Italian Studies

A political scientist whose expertise has shed light on the abuse of spyware around the world. A physician who is a leader in cancer prevention research. A trend-setter in Canadian film.

These are just a few of the University of Toronto community members who were most recently appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada.

Gov. Gen Mary Simon announced a total of 99 new appointments and promotions on Dec. 29. They include: Ron Deibert, a professor in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the director of the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy; Eva Grunfeld, physician and professor in the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine; and alumnus Martin F. Katz, founder and president of Prospero Pictures.

“Celebrated trailblazers in their respective fields, they are inspiring, educating and mentoring future generations, creating a foundation of excellence in our country that is respected throughout the world,” Simon said in a statement.

“Their commitment to the betterment of Canada fills me with pride and hope for the future. Alianaigusuqatigiivassi. Congratulations.”

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made a difference in their communities with their outstanding achievements and service to the country.

Here is a list of U of T faculty, alumni, supporters and friends who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round:

Current or former faculty

Ronald James Deibert, a professor in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the director of the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, was named an Officer for “his leadership and expertise in digital technology, security and human rights, and for his groundbreaking contributions to cyber security around the globe.” The work of Deibert and other Citizen Lab researchers has helped expose the use of cyber espionage campaigns and malicious spyware targeting governments, citizens, activists, journalists and human rights defenders in countries such as Mexico, the U.K., El Salvador and Spain.

Konrad Eisenbichler, professor emeritus in the department of Italian studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named a Member for “his acclaimed interdisciplinary study of sexuality, gender, history, religion and literature in the Italian Renaissance era.” A prize-winning scholar, Eisenbichler has authored, edited or translated more than 30 books and published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in his field.

Physician and professor Eva Grunfeld was named an Officer for “her influential research in cancer prevention and survivorship care, particularly within a primary care setting.” The Giblon professor and vice-chair (research) in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of family and community medicine with a cross appointment to the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Grunfeld is also director, knowledge translation research, in the health services research program at Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

Allan Edward Gross, an orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital and a professor of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member for “his significant advancements in bone and cartilage transplantation as a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, educator and researcher.” Gross, who specializes in lower extremity reconstruction, earned his medical degree from U of T in 1962.

Budd Lionel Hall was named an Officer for “his contributions as a pioneer in the field of community-based research, and for his advancement of knowledge building and research capacity around the world.” A professor emeritus with the University of Victoria, Hall is a former professor and chair of adult education and community development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Lori Haskell, a former assistant professor in psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for “her groundbreaking and transformational research into the treatment of violence and trauma in vast sectors of society.” A nationally recognized expert in her field, Haskell is a clinical psychologist and a nationally recognized expert on trauma and abuse, and on trauma-informed approaches to mental health service delivery and legal responses.

Andreas Laupacis, a professor with the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer for “his ongoing contributions to the field of medicine and to a broad range of health care initiatives in Canada and around the world.” He is the former editor-in-chief and current deputy editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and is a champion for enhancing the voice of patients within the health-care system.

Richard D. Weisel, a scientist emeritus at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, and a professor in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member for “his leadership as an academic cardiovascular surgeon and for his scientific contributions to the field.” Weisel is renowned for his work in the fields of cell transplantation, myocardial protection and vascular biology.

Ecologist Barbara Lewis Zimmerman was named an Officer for “her contributions to conservation science and for her advocacy of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to preserve the Amazon rainforest.” Formerly an adjunct professor of forestry at U of T, Zimmerman is a director with the Environmental Defense Fund.

Alumni and friends

Sheila Ruth Block, who taught an intensive advocacy course at U of T’s Faculty of Law and is on the advisory board for the Program on Ethics, Business and the Law at U of T, was named a Member for “her trailblazing contributions to law in Canada and aboard, and for her wide-ranging advocacy.”

Angela Ella Cooper Brathwaite, who earned a PhD from U of T’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, has been named a Member for “her extensive contributions to the field of nursing through her leadership, public policy advocacy, education and research.” She has held leadership positions in primary care, acute care and public health settings and taught nursing students at Ontario Technology University and U of T.

