year history.

Skibsrud knew, “from young childhood,” that she would one day be a writer; the question was how to get there. The Nova Scotia native first found her way into the field during a year studying creative writing at England’s Lancaster University. She was inspired to continue on her own later, after arriving at Vic to study English. In her final year, she found tremendous support in Professor A.F. Moritz’s creative writing class. “It was very meaningful to me,” she says. “It was a small class, and a very supportive environment.”

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The seeds were sown for an eventual MA in creative writing, which she later earned at Montreal’s Concordia University. It was there that she wrote The Sentimentalists, which served as her graduate thesis.

She’s currently completing a PhD in English, living and working in Montreal.

The Sentimentalists was inspired by the experiences of Skibsrud’s late father, Olaf, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict. The author says her father found it difficult to speak about Vietnam, and didn’t do so until very late in his life. “In large part it was painful to him and something that he very much wanted to bury in the past,” she says.

He finally chose to speak, she thinks, after seeing “real parallels” between Vietnam and the U.S. involvement in Iraq—“he felt like he was reliving history.”

Though Skibsrud’s novel is timeless, she knows that the publishing industry is changing. In the days following her Giller win, tiny Gaspereau was unable to supply a hungry public with all the copies it wanted. Consequently, throngs flocked to Amazon so they could download it onto their Kindles. Skibsrud sees irony here, since Gaspereau is known for their painstakingly beautiful, handmade books. “But I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive,” she says. “We have a system that supports small presses, as well as e-books. And that’s a wonderful thing to me.”

The Many Forms of Ministry When Bruce McLeod Emm 5T3 was ordained as a United Church minister in 1953, he could hardly imagine the life of excitement and global engagement that awaited him. A pastor serving congregations both urban and rural, McLeod has also been a professor, newspaper columnist, international political observer, and record breaker: in 1972, he became the United Church of Canada’s youngest Moderator at the age of 44.

It’s a position he was used to. “I guess I was the youngest in our class,” he says of his days as an Emmanuel student. “But there were a lot of veterans around then, guys who were older. And there were only two women in our class—certainly the proportion of women is far higher now than it was when I was there.”

As Emmanuel has changed through the years, so has the Church. Nobody knows that better than McLeod, whose career has in great part been marked by both international and interfaith bridge-building. His tenure as Moderator was notable for McLeod’s attempts to establish dialogue and heal rifts between the Church and the Jewish community.

Later, he acted as an international observer or monitor of elections in places such as Honduras, Ethiopia, Thailand and Zimbabwe. As a political and social columnist for the Toronto Star during the 1980s, McLeod once had to phone in his column from underneath a table during the election in Haiti, under threat from outside gunfire.

Over the years, McLeod has learned that ministerial responsibilities are sometimes conducted in an atmosphere of sadness, danger or conflict. Perhaps because of this, his ready laugh and friendly manner have also been of essential importance in carrying out his life’s work. These are very much in evidence as he reminisces lightheartedly about Emmanuel College, as it was during the so-called staid years of “Toronto the Good.”“We were kind of awed by our professors,” he says. “And you felt they were at the very top if they came from Scotland, or had a Scottish accent. In fact, the preachers in those days never had such as Scottish accent as when they were preaching!”

During his time as Moderator, McLeod encouraged outreach through non-traditional methods, preaching outside of churches and via electronic means. In this he expanded on ideas passed down from his teachers, including the redoubtable John Line. “Line was a renowned professor of systematic theology, and he had been known in the 1930s for being an outdoor preacher in the parks of downtown Toronto, speaking out for social justice,” McLeod recalls. “It was wonderful to have a man like that, who had first-hand experience of the public witness of the church.”

Photography: (Opposite page) Courtesy Johanna Skibsrud; Victoria Alumni Office

Bruce McLeod Emm 5T3 received the inaugural Emmanuel College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, presented by Ann Fleming Emm 9T5, past president, Emmanuel College Alumni Association Executive.

