In Memoriam

In Memoriam: John H. Daniels (1926 - 2022)

lanthierj — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:50:40 +0000

In Memoriam: John H. Daniels (1926 - 2022)

lanthierj Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:50

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The University of Toronto fondly remembers real estate developer John H. Daniels, whose visionary generosity was game-changing for architecture education in Canada. (photo by Al Gilbert, C.M.)

Advancement Staff

Topic

Our Community

David Palmer

Alumni

In Memoriam

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Meric Gertler

The University of Toronto community is mourning John H. Daniels, the visionary architect, real estate developer and philanthropist who passed away on Oct. 22, 2022 at age 96.

A �鶹ֱ��app alumnus who earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1950 and received an honorary degree in 2011, Daniels' lifelong generosity helped Toronto’s students and citizens alike – he built the iconic Toronto Eaton Centre, set in motion groundbreaking projects to make housing more affordable and catalyzed a game-changing revolution in Canadian architecture education.

Daniels and his wife Myrna Daniels have given more than $30 million to U of T. These gifts helped the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design to build a new, innovative foundation in undergraduate education, raise the ceiling of scholarship with a PhD program, amalgamate U of T’s programs in visual studies and forestry, quadruple enrolment, raise its global profile and create a new home in the award-winning Daniels Building.

“John H. Daniels was a vital member of the University of Toronto family,” says U of T President Meric Gertler. “A celebrated innovator in urban development, John was guided by a strong social conscience rooted in his own experience as an immigrant to this country.

“John and Myrna’s incredible generosity propelled the University to become a major international hub for architecture and design, both through transforming the spectacular Daniels Building and through their unstinting support for talented undergraduate and graduate students. We will miss him greatly. I offer sincere condolences to Myrna, to his colleagues at The Daniels Corporation, and to his and Myrna’s families.”

John H. Daniels rose to success through championing accessibility and removing barriers to home ownership

Daniels was born in Poland and immigrated to Canada in 1939 when he was 12 years old. He saw his new country as a refuge, a welcoming place of opportunity and a beacon of diversity. As a high school valedictorian in 1944, he wrote: “Canada will be a home for many millions of peoples and many different races and creeds. Let us realize we are all Canadians and pride ourselves with more community consciousness. We shall put away all our selfish desires and work together to establish a model country for all the world.” These ideals were to inform all his later career as an advocate for equality and a champion of Canada.

In 1949, while a student at �鶹ֱ��app’s faculty of architecture, Daniels made his first foray into real estate development by founding Modern Age Construction. Though intended as a summer building project to help raise some tuition money, the project showed the young entrepreneur his way forward. He went on to become CEO of the Cadillac Fairview Development Corporation, where he helped build Toronto’s Eaton Centre and the Erin Mills community in Mississauga.

In 1983, Daniels left Cadillac Fairview to start The Daniels Corporation, a company that would quickly become synonymous with vibrant communities, affordable housing, social infrastructure and architectural innovation. Responsible for countless Canadian residential development projects, The Daniels Corporation also worked closely with government to develop thousands of non-profit rental units and founded the First�鶹ֱ��app communities to lower market barriers for first-time homebuyers.

The company was also instrumental in revitalizing the Regent Park neighbourhood, transforming it from a failed public housing estate to a vital, growing community at the centre of Toronto. John and Myrna were also early investors in the Toronto International Film Festival, supporting the iconic and fully accessible Bell Lightbox Theatre.

Through three major gifts to �鶹ֱ��app, John H. Daniels created countless opportunities for architecture and design students

John Daniels’ personal success inspired him to give back to his alma mater. In 2008, he and his wife Myrna made a generous $14-million gift to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, ensuring that gifted students would have access to critical financial aid. The John and Myrna Daniels Scholars endowment has provided 287 individual awards to 128 students so far, with a preference to those who may be the first in their family to pursue a post-secondary education. “Education is the foundation of so much of what I have been able to accomplish,” he told the Globe and Mail at the time.

