�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

In photos: 2024 All-Nations Powwow at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:48:42 +0000

In photos: 2024 All-Nations Powwow at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 10/16/2024 - 11:48

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Emilee Ann Pitawanakwat, a hoop dancer from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, was the head dancer at the second-annual All-Nations Powwow at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga staff

Topic

City & Culture

All-Nations Powwow

Indigenous

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

The University of Toronto Mississauga recently welcomed hundreds of participants and attendees from as far away as Aotearoa New Zealand, for the second annual All-Nations Powwow.

Scattered showers didn’t stop the outdoor event from going ahead on Sept. 28.

It was the first time the All-Nations Powwow was held outdoors. The event, which took place on the north field in front of Maanjiwe nendamowinan, was free to attend and open to all.

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga photographer Nick Iwanyshyn was on hand to capture the day:

Dan Secord of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation performs a dance while spectators look on (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

More than 30 dancers in regalia competed in the Traditional Men’s and Jingle Dress Dance Specials and took part in intertribal spot and exhibition dances.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Celeste Pedri-Spade, who is an Anishinaabe scholar and artist from northwestern Ontario and a band member of Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation, took top prize in the Jingle Dress Dance. Pedri-Spade has a PhD in visual anthropology and travelled to the All-Nations Powwow from Montreal, where she is the associate provost of Indigenous initiatives at McGill University.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of a Māori delegation, visiting from Aotearoa, New Zealand, demonstrated Haka, a ceremonial dance in Māori culture, for the assembled crowd.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Outside of the dances, All-Nations Powwow attendees were invited to browse the vendor stalls, which featured a variety of canned goods and other food along with clothing, accessories and wellness products.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

All attendees were invited to participate in intertribal dances. Intertribal dances are for all ages, backgrounds and abilities, with no set dance style.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of the Manitou Mkwa Singers, Juno-nominated hand-drum performers from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, were among the invited drummers in attendance.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

John Hupfield, who is Anishinaabe from Wasauksing First Nation and one of the All-Nations Powwow Head Dancers, took part in a grass dance during the event. Hupfield, who has a PhD in education from York University, has researched the roles that Powwows play within Anishinaabe contexts of education and pedagogy.

He welcomed the chance to lead dancers and to share Powwow traditions with the �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga community.

“It is a space to work and gather together, share and pass tradition with everyone,” he said of the All-Nations Powwow. “That’s the beautiful aspect of it and I hope it continues to grow at UTM.”

�鶹ֱ��app researcher tracks 1,000 years of sea ice

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:18:44 +0000

�鶹ֱ��app researcher tracks 1,000 years of sea ice

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 10/15/2024 - 13:18

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Minoli Dias, a PhD student at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, examines coralline algae, which live for approximately 1,500 years and grow in annual layers, to construct a record of changes in sea ice cover over time (photo by Natasha Leclerc)

Topic

Research & Innovation

Sustainability

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

Subheadline

Minoli Dias says the baseline data she and her fellow researchers are constructing could "inform model projections that predict what future conditions will look like”

Minoli Dias’s interest in sea ice began in an unlikely place: polar bear poop.

She was studying microplastics in polar bear feces and intestinal tracts as part of a research project during her undergraduate years at Queen’s University.

“It was a smelly job, but it was really interesting,” says Dias, who is now a PhD student in the department of Earth sciences at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga.

Her early work revealed some troubling trends: for instance, declining sea ice levels meant that certain species of polar bears were being driven inland – with garbage and landfills increasingly serving as their food sources. At the same time, members of northern communities, particularly the Inuit, had noted in their own experiences, observations and research that declining sea ice levels had impacted access to essential needs – such as transportation, food security through hunting, and other culturally important activities.

It wasn't long before Dias decided she wanted to pursue sea ice research – and ultimately chose to study at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga after speaking with Jochen Halfar, a paleoclimate and paleontology professor and researcher in �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga’s Climate Geology Research Group. “UTM gave him a wonderful lab, and we have incredible facilities. But his research and his passion for the work was what really drew me,” she says.