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The Fascination with Education Peter George Vic 6T2 spent virtually his entire 45-year career at Hamilton’s McMaster University, progressing from lecturer to president. In fact, he is such a fixture at “Mac” that it is somewhat surprising to learn he holds four degrees from the University of Toronto, including an honorary LLD. “Seems like a long time ago,” he says wistfully, recalling afternoons spent playing hearts and rummy at Wymilwood while majoring in political science and economics. George was only 16 when he started at Vic, having skipped two grades. “But I got in with a few guys who were a few years older than I right away. They liked to party hard, but they also had really good study habits and I thank them for their example. I just found university a really fascinating place to be.”

University was fascinating enough to George that he never left. When he began lecturing in economics at McMaster in 1965, at the age of 23, the school operated on an attractive campus boasting only 7,000 students, with a concentration on undergraduate studies. By the time George retired last year, from his historic third term as McMaster’s president, the student body had expanded to 27,000. It had also added a unique medical school, with a curriculum model copied around the world by many, including Harvard. And it had earned a reputation as a strong centre of research, graduate study and interdisciplinary collaboration.

After assuming Mac’s presidency in 1995, George made it his mission both to set strategic priorities and to position the university in a competitive marketplace. As a result, he managed to attract substantial new resources, building a strong permanent advancement staff and overseeing the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history, raising $473 million. “A university of our size can’t be the best at everything,” he says of this strategy. “But if you develop a mission, vision and strategic priorities, people will know what you stand for—and support it.”

Peter George retired from McMaster last July and is spending retirement in the company of two pre-school daughters that he and his wife, Allison Barrett Emm 9T6, adopted from China.

Peter George Vic 6T2 served three terms as president of McMaster University where he led significant change and growth in the university.

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Statement of Operations

Board of Regents Executive Committee 2009–2010

For the year ended April 30, 2010 (in thousands of dollars)

2010

2009

Revenues Student fees

$ 8,209

$ 7,805

Grants from the University of Toronto

4,700

4,480

Grants from the Toronto School of Theology

450

468

United Church grant

228

234

Government grants

415

432

Donations

1,671

2,530

Investment income

3,173

3,906

Sales, services and sundry income

3,553

3,557

Amortization of deferred capital contributions

828

762

Real estate income

8,614

15,130

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap contract*

574

–

Unrealized gain on short-term investments*

34

–

Unrealized gain on held-for-trading investments – marketable securities*

4,899

–

$ 37,348

$ 39,304

Salaries and benefits

$ 16,814

$ 17,111

Supplies and other

3,664

3,879

Repairs and maintenance

1,016

1,038

Utilities

1,805

1,772

Amortization of property and equipment and revenue-producing properties

4,232

3,927

Scholarship and bursaries

1,522

1,631

Cost of sales and services

1,201

1,266

Interest

1,124

1,386

Unrealized loss on interest rate swap contract*

–

317

Unrealized loss on short-term investments*

–

186

Unrealized loss on held-for-trading investments – marketable securities*

–

7,262

Murray Corlett Vic 6T1, chair Catherine Brown David Cook Vic 6T8 Mike Eben Vic 6T8 Paul Gooch John Grant Vic 8T3 Shirley (Hong) Hoy Vic 7T3 Frank Mills Vic 6T8 Judith (Rhodes) Nettleton Vic 8T1 Alison Schofield Vic 7T8 David Silcox Vic 5T9 Gordon Thompson Mark Toulouse Ray deSouza

Expenses

Photograph: (Opposite page) JD Howell

(Deficiency) of revenues over expenses for the year

$ 31,378

$ 39,775

$ 5,970

$

(471)

* These losses are of a non-cash nature and are disclosed under the new Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants standards. he Statement of Operations has been derived from the audited financial statements of T Victoria University for the year ended April 30, 2010. A complete set of audited financial statements may be obtained through the Office of the Bursar.

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milestones

BIRTHS To Amiel Blajchman Vic 0T0 and Lisa Blajchman, a son, Erez Heyden, on October 21, 2010, in Toronto.

To Jennifer Dolling Vic 9T6 and Mark Hogan, a son, Bryce Fionn, on August 24, 2010, in Toronto.

To Peter George Vic 6T2 and Allison Barrett Emm 9T6, a daughter, Gemma Mei Diana Min Ge, on November 19, 2010, in Hamilton. A sister for Lily Rose.

