Among the preparations for the return to school, we celebrated the achievements of some of our alumni and welcomed our newest students. Here’s what St. Mike’s celebrated in July and August.
Welcome Class of 2028!
Once again, St. Michael’s welcomed the incoming class with an outstanding Orientation Week. Through this year’s theme of SMC TV, students were introduced to the St. Michael’s community with a variety of events and activities. St. Michael’s spirit was on full display at the pep rally, clubs carnival and cheer-off.
Invocation
The fall semester opened with Invocation, which formally welcomes the incoming class to St. Michael’s. At this year’s ceremony, alumnus Victor Dodig with an honorary doctorate. Dodig is one of Canada’s most articulate advocates for, and supporter of, new Canadians. He is also passionate about the student experience, having been a student leader, social convener, and athlete while at St. Michael’s. He’s driven to ensure that all students have access to the supports and opportunities they need, whether they’re academic, social, spiritual or financial. In response, he and his wife, Maureen , have supported student scholarships, experiential learning programs and the Dodig Family Student Commons.
Book & Media Studies Welcomes New Faculty
St. Mike’s is delighted to welcome two new faculty members whose established expertise, experience, and enthusiasm make them wonderful new members of our community.
• Kit MacNeil (Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream) will be teaching a year-long first-year course, “The Printed Book,” which combines hands-on experience in the Print Studio with academic study, an upper-level course on “The Histories of Letterpress Printing,” and a new course currently in development.
• Francesco Arcalas Morriello (Assistant Professor, Research Stream) will be teaching four new courses in the Book & Media Studies program: “Fortune Telling and Media”, “Mass Media and the Atlantic Revolutions”, “Fake News” and “The Newspaper: A World History”.
New, and Not So New, Staff Hires
Thang Tran joined the Facilities & Services department as Capital Assets Project Manager. Thang has an engineering degree from McMaster University and has since gained experience in a wide variety of industries, including construction, food manufacturing and real estate. He has worked as a project engineer, production manager and maintenance manager and is currently pursuing a PMP certification.
Iulia Iarca has joined the Principal’s Office staff permanently. She started as Executive Assistant in July 2023.
Scanning and Modelling of Teefy Hall
The scanning and modelling of Teefy Hall at 57 Queen’s Park Crescent East was completed on July 2. This is the first time accurate drawings of the building have been completed since 1936. Over the years there have been renovations that were not properly documented, making the original drawings out dated. The scanning and modelling will allow contractors to view and quote on projects without being on-site or in areas that may be hazardous and film companies can explore and create mock-ups of sets for film shoots.
Parcel Lockers
Parcel lockers were installed outside the mailroom on July 16, allowing residents to pick up their parcels at any time of day.
Book & Media Studies Summer Abroad Program
Prof. Paolo Granata and his Book & Media students travelled to Italy where they visited some of the most iconic locations of the Italian print culture tradition. Through the Summer Abroad Program, students followed the footsteps of the “Prince of Renaissance printers” Aldus Manutius, under his motto Festina Lente (“make haste slowly”). They participated in workshops and experiential learning held by scholars, experts, and conservationists. See photos on Prof. Granata’s LinkedIn page.
Prof. Mark McGowan and Team Receive Major Research Grant
Congratulations to Professor Mark McGowan, an International Co-Leader (Canada), on “Historic Houses and Global Crossroads: Revisioning Two Northern Ireland Historic Houses and Estates,” which has been awarded a major research grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom for 2025-2027. Professor McGowan’s work is focused on Lord Dufferin, Governor General of Canada from 1872-1878, and his engagement with Indigenous issues during his tenure—the creation of the Indian Act, and government sponsorship of Indigenous Residential Schools. Dufferin was the Lord of Clandeboye House, near Bangor, County Down, and the Canadian dimension of the project highlights the imperial/colonial connections of this estate, through its owner.
Professor David Wilson Helps Bring Canadian History to a Broader Audience
Professor David Wilson’s work on the Dictionary of Canadian Biography makes it easier for the world to learn about Canada and Canadians. In 2013, he was appointed general editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, the largest bilingual project in Canadian humanities. The project launched a new website in July that was developed by teams at the University of Toronto and Université Laval in Quebec. The new website makes it easier for readers and researchers to learn about the women and men who helped make the country what it is today.
Paris 2024 Olympics
St. Mike’s track star Jazz Shukla competed in the women’s 800m heats at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Throughout the Olympics, Charbonnel Lounge was showing the action and the St. Michael’s community was invited to drop-in and cheer on the athletes.
St. Mike’s Alumna Rosemary Ganley Recognized with Order of Canada
Rosemary Ganley, a writer, activist and teacher, was recently named a Member of the Order of Canada for her lifelong advocacy for human rights, gender equity and social justice, including co-founding Jamaican Self Help, an organization of Canadians working to support the development of healthy Jamaican communities.
New Furniture in the Kelly Library
Gone are the Blockbuster-like ground floor DVD shelves that used to attract film buffs from all over campus to the Kelly Library’s ground floor. But no worries: the DVD collection has just moved to the second floor. In its place, nestled up against the south side of the multipurpose room, is a mix of soft and hard furniture, giving our students much-needed extra study space. The new furniture is thanks to the support of the Friends of the Kelly Library (FOTKL).
St. Mike’s Learning Strategist Working in the Kelly Library
The St. Mike’s learning strategist, Meghan Litteljohn, has begun offering appointments in the Kelly Library. She and Stacy Reardon, the Writing & Research Help Centre director, hope that by working from the library Meghan will benefit from the closer orbit of writing instructors and librarians and be more accessible to students. Working in Room 137 on the library’s ground floor, Meghan helps students figure out how to build on their strengths and learn better. She covers such topics as transitioning to university, reading, note-taking, study habits, assignment planning, stress and time management. Students can find out more about Learning Strategies on the College’s Student Services page, and they can book an appointment with Meghan here.
Unique Regis Library Books Now at the Kelly Library
The Kelly and Regis libraries are gradually moving the entire Regis College library collection to the Kelly Library. By the end of this month, all of Regis’s unique-item monographs – books unique in the UofT library system – will have been transferred to the Kelly Library. Summer 2024 saw the relocation of the Regis Library compact shelving and the transfer of a significant number of unique periodicals. This project remains on-time with a scheduled completion date of May 2025.
USMC Social Club Pub Happy Hour
St. Mike’s staff gathered at Hemingway’s in Yorkville on July 11 for the inaugural USMC Social Club Pub Happy Hour. Members of the USMC community conversed over drinks to beat the summer heat.
New Issue of St. Michael’s Alumni Magazine
The latest issue includes features on the “St. Mike’s Effect” at Sunnybrook Hospital, the renewal of continuing education and an update on the St. Mike’s sports scene. Read the flipbook.