Last week, we welcomed our Massey/Munk Global Scholar, Professor Timothy Snyder, for an engaging lecture and discussion on why the American election turned out as it did and what lies ahead with the Trump presidency looming. You can see the video of the event on Massey’s YouTube channel, here. We also hosted the launch of the Resilience Network which seeks to amplify the voices of human rights defenders dedicated to advancing civic engagement, freedom, and democracy. You can watch it here.
Massey College remains a warm and vibrant space for our community to connect, reflect, and thrive. On that note, if you are looking to host a private holiday reception, lunch or dinner we have some availability. Please reach out to our catering team to book.
On Saturday, we gathered for our annual Gaudy celebration—a cherished tradition that brings us together to enjoy the rich creativity within our community. We also celebrated the winners of the annual literary competition, Junior Fellow Cameron Sparling (for Haiku) and Alum Heather Lotherington (for Limerick) whose exceptional poems you can read below. Congratulations to them both!
Massey Gatehouse
Fall gathered up, now,
The stone bull on the wall peers
Through empty branches
Cameron Sparling
Massey f(l)air!
A college named Massey, there was,
which rose to the top just because
the thinkers dared share
their invincible flair,
which created significant buzz.
Heather Lotherington
DECEMBER EVENTS
Thursday, December 12 (11:45am) | Senior Fellow Luncheon with Sara Wolfe –Leadership Through an Indigenous Lens: Connection Through Land, People and Story
In this talk, new Senior Fellow Sara Wolfe will explore how Indigenous worldviews and teachings can inform and inspire leadership. She will draw on her experiences as a leader, entrepreneur and midwife to illustrate how connections to land, community and shared narratives can meaningfully shape approaches to governance, innovation and equity. This talk will offer insights into the transformative potential of Indigenous ways of knowing for building inclusive and sustainable futures for all.
Book History and Print Culture Colloquium CFP
Full CFP can be found here.
The University of Toronto’s Book History and Print Culture program is hosting its annual Graduate Student Colloquium at Massey College on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
This year’s theme is “Scandalous Book History: The Public Lives of Books.”
They are seeking submissions from graduate students, independent scholars, artists, and emerging academics working in any discipline, period and geographical region – and they encourage broad interpretations of the above theme.
Proposals are to be submitted through the attached Google Form. The deadline for paper and panel proposals is December 30, 2024.
Please email bhpccolloquium2025@gmail.com should you have any questions about this colloquium.
COMMUNITY NEWS
AWARDS
Senior Fellow Stephen Scherer has received the Debrecen Award for Molecular Medicine for his contributions to the discovery of genome-wide copy number variation. Established by the University of Debrecen in Hungary in 2003, the award is an esteemed recognition given to scientists who have made significant advancements in the field of molecular medicine and whose pioneering research has had a profound impact on modern patient care. More information here.
Congratulations Stephen!
NEWS
- William Southam Journalism Fellow Mostafa Al-A’sar’s op-ed My Canadian dream turned into an unsettling nightmare was published in The Globe and Mail over the weekend. Read it here.
- Senior Fellow Andrew Boozary was featured in the Toronto Star for his work on the housing crisis. Read it here.
- Quadrangle Society Member Deanna Horton was recently featured on TVO’s the Agenda talking about Trump and tariffs. Watch it here.
- Senior Fellow Brett House talks to Steve Paiken to talk about youth unemployment in Canada. Watch it here.
- Alum Tina Park talks to CBC about recent developments in South Korea. Listen here.
- Alum Martin G. Evans has published an opinion piece in Cambridge Day. Read it here.
Have a great December and stay warm,
Jonathan
