Dear Members of the Massey College Community, chers collègues,
In the midst of a snowstorm, last Friday we celebrated International Women’s Day at Massey. We introduced Dr. Ulrike Al-Khamis, Navona Calarco, Louise Dennys, Eve Egoyan, Haley Forgacs, Alyssa Ginsburg, Carolina Granado, Dr. Eva Grunfeld, Marissa Herzig, Hannah Hoag, Marianne Lahaie Luna, Mia Lofranco, Shamira Madhany, Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, Kelly Pike, Dr. Neville Poy, The Honorable Vivienne Poy, Clemency Robinson, Caroline Tolton, Rumina Velshi, Charlie Wall-Andrews and Ruediger Willenberg . It was a great event. You can read their bios here.
We have two more International Women’s Day events – a half-day conference on the future of daycare, and a book launch exploring single motherhood. We will also host a virtual ethics series event on political spin as well as a special Dîner pour la journée internationale de la francophonie. joignez-vousè nous!
Please join me in welcoming Carolina Granado to Massey. Carolina Granado arrived last weekend to begin her time as a Massey Senior Resident & Trinity College Visiting Scholar. Carolina is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute for the History of Science, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, with a background in science. She holds two Bachelor degrees in Physics and Mathematics from UAB and a Masters in History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science from the Université de Paris. Her thesis, discusses how climatologists, through complex social and institutional processes, informed policymakers about climate change and plausible solutions to it before major international negotiations began. She also studies the politics behind the creation, in 1988, of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the most relevant assessment institution still today.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
March 8 Massey Dialogues
Omiwatari: Documentary Screening and Dialogue on the Cultural Losses of Climate Change
On Wednesday, March 8, you are invited to attend a screening of the documentary Omiwatari, followed by a conversation with biologist Dr. Sapna Sharma and filmmakers Junior Fellow Zeesy Powers and Jennifer Baichwal.
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On March 10 from 9:00am-12:30pm you are invited to Strategies for Better Child Care: A Massey College Discussion addresses the work that remains to be done to ensure accessible childcare in Canda. As the provincial/federal agreements on better child care are concluded, what do we need to do to ensure that child care is indeed better and affordable, and that it continues to improve? What strategies will work throughout the province?
Organized by myself with Senior Fellow Lorna Marsden and Professor Constance Backhouse
Our annual Wine Grazing event is taking place on Saturday, March 11tha few tickets are still available.
Wine Grazing A Journey Along the Rhône
To feature a selection of 8 fine wines from regions along the Rhône. The selection is curated and presented by Patrick Groves, sommelier to Michelin-starred Aloette. Wines will be paired with a tasting menu of gourmet food dishes prepared by the Massey kitchen. (Non-alcoholic alternatives will be available.) The event will be followed by live music and dancing in the JCR.
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March 13
Dinner in memory of Christine Karcza
Please join us for a special dinner in memory of Christine Karcza. This event will be held in the Upper Library at 6:30pm., presided by Senior Fellow Paul Gooch and featuring Dr Patricia McKeever.
Reception at 6:00pm in the Junior Common Room. All are welcome.
Following the dinner, there will be a special Massey Dialogues – Caregiving in Canada: The World That Enables Other Work from 8:00-9:00pm in the JCR.
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March 14
11:45am Senior Fellow Luncheon:
On Tuesday, March 14, Senior Fellow Alison Keith will speak on Servius’ Daughter Sulpicia: Life, Love and Literature in Ancient Rome.
4:30pm
The Reverend Canon Paul Wright, Sub Dean of HM Chapel Royal will visit Massey College on March 14th. To mark the occasion, there will be a ceremony in the, Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Kwe Mississauga Anishinaabek AName Amik (Chapel Royal at Massey College, at 4:30 p.m. to dedicate and install the eagle feather gifted to the College by former National Chief Perry Bellegarde.
Following the ceremony, there will be a reception in the Junior Common Room, featuring the premiere of Learning Together, a short documentary video about the Chapel Royal.