Just five years later, the couple gave a further $10 million to build a remarkable new home for the Daniels Faculty in the Daniels Building at 1 Spadina Crescent. The project revitalized a landmark 19th-century site, combining with the heritage building to create 155,000 square feet of inspiring studio spaces, an innovative fabrication lab, a green roof laboratory, lecture halls and exhibition galleries, and an expansive atrium.

The Daniels Building has been written about widely, garnered critical praise and won 30 local and international prizes and awards – a matter of great pride to Daniels. This record of distinction, along with the Daniels Faculty’s growing reputation and stellar faculty, has attracted exceptional students to the school’s undergraduate, professional and PhD programs. These include architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, art/visual studies and, more recently, forestry.

Many of those students received generous scholarship support, always at the heart of the couple’s giving. In 2018, an additional $6-million gift from their foundation created the endowed John and Myrna Daniels Foundation Opportunity Awards.

John H. Daniels was a visionary who helped build a better future

“John Daniels leaves behind an incredible legacy,” says Juan Du, dean of the Daniels Faculty. “In addition to establishing one of the most influential and civic-minded companies in Canada, responsible for landmark projects in Toronto’s city core and beyond, he has contributed through his vision and generosity to the education of generations of architects, landscape architects, artists and scientists at the Faculty. His insistence on excellence and his support for advanced education will continue to inspire all of us for years to come.”

“John was a ‘city-builder’ long before the phrase became popular,” adds Richard Sommer, former dean of the Daniels Faculty and Director of the Global Cities Institute. “He had a humility that could belie the sharpness of his intellect, his uncompromising will to excel, and his array of accomplishments. We will miss him, but take solace in remembering what a long and inspiring life he led.”

“In a way, John Daniels never left his alma mater,” says David Palmer, �鶹ֱ��app’s vice-president, advancement. “His giving at �鶹ֱ��app was strongly tied to a desire for future generations of students to enjoy the education he had, to make Canada a global leader, and to share in his vision for sustainable, innovative architecture that is accessible to all. For that, we will be forever grateful.”

Listen to John H. Daniels’ speech to graduating students at the 2011 �鶹ֱ��app convocation.

In memoriam: �鶹ֱ��app remembers Avie Bennett

Romi Levine — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 11:36:17 +0000

In memoriam: �鶹ֱ��app remembers Avie Bennett

Romi Levine Mon, 06/12/2017 - 07:36

Topic

The University of Toronto has lost one of its most remarkable alumni and generous supporters. Avie Bennett died in Toronto on June 2, 2017 at age 89.

A pioneering entrepreneur, philanthropist and visionary leader in Canadian business, art and culture, Bennett made a significant mark on U of T and institutions across Canada.

“Avie Bennett gave so generously and selflessly to this institution, in every way,” said U of T president Meric Gertler. “I will miss his friendship, wisdom and incredible dedication, as will all those who had the great privilege and pleasure of knowing him. But his legacy will endure in the lives of the faculty, staff, students and alumni of U of T, and in the wider community in the many spheres in which he was a towering figure.

“On behalf of the University of Toronto community, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Avie’s wife, Beverly, and to their children and grandchildren.”

Bennett’s relationship with U of T spanned 70 years. He was a student at University College in the late 1940s, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University in 1995. His generosity to U of T was extraordinary, selfless, and largely anonymous, and included gifts to scholarships, campus spaces, and Canadian literature research, teaching and programming. His support for scholarships was broad but in more recent years focused on Indigenous scholars and students with financial need.

Bennett’s dedication to Canadian literature and authors was legendary. The Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature at the Faculty of Arts & Science proudly bears his name. The Chair ensures that U of T will always have a distinguished and dynamic scholar to teach students about Canadian identity and experience through the lens of the nation’s greatest novels.

“Mr. Bennett truly believed in the transformative power of literature and was deeply committed to supporting writing and writers in this country,” said Smaro Kamboureli, the Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature. “His generosity not only allows us to bring talented authors and scholars to U of T, it fosters a deeper understanding of Canada’s literary history and the contribution we have made to the world stage.”