To Amanda Pautler Vic 0T1 and Chris Antonik, a son, Theodore Miles Pautler, on May 26, 2010, in Toronto.

To Joanne (Lee) Tom Vic 0T2 and Alex Tom, a daughter, Audrey Madison Lee, on May 18, 2010, in Toronto.

MARRIAGES Sandra (Mattiussi) Giordano Vic 8T4 and Vince Giordano celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on August 31, 2010.

Eleni Kirikopoulos Vic 0T2 and Orlando Brosowsky married on November 13, 2010, in Toronto.

CAREERS Jennifer Bates Vic 8T7 has published her second book, Hegel and Shakespeare on Moral Imagination (SUNY Press); her first book was Hegel’s Theory of Imagination (SUNY Press). Bates is associate professor of philosophy at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Congratulations to Sonia Baxendale Vic 8T4, former CIBC senior executive vice-president and president of CIBC Retail Markets; Janice Fukakusa Vic 7T6, chief administrative officer and chief financial officer at RBC, and Judy Goldring Vic 8T7, executive vicepresident and chief operating officer at AGF Management Limited who were named to the Women’s Post magazine’s Top 20 Women of 2010 for “spectacular contribution to their industry.”

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send us your news: vic.report@utoronto.ca

Suzanne Deschamps Vic 9T0 was inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame in May 2010 in recognition of her contributions to the Varsity Blues women’s volleyball program. She was the 1991–1992 U of T female athlete of the year, and was tournament all-star on U of T’s first OWIAA women’s volleyball championship team in 1988–1989.

Paul Deepan Vic 8T2 has published his first novel, The Fruit of the Dendragon Tree (Outskirts Press). Termed “Narnia for grown-ups” by online reviewer Simon Barrett (of Blogtalk Radio), Dendragon is the winner of an Editor’s Choice Award at the San Diego State University writers’ conference. The author donates half of his online royalties to support breast cancer awareness.

Susan E. Eagle Vic 7T3, Emm 7T7, former London, Ontario city councillor and recently named pastor of Grace United Church in Barrie, Ontario was inducted into the London City Press Club Newsmakers’ Hall of Fame this past autumn, for her contributions to the London community. During her service as city councillor, Eagle juggled her ward responsibilities and her responsibilities to Kilworth United Church, where she served as minister.

Jason Farris Vic 9T1 authored and published Hockey Play-by-Play: Canuck Captains with Jim Robson. In commemoration of the Vancouver Canucks’ 40-year anniversary, this publication chronicles and celebrates the 10 captains who have led the Canucks, from Orland Kurtenbach to Roberto Luongo. The book is a supplement to Farris’ 2005 national best-seller Hockey Play-by-Play: Around the NHL with Jim Robson and lets hockey fans re-live another 10 great games, armed with Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Robson’s hand-written game notes and hockey memorabilia. Canuck Captains is available online at www.canuckcaptains. com, with part of the proceeds to benefit Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

Peter Ferguson Vic 5T8 was inducted into the U of T’s Sports Hall of Fame on May 27, 2010 in recognition of his long and successful athletic career at U of T, which continued at the national and international levels after graduation.

Ferguson played on three intercollegiate champion Varsity Blues badminton teams and in 1958 won the intercollegiate doubles champion and a Bronze T. In 1956, he was the Toronto and district singles champion, the Montreal AAA singles champion, Ontario singles champion, the U.S. National Capital Open singles champion and the Strathgowan International singles champion.

Jane (Emerson) Fraser Vic 5T8, president of Tecky Seniors Project, has developed a partnership with PARO Women’s Enterprise Centre to create a Métis elders CD cookbook, including recipes for diabetics.

Blake Goldring Vic 8T1 was appointed honorary colonel of the Canadian army at a ceremony at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto on March 26, 2011.

Goldring is the founder of Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve. This apolitical charitable organization created in 2006 brings together leaders from across Canada to support the Canadian Forces and their families. Goldring was honorary colonel of The Royal Regiment of Canada from 2006 to 2010.

In February 2009, the governor general of Canada awarded him the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division).