Now part of Halfar’s research group studying changes in sea ice cover in northern Labrador, Dias and her co-researchers are developing sea-ice cover records for the past 1,000 years off the coast of Nunatsiavut and are examining coralline algae as part of their research.

Minoli Dias's view from the research vessel off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (photo by Minoli Dias)

Dias says that coralline algae live for approximately 1,500 years and they grow in annual layers (like tree rings). The growth, she explains, is dependent on light. When the algae have more light, meaning there’s less sea ice in the water, they grow a lot thicker. When they have less light, meaning there’s more sea ice cover, the layers grow thinner. By examining these variations and growth over time along with chemical tracers, the research team can essentially watch the sea ice cover change.

Dias conducted field work in the community of Agvituk (Hopedale), N.L. this past summer. The lab also explored multiple sites in Greenland, Norway, Nunavut and the Labrador coast.

“If we can create a network of these types of ocean reconstructions, we’ll be able to have this baseline data going back several centuries that can then hopefully inform model projections that predict what future conditions will look like,” she says.

Since joining the lab, Dias says she has had some incredible experiences – including a recent opportunity to work with members of the Hopedale community.

“We’re not the experts. We don’t live there. It’s the people who live along the coast – and actually live the change and see the change – who are the experts,” she says. “When you speak to community members, they have a clear understanding of how changes occurred over time, and what is the importance of sea ice to these ecosystems.”

Once she completes her PhD, Dias hopes to continue pursuing climate research by either working directly with impacted communities or working to address the effects of pollution or climate change.

Dias says she feels inspired by the many women scientists who came before her, including her female professors who have served as role models in what traditionally has been a male-dominated field.

“They paved the way for us to be able to do the work that we do, and to do it in relative comfort,” she says. “Having these women to look up to is what makes it possible for me to do the type of work that I do, and I hope I can make a similar contribution and pay it forward to the women that are coming after me.”

�鶹ֱ��app community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:32:22 +0000

�鶹ֱ��app community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar Mon, 09/30/2024 - 11:32

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Attendees wear orange shirts during a �鶹ֱ��app tri-campus event, held at Hart House, to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

“Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought”

Shirley Cheechoo doesn’t want to be recognized as a residential school survivor, a term commonly used to describe Indigenous Peoples who were subjected to Canada’s horrific residential school system.

“We should be identified as residential school warriors,” said the Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute.

“Calling us warriors, you empower us. You empower our children and you empower communities across the country.”

Shirley Cheechoo, Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute, shared the horrors and abuse she endured in Canada’s residential school system (photo by Polina Teif)

Cheechoo delivered the keynote address at a University of Toronto event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The tri-campus event, held at Hart House on the St. George campus, was streamed live on YouTube.

She shared the horrors and abuse she endured after being kidnapped from her parents at age six and placed in a residential school. With a long-standing passion for working with young people, Cheechoo encouraged universities like �鶹ֱ��app to partner with Indigenous leaders to fund and support Indigenous students and youth.

Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, said “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought” (photo by Polina Teif)

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, introduced Cheechoo at the event, while Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, emphasized the critical nature of the work ahead.

“There are 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. �鶹ֱ��app has 34 of their own published,” said Baghbanan. “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought.”

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, was among the speakers at the event (photo by Polina Teif)

Attendees also heard remarks from several �鶹ֱ��app leaders, including �鶹ֱ��app President Meric Gertler and William Gough, acting vice-president of �鶹ֱ��app and acting principal of �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough.

President Gertler, for his part, said the �鶹ֱ��app community is committed to advancing reconciliation across its three campuses, including by: expanding the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and librarians; incorporating Indigenous content into �鶹ֱ��app’s curriculum; supporting Indigenous research programs; and creating physical spaces that honour Indigenous Peoples’ tradition and histories.

Flags were lowered to half-mast across �鶹ֱ��app’s three campuses on Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada.

�鶹ֱ��app community members attend the ceremony in Hart House’s Great Hall while others tuned into the livestream (photo by Polina Teif)

Hart House Warden David Kim thanked �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the �鶹ֱ��app event, which depicts a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words “Every child matters.”