Avie and Beverly Bennett also cared deeply about the downtown Toronto campus and generously supported efforts to revitalize Philosopher’s Walk and back campus.

Bennett was also a dedicated volunteer, serving as an Honorary Chair of U of T’s Boundless Campaign, a member of the Campaign Executive Closing Committee, and as a member of the University’s Governing Council from 1987 to 1992.

“Avie Bennett was exceptionally generous,” said Professor David Cameron, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. “From classrooms and libraries to supporting thousands of scholarships, Avie helped generations of U of T students pursue their love of knowledge and become thoughtful and engaged citizens of the world.”

Bennett began his career in commercial real estate in the early 1950s. His company, First Plaza Inc., pioneered the retail plaza concept in Canada, opening the nation’s first strip malls in Toronto. The retail format soon become ubiquitous nationwide.

In the 1980s, Bennett began forging his legacy as a champion of Canadian culture and higher education. He purchased the struggling publishing house McClelland & Stewart in 1985, which was home to national literary icons such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro, and Leonard Cohen. In the following years, he added Hurtig Publishers, publisher of the Canadian Encyclopedia, and Tundra Books, a Montreal publisher of children’s books. In 2000, Bennett donated 75 per cent of McClelland & Stewart to U of T, which operated the company until its sale in 2011.

In addition to U of T, Bennett generously donated his time and resources to many other Canadian institutions, including the National Ballet of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, United Way of Greater Toronto, York University, and Historica Canada. In 2003 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. “One of the great altruists of our time” is how the official citation summarized his contributions to Canadian culture and education.

“Avie Bennett was a beloved and distinguished U of T alumnus who shaped so many sectors with his generosity, vision and passion,” said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement. “His remarkable legacy will live on at U of T and in the lives of so many Canadians and organizations across the country. He will be truly missed.”

The �鶹ֱ��app flag was flown at half-mast on Friday to honour Bennett.

In memoriam: University Professor Emeritus Michael Bliss

lanthierj — Thu, 18 May 2017 17:30:23 +0000

In memoriam: University Professor Emeritus Michael Bliss

lanthierj Thu, 05/18/2017 - 13:30

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Michael Bliss in 1981, upon winning Slinger's Greatest Joke Contest (photo by Erin Combs/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Hannah James

Author legacy

Hannah James

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Humanities

The University of Toronto's Michael Bliss, “one of Canada’s most prominent public intellectuals” and a University Professor Emeritus, died yesterday. He was 76.

The renowned historian was the award-winning author of 14 books on business, politics and medicine for both scholarly and popular audiences, including a book on the history of insulin.

“He was a lovely man,” said Faculty of Medicine Professor Edward Shorter, who met Bliss in 1967 at �鶹ֱ��app and was his colleague for 50 years. “His passing will be mourned by many friends and acutely by me.

“He was one of Canada’s most prominent public intellectuals.”

Read The New York Times tribute to Bliss

Bliss entered University College at �鶹ֱ��app in 1958, receiving his BA, MA and PhD from the university before joining the Faculty of Arts & Science in the department of history, where his career spanned 38 years. He later moved to the Faculty of Medicine, where Susan Bélanger said, “We were greatly honoured,” to have him as a colleague.

“We are all deeply saddened to hear of his passing,” Bélanger said.

He earned �鶹ֱ��app's highest honour, the rank of University Professor – a distinction conferred upon less than two percent of tenured faculty – and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

“What always really impressed me was Michael’s commitment to also being a public intellectual,” Professor Nick Terpstra, chair of the department of history, told The Toronto Star.

“He was committed to being a historian. He was committed to research and writing . . . , but one of the reasons why his books were so popular was he was committed to being a Canadian who spoke to other Canadians.

“He thought that was one of his obligations as a historian, to speak to a broader public.”

(From left: Michael Bliss in 2012 with Professor Donald Ainslie, principal of University College)

Perhaps best known for his book, The Discovery of Insulin, Bliss also published biographies of two Canadians, Sir Frederick Banting and the famous physician Sir William Osler. He also wrote the Governor General’s Award–nominated Plague: A Story of Smallpox in Montreal. In 2005, he published a biography of the American neurosurgeon, Harvey Cushing, which galvanized his place as an internationally-known historian.

