Cherishing our planet, remembering Pope Francis, and honouring our students’ achievements are among the many things we celebrated at St. Michael’s in March and April.
St. Michael’s is Fully Divested from Fossil Fuels
St. Michael’s has reached its target of fully divesting from fossil fuels five years ahead of schedule. The University of St. Michael’s College had initially set 2030 as the target date for full divestment.
Remembering Pope Francis
St. Michael’s celebrated the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday. Community members were invited to sign a book of condolences as well as attend a Memorial Mass held at the St. Joseph Chapel at Regis College.
The expertise of St. Michael’s faculty members was called on as the world reflects on the death of Pope Francis. Among the many media appearances, Father Darren Dias travelled to Rome to cover the funeral for the CBC.
Professor McGowan Retires
Principal Emeritus and beloved History Professor Mark McGowan capped off his 34 years at St. Michael’s with a reception held on April 24 in Charbonnel Lounge. His illustrious career includes authoring 12 books, establishing himself as the world’s leading expert on the Irish famine’s impact on Canada, and being inducted into the Royal Society of Canada.
Among his many awards, he was recently awarded the St. Jerome’s University’s Chancellor John R. and Kay Sweeney Award for Catholic Leadership.
COOP Window Retrofitting
The St. Michael’s community came together to make the windows of the Dodig Family COOP safe for birds. On April 14, students, staff, and faculty came out to stencil designs on the windows to make them more visible for birds. A special thank-you to Carly from BirdSafe UofT and to the volunteers from FLAP for their help with this initiative, as well as to the SMC facilities team for their time and support. Come by the COOP to see the completed window retrofit. (view photos)
Spring Clean Up
On April 7, students picked up trash to refresh the campus in time for the spring weather. Thank you!
St. Mike’s Professor Captures Universe’s Clearest ‘Baby Picture’
Astrophysicist and St. Mike’s Professor Adam Hincks, SJ, cross-appointed to U of T’s A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, SJ was a part of a team of researchers that captured the clearest ‘baby’ pictures of the universe. The images depict light that has travelled for almost 14 billion years and captured by a telescope in the Chilean Andes. These images reveal what the universe was like when it was about 380,000 years old.
Read ‘Astronomers snap clearest ’baby picture’ yet of the universe’.
SMC Undergraduate Research Colloquium
Student research was on full display at this year’s Undergraduate Research Colloquium. This year’s Colloquium drew a lot of interest and grew to a two-day event to accommodate the large number of applicants. It was held on the main floor of the Kelly Library and featured multiple delivery formats including presentations, poster presentations and lightning talk. It was organized by Kelly Library’s Stacy Reardon and the Principal’s Office and brought together undergraduates from a wide variety of disciplines, including St. Mike’s sponsored programs, history, literature, the sciences, and the social sciences.
The winners were announced at a reception held in honour of students graduating from St. Mike’s sponsored programs on April 4. The winners are:
- Outstanding Presentations
Emma Ward: ‘Etched in Time: The Lasting Impacts of the Phonograph in Irish-American Immigrant Communities’
Emily Neto: ‘Muckrakers and Investigative Journalism in the Progressive Era’ - Outstanding Posters
Vivian Zhi: ‘Archiving UC and Back Campus’ Black Walnut Trees’
Yuchong Wang: ‘Qian Divination(籤占) in Chinese Culture and Society’ - Outstanding Lightning Talk
Laurette Nehme: ‘Cholera: The Unwanted Guest That Just Won’t Leave’ - People’s Choice Winner
Izzy Chiang: ‘Greenwashing, Girlboss Feminism, and the Costs of Beauty Consumerism (Poster)’
Kinsale Philip Named McCall MacBain Regional Scholar
St. Michael’s student, football player, and community leader Kinsale Philip, was awarded a McCall MacBain Scholars Regional Award, which will support his studies next year at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Student Leadership and Athletic Award Winners
On March 14, St. Mike’s celebrated its student leadership and athletic award recipients at its first annual awards banquet. The awards recognize outstanding achievement and community impact in a variety of categories. St. Michael’s Student Life shared the full list of award winners on Instagram.