After the ceremony, a sacred fire was held for �鶹ֱ��app community members at the newly opened Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project near Hart House.

�鶹ֱ��app President Meric Gertler and Chancellor Wes Hall deliver remarks to attendees in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Earlier this month, �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough hosted a reflective walk for reconciliation from the �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough flagpole to the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail. In addition, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held across the three campuses, while �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga live-streamed the Hart House event in the Grand Hall at Maanjiwe nendamowinan.

In his closing remarks at Hart House, �鶹ֱ��app Chancellor Wes Hall encouraged the audience to continue sharing their stories, no matter how difficult, to ensure we do not repeat the past.

�鶹ֱ��app prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:06:56 +0000

�鶹ֱ��app prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 09/27/2024 - 09:06

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The Survivors' Flag, raised at �鶹ֱ��app Varsity Stadium on Sept. 20, will be lowered to half-mast on Sept. 30, when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed across Canada (photo by Jill Clark)

Jelena Damjanovic

Melinda Mattos

Topic

Our Community

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Orange Shirt Day

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

The Survivors’ Flag, which honours Indigenous lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada, has been raised across the University of Toronto’s three campuses as the community prepares to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

On the St. George campus, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), in partnership with First Nations House and the �鶹ֱ��app Office of Indigenous Initiatives, raised the Survivors’ Flag at Varsity Stadium earlier this month.

It will be lowered to half-mast on Sept. 30 when the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is formally recognized across Canada.

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga (photo by Julia Le)

Flags have also been raised at �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough and �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga.

“Recognizing the painful history of Canada’s residential school system, and the tragic consequences that are still being felt today, is a vital component of the reconciliation process,” said Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

“It’s also a time for settlers to reflect on what they can do to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples in order to build a better future together.”

The �鶹ֱ��app community is invited to honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a tri-campus event being held in the Great Hall at Hart House on Sept. 30 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Participants will have the option to register to attend the event in person or register to watch the live-stream on YouTube.

The event will feature a keynote address by Shirley Cheechoo, Canadian Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute, who will be introduced by Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga. There will also be a land acknowledgement by Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, welcoming remarks from David Kim, warden of Hart House and remarks by �鶹ֱ��app President Meric Gertler and William Gough, acting vice-president of �鶹ֱ��app and acting principal of �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough. �鶹ֱ��app Chancellor Wes Hall will deliver closing remarks.

�鶹ֱ��app Scarborough (photo by Harry Xu)

While wearing any orange shirt is a show of solidarity, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has partnered with the �鶹ֱ��app Bookstore on a limited supply of orange t-shirts that feature an award-winning design by MJ Singleton, an Ojibwe, two-spirit student from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation who is studying at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga. All proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be directed to the Orange Shirt Society.

Members of the �鶹ֱ��app community are also encouraged to use the Orange Shirt Day virtual background and profile icon, featuring Singleton's design.

Researchers' lab technique could speed forensic analysis in sexual assault cases

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:43:28 +0000

Researchers' lab technique could speed forensic analysis in sexual assault cases

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/17/2024 - 10:43

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(photo by Science Photo Library/Getty Images)

Chris Sasaki

Topic

Breaking Research

Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

Research & Innovation

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga

A team of researchers has developed a new approach to analyzing DNA evidence in sexual assault cases – one that could reduce lengthy delays in the processing of evidence.

While there are almost half a million sexual assaults in Canada every year, many more go unreported because victims are reluctant to come forward.

One of the reasons cited by victims is that analysis of forensic evidence is too slow.

Mohamed Elsayed (supplied image)

“For this research, we read reports and surveys that asked victims why they weren’t reporting assaults,” says the study’s lead author Mohamed Elsayed, who worked on the project as part of his PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of Toronto. “And the most common answer was that they didn't have confidence in the justice system – and that lack of confidence was partly because of how long the process takes.”

Elsayed, now a post-doctoral researcher in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, co-authored the study with, among others, Leticia Bodo, a master’s student in the department of chemistry, and Aaron Wheeler, a professor in the department of chemistry, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies, a �鶹ֱ��app institutional strategic initiative.