“He revived the genre of medical biographies with these massive, impressive books,” said Shorter. “It was a genre that really had been on its way out, replaced by social histories, until he moved back into the picture.”

Earlier in his career, Bliss wrote several business books including a major biography of Sir Joseph Flavelle, A Canadian Millionaire: the Life and Business Times of Sir Joseph Flavelle and a first history of business in Canada, Northern Enterprise.

“Intellectually, the only word for him is brave – he ventured where others feared to tread,” said �鶹ֱ��app historian, Professor Robert Bothwell.

“Where most academic historians stick to narrow fields, Mike moved from one to another. He can lay claim to having invented several, at least in Canada (Medical history being the most notable). He trod on many toes in his life, usually for the right reasons.”

Bothwell says Bliss was one of the �鶹ֱ��app figures who was known to embrace the public side of being a professor, connecting with the world at large.

“If you asked people who was a �鶹ֱ��app historian at that time, they would say, 'Bliss,’” said Bothwell.

Canadians will also remember Bliss for his many columns in The Globe and Mail and National Post, addressing current affairs topics and issues of national unity and governance.

“He was a beautiful writer and his columns were incisive. They got right to the heart of the question and had something wise to say about it, and there aren’t a lot of columnists who can do that,” said Shorter.

In 2011, Dundurn Press published Bliss's memoir, Writing History: A Professor's Life.

“It encompasses social history, family tragedy, a critical insider’s view of university life, Canadian national politics and above all, a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship that goes into the research and writing of history in our time,” the publisher wrote. “Whether writing about pigs and millionaires, the discovery of insulin, sleazy Canadian politicians or the founders of modern medicine and brain surgery, Michael Bliss is noted for the clarity of his prose, the honesty of his opinions, and the breadth of his literary interests.”

Professor Donald Ainslie, principal of University College, said Bliss was often seen at various events and functions, including the annual Harry Potter movie night with his grandchildren in tow.

(Image at right courtesy of Professor Ainslie)

Bliss, who received his BA from University College in 1962, gave a talk for his fellow alumni at the college in January.

The UC Alumni Salon event, Suicide and Sour Graps: New Light on the Discovery of Insulin, drew on discoveries at �鶹ֱ��app's Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. The Fisher Library is home to the manuscripts for Bliss's books; his papers and diaries are housed at the �鶹ֱ��app Archives.

Among the many awards and accolades Bliss received was the Order of Canada. He was made a Member of The Order of Canada in 1998 and was promoted to Officer in 2013.

As news of his death spread on Thursday evening, Canadians across the country took to Twitter to mourn his loss.

In memoriam: Peter George

lanthierj — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:08:50 +0000

In memoriam: Peter George lanthierj Fri, 04/28/2017 - 13:08

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photo courtesy Council of Ontario Universities

Topic

City & Culture

In Memoriam

Alumni

The University of Toronto is remembering alumnus Peter George, the former president and vice-chancellor of McMaster University and former president of the Council of Ontario Universities.

George died on April 27 at the age of 75.

“Peter was not only a champion of McMaster, he was a dedicated community-builder committed to improving the City of Hamilton,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The renowned economist was McMaster’s longest-serving president and a member of the Order of Canada.

“He was well-respected, appreciated and admired by his colleagues, who recognized the effort and dedication behind his actions, as well as his wry, self-deprecating sense of humour that always put others at ease,” said David Lindsay, president of the Council of Ontario Universities.

George had been ill in the weeks leading up to his death and The Hamilton Spectator, which once ran a headline that dubbed George “a superhero president,” reported that the university held a special ceremony to award him an honorary degree in March – more than 50 years after he first taught at McMaster.

Under George’s watch, McMaster’s student population more than doubled and the university expanded to include “a new football stadium, athletic and student centres, an engineering building, research park and medical research facility,” the Spectator recalled.