Allen Charles Edward Eaves, who earned a PhD in medical biophysics at U of T, was named an Officer of the Order, recognized for “his leading business acumen in the biotechnology industry and for his advancement of cutting-edge stem cell and leukemia research.” Eaves is the president and CEO of Vancouver-based STEMCELL Technologies and is a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.

Award-winning stage and screen actor Victor Jay Garber was named an Officer “for his outstanding work in film, television and theatre.” While not a graduate of U of T, Garber has spoken of working on his craft as a teenager at Hart House, telling the Toronto Star in 2010 that, at 16, "I was accepted at a six-week summer theatre training program at Hart House at the University of Toronto with Robert Gill as the teacher. I was the youngest one there."

Paula Beth Gordon, an alumna of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named an Officer “for advancing ultrasound imaging and technology in the early detection of breast cancer, as a prominent radiologist and researcher.” Gordon is a clinical professor in the department of radiology at the University of British Columbia.

Michael Douglas Hill was named an Officer for “his major contributions to the advancement of acute stroke care and treatment at the provincial, national and international levels.” A professor at the University of Calgary, Hill completed his neurology residency at U of T.

Martin F. Katz, a special lecturer in intellectual property law at U of T, was named a Member for “his contributions to the Canadian film, television and media industries, as a producer and leading innovator.” Katz, who graduated from U of T with a law degree, is the founder and president of Prospero Pictures, and his work has been nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Warren Charles Seymour Kimel, whose donation to the Temerty Faculty of Medicine supported the creation of the Kimel Family International Fellowship Training Program in Gynaecologic Oncology & Maternal Fetal Medicine, was named a Member for “his enduring leadership and philanthropic contributions in support of vulnerable members of Canadian society.”

Harry S. LaForme, who received an honorary degree from U of T in 2021, was named an Officer “for advancing national Indigenous rights as a groundbreaking jurist, and for championing underserved communities in Canada.” The country’s first Indigenous appellate judge, LaForme helped reframe the discussion about Indigenous land rights and self-government in Canada. He also wrote a decision that led to same-sex marriage becoming legal in Ontario.

Honorary degree recipient Pierre Lassonde was promoted within the order to the rank of Officer. Lassonde – who has been a supporter of the university through his leadership and donations for decades, including a transformative gift that established the Lassonde Institute of Mining in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – was recognized “for his long-standing contributions to the gold industry and for his transformative philanthropy, notably in support of the arts and education.”

Gerald James Lozinski and Joan Mary Lozinski, who are supporters of the Faculty of Music, were named Officers for “their long-standing support for the arts in Canada, with a special focus on dance excellence.”

Jacqueline Mary Elizabeth Maxwell, who has been a guest drama lecturer at U of T, was named a Member “for her contributions to Canadian theatre as an artistic director, director, dramaturge and teacher, and for her advocacy of women in the field.”

Ivar Mendez was named an Officer for “his pioneering work in the use of remote telemedicine and robotics to revolutionize the delivery of health and patient care in Canada and worldwide.” Mendez, who completed his undergraduate degree at U of T, is the Fred H. Wigmore professor and provincial head of the department of surgery at the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Did we miss anybody? If you know of an Order of Canada honouree with ties to U of T who was announced in December 2022, but isn't mentioned above, please let us know at uoftnews@utoronto.ca.

Building bridges: Global Language Initiative prepares U of T students for a 'pluricultural' world

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 15:11:36 +0000

Building bridges: Global Language Initiative prepares U of T students for a 'pluricultural' world

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 03/21/2022 - 11:11

Cutline

A collaborative effort between 15 departments in U of T's Faculty of Arts & Science aims to boost language instruction and promote intercultural competence and global fluency (photo by SDI Productions/Getty Images)

Cynthia Macdonald

Topic

Global Lens

Germanic Languages & Literatures

Italian Studies

Spanish & Portuguese

Academics

Faculty of Arts & Science

Indigenous

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Canada, like many other countries, is increasingly becoming a “pluricultural” society, where citizens regularly engage not only within their own cultures and languages, but with those of their friends, neighbours and colleagues – and the University of Toronto is preparing students to succeed in this new reality.

