Back to School 2022

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2022

davidlee — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:38:49 +0000

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2022

davidlee Tue, 12/20/2022 - 12:38

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The Toronto High Containment Facility, based at Temerty Faculty of Medicine, houses the largest containment level 3 lab in Ontario. Researchers can study high-risk pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, in a safe and secure way. (Photo by Nathan Cyprys)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Back to School 2022

Black Research Network

Eagle Feather Bearer

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Global

International

Photographs

Research & Innovation

Undergraduate Students

Members of the University of Toronto community shared many memorable moments across the three campuses in 2022.

In spring, graduating students returned to Convocation Hall. In fall, more than 90,000 students from across Canada and around the world were welcomed back to U of T for what President Meric Gertler described as “our biggest back-to-school ever.” Through the year, the university’s renowned scholars continued to make their mark through pathbreaking research and innovation that made an impact locally and globally. Meanwhile, events with world leaders deepened the university’s international collaborations and partnerships.

For all those highlights and more, U of T News photographers were there. Below is a selection of striking images and special moments from 2022:

Indigenous artist Que Rock, a member of the Nipissing First Nation, stands in front of the mural he created honouring the 215 children whose unmarked graves were discovered at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., in 2021.

The mural is on the north facade of the building housing U of T’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. (Photo by Nadya Kwandibens/Red Works Photography)

The Hidden Stories project, co-ordinated by the research team at U of T Mississauga’s Old Books New Science Lab and funded by the Mellon Foundation, aims to explore the systems, peoples and cultures that make a book.

Alexandra Gillespie, U of T vice-president and U of T Mississauga principal, leads the Old Books New Science Lab. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The founders of the Black Research Network, Alissa Trotz, Beth Coleman, Rhonda McEwen and Maydianne Andrade, appeared in an episode of Groundbreakers, a U of T multimedia series on Institutional Strategic Initiatives, to discuss Black research excellence and enhancing the research capacity of Black scholars across U of T's tri-campus community.

The renowned scholars and pathbreaking leaders also discussed the origins of the Black Research Network and opportunities for collaboration and policy change. (Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, delivered an address and participated in a Q and A with students at U of T and other universities across Canada at an event hosted by U of T President Meric Gertler and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in June. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

More than 90,000 U of T students were welcomed back to U of T for their fall term with a wide range of events, including a cheer-off at Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus. (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

The proximity of the U of T Scarborough campus to Highland Creek Valley and Rouge National Urban Park offered many opportunities for students to enjoy the outdoors throughout the seasons.

A year-round program started by Athletics and Recreation organizes activities such as snowshoeing, hiking, dragon boating and rock climbing. (Photo by Don Campbell)

U of T President Meric Gertler welcomed Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korean president, to Simcoe Hall to discuss artificial intelligence and opportunities for further collaboration between the university and South Korean partners.

The meeting included a roundtable discussion titled “AI for the Better Future of Humanity,” that featured AI leaders and luminaries, including University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton and Lee Jong-ho, South Korea’s minister of science and ICT (information and communication technology). (Photo by Polina Teif)

Kaeliana Smoke, a master’s student in anthropology at U of T Mississauga, was a member of the inaugural cohort of Eagle Feather Bearers during spring convocation.

The Eagle Feather Bearer carries a ceremonial Eagle Feather into Convocation Hall at the outset of each ceremony. The new tradition symbolizes the university’s enduring partnership with Indigenous Peoples. (Photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

The U of T Scarborough Cheer Team – open to all U of T students, regardless of athletic ability – is one of hundreds of clubs and extracurricular options students participated in across U of T’s three campuses this year. (Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

In 2022, a new ranking placed the university second in the world for sustainability, recognizing the way sustainability permeates U of T's entire mission of research and teaching as well as its operations.

The greenhouse atop the Davis Building at U of T Mississauga, which provides research opportunities for undergraduate biology students, is home to some annuals, including beans and corn and has a permanent collection of flora that includes hibiscus, orchids, mosses, peppers, cotton, bananas and figs. (Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Smiles, tears and plenty of helping hands: Students move into residence on U of T's three campuses

mattimar — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 14:54:59 +0000

Smiles, tears and plenty of helping hands: Students move into residence on U of T's three campuses

mattimar Tue, 09/06/2022 - 10:54

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Emotions ran high on U of T's three campuses over the Labour Day long weekend as students moved into residence in advance of the new academic year (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

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The University of Toronto was a hub of activity over the Labour Day long weekend as students and their friends and families arrived on the three campuses with boxes, laptops and other belongings – all ready to move into residence buildings ahead of the new school year.

For many students, the act of moving away from home and into residence marked an exciting new chapter in their lives. Parents, meantime, beamed with pride and wiped away more than a few tears as they helped their children settle in for a successful term.

U of T photographers visited residences on U of T’s three campuses to document the start of the school year.