All three researchers are also affiliated with the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research.

Processing forensic evidence in sexual assault cases is a technical, multi-step process that involves collecting DNA evidence and sending it to a well-equipped forensic laboratory for analysis by a skilled technician. Once there, the sample is first processed to isolate the assailant’s DNA from the victim’s so the assailant’s DNA can then be analyzed and used to identify a suspect.

The entire process can take days, weeks or longer. Most of that time is taken up with transporting the evidence to the lab, where its analysis can be further delayed depending on how many other cases are being investigated.

To speed things up, researchers focused on the first step: separating two individuals’ DNA from a single sample. At present, this is usually done manually by trained and experienced experts.

Elsayed and his collaborators, by contrast, developed a process called ’differential digestion” using digital microfluidics that helped simplify the overall process and reduce the number of manual steps needed to isolate the assailant’s DNA from 13 to five. “Also, because micro-fluidic processes tend to be faster, we expect that one of the eventual benefits will be shortening the overall time needed,” says Elsayed.

What’s more, the new approach could lead to a mobile solution that no longer requires a lab. For example, testing could be done at a hospital, circumventing the lab’s queue.

The new technique, described in a paper published in the journal Advanced Science, is compatible with the technology known as Rapid DNA analysis that is already in use for the second step of identifying an individual from their DNA. The study’s authors, which included researchers from �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga’s forensic science program, say the long-term goal is to integrate the two technologies to make the process even more streamlined.

While there remain several challenges to deploying the new technique, Elsayed says he is confident they can be overcome and has turned his efforts toward making it widely accessible and commercially viable.

“Our plan is to develop an instrument that will do in five minutes what currently takes 45,” says Elsayed. “And to run many more samples than previously. Once we do that, the next step would be to introduce the technology to forensic labs and hospitals.

“It will take years, but the potential is very exciting.”

The research was supported by the ANDE Corporation and NSERC Alliance Society.

"I’m grateful to NSERC for having the foresight to establish the ‘Alliance Society’ program which has a mission to ‘address a societal challenge that will result in new natural sciences and engineering knowledge and societal impact,” Wheeler says.

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Forensic Science

What’s new in food at �鶹ֱ��app? Explore new dining options across the three campuses

mattimar — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:26:43 +0000

What’s new in food at �鶹ֱ��app? Explore new dining options across the three campuses

mattimar Fri, 09/13/2024 - 13:26

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Sushi is one of several freshly prepared and culturally diverse dishes that �鶹ֱ��app students can indulge in at Food Services locations and retail outlets on the three campuses (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

Subheadline

From produce grown on campus to dishes inspired by global cuisines, �鶹ֱ��app students have a bounty of choice when it comes to food options

The University of Toronto is introducing a range of new dining experiences across its three campuses this fall.

From late-night bites to authentic dishes and healthy grab-and-go options, there’s never been a better time to chow down on �鶹ֱ��app’s three campuses.

Here are just some of the new menu items, concepts and programs that �鶹ֱ��app students can expect to find this fall:

�鶹ֱ��app Scarborough: New offerings at Harmony Commons

Left: Tony De Gregorio and Todd Wadsworth make gnocchi. Right: A chef at the fresh pasta station (supplied images)

At �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough, new additions to the Harmony Commons dining hall offer students fresh, made-to-order options and an enjoyable dining experience.

They include a made-to-order pasta station and self-serve machines that dispense everything from sushi to slushies (with chefs preparing the pasta and sushi behind the scenes).

“We really strive to use fresh and made-to-order ingredients,” says Todd Wadsworth, food services co-ordinator of Food Partnerships at �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough.

He adds that the new machines will make the process of serving 1,200 meal-plan students faster and easier.

Students will also benefit from fresh produce grown in the Harmony Commons dining hall across from the salad station – courtesy of Lyrata Inc., a �鶹ֱ��app student startup.