The Global Languages Initiative (GLI) is a collaborative effort uniting 15 departments in the Faculty of Arts & Science to increase access to language instruction across disciplines, with the aim of promoting intercultural competence and global fluency.

“What brings our language departments together is the philosophy that in order to become universal citizens, students should have access to another culture and another language,” says Paolo Frascà, assistant professor, teaching stream, and co-ordinator of language courses in the department of Italian studies.

The GLI was instigated two years ago by Stefan Soldovieri, chair of the department of Germanic languages and literatures.

“We were interested in connecting language departments – and not just traditional language departments, since religion, for example, also offers language courses. We wanted to get everyone together in a way that really hadn’t happened before,” he says.

The group also sees itself as an ally for the revitalization of Indigenous and endangered languages, and encourages community-based learning. Since its inception, the GLI has held several events, including a panel discussion on the benefits of being able to use multiple languages in the job market.

“That was wonderful,” says Frascà. “We invited several students to speak about how studying languages had really made a difference for them in the world at large, and in their professional development.”

In October, the group also hosted a talk on plurilingualism by Enrica Piccardo, a professor in the department of curriculum, teaching and learning in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

At the end of January, the group held its first major event. Titled “Languages Toward a Planetary Education,” the symposium featured a number of invited speakers and various other activities, including an “Artistic Intervention” where students read poetry in translation and played music. They were also offered a forum to discuss the challenges and rewards of learning second and third languages.

The symposium also included a roundtable where department chairs and professors shared ideas designed to improve best practices in language instruction.

“We talked about some of the challenges we face in organizing our departments, including the importance of providing excellent training for our teaching assistants,” says GLI member Juan Carlos Rocha Osornio, assistant professor, teaching stream, in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Other topics included the optimal management of classes containing students with different heritage languages and fluency levels, as well as ideas for building community when classes are larger or held online.

Rocha Osornio says other events will held during 2022 and the symposium will return next year. He adds that the notion of bravery in language learning – a concept articulated by keynote speaker Lindsay Morcom, associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University – was one of the event’s highlights.

“She was able to connect that idea to all languages,” he says. “That’s what stood out for me the most, since students can often be hesitant and nervous when they try to learn a new language. They really need to stand outside of their comfort zone.”

If they do, he adds, they stand to make valuable connections with brand new communities.

Frascà echoes the thought, emphasizing that language instruction is essential to build bridges between all groups in our society, and to fostering tolerance and understanding.

“Learning and interacting in different languages – even different ones at the same time – really is part of human nature and history,” he says. “It brings us back to a truth about what it means to be human.”

Queer Italian-Canadian anthology seeks to broaden acceptance, fuse identities

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:26:00 +0000

Queer Italian-Canadian anthology seeks to broaden acceptance, fuse identities

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 07/27/2021 - 10:26

Cutline

Paolo Frascà, an assistant professor, teaching stream, of Italian studies, was among the contributors to what's being billed as the most comprehensive volume yet of queer Italian-Canadian writing (photo by Jason Krygier-Baum)

Sean McNeely

Topic

Our Community

Italian Studies

Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity

Faculty of Arts & Science

LGBTQ

The department of Italian studies in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science has helped create what may be the most comprehensive volume yet of queer Italian-Canadian literature.

Launched in June, Here & Now: An Anthology of Queer Italian-Canadian Writing includes short stories, poems, memoirs, excerpts of novels, plays and film scripts from 35 contributors of different immigrant generations.

They include: Steve Galluccio, screenwriter and playwright, most noted for his play Mambo Italiano and its feature film adaptation; playwright Frank Canino; award-winning writer Monica Meneghetti; author and poet Amber Dawn; slam poetry champion Liana Cusmano; Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies instructor and writer Elena Basile; novelist and founder of the Violet Hour Reading Series Christopher DiRaddo; and filmmaker Luis De Filippis.

Together, the contributors offer unique perspectives from those who identify as gay, lesbian, queer or trans, and are of Italian heritage in Canada.