Edwina Haddon Vic 0T7 graduated from the College of Law, London, England with an LLB. She is residing in London where she works at the firm Bird and Bird LLP. Don Harron Vic 4T8 was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour on September 10, 2010. Harron is a comedian, actor, director, journalist, author and composer but he may be best known for his portrayal of the character Charlie Farquharson, seen on the popular, late 1960s television show Hee Haw.

send us your news: vic.report@utoronto.ca

Tanis Helliwell Vic 6T9 has published her newest book, Pilgrimage with the Leprechauns, which is a romp to the sacred sites of Ireland led by a leprechaun. The author and pilgrims have a topsy-turvy encounter with the mischievous, wise humour that the Irish call ‘The Craic.’ Available at www.iitransform.com.

events on campus including those at Burwash Dining Hall, Old Vic and the Isabel Bader Theatre.

“Being involved with the Isabel Bader Theatre since the groundbreaking in 1999 has been particularly rewarding.

I look forward to working with Vic students and alumni to ensure that the theatre continues to be used to its fullest potential. I also invite alumni to contact us about hosting private or business events on the Vic campus.”

Richard Howson Vic 5T1 was inducted in the U of T’s Sports Hall of Fame in May 2010 as a Builder in recognition of his longstanding service to the T-Holders’ Association since 1965.

Photography: Victoria Alumni Office

Jessica Humphreys Vic 9T7 has coauthored her first book with Retired General Roméo Dallaire. They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children (Random House), is a powerful examination of the attempt to eradicate of the use of child soldiers.

Lauren Kirshner Vic 0T5 is proud to announce her debut novel, Where We Have to Go (McClelland & Stewart).

It was recently a finalist for the City of Toronto Book Award.

Events Victoria coordinates the rental of all Victoria University spaces for non-academic activity such as concerts, meetings, conferences, weddings, lectures, film screenings and receptions.

The department provides support for event planning including catering and audio visual services. For more information on holding your event at Vic contact Osborne at (416) 585-4575 or by e-mail at tom.osborne@utoronto.ca.

Tom Osborne Vic 0T1 has been promoted from Victoria University’s customer service manager, Food Services, to manager of Events Victoria for Victoria University. With his team of coordinators, he is responsible for all

Lena Phillips Vic 1T0 was one of 25 young people selected this past summer to represent Canadian youth at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, as part of the officially accredited Canadian Youth Delegation.

milestones

Grad Year: Vic

Alumni are invited to send information for inclusion in Milestones. For marriages please indicate, if applicable, whether you prefer to be known by your married or birth name.

An obituary must accompany notices of death.

Name

E-mail your Milestones news to vic.report@utoronto.ca.

milestones

Stefanie Rosar Vic 0T5 has joined the Office of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement as alumni affairs officer.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to join Vic at this exciting time of Vic’s 175th anniversary. There have been some significant changes that have taken place since I was a student. I am greatly looking forward to the construction of the Goldring Student Centre, and pleased that I will be here on campus to witness the opening.

It feels wonderful to be back home,” said Rosar. In her role, Rosar will work with class executives to plan class reunions and alumni programs. Rosar came back to Vic from York University where she was alumni programs coordinator.

Donald Schweitzer Vic 7T9 has published his second book, Contemporary Christologies (Fortress Press), an introduction to the work of 15 leading international Protestant and Catholic theologians of our day. The chapters explore the social context of each thinker and the thought and voice of each on the person and work of Jesus Christ in our contemporary world.

Emm

(Please add title and/or maiden name if applicable)

Address

Postal Code

Telephone

E-mail



Please include my e-mail address in my Milestones notice.

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milestones

send us your news: vic.report@utoronto.ca

Anne (Weldon) Tait Vic 5T4 was recently honoured with The Maverick Lifetime Achievement Award from the Female Eye Film Festival, presented in Toronto, March 2011 in recognition of her career as a producer, writer, broadcaster and casting director. The actress Sun Li who starred in Tait’s film, Iron Road, was recognized with a Gemini Award, in Toronto, Nov. 2010; Li also received the Best Actress Award from the Roma Fiction Festival presented in Rome, Italy, July 2007; and The People’s Choice Award at the Dominican Republic Global Film Festival in Santo Domingo, 2008.

Tait was honoured to accept all three awards on Li’s behalf.

