The Winter semester has been fruitful and fun so far, with great academic and social events for everyone. Here’s a sampling of some of our memorable moments in January and February:
Listening to Indigenous Voices –St. Michael’s joined with community partners to begin monthly dinners and listening circles at the Mary Ward Centre to begin to learn more about Canada’s Indigenous history.
Dr. Sylvester Profiled by ACCU –St. Michael’s President David Sylvester was profiled recently in At The Helm, a publication from the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU).”St. Mike’s is positioned to offer the human voice through our strength in theology, philosophy, ethics, the humanities, and whole person education. Everything that we do is built around collaboration,” he told the publication.
McLuhan Meets Silicon Valley — Dr. Paolo Granata and members of the McLuhan Seminar in Creativity and Technology are just back from another successful trip to California’s Silicon Valley, a visit that made a lasting impression on students. Participant Nicole Ling says the trip allowed students to “network with high tech business leaders, CEOs, and venture capitalists on how to turn crisis into new opportunities for startup leaders and tech researchers for a sustainable world in the annual Fujitsu ActivateNow Technology Summit.” As student Sophie Disch describes it, “investigating and experiencing up close how technology and creativity fosters innovation in the global technology centre that is Silicon Valley was an incredibly inspiring journey. …I was most interested in learning how the symbiosis between institutes, companies, and educational institutions creates a sustained spirit of creativity in Silicon Valley.”
Kelly Library News — The John M. Kelly Library is delighted to welcome Teresa Wong as its new Digital Archivist. Teresa, who developed her passion for digital preservation at the J. Paul Getty Trust, first joined the Kelly Library as a contract archivist in 2017 and has a background in history, records management, and Critical Information Policy Studies. Teresa will be taking a leading role in developing the Kelly Library’s Digital Preservation Studio.
A group of senior-level undergraduate students from York University’s Social & Textual Production of Children’s Literature course visited the Kelly Library to tour the Digital Studio and Conservation Studio. The course focuses on the materiality of children’s books as objects and their relationship to digital surrogates. The library’s facilities were able to highlight the relationship between physical and digital preservation of materials and their value as research objects in both scenarios.
Celebrating Black History Month — The Office of the Dean of Students, in collaboration with Campus Ministry, the Registrar’s Office, and various student organizations, hosted a series of events to celebrate Black History Month, including movie nights, a Dance Class with U of T’s Afro Dance Club, Panel’s featuring Black Experiences on campus and in religious spaces, as well as an Open Mic Poetry night featuring Eddie Lartey (@tupacshakespeare), who recently won the Canadian Individual Slam Poetry competition.
Alumni Networking Social — The office of the Dean of Students, the Registrar’s Office, and Office of Advancement collaborated to host an Alumni Networking Social with more than 20 alums and 60 student attendees who gathered to connect and discuss opportunities for professional development and career planning.
Supporting Irish Speakers — Anthony Trindle, who is at St. Mike’s this year as an ambassador for the Ireland Canada University Foundation and teaching Irish Language courses – including the only advanced Irish course in Canada–has been working hard to establish a Toronto branch of Conradh na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League), the world’s oldest, largest and most impactful Irish language organization. The local chapter now has 85 members, and 35 turned out recently for an Irish language event. Congratulations, Anthony!
Lectures on Campus — Celtic Studies professor Pa Sheehan delivered a lecture in the Celtic Studies Speakers’ series entitled Nationalism and Amateurism: Pillars of the Gaelic Athletic Association, while Dr. Catherine Keller of New Jersey’s Drew University delivered a talk on her new book, Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy, and Other Last Chances, at this semester’s Elliott Allen Lecture.
Varsity Hero a St. Mike’s Man — The Varsity Blues featured quarterback—and SMC student– Kinsale Philip in a recent profile. A fourth-year philosophy major, Philip is the first person in his family to attend a post-secondary institution. Read how he’s breaking cycles and building bridges.
A Different Kind of Masking–This year, the highly anticipated– sold out! –masquerade ball returned after a Covid-induced hiatus. Students from the Medieval Studies and Celtic Studies Undergraduate Society joined faculty and friends in Father Madden hall to “party like it was 999” and to celebrate a return to campus.
Taking to the Stage — The Troubadours, St. Mike’s Drama Society, trod the boards at Hart House Theatre for the first time in three years to put on the Tony Award winning Sondheim musical, Into The Woods, with sold-out shows and rave reviews. It was an absolute success!
Lion Dance Celebration — We ushered in the Year of the Rabbit with traditional Lion Dance performance! The colourful, fun event was a great way to usher in the new year.
Campus Skating Rink Opens — And finally, if you found yourself with a Skaters’ Waltz ear worm this winter it’s probably because our rink opened up for the winter. The rink, located in the quad, is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Skates are available to rent through the St. Michael’s College Student Union during office hours.