Setting the Tone in Troubling Times
Last week, I was honoured to join the Massey Grand Rounds dinner. This event modelled exactly what the world needs in these troubling times, and what Massey College excels at.
Today, Canada and the world need new understandings and ideas. As Ambassador Bob Rae said so well this week at the UN: “We need to understand the existential crisis which is in front of the global system. And we need to understand that it’s going to require an extraordinary effort on all of our parts to ensure that the system keeps working for the billions of people who live in the world. And we need to understand that this is no ordinary time or ordinary moment, and we would be making a mistake, a complacent mistake, if we failed to really appreciate both the challenge, but also the opportunity that we have to do things better.”
For the last 20 years, under the leadership of Prof. Aubie Angel, Massey Grand Rounds has convened Junior Fellows and experienced professionals from a range of disciplines and backgrounds to seek new understandings and ideas that better our health systems and institutions for the public good.
I encourage everyone in our community to engage in similar conversations—whether formally at events or informally around the College—on learning, leadership, and civility for the public good on issues of contemporary concern. Canada and the world need these today more than ever.
Best wishes,
Dr. James Orbinski
Principal
Please note that the Canada Revenue Agency has extended the deadline for 2024 charitable donations to February 28, 2025. Please consider supporting Massey College. Click here or call Alex Pompilii, Advancement Coordinator at 416-978-2549 to donate.
Please join these important upcoming events and spread the word:
Thursday, February 27 – Empowering Afghan Women for Global Justice
The College is pleased to convene Afghan women leaders, policymakers and international human rights advocates. This conference will address the Taliban’s systemic oppression of Afghan women and explore legal and policy responses to hold the regime accountable. Discussions will focus on Afghan women’s role in international justice efforts, global advocacy, and Canada’s policy to support Afghan women. Led by Chair in Human Rights, Payam Akhavan and the High-Level Expert Group on Gender Persecution and Gender Apartheid.
Friday, March 7 – International Women’s Day High Table
Gather over a gourmet meal as we introduce new fellows, scholars, and community members when we will convene to celebrate Women within Massey College and beyond. Guests are welcome.
Saturday, March 15 – Wine Grazing: The Voice of the Volcano: Wines from Mt. Etna
Guided by a professional sommelier (Patrick Groves, former sommelier at Alo Bar and current owner of Contrada in Toronto), guests are invited to sample a selection of the best wines from the region, paired with exquisite small dishes crafted by the Massey chef. We will enjoy performances from Opera Revue, a Toronto-based company that blends traditional opera with diversity and humour, returning opera to its lighthearted and accessible roots in piazzas and tavernas. This event is brought to you by the Massey College Wine Grazing Committee.
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Monday, February 24 – Saving Journalism: Can Community Building Counter AI and Polarization?
How can community-driven journalism help the industry survive? McLuhan Fellow Pia Ranada, from the Philippines will speak to the question in her talk. RSVP
Wednesday, February 26 – Chapel Royal Explorations: Building harmony out of discord
JUST ANNOUNCED: This Exploration is on the search for reconciliation in a conflicted world, and ways to navigate difficult conversations with integrity. Participants will be asked to talk briefly about their experiences, their ideas and their fears. It is a space to listen, share, and learn. Moderated by Alum Audrey Rochette. All are welcome. RSVP
Wednesday, February 26 – Junior Fellow Lecture Series
Explore Gender and Sexuality from diverse academic perspectives. RSVP
COMING NEXT MONTH
Monday, March 3 – Book Club – Hello Beautiful: A Novel by Ann Napolitano
The Book Club committee will present this New York Times bestselling book. Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it. RSVP
Tuesday, March 4 – Jack McClelland Writer-In-Residence reading and reception
Presented by Massey College and the University of Toronto’s Department of English, you are invited to join one of the most prolific playwrights and screenwriters in Canada, George F. Walker, the 2024-2025 Writer-in-Residence for a special event. RSVP
Wednesday, March 5 – Music Salon – Women from Space: Exploring the Art of Visionary Women in Music
Presented by the Massey Music Salon, join the final event of the term. RSVP
Thursday, March 6 – Language, Identity, and Resilience: Exploring the Importance of French in Minority Language Communities
Dive into the role of the French language in Ontario’s Francophone communities. RSVP
Monday, March 10 – Chapel Royal Explorations: Music of the Heart
SAVE THE DATE: Music is a part of every culture, and every form of spiritual practice. It frees our minds and our spirits, and it allows us to express what can’t be put into words.