(Photo by David Lee)

Signs and smiles: Students received a warm welcome outside the Morrison Hall Residence on the St. George campus.

(Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Equipped with wheeled, plastic bins, volunteers in blue t-shirts helped students and their families move their belongings inside residence buildings on the U of T Mississauga campus.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Lizramona Lugano Mwakitwange, a life sciences student in the Faculty of Arts & Science and a Pearson Scholar, poses with a friend on move-in day on the St. George campus.

(Photo by Sean Liliani)

Volunteers brought friendly faces (and a luggage cart) to help students move into residence at U of T Scarborough.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Arriving students and their families had plenty of questions moving in and navigating the St. George campus – and volunteers were happy to help out.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Students’ families and friends played an integral role on move-in days, helping to ferry boxes, bins and suitcases.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Yerez Tahtadjian – who moved to Toronto from the Philippines to attend U of T – said he was preparing to experience his first-ever Canadian winter.

(Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The sunny, but not too hot weather made for a pleasant move-in experience on the U of T Mississauga campus.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Lilah Williamson, who moved from Vancouver to attend U of T, poses with her parents in front of Trinity College on the St. George campus.

(Photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Students lug suitcases and other dormroom necessities onto campus – and into the 2022-2023 academic year.

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, staff and librarians to U of T's biggest back-to-school ever

lanthierj — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 20:56:43 +0000

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, staff and librarians to U of T's biggest back-to-school ever lanthierj Thu, 09/01/2022 - 16:56

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Undergraduate Students

As the University of Toronto prepares for its biggest-ever back-to-school season, President Meric Gertler welcomed students, faculty, staff and librarians to the university’s three campuses.

“Many of you will be here in person for the first time,” the president said in a video message. “It’s a perfect opportunity to experience the diversity, energy and creativity on our three campuses, and to enjoy life in this amazing metropolitan region.”

While President Gertler acknowledged that the U of T community has been through a lot in the ongoing pandemic, he said community members have shown repeatedly that they are up to the challenge.

“We have so much to contribute – individually and collectively – through our shared mission of learning, discovery and innovation.”

The university is excited to help community members make the most of their opportunities this year, he said.

“Whether you’re new or returning, if you need help at any point, please don’t hesitate to reach out to those around you or to make use of the services available through the university. We’re committed to supporting your success and wellbeing.”

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Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

mattimar — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:41:07 +0000

Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

mattimar Mon, 08/29/2022 - 14:41

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Students explore the Highland Creek Valley at University of Toronto Scarborough (photo by Matthew Dochstader)

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Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

This year’s back-to-school season promises to be bigger than ever at the University of Toronto.

With many upper-year students returning to campus in earnest after two years of virtual and hybrid classes, tens of thousands of students will be looking for ways to connect – or reconnect – with campus life.

So, whether you’re a first-year student or a returning student coming to campus for the first time this fall, here are a few suggestions on where to make friends and find your community – a key part of the U of T experience.

Get connected at Hart House

A hub of activity at U of T, Hart House is a picturesque space with an almost Hogwarts feel. Beyond the eye-catching architecture, there’s an art museum with year-round programming, a theatre, fitness centre, pool, basketball court and running track – and places to grab lunch.

Students can find a wide variety of speaker events focused on arts and culture, literature, and wellness, as well as a plethora of clubs for those interested in everything from archery and scuba diving to jazz music and film.

On Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hart House is hosting Xplore Hart House, an orientation and open house featuring free food, music, games and activities and more.

Hart House is located south of Hoskins Avenue, between Queen’s Park Crescent and Tower Road. There is elevator access to all floors of Hart House and accessible washrooms on the main floor outside of the Great Hall and in the Hart House Theatre lobby. There are two accessible entrances and exits on Tower Road and on Hart House Circle.

(photo courtesy of Hart House)

Catch up with friends at Innis Café

Before the cold weather arrives, grab a bite to eat at Innis Café and enjoy the rooftop terrace with a friend. A beloved institution among U of T students, Innis Café is located at 2 Sussex Avenue on the St. George campus. The café and bathrooms are accessible.

Long-time café owner Gunash Agar along with her husband and son make everything from scratch. Students can find a selection of daily breakfast and lunch specials, with vegetarian, vegan and halal options.

Get fit with your friends on the three campuses

U of T students looking to stay active or participate in intramural sports have plenty of options across the three campuses.

At U of T Mississauga, the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre has two gymnasiums, three squash courts, an indoor track, swimming pool, dance studio, weightlifting room, soccer fields, facilities to play tennis and beach volleyball – and more. Located on Outer Circle Road, the fitness centre features group fitness classes as well as women’s-only programs. The indoor running track at the centre is accessible by an elevator. At the swimming pool, there is a lift that can be accessed from the whirlpool or the pool for individuals who may be mobility impaired. The change rooms are accessible.