The salad station at Harmony Commons dining hall (supplied image)

“It’ll be grown, harvested [inside the dining hall] and flipped over to the kitchen where they’ll wash it and then it will be put out onto the salad station,” says Wadsworth, noting that he and Assistant Director Tony De Gregorio both have culinary backgrounds and are passionate about food.

Upcoming projects include a tri-campus cooking competition and cooking demonstrations in partnership with the culinary programs at Centennial College and George Brown – all of it livestreamed on YouTube.

The guiding principle? “It’s not just a meal plan, it’s an experience,” De Gregorio says.

�鶹ֱ��app St. George: Rotating menus and authentic dishes

New concepts on the second floor of Robarts Library include Foodie Finds and Chef's Corner (photo by David Lee)

Robarts Library is no longer just a hub for knowledge, it’s also a place for gastronomic exploration thanks to two new pop-up menu concepts offered by Food Services – Foodie Finds and Chef's Corner, both located on the second floor of the Robarts Library.

Jaco Lokker, �鶹ֱ��app’s director of culinary operations and executive chef, says Foodie Finds – which will also be introduced in residences at New College, Campus One and Chestnut – responds to a growing demand for variety and authenticity. “By developing smaller menus and rotating them frequently, we’re able to introduce fresh and culturally diverse foods to our locations,” he says.

The menu at Foodie Finds also features poutine, mac and cheese, tacos, baked potatoes and more, offering students different culinary styles and comfort foods they love.

Chef’s Corner will host pop-up menus inspired by global cuisines, cycling through dishes every two to four weeks.

Lokker says his team is excited to develop menus that explore regions such as Brazil, Peru, Argentina and others by using authentic ingredients that honour the cultural roots of each dish.

“We do a lot of research,” he says.

Meanwhile, Food Services has rolled out a new allergen and food intolerance identifier on its website, making it easier for students and �鶹ֱ��app community to make informed dietary choices.

Food Services is also expanding a pilot project called Spaces and Experiences Foodies that will allow students to contribute to the development of future menu items on the St. George campus. Students can find more details on the Food Services website and on their Instagram account.

Students can skip the line by ordering through the Food Services app and at kiosks at the retail food locations to take advantage of the new culinary offerings on campus.

�鶹ֱ��app Mississauga: Pizza, sushi and late-night snacks

UTM Davis Building food options (suppplied images)

At �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, the new additions to the campus food scene are convenient, freshly prepared and, of course, delicious.

“In partnership with our food service provider, Dana Hospitality, we are proud to offer our UTM community a variety of menu choices with a focus on being made from scratch and inspired by fresh ingredients from local suppliers and our very own UTM Farm,” says Megan Evans, �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga’s assistant director of hospitality operations, Hospitality & Ancillary Services.

The Oscar Café in Colman Commons is introducing the first-ever Rawcy’s Late Night Eats menu, named in honor of �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga’s mascot, Rawcy (pronounted “Rocky”) the Eagle, featuring a variety of pub fare and other fan favourites, while over at the Davis Food Court, Fresh Baked out of the Oven now includes more than just pizzas, introducing other options from cheese bread and baked pasta to calzones and dessert pizza.

At the North Side Bistro, a new Italian hot table will serve a variety of hot sandwiches such as eggplant parm, porchetta and meatball – and Roman-style pizza, sold by the square.

For a quick bite, the Fair Trade Café now offers an expanded selection of grab-and-go bakery items including stuffed croissants, pre-made breakfast sandwiches and muffins – all of which can be warmed by staff upon request.

Two other new developments: Ah-So Sushi will now be available at various locations across campus and there is a new Reis & Irvy’s frozen yogurt machine in the Communication, Culture and Technology building.

“With a variety of made-to-order and grab ‘n’ go options available, students and the UTM community are able to choose and customize their dining experience to best suit their needs and schedules,” Evans says, adding that students should also keep their eye out for new food trucks.

These exciting new offerings, coupled with existing Food Services locations and the assortment of branded restaurants, ensure that students on all three �鶹ֱ��app campuses have a bounty of choice. As always, students with dietary questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their dining location of interest to discuss their individual needs.