Friday, March 14 – Walter Gordon Symposium – Equity in Peril: Immigration, Urban Planning, and Energy
Join this Junior Fellow led event, supported by the Munk School and Massey College. RSVP
Thursday, March 20 – Ethics Series on What Happens When Governments Legislate Against Homelessness
SAVE THE DATE: The final Ethics Series of the year will be held in person from 4:00-5:00pm, moderated by Reverend Don Gibson.
Monday, March 24 – Cancel Culture & Anti-Racism: A Double-Edged Sword?
This timely and thought-provoking conversation will explore the complexities of holding individuals accountable while fostering both personal and systemic growth and change. This will be a moderated debate with members of Massey College’s Anti-Black Racism Counsel, hosted by Junior Fellow and Equity and Inclusivity Secretariat Co-Chair Kejah Bascon. RSVP
Be sure check the Masseycollege.ca calendar
for more event details and formal dinners.
Book History Print Culture’s Transcribe-a-thon
On Wednesday, March 5, explore recipes in a seventeenth-century manuscript cookbook while learning about early modern handwriting, paleography, and digital scholarship. The event will take place from 2:10–4:00pm. Registration is free and open to all U of T students, faculty, and staff, although space is limited; to request registration, please complete this form. Deadline is today.
CONDOLENCES
It is with sadness that we share the passing of Junior Fellow Alum Cathleen (Cathy) Powell (2007-2010). She came to the University of Toronto to pursue a doctoral degree in international law and during her time at the College was awarded the Clarkson Laureateship. Cathy was the head of the Department of Public Law at the University of Cape Town and passed this weekend at her home in Cape Town. It is clear from the outpouring on Facebook that she was well respected and admired by the community. You can read more about her here.
COMMUNITY NEWS
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
Massey’s Chair in Human Rights Payam Akhavan was appointed to the launch of Canada’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Standing Table on Human Rights by The Honourable Mélanie Joly.
Congratulations Payam!
NEWS
Alum Florence Ashley was quoted on CBC’s Fifth Estate about a shadow war on libraries.
Junior Fellow Emma Avery co-authored two recent publications:
- Improving Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery in Canada: A Call to Action-Part II. Plast Surg (Oakv).
- Immediate DIEP Breast Reconstruction in a Trans Woman with Breast Cancer. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open.
Journalism Fellow Alum Garvia Bailey is hosting a podcast called Happy Enough, a series of timely and much needed discussions on the pursuit of happiness featuring interviews with economists, researchers, everyday Canadians. It launched yesterday from the Globe and Mail.
Junior Fellow Chukwunonso Nwabufo published “Uncovering the Impact of COVID-19–Mediated Bidirectional Dysregulation of Cytochrome P450 3A4 On Systemic and Pulmonary Drug Concentrations Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling”
Listen to Senior Fellow Ron Deibert discuss his new book Chasing Shadows on CBC.
Tune into the Black on the Ballot podcast hosted by Journalism Fellow Alum Nana aba Duncan.
Read Senior Fellow Adrienne Clarkson’s op-ed in Globe and Mail about The Aga Khan’s belief in Canada.
Senior Fellow Zainub Verjee shared an op-ed in the Hill Times on Canada’s internal trade barriers suffocating its cultural economy.
Academic Advisor to the Journalism Fellows Ian Williams‘ What I Meant to Say is featured as one of 25 books to read during Black History Month.
Spend some time catching up with Massey’s Junior Fellow led podcast, The JCR Podcast.
Start with the latest episode: Dissertations and Diapers
What’s it like to juggle an intensive graduate program and become a new parent? Omnia Elebyary and Sonali Ravi share their experiences and insights for change with host Sara Maqsood. Listen here.
In September, Adam Gopnik gave the Irving Abella Lecture on The Link Between Anti-Elitism and Anti-Semitism. It is aired on CBC Ideas yesterday. Listen here.
Happy Reading Week!