Students at U of T Scarborough have access to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which is co-owned by U of T Scarborough and the City of Toronto. It features a fitness and aquatic centre as well as a field house and climbing wall. There is a variety of drop-in programs, including badminton, basketball, table tennis and pickle ball. The centre meets the highest provincial accessibility standards with two accessible change rooms, oversized elevators, wide routes, powered door openers, as well as enhanced seating and tethering areas for service animals in all aquatic halls and the field house. The training pool has a moveable floor to accommodate various water depths and mobility levels.

(photo by Matthew Dochstader)

On the St. George campus, the Athletic Centre is home to seven gyms, three pools, a strength and conditioning centre, indoor track, field house, dance studio, cardio machines, tennis and squash courts, steam room, among other facilities. Some gyms at the Athletic Centre – located at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street – are accessible, including the strength and conditioning centre, sports gym, field house court and track lane, and dance studio. The Varsity and Benson pools are also accessible.

Students on St. George can also use the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, home to the U of T Varsity Blues basketball and volleyball teams. The facility, completed in 2014, features a strength and conditioning centre, fitness studio, sport medicine clinic, research and teaching laboratories.

Membership to all facilities is paid through a students' incidental fees and can be accessed using a TCard.

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Be part of the U of T Scarborough student hub at Highland Hall

Highland Hall is a central location on the U of T Scarborough campus that is home to hundreds of study and hangout spaces, the social sciences departments, a recently opened café, the registrar’s office, exam and conference centre, admissions and student recruitment office, the international student centre and much more.

The space – located on Military Trail – also features the Hub, U of T Scarborough’s entrepreneurship incubator. Students are welcome to work in the Hub to create and launch new business start-ups.

A cool feature of the building is the two large north and south-facing windows that depict maps of Scarborough in the 1960s and in the 2000s. The building has an accessible entrance and exit as well as an elevator indoors.

The U of T Scarborough campus is surrounded by beautiful green space and several walking and running trails. The Valley Land Trail provides an accessible link for students and the community to the Highland Creek Valley. The 500-metre-long trail features charging stations for motorized accessibility devices, multiple raised lookout points with accessible seating and LED lights built in for evening strolls. It’s a great way for students to connect with the campus, each other and the city of Toronto.

(photo by Matthew Dochstader)

Start a study group at Robarts Common

An airy new addition to Robarts Library on the St. George campus, Robarts Common is a five-storey study and meeting space for U of T students.

The multi-year renovations resulted in 1,200 new study spots, soundproof rooms with big screens to practice presentations and charging stations everywhere.

There are also accessibility features for individuals with hearing loss, epilepsy, and those with autism spectrum disorder. The study rooms have dimmable lights, the walkways are wider in width and there are automatic curtains to block natural light to help with sensory output. There is a mix of fabric and non-fabric chairs as well as carpet to keep noise to a minimum. There are different heights and configurations for working stations, too.

The Fourth Floor Heritage Room is another revamped area of the library that’s newly opened for the fall semester. The space is an accessible and accommodating study area with features to give students a balance between wellness and education, including standing and sitting desks, lounge seating, acoustic panels to improve sound quality and two SAD lamp therapy lounges.

(photo courtesy of U of T Libraries)

Gather at U of T Mississauga’s Meeting Place

The Meeting Place – inside the William G. Davis Building at U of T Mississauga – is a great place for students to grab a coffee or tea, catch up with a friend or form a study group.

The Meeting Place received a recent makeover with a redesign of the food services area, student services plaza, a new entrance to the building and more seating indoors and outdoors. Located on Inner Circle Road, there is an accessible entrance and exit into William G. David Building, as well as an elevator.

Other services inside the building include a bookstore, an accessibility resource centre, conference and events services, a career centre and health services.

Socialize at the new Student Commons space

Student Commons is a new space on the St. George campus for students to study, meet and socialize. It will host its grand opening on Sept. 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. There will be food, movies and a disco party to celebrate the new space, which is run by the U of T Students’ Union.

There are several meeting rooms and study areas with Wi-Fi throughout the building. Programs such as bike repair, a food bank, club spaces, events spaces are available. The prayer room, which includes two ablution spaces and smudging rooms, is undergoing construction and will be ready by the end of the year.

There are two accessible entrances and exits to the building – one is on Huron Street on the west side of the building and the other is on the east side facing the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. There is an elevator located at the centre of the building that runs from the basement to the 5^th floor and barrier-free washrooms on all levels.

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For more information on accessibility services, each U of T campus has a dedicated Accessibility Services office that helps students navigate the university based on their needs.

Back to School 2022

The year in pictures: U of T News looks back at 2022

Smiles, tears and plenty of helping hands: Students move into residence on U of T's three campuses

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, staff and librarians to U of T's biggest back-to-school ever

Learn more at ������Ƶ

Seven ways to connect with campus life at U of T

Learn more at ��Ƶ