'A transformative experience': �鶹ֱ��app program gives first-year student - and aspiring surgeon - a head start

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:14:30 +0000

'A transformative experience': �鶹ֱ��app program gives first-year student - and aspiring surgeon - a head start

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 09/12/2024 - 13:14

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Nasteha Omar is pursuing an honours bachelor of science in life sciences, and eyeing a specialist in molecular biology (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Nasteha Omar, who wants to study orthopedics, spent a high school semester at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga via the Support, Engage, Experience (SEE) UTM program

Nasteha Omar has long been interested in becoming an orthopedic surgeon – and thanks to a unique program at the University of Toronto Mississauga, the first-year student is already well on her way.

“I’ve had to go to hospital and be in contact with different orthopedic surgeons lots of times because of problems that I have myself,” she says. “And I found their careers really interesting from a young age. It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

While taking the first steps towards her goal at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga was always her intention – her family lives near the campus and her older sister is already a student – Omar got an early and up-close look at university life via the Support, Engage, Experience �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga (SEE UTM) initiative, which invites Peel District high school students to spend a semester at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga to get a taste of post-secondary education.

It was nothing short of “a transformative experience,” says Omar, who was encouraged to apply for the initiative by her vice-principal at Erindale Secondary School. “It wasn’t only a chance to connect with peers and mentors, but also an opportunity to engage in programs that helped me enrich my academic and personal growth.”

Now a first-year student, Omar is pursuing an honours bachelor of science degree in life sciences and eyeing a specialist in molecular biology.

She says her SEE UTM experience allowed her to explore the sciences from a variety of lenses. One of the highlights was taking a course, "STEM in Society," that explores how the STEM fields intersect with society, culture and politics.

“I’ve always been interested in the sciences and STEM, so participating in a course that was more about the ethical side of ongoing situations in our world – and of science topics – really opened my eyes to different pathways that I want to explore,” Omar says of the course taught by Sheliza Ibrahim, an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy.

In addition to exploring new intellectual ground, Omar also got a taste of hands-on scientific research in the Applied Perception & Psychophysics Laboratory, co-directed by Assistant Professors Anna Kosovicheva and Benjamin Wolfe of the department of psychology. There, Omar used MATLAB programming software to design an experiment to study how visual and auditory stimuli interact. “It was to show how our perception of time can be influenced by how we interpret events,” she says.

While Omar didn’t have time to test the experiment before her semester ended, she plans to do more lab work as an undergraduate student, picking up where she left off.

Alongside her SEE UTM experience, Omar also gained insight into �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga's myriad resources and supports via the Black Access to Educational Excellence initiative (BAEE@UTM), which organizes events and networking opportunities aimed at helping Black high school students learn more about the campus community – and thrive once they get there.

For Omar, that means looking beyond her academic goals. She plans to get involved in student clubs, particularly anything that caters to her love of literature – she writes poems and fiction, and took part in the Caribbean & Black Writing Collective during her semester at the university. And she wants to start a non-profit tutoring organization by building on her high school experience founding the Erindale Secondary School chapter of Learn To Be, an NGO that provides free online tutoring.

“It was a great opportunity for students to not only gain volunteer hours but make connections with other students in an online tutoring format, where they tutored students from under-privileged families that wouldn’t be able to get extra help or access to educational resources outside of school,” she says. “I’d love to see it up and running at UTM if that would be a possibility.”

Omar remains in touch with some of her peers from the SEE UTM and BAEE@UTM programs, as well as the upper-year �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga students who served as mentors.

“I feel like we were all able to grow really close as a community,” she says. “It helped me find my footing for what was to come when I enter university, so it was really amazing.”

‘A space for everyone’: �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga prepares to host second annual All-Nations Powwow

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:21:04 +0000

‘A space for everyone’: �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga prepares to host second annual All-Nations Powwow

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/10/2024 - 11:21

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Dancers perform during the inaugural All-Nations Powwow at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga in 2023 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

When you invite everyone, you need to make sure you have plenty of space.

With that in mind, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s All-Nations Powwow will be moving outdoors this year.