Members of the 1960–1961 and 1961–1962 intercollegiate women’s hockey teams were inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Hart House on May 27, 2010. These teams served as a foundation for an athletic legacy that has continued to grow for 50 years.

The following Vic alumnae players were on those teams and also carried on the dynasty of interfaculty championships for Vic: Mary Foster Vic 5T7 (deceased), Nancy Darling (deceased), Gillian Fisher Vic 6T3, Heather (Harman) Boshan Vic 6T2, Linda (Maki) Pella Vic 6T4, Jean (MacKenzie) McVeigh Vic 6T2, Susan (McNeel) McCulloch Vic 6T1, Susan (Rose) Morris Vic 6T3, Laura-Ann Van Volkenburg Vic 6T1.

Margaret (Clark) Ward Vic 5T7, along with Marc Bélanger of Vanier College, Montreal has published the fifth edition of The Family Dynamic: A Canadian Perspective (Nelson Education), an introductory textbook in family studies.

IN MEMORIAM

Kathleen (Wallace) Cruikshank Vic 3T9, in Wingham, Ont., April 14, 2010.

Arthur C. Dayfoot Vic 3T8, Emm 4T3, in Toronto, November 22, 2010.

Malcolm E. Dedrick Vic 4T4, in Orillia, Ont., March 21, 2008.

Mary (Leavens) Dornan Vic 3T9, in Ottawa, August 28, 2010.

John H. Francis Vic 5T4, in Toronto, October 10, 2010.

Dale A. Freed Vic 7T2, in Toronto, July 22, 2010.

Harold F.G. Goss Vic 5T0, in Toronto, Ont., October 6, 2010.

Ross E. Goudie Vic 3T7, in Toronto, July 24, 2010.

Lou J. Bisiecki Vic 6T7, in Toronto, November 27, 2010.

Mildred I. (Lloyd) Brockie Vic 3T9, in Fort Frances, Ont., March 26, 2010.

Doug Welch Vic 8T1, astrophysicist, has been awarded the prestigious McNeil Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. The medal recognizes the ability to promote and communicate science to the public. Welch co-hosts the Slacker Astronomy podcast, available at www.slackerastronomy.org and also participates in a public service project called Citizen Sky.

June E. (Day) Cranston Vic 4T9, in Toronto, October 17, 2010.

Jean (Ashworth) Chalamet Vic 5T0, in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France, October 14, 2010.

Wilfrid P. Gregory Vic 3T3, in Stratford, Ont., December 22, 2010.

Rose Mae (Kant) Harkness Vic 5T7, in Ottawa, October 15, 2010.

Gordon F. Howarth Vic 4T8, in Peterborough, Ont., November 2, 2010.

Jane (Bastedo) Conner Vic 6T1, in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, October 2, 2010.

voluntary subscription appeal

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We hope you enjoy receiving Vic Report and keeping up to date with alumni and college news. It’s one way for you to keep in touch.

But it costs money to produce and mail this magazine three times a year. Each issue goes to about 23,000 grads and costs about $26,000.

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vic report spring 2011

send us your news: vic.report@utoronto.ca

G. Beverley Johnston Vic 4T9, Emm 5T1, in Burlington, Ont., August 26, 2010.

M. Joy (Hutcheson) Julian Vic 4T6, in Toronto, June 3, 2010.

Patricia A. (Fraser) Kemp Vic 6T3, in Toronto, September 28, 2010.

Clyde G. Lonergan Vic 4T8, in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 13, 2009.

Nancy M. (Robson) MacDonald Vic 4T2, in Toronto, January 19, 2011.

Mildred H. (McLaughlin) Morrish Vic 3T3, St. Catharines, Ont., October 16, 2010.

Anna M. (Walker) Nancarrow Vic 5T1, in Toronto, January 2010.

Elda Oraw Vic 6T2, in Uppsala, Sweden, August 29, 2010.

Nancy S. Paris Vic 9T4, in Toronto, November 7, 2010.

Margaret E. Penman, former dean of women, in Toronto, December 22, 2010.

John F.E. Rahn Vic 6T2, Qualicum Beach, B.C., September 23, 2010.