Read the Hamilton Spectator tribute

"Peter was a very fine person and leader and a loyal graduate of �鶹ֱ��app,” said �鶹ֱ��app President Emeritus Rob Prichard. “He held four degrees from �鶹ֱ��app: BA, MA, PHD and LLD. ‎He was also a strong supporter of �鶹ֱ��app both as president of COU and later as President at McMaster.

“And he was a good and loyal personal friend as well.”

Remembering University of Toronto Chancellor Emerita Rose Wolfe

lanthierj — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 21:54:35 +0000

Remembering University of Toronto Chancellor Emerita Rose Wolfe

lanthierj Mon, 01/02/2017 - 16:54

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Rose Wolfe (centre) with Doris Bergen, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies and Michael Marrus, inaugural Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies, at a 2015 gathering to celebrate Wolfe's 99th birthday

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Sociology

Subheadline

“A beloved champion, a distinguished alumna, and an incredibly warm and generous friend”

University of Toronto Chancellor Emerita Rose Wolfe is being remembered today for her extraordinary leadership, kindness, and her commitment to social justice.

Wolfe, whose contributions to her country were recognized with the Order of Canada, died last week at the age of 100.

“The University of Toronto has lost a beloved champion, a distinguished alumna, and an incredibly warm and generous friend,” President Meric Gertler said. “Through her exemplary service as Chancellor, as a member of our Governing Council, and in an amazing number of volunteer positions, Rose Wolfe has left a magnificent legacy. So many aspects of life at �鶹ֱ��app have benefitted from her leadership and dedication, from the experience of commuter students to alumni engagement, from our global academic standing to fundraising and philanthropy.

“She will be greatly missed, but so fondly remembered.”

Funeral services were held on Jan. 2 and the University's flag was lowered to half-mast.

Read the eulogy

(Below: Wolfe with Avie Bennett and Wendy Cecil)

Anna Shternshis, director of the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at �鶹ֱ��app, told The Toronto Star that Wolfe was a strong advocate for female leadership in academia who was extensively involved in the life of the centre.

“She took a keen interest in our current students, met with them, wanted to know about their concerns and challenges,” Shternshis said. “They trusted her because they sensed her ultimate devotion to their success.”

President Emeritus Rob Prichard, who led the University from 1990 to 2000, described Wolfe, who served as chancellor from 1991 to 1997, as “quite simply the perfect chancellor.”

Wolfe was a “powerful force for good,” Prichard told The Star.

Read The Toronto Star tribute to Wolfe

Wolfe was born Rose Senderowitz in Toronto on August 7, 1916. Her parents, Romanian immigrants, were owners of a small bakery in Kensington Market.

Wolfe (BA 1938, Dipl.SW 1939, Hon. LLD 1998) had a long association with �鶹ֱ��app, starting as a student in the 1930s, serving on Governing Council in the 1970s and as chancellor in the 1990s. She served on a wide variety of committees and campaigns – including longstanding service on the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work's Dean Advisory Committee and as Honorary Chair of their Boundless Campaign – attending meetings into the fall of last year. She established the Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies, served as a senior fellow and visitor at Massey College and a senior fellow at University College.

In recognition, the University awarded her an honorary degree in 1998, a stained-glass window at Massey College has been named in her honour, and the University of Toronto Alumni Association has established the Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Award.

Wolfe was also known for her work with the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Jewish Family and Child Service – where she helped find homes for Jewish children displaced by World War Two – and with many other organizations.

The 1999 citation for Wolfe's Order of Canada reads:

“She is a defender of social justice, whose extensive and tireless involvement with many boards and committees has made her a dynamic contributor to society.”

(Below: Wolfe with her daughter, Elizabeth Wolfe, and Larry Tanenbaum at the opening of the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies)

Last summer, �鶹ֱ��app News reporter Terry Lavender sat down with Wolfe to talk about her long involvement with the University of Toronto.