“A Powwow is a space for everyone,” says event co-lead dancer John Hupfield, who is Anishinaabe from Wasauksing First Nation. “A Powwow is not a show. It is a space to work and gather together, share and pass tradition with everyone.

“That’s the beautiful aspect of it and I hope it continues to grow at UTM.”

The free Sept. 28 event is hosted by the �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga Indigenous Centre (UTMIC) and will be held on the north field in front of Maanjiwe nendamowinan, also known as MN.

Moving the event to an outdoor venue is welcome news for Hupfield, who specializes in grass dancing.

“Traditionally, when our people relocate, folks are sent out ahead to pat down the grass to allow work and settling to be done on the land,” he says. “It is done with song and ceremony – so when the people arrive, they know this place is safe. It is a way of taking care of the community.”

Community is a huge part of Powwows, adds Hupfield, who pursued his postdoctoral research in Indigenous forms of movement on both the �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga and St. George campuses.

He says he is honoured to have been asked to lead the dancers into this year’s Powwow as part of the grand entry ceremony.

“It’s really humbling,” says Hupfield, who also assists the UTMIC with firekeeping in the Tipi on Principal’s Road for events that require sacred fire, as well as giving guest talks and dance demonstrations. “It’s a big responsibility and a chance to invite and honour all who came before us.”

Among the dancers he will be leading is MJ Singleton, a fourth-year �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga student who is double majoring in psychology and criminology law and society.

Singleton, who is Anishinaabe and a two-spirit person, will be participating in both the fancy shawl and jingle dress events. They say they became involved in the Powwow through host group UTMIC, where they have participated in beadwork seminars and luncheons, led a paint session and helped create a community art installation for the MN building. Singleton says the centre, and Office of Indigenous Initiatives Director Tee Duke and Special Projects Officer Jessica Tabak, have been vital in helping them adjust to life at university.

“I didn’t grow up in a city – I was in a small northwestern town, four hours west of Thunder Bay, so coming from there and transitioning to Mississauga was a big challenge,” says Singleton, 21.

“Through the Indigenous Centre, I was able to meet people who were having a similar experience moving from up north to the hustle and bustle of southern Ontario. They gave us community.”

Singleton, who designed the Every Child Matters charity shirt sold in campus bookstores, says hosting an event like a Powwow at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga goes a long way to help Indigenous students overcome their feelings of isolation, and that the gathering and amplifying of Indigenous voices on campus is an important part of �鶹ֱ��app’s ongoing reconciliation process.

“To be able to see everyone in person and celebrate with other people is really important,” says Singleton, who plans to take their �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga education home to Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation (Eagle Lake) to help improve legal representation for Indigenous people in northern communities.

“Having access is especially important for those who have never been to a Powwow.”

Singleton says the benefits are magnified in places like �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, which draws students from around the world.

“UTM has such an amazing and diverse population of international students and local students who have never seen a Powwow, so this is a chance to learn about our culture,” Singleton says, noting they discovered a new relative through interaction at last year’s event.

“One of my best friends is from Peru and she thought last year’s Powwow, her first, was the most amazing thing. We had so much fun and I was so proud.”

Singleton says they hope many first-timers will turn out for the event and share in the spirit of community. In addition to a full afternoon of traditional ceremonies, singing and dancing, there will also be a marketplace featuring Indigenous-owned businesses.

“Come with an open mind, come with an open heart,” Singleton says. “Get to know the people in regalia, make those connections, form friendships and celebrate us as a people. It’s wonderful to be able to invite people of all kinds to dance during intertribal. It’s just so much fun for everyone.”

In photos: �鶹ֱ��app campuses spring to life as students move into residence, head to first day of class

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:00:15 +0000

In photos: �鶹ֱ��app campuses spring to life as students move into residence, head to first day of class

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 09/03/2024 - 09:00

Cutline

Jacob Domingo Chan, third from left, was among many first-year students who received a helping hand as they moved into residences on �鶹ֱ��app's three campuses ahead of the new school year (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

University College

The University of Toronto’s three campuses are abuzz with excitement as students from the Toronto region, across Canada and around the world kicked off a new school year.