Regis St. Michael’s Commissioning Mass
Regis St. Michael’s honoured its graduands at its annual Commissioning Mass. Regis College President Gordon Rixon offered a special prayer for the students as they complete their studies and prepare for ministry.
Laurie Morris Retires
St. Mike’s Director of Communications Laurie Morris celebrated her retirement this spring. She came to Toronto in 2019 to lead the university in shaping its narrative. Colleagues gathered in Charbonnel Lounge to toast Laurie as she embarks on this exciting new phase in her life.
Babylon Returns to St. Michael’s
St. Mike’s celebrated the return of the Babylon, a painting by Denyse Thomasos, after its cross-country tour with a major exhibition. Its return sparked a special evening to reflect on the life and art of the extraordinary artist. Back at home, Babylon anchors the Donovan Collection and can be viewed in Madden Hall.
Schola Cantorum Lenten Concert
St. Michael’s Schola Cantorum, directed by Dr. Christina Labriola, performed its final concert of the school year on March 17. The Lenten concert featured a performance of Requiem by Neapolitan Baroque composer Niccolò Jommelli (1714-1774).
Four Authors, Five Books
This season there was bumper crop of publishing from Regis St. Michael’s professors as five books were published among four professors: Prof. Cindy Cameron, Prof. John Dadosky, Prof. Jean-Pierre Fortin, and Prof. Andrew Summerson. The launch of this plethora of books took place on March 20 in the Mary Ward Room.
Catholicism and Healthcare
The Campus Ministry team, in collaboration with Unity Health Toronto and the Toronto Society for Catholic Scientists, hosted its final faith and science event of the year, focused on Catholicism and healthcare. On March 12, attendees heard from a range of speakers from the field including nurses, medical directors, and spiritual advisors.
Professor Peverini on the ‘Globalization of Indifference’
Professor Paolo Peverini of Rome’s Luiss University delivered a lecture looking at how Pope Francis used multiple methods of communication to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue. On March 26, attendees gained an understanding of the semiotics behind Pope Francis’ approach to unity, justice, and inclusion.
Continuing Education Offers Practical Workshops for High School Students
Continuing Education delivered two certification sessions for 30 TCDSB students from Loretto College and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in March. With access to St. Mike’s resources, students tried their hand at exhibition curation and printmaking in two workshops led by St. Mike’s experts.
Two additional certification sessions on event planning and book repair are in the works for October 2025.
Mediaeval Symposium
Continuing Education’s Mediaeval Symposium returned after a 20-year hiatus. A group of 20 learners gathered in Alumni Hall to hear about women in the Middle Ages. Professor Jacqueline Murray offered her insights into the topic.
Continuing Education Collaborates with Young Catholic Professionals
On April 10, Continuing Education hosted an event for 73 participants in collaboration with Young Professional Catholics of Toronto on ‘Good Work: Finding Purpose and Passion in your Career.’ This event created a space for young professionals to build connections and become inspired, while introducing a new audience to the work of Continuing Education. Participants had an opportunity to hear from speakers from several professions and to attend a networking reception held at a nearby pub.
Student Newspaper Digitized
Victoria Tywonek-Sobota, a work-study student, has finished digitizing the entire run of The Mike, USMC’s student newspaper—880 issues and 8,800 pages. The newspaper should be available to read online soon on Collections UofT.
Kelly Library’s 3rd Floor Inventory Completed
Meanwhile, Jillian Nash, also a work-study student, has completed an inventory of the Kelly Library’s third floor. Inventory is hard work but essential to make sure our books are where they’re supposed to be, ferret out unnecessary duplicates, and send roughed-up volumes for repairs. Besides tidying the shelves and pulling out duplicates, Jillian found several books that weren’t library books at all, along with—curiously—an egg and several oranges. Jillian is returning to the Kelly Library this summer to work in the Rare Book Room.
Cards for Seniors
To combat the isolation experienced sometimes by the elderly, library technician Michael Jurgaitis held a Cards for Seniors event at the end of March to create friendly cards for seniors in long-term care homes. About 20 students and staff stopped by a table in the Kelly Café to make 50 cards that will be delivered to residents.