“This volume takes on subjects that are not traditionally discussed in the Italian-Canadian household,” says Licia Canton, a writer, literary translator and the anthology’s editor, who worked with the Frank Iacobucci Centre for Italian-Canadian Studies within the department.

“The anthology can start an important conversation between the queer community and the Italian-Canadian community – two communities which don’t necessarily talk to one another.”

For some contributors, this is their first time being published, while others are established authors or artists. Though spanning different genres and voices of different generations – from writers in their 20s to their 80s – a recurring theme is the clash between queer identity and the expectations of immigrant families.

There are also tales of love and support.

The anthology opens with three introductory essays, one of which was written by Paolo Frascà, an assistant professor, teaching stream, of Italian studies at U of T. He also wrote a personal story and a poem.

“There's a history, with lots of exceptions, of close-mindedness; Italian-Canadians being seen as very conservative when it comes to family traditions and sticking to the benchmarks of a normative life,” says Frascà.

So often, Frascà adds, the Italian immigrant dream is to come to Canada, work hard, buy a home, get married, become successful, have children and have them follow in the parents’ footsteps – and being queer sometimes doesn’t fit into this narrative.

“It can be a disappointment to those who have come to Canada in the 1960s or 70s to build a stable life here,” says Frascà. “But there are other ways of being Italian-Canadian – ways that do not follow the posts that are put along the way for an Italian-Canadian child to prove themself.”

While being queer can cause a disruption, so too can the decision to become an artist.

“Because of that history of hard work and wanting to motivate future generations to pursue stable career paths, artists sometimes have a difficult time coming out as artists, as well as coming out as queer,” says Frascà. “It's the fear of losing the financial security that the first generation was, generally speaking, able to achieve here.”

Frascà has no doubts about Here & Now’s potential positive impact and message.

“In addition to having an impact on the literary community, this anthology has started important conversations about queerness in the Italian-Canadian community and its institutions, such as Villa Charities and the Association of Italian-Canadian Writers,” says Frascà. “For one, it can help young Italian-Canadians who are queer feel that they have support when it comes to trying to reconcile these identities that sometimes are at odds with one another.

“It's also important for other Canadians to see Italian-Canadian communities not only through one lens – the master narrative of Italian migration to North America – but also through the stories that are not part of mainstream accounts of Italian presence in Canada.”

Though just released, Frascà has already seen the anthology spark discussion. Some Italian-Canadian community members have expressed apprehension about the book, but Frascà notes that they are in the minority.

“I've been pleasantly surprised by the way this has been welcomed by established figures in the Italian-Canadian community,” says Frascà. “Our community is ready for this conversation that is long overdue.”

Frascà intends to use Here & Now as a teaching tool for his courses.

“When we study the history of the Italian-Canadian community, we often focus on the workers, the families, the struggle of migration and the success achieved,” he says. “The anthology asks us to also acknowledge the queer stories, which have remained largely untold, as part of Italian-Canadian history.”

To keep the conversation going, Frascà and Canton have future projects on the horizon that aim to build on Here & Now’s momentum.

Frascà will be teaching a course this year titled “Sex and Gender in Contemporary Italy,” which will include units on sexual and gender diversity in the Italian diaspora. A qualitative research project is underway with the assistance of two work-study project assistants, Heather Sdao and Ariana Magliocco. Plans are also in the works for a conference next year, tentatively titled Queering the Italian Diaspora.

Canton and Frascà also intend to co-author research articles on queer Italian-Canadian artists, and plan to organize community-based activities and events that intersect queerness and Italian-Canadian identity.

“Ultimately, I hope this anthology will inspire some change in dinner conversations and lead to more inclusivity,” says Canton, who was recently awarded a one-year research fellowship at the Frank Iacobucci Centre.

“Hopefully, more queer Italian-Canadians will have the opportunity to be understood and accepted within their families and the Italian-Canadian community.”

Italian Studies

U of T community members recognized with the Order of Canada

Current or former faculty

Alumni and friends

Read more about U of T community members who have been recognized with the Order of Canada

Building bridges: Global Language Initiative prepares U of T students for a 'pluricultural' world

Queer Italian-Canadian anthology seeks to broaden acceptance, fuse identities