The fall 2024 semester marked the first time that students on the St. George campus, �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough and �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga had their first day of classes on the same day, Sept. 3 – part of an effort to align key academic dates across the university.

AskMe Anything volunteers were also out in full force to offer tips and guidance, especially to the thousands of first-year students navigating the first day of their post-secondary education.

�鶹ֱ��app President Meric Gertler welcomed new and returning students, as well as faculty, staff and librarians, in a video message released last week.

“[�鶹ֱ��app] is an exciting place to be, and this is an exciting time to be a part of it,” he said.

Photographers were on hand across all three campuses in recent days to capture the sights – and energy – of a new academic year:

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Welcome signs wrap �鶹ֱ��app’s main gates on the St. George campus as students make their way to and from classes on the first day of a new school year.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The weeks leading up to the first day of school featured plenty of enthusiasm as students and their families carted belongings into residences at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga.

(photo by Polina Teif)

At St. George, volunteers and residence staff were on hand to provide a warm welcome, refreshments and help hoisting bins and boxes.

(photo by Polina Teif)

“I was nervous at first, but everyone’s been so welcoming,” said University College student Cassidy Smith, who posed for an Aug. 25 photo with her mother as she moved into her dorm.

“There’s such a good energy around the place and I can feel that this is going to be like a second home to me."

(photo by Terrence Tong)

At �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough, luggage carts – and several volunteers – helped ferry students’ belongings between the parking lot and residence buildings.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Gabriella Baichwal, who was born in Toronto and grew up in Chicago, joked that she “brought way too much stuff” to fill up her single room in Trinity College on the St. George campus.

“I brought all my clothes, a mini-fridge and all of this stuff, and I feel like a spoiled brat. But that’s OK – you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do,” said Baichwal, as her parents helped unload items from their vehicle’s roof.

Her father, Ravi Baichwal, whose own father went to grad school at �鶹ֱ��app in the 1960s after moving from India, said he was “incredibly proud” of his daughter for following in her grandfather’s footsteps.

“I have that incredible pit of anxiety and hope all mixed up into one,” he said.

(photo by Polina Teif)

There were plenty of opportunities for students to meet new friends, showcase their school spirit and learn about extra-curricular opportunities at the tri-campus cheer-off event and clubs carnival held on the St. George campus ahead of the Labour Day long weekend.

(photo by Polina Teif)

More than 300 �鶹ֱ��app clubs were present at the clubs carnival, an annual event organized by the �鶹ֱ��app Students' Union. There is also a Student Groups Fair on Sept. 5 and 6 at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga, and a UTSC Clubs Fair at �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough on Sept. 23.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Orientation programs at �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga included a painting activity that invited students to harness their creativity.

(photo by Terrence Tong)

It was all smiles at �鶹ֱ��app Scarborough as students, friends and family settled in for the fall term.

'Your gateway to the world': President Meric Gertler welcomes �鶹ֱ��app community to fall term

mattimar — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:43:38 +0000

'Your gateway to the world': President Meric Gertler welcomes �鶹ֱ��app community to fall term mattimar Thu, 08/29/2024 - 11:43

Topic

As the University of Toronto prepares to kick off a new school year, President Meric Gertler is extending a warm welcome to new and returning students, faculty, staff and librarians across the university’s three campuses.

“Each of you brings unique talents, perspectives and dreams – and each of you has a place in our academic community,” he said in a video released today. “Together, we're expanding the boundaries of knowledge in every field, challenging ourselves and each other in the adventure of learning, discovery and innovation.”

President Gertler called �鶹ֱ��app “your gateway to the world,” highlighting its diverse community and wide range of international opportunities.

“It's an exciting place to be, and this is an exciting time to be part of it. Thank you all for joining us. I wish you all the best in the year to come.”

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‘A space for everyone’: �鶹ֱ��app Mississauga prepares to host second annual All-Nations Powwow

In photos: �鶹ֱ��app campuses spring to life as students move into residence, head to first day of class

'Your gateway to the world': President Meric Gertler welcomes �鶹ֱ��app community to fall term

Learn more at UTogether