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Massey Loves to Read
Book Launch – Mothering Alone: A Plea for Opportunity by Mary Kay O’Neil
On March 15th at 7:45pm, you are invited to join an essential discussion on themes from the book Mothering Alone: A Plea for Opportunity by Senior Fellow Mary Kay O’Neil with a discussion led by Justice Susan Lang
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March 16, 12:00-1:00pm
Ethics Series: Political Spin
Politics is competitive: there is a constant communication battle to cast issues into the most favourable light according to your beliefs or your party. Edward Berrnays, the father of modern public relations described his profession as “the engineering of public consent.” Today, we call it “political spin,” and governments, parties and private sector companies employ a plethora of professionals to advance their communication priorities.
But when does spin become dangerous? When does exaggeration veer into lying? (The fact Checker of the Washington Post reported that in the course of his presidency Donald Trump uttered over 32,000 falsehoods or 21 lies a day.) How should journalists and the broader public react to spin? What can be done if the truth is totally discarded as a virtue – which occurred with Trump and Boris Johnson?
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L’anglais suit le français
Vous êtes invités à vous joindre à nous le vendredi 17 mars pour un souper spécial afin de célébrer avec la communauté francophone la Journée internationale de la francophonie. Le souper aura lieu dans la bibliothèque (Upper Library) et la conférence/réception aura lieu dans la salle commune (Junior Common Room).
Calendrier des événements:
17h00 – Conférence L’avenir des services en français
18h00 – Réception
18h30 – Dîner
You are invited to join us on Friday, March 17 for a special dinner to celebrate the Francophone community in advance of International Francophonie Day on March 20. The dinner will be held in the Upper Library and the conference/reception will be in the Junior Common Room.
Schedule of events:
5:00pm – Conference : The Future pf French language services .
6:00pm – Reception
6:30pm – Dinner
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Pour Le jeudi 23 mars
Le journaliste et réalisateur Raed Hammoud discutera de ses travaux pour assembler divers récits d’immigration au cours de sa carrière. Venez l’écouter. Cet événement en français est organisé en collaboration avec l’Université de l’Ontario français.
Journalist and director Raed Hammound will discuss his work of assembling various “immigration stories” throughout his career. Come and listen to him. The event is organized in co-operation with the Université de l’Ontario français.
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WALTER GORDON SYMPOSIUM
On Friday, March 24th, join the Walter Gordon Symposium on Canada’s Changing Energy Landscape from 9:00am-2:00pm, with breakfast beginning at 8:15am.
Global energy markets are rapidly changing in response to energy security needs and demands for a decarbonized global supply of energy. While Canada pursues various initiatives to transition into a low-carbon economy, including electrification and the decarbonization of energy, energy security concerns facing Canadian allies are showing a need for energy sources like natural gas. This has sparked heavy debates across Canada about what Canada’s energy future should look like, for domestic and foreign consumers.
Convocation High Table – join us on March 31 to celebrate graduating Junior Fellows and Alumni
COMMUNITY NEWS
Senior Fellow Alan Bernstein’s latest opinion piece in the Globe and Mail – read it here.
UofT’s virtual book club with U of T Professor and Author, Linda Rui Feng as she discusses Swimming Back to Trout River, moderated by Senior Fellow Randy Boyagoda, Acting Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life. March 8 at 7:00pm. RSVP
Read Senior Fellow Tom Axworthy’s latest piece in Public Policy.
Alumni Jimmy Ba was recently awarded a Sloan research fellowship.
Alumni Shawn Micallef’s opinion piece in the Toronto Star on Hanlan’s Point. Read it here.
In case you missed it, Senior Fellow Haroon Siddiqui participated in an event with the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University you can watch it here, Muslims in the Media – where he discussed many aspects of his Massey Essay.
Aaron Wendland was recently interviewed by Australian National Radio about the power of philosophy in a time of war.
In case you missed it, the Refugee Awareness Week event with UofT’s African Alumni Association included Visiting Scholar Ghizal Haress and Journalism Fellow Zuhal Ahad.
A reminder that the celebration of life for Trevor Levere is to be held in the Music Room at Hart House on Sunday April 16th from 3.00 to 5.00pm. Light refreshments provided. Rsvps appreciated to Jennifer Levere at jennifer.levere@gmail.com or 416 421 7261.
À bientôt,
Nathalie