Charles S. Temple Vic 3T7, in Perth, Ont., November 12, 2010.

Walter H. Thompson Vic 5T1, in Pickering, Ont., September 20, 2010.

Glenn K. Walmsley Vic 4T7, in Oshawa, Ont., April 10, 2010.

Archibald K. Watt Vic 4T0, in Mississauga, Ont., July 12, 2010.

J. Robert Watt Vic 4T3, Emm 4T7, in Toronto, November 16, 2010.

Memorial donations can be directed to the J. Robert Watt Scholarship for students at Emmanuel College by contacting the Office of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement at 416-585-4500.

William C. Wonders Vic 4T6, in Victoria, B.C., January 24, 2011.

Juris “George” I. Zeltins Vic 6T6, in Toronto, July 9, 2010.

The Hon. Keith Davey O.C., Vic 4T9 passed away on January 17, 2011 in Toronto. Davey, dubbed the ‘Rainmaker’ was instrumental in leading many successful election campaigns for the Liberal Party, including those for prime ministers Pearson and Trudeau. As national director he played a central role in the re-building of the Party in the early 1960s. Davey was named to the Senate in 1966 and became an officer of the Order of Canada in 1999. Upon his retirement from the Senate in 1996, and in honour of his contribution to public life in Canada, friends and family members established the Keith Davey Lecture at Victoria University, a public lecture series. In 2010, Victoria formed a partnership with the University of Toronto’s Department of Political Science and Association of Political Science Students to establish the Keith Davey Forum on Public Affairs.

Arthur Robert Harden Vic 4T9, Victoria College professor of French, passed away on December 26, 2010 in Pickering, Ontario. Harden served in the Canadian Air Force in Britain in World War II, flying with coastal command on anti-submarine patrols as a navigator and radar operator.

After the war, he completed his undergraduate degree at Victoria, went on to an MA from Columbia and received his PhD from the University of North Carolina (1959). Harden came to Victoria as associate professor in 1963 and was promoted to rank of professor in 1966 and served as chair of the Department of French from 1967 to 1972. Joining his students in affectionate and grateful recollection of Bob’s life are many more Victoria graduates who once inhabited Ryerson House, where Bob was a popular, honorary member. He with his wife Grace hosted “the boys” for dinners

milestones

at their house and attended weddings every summer. He loved to hear the shout “Hi, Doc!” as he walked across the Victoria campus.

Alice Rathé, French language and literature professor at Victoria College for over 40 years, passed away on January 25, 2011 in Paris, France. She began her graduate studies in 1957 and was a teaching fellow at Victoria College, and was promoted to the rank of lecturer in 1959 while she was also a don in residence. After obtaining her doctorate in 1964, Rathé progressed through the ranks to full professor.

Throughout her time at Victoria and the University of Toronto, Rathé was always an active member of the Victoria community, attending Vic events. Rathé served on the Board of Regents, held various administrative roles within the Department of French, served on Victoria’s Art Exhibition Committee and was an active member of the Victoria Women’s Association.

The Hon. George Vari passed away on December 9, 2010 in Toronto.

Born in Hungary, Vari immigrated to Canada in 1957 after the Hungarian revolution. In 1997 Helen and George Vari established the Variscop scholarships at Victoria and OISE/ UT, which provide full scholarships to students who want to be teachers.

Vari’s fundamental belief was that “The world can only be saved by education.” In 1992 Vari was appointed a lifetime member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.

He was named to the Order of Canada, the Légion d’honneur from France and became a Knight of Saint Gregory from the Vatican. He was awarded the commemorative medal celebrating Canada’s 125th anniversary and was also a recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

vic report spring 2011

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FAMILY DAY Share Vic with Your Kids

Saturday, June 11, 2011, 2–4 pm Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are all welcome to join you for a day of fun at Vic. This is your chance to show them Gothic Burwash Hall, the beautiful Vic Chapel and enjoy a bouncy castle in the Vic Quad. Faculty from The Royal Conservatory School will provide a fun and musically interactive sample session for the children, based on their popular Smart Start™ children’s music classes. $10 per adult, children free • A.B.B. Moore Foyer, Old Vic • Call 416-585-4500 to register.

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