When you stepped down as chancellor in 1998, you told The Toronto Star that apart from your family, the University of Toronto was the closest thing to you. Why is �鶹ֱ��app so important to you?
The people. I made such friendships over the years in so many different parts of the University, like University College, Massey College, Woodsworth, St. Mike’s College. People like (University College Principal) Donald Ainslie, (Massey College Master) John Fraser, and, of course, Meric Gertler, whom I’ve known for years. It all boils down to the people.

Your parents put you and your three sisters through university in the midst of the Depression. Was that difficult for them?
We never knew how they did it. They had a little bakery and they sold bread for five cents a loaf. Maybe they made half a cent profit on each loaf, so you think of the number of loaves of bread you have to sell to eke out a living. They were both very industrious people. My mother sewed all our clothes. She worked in the bakery, took care of the whole house and took in two of my orphaned cousins. I remember that right in the middle of the Depression, she decided we should move and we ended up in Forest Hill, when Forest Hill had cows in it. We never knew why she decided to move there when most Jewish families moved to Grace Street or Palmerston. It was a mystery.

In the 1970s you joined Governing Council. Was that your first experience with �鶹ֱ��app after you graduated in 1938?
Yes. My husband was very close to the Conservative government at the time, and through that connection, I was appointed to Governing Council. Unfortunately, I took on the Governing Council position the same year that I was president of the Canadian Jewish Congress Toronto branch, which was a full-time job. Governing Council kind of got shafted because of that.

How did you come to be appointed chancellor in 1991?
I got a call from Gerry Schwartz (founder and CEO of Onex Corporation). At first I thought he wanted me to be on the committee to choose the next chancellor. I finally got the message that he wanted me to be chancellor. I screamed at the top of my lungs, “No!” I kept saying “No, no, Gerry, just forget it.” But he invited me to breakfast – he had an excellent chef – and when I walked in to his house, there was (�鶹ֱ��app President) Rob Prichard, (Governing Council Chair) Bob McGavin and Gerry. They closed the doors. By the time I left Gerry’s place, I had said “yes.” You would have had to be very strong to say no to those men.

(Below: Wolfe with John Black Aird and Pauline McGibbon)

What was it like working with Rob Prichard?
Rob Prichard is the kind of man who throws you into the water and says “swim”. I had a very steep and fast learning curve. Early on, there was the suggestion to establish a Jewish Studies program. I didn’t say anything, but Rob looked at me and said, “Okay, Rose. Do it!”

We already had some Jewish studies courses at �鶹ֱ��app, but Rob was looking for something more. I had no idea how to get started, but we were very fortunate and now we have a very thriving Jewish Studies program.

What were some of the issues you dealt with as chancellor?
Just as when I was a student, one of the problems with �鶹ֱ��app is how to get commuter students more involved. They go to their lectures, maybe go to the library and then they go home. When I became chancellor, I felt we had to do something to bring these kids into campus life. So I worked on that.

I was also concerned that the University was neglecting non-wealthy alumni. I suggested to the fundraisers that it would be nice if we paid attention to the many people who couldn’t give millions of dollars to the University but could contribute small amounts. And when we did that, we were very successful.

You are still very much involved with �鶹ֱ��app. What sort of activities are you doing now?
I’m involved with both Massey College and University College. Donald (Ainslie) at University College and I talk a lot. Right now, I’m looking over the plans for the UC reconstruction. Donald tosses ideas out and we talk a lot.

What advice would you give someone going to �鶹ֱ��app today?
Stay in residence if you can. It’s a completely different experience. If you’re in residence, you’re involved in everything that’s going on. You’re right there at the heart of things. While you’re at �鶹ֱ��app, the university is your life.

To honour Rose Wolfe's memory, the family has requested that charitable donations go to the Factor- Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, M5S 1V4,

Donations can be made by going directly to the central �鶹ֱ��app donation website or by contacting the director of advancement, Judy Scheininger, at judy.scheininger@utoronto.ca.

(Below: Chancellor Emeritus Hal Jackman, Chancellor Emerita Rose Wolfe and �鶹ֱ��app President Emeritus Rob Prichard at the unveiling of Wolfe's portrait)