This past Friday’s High Table was a moving celebration of the 20 years of the Clarkson Laureateships at Massey – a celebration of giving to others. The 2024 Laureates are Junior Fellows Thomas Ayouti, Sara Maqsood, Michael O’Keefe and Senior Fellow Dr. Samir Sinha.
We were inspired by the words of the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and how she framed the act of giving as a deeply human trait, and as something that enabled her journey as a refugee to this country. Anita McGahan (Vice-Chair of the Governing Board and Senior Fellow) did a beautiful job of presiding; and the Massey College staff made it a warm and welcoming place with excellent service and delicious food. Come join us for the next High Table, or one of the many enriching events below.
Public Service and leadership go hand in hand, so I am very pleased to share with you that nominations are now open for The Dr. Aubie and Esther-Rose Angel Leadership Prize. If you are connected to a Junior Fellow of Massey College enrolled in medicine or related sciences (eg. nursing, bioethics, biomedical engineering, etc.), who has supported the Massey community through their leadership abilities and accomplishments, please consider nominating them for this prize of $2000. This prize will be conferred to the recipient at the Convocation High Table in March.
Deadline to submit: March 1, 2024 | Nomination Form
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT MASSEY
Black History Month is fast approaching; please see below for a highlight of programming that Massey will offer throughout the month of February, and do not forget to register for the upcoming Black History Month High Table – Alumus, Board Chair, and Senior Fellow Akwasi Owusu-Bempah will host.
Feb 5 – Book Club – In the Upper Country: A Novel by Kai Thomas
Feb 7 – Music Salon – Disruptor Conductor: An Evening with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
Feb 9 – Black History High Table
Feb 12 – Senior Fellow Luncheon with Rita Shelton Deverell on American Refugees
Feb 14 – Massey Dialogues: Rita Shelton Deverell
In this session, which is likely most interesting to those who work in the storytelling (theatre, journalism, historians, etc.) and artistic professions and studies – but all are welcome, we look at the value of the “bottom drawer*” for each scholar. *The bottom drawer is where creative work that isn’t seen as valuable to the writer goes to hide. The session will counter the tendency to destroy work. Rita Shelton Deverell will be in conversation with Junior Fellow Elizabeth Hicks and share current work that focuses on difficult contemporary conversations.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 30 | 5:00-7:00pm
Massey Loves to Read – Just Once, No More
Join the special panel discussion on themes from Senior Fellow Charlie Foran’s latest book. We will look at relationships between men, specifically between fathers and sons. Joining the panel will be Junior Fellow Alum Divas Kapur and Senior Fellow Michael Valpy (moderator). Reception to follow the discussion. RSVP.
February 1 | 1:00-2:30pm
Massey Dialogues: Understanding Substance Use Disorder and Stigmas with a Naloxone Training Workshop
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a growing public health issue. We will explore the challenges faced by individuals with SUD in seeking help, delve into the associated barriers and stigmas, and discuss the crucial role of advocacy and public policy in improving the current state in Canada. Our panel of experts are Dr. Tianna Costa, Clinical Pharmacist at CAMH; Dr. Michael Chaiton, Senior Scientist at CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Senior Fellow Akwasi Owusu-Bempah. Moderated by Junior Fellow Setayesh Yazdani.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a naloxone training workshop at the end of the session. RSVP here.
February 5 | 2:30-4:00pm
Round Table Discussion with 2023 McLuhan Fellow, Jodesz Gavilan
Jodesz Gavilan is a writer and researcher for Rappler and its investigative arm, Newsbreak. She covers the human rights and impunity beats, producing in-depth and investigative reports, particularly on the quest for justice of victims of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and war on dissent. She also closely follows international bodies such as the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Human Rights Council. RSVP.
February 7 | 6:30pm
Alumni Dinner: 1975-1985 Cohort
Join the next Alumni Dinner as part of formal dinner in Ondaatje Hall. Alumni from 1975-1985 are invited to gather and everyone is invited to join. RSVP.
February 8 | 4:30-6:30pm
Celebrating Gimaa Laforme
The Massey community is invited to share in celebrating Gimaa Stacey Laforme’s many years of service to his community, and his achievements as Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The reception will feature readings from his anticipated second poetry collection, Love, Life, Loss, and a little bit of hope, as well as the launch of his new foundation, the Sacred Trust Foundation. RSVP.
February 13 | 7:15pm
Junior Fellow Lecture Series
Join us to hear 15-minute lectures from three Junior Fellows. The theme for the night will be Make or Break: What are the big ideas that are pivotal to the way that we live, in our lifetimes? No RSVP required.
February 20 | 11:45am-2:00pm
Reflecting on the CBC Massey Lectures Lunch
Join anthropologist and author Wade Davis who will revisit his 2009 CBC Massey Lectures The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters.
Wade Davis is Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. Between 2000-2013 he served as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. Named as one of the Explorers for the Millennium, he has been described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity.” Join us, it will be a fascinating talk. RSVP.
February 22 | 4:00-5:30pm
Quadrangle Society Member Patrick Crean on Publishing and Editing
Most recently the Publisher and Editor of Patrick Crean Editions at HarperCollins Canada, Patrick retired in 2022 after 50 years in Canadian book publishing during which time he edited and published hundreds of Canadian authors. His focus over the years was to publish both new and established voices in Canadian fiction, memoir, history, and current events, as well as essential books about new ways of being in a world in transition. RSVP.
February 28 | 6:30pm
Alumni Dinner: 1985-1995 Cohort
Join the Alumni Dinner as part of formal dinner in Ondaatje Hall. Alumni from 1985-1995 are invited to gather and everyone is invited to join. RSVP.
PUBLICATIONS AT MASSEY
The Future of Freshwater in Canada Symposium, held at Massey College, in partnership with the Forum of Leadership on Water (FLOW) and the United Nations University Institute of Water, Environment and Health in September 2023 have published a report on their discussions. You can read it here.
Many thanks to Public Policy Chair and Senior Fellow Tom Axworthy for championing this initiative addressing these crucial issues.
- Senior Fellow Peter Biro has an op-ed in the National Post, read it here.
- Senior Fellow Andrew Boozary writes about the delivery of public health in Canada. Read it here.
- William Southam Journalism Fellow Alum Nana aba Duncan hosts the English academic podcast Forced Change/Changement Forcé: How the pandemic changed Canadian journalism education
- Massey Alum Mark Entwistle has been appointed as a Senior Fellow of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
- An excerpt from Senior Fellow Anthony Feinstein‘s new book is in the Toronto Star.
- Senior Fellows Randall Hansen and Joseph Wong are featured on CBC Idea’s Five Years that Changed History – listen to the five-part series here.
- Senior Fellow Bruce Kidd talks to Global News about his campaign to ban sports gambling advertisements.
- Junior Fellow Christine Tran was interviewed by BBC Future to talk about AI newscasters and parasocial relationships.
- The College was featured recently in Canadian Architect – view the photos here.
See you soon at Massey – a reminder that the Massey Is Lunch program and Anishinaabemowin language classes for the community continue throughout the winter term.
