Our cherry blossoms are almost ready to bloom, announcing the arrival of spring at St. Michael’s. As we awaited the warmer weather over the past few months, we took the opportunity to recognize our students’ achievements, welcome authors to campus, and hear about the latest research from our faculty and students.
Undergraduate Research Colloquium
Attendees were treated to insightful interdisciplinary sessions as students exercised their presentation skills at the Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Students presented through traditional conference talks, academic poster displays, and lightning talks on topics spanning disciplines including Book & Media Studies, Mediaeval Studies, neuroscience, and more.
Student Awards
Winners of the Colloquium, along with the SMC and U of T student leadership, athletic, and spirit awards, were announced at the Student Leader Appreciation and Recognition Night, hosted by the Principal’s Office in collaboration with the St. Michael’s College Student Union.
Three St. Michael’s students who recognized at the Undergraduate Awards of Excellence in Economics Ceremony, hosted by the Department of Economics at the University of Toronto. The evening celebrated the achievements of undergraduate students during the 2024-2025 academic year.
The St. Mike’s Troubadours took home two prestigious awards at the U of T Drama Festival. Emi Sunahara-Meadows earned her the Donald Sutherland Award for Best Performance for her role in Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey. Mashreka Mahmood received the Robertson Davies Playwriting Award for the same production.
Safeguarding in Church and Society
On March 6, Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ, Director of the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, delivered a talk on safeguarding at The Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College. Drawing on his global experience in abuse prevention and institutional accountability, Fr. Zollner emphasized the importance of transparency, education, and survivor-centered approaches. The event brought together students, faculty, and community members for a thoughtful discussion on implementing safeguarding practices in both academic and religious contexts.
Dr. Michael Higgins Synod Diary Book Launch
The University of St. Michael’s was proud to host a book launch of A Synod Diary: Sixty Days That Shook the Church, the latest work from Prof. Michael W. Higgins, Vatican analyst and the Basilian Distinguished Fellow of Contemporary Catholic Thought. The book offers a reflective, day-by-day account of the recent Synod on Synodality and its significance for the contemporary Catholic Church.
Merton for Our Time: A Model of Interculturality
Prof. Higgins also delivered a lecture titled ‘Merton for Our Time: A Model of Interculturality’. The lecture celebrated the arrival of Merton Society of Canada’s donation to the John M. Kelly Library, which includes more than 500 items and brings together virtually all published works by and about Thomas Merton. This collection was previously housed in the Thomas Merton Reading Room at the Vancouver School of Theology.
Medieval Symposium
The Mediaeval Symposium: Mappa Mundi, hosted by Continuing Education, brought together learners and scholars for a full day of interdisciplinary discussion on how mediaeval societies understood and mapped their world. Presentations examined topics ranging from marine navigation and medical texts to urban life, climate crises, and social structures. Speakers included Prof. James Ginther, Prof. Renée R. Trilling, Prof. Emily Hutchison, Dr. Vanessa McCarthy, and Prof. Kelly DeVries.
Nicholas Boggs on Baldwin: A Love Story
American writer Nicholas Boggs visited St. Michael’s on March 10 to discuss the research and writing process behind the republication of James Baldwin’s collaboration with French artist Yoran Cazac, Little Man, Little Man, as well as his biography Baldwin: A Love Story.
New Book Explores Relationship between McLuhan, Maritain, and Gilson
TV author, playwright, and theatre scholar Felice Cappa presented his forthcoming book McLuhan in Dialogue with Maritain and Gilson: The Metaphysical Roots of Media Studies. The book explores the relationship between three of St. Michael’s most celebrated intellectual figures: Marshall McLuhan, Jacques Maritain, and Étienne Gilson. The evening was moderated by Prof. Paolo Granata as part of the McLuhan Salon series.
Goggio Lecture
Prof. Granata was the keynote speaker at this year’s Goggio Lecture, hosted by the Department of Italian Studies, presenting his new book Generative Knowledge: Think, Learn, Create with AI. The book introduces a framework that repositions AI as an epistemic partner, transforming how we understand, explore, and produce knowledge.
Lecture on Printing History of Dante’s Divine Comedy
Prof. Granata also explored the printing history of Dante’s Divine Comedy in his lecture ‘From Dante to Aldus Manutius: The Journey of the Commedia into Print’. The event was hosted by St. Michael’s College in collaboration with the Dante Society of Toronto and the Italian Cultural Institute of Toronto, and welcomed distinguished guests including the Mayor of Bassiano, Italy, the birthplace of Aldus Manutius, as well as representatives from the Italian Embassy in Canada and the Italian Consulate in Toronto.
Schola Cantorum Lenten Performances
St. Michael’s Schola Cantorum’s Lenten concert featured two musical meditations on Christ’s Passion, including Heinrich Schütz’s Seven Last Words. During Holy Week, members of the Schola Cantorum joined members of the Dante Reading Group for a meditative guided tour through the musical landscape of Dante’s Purgatorio, titled ‘Songs of Penance and Renewal: Liturgical Chant in Dante’s Purgatorio’.
Celtic Speaker Series
Our Celtic Studies program hosted a series of lectures exploring Irish and Scottish culture and history:
- Prof. Brad Kent examined how Irish writers organized to resist censorship following the ‘Censorship of Publications Act in 1929 in his lecture Censorship and Resistance in Post-Independence Ireland’.
- Dr. Damian Dupuy explored how innovation has shaped and continues to drive the modern Irish economy.
- Dr. Karly Kehoe highlighted the links between the Highlands of Scotland, Caribbean enslavement, and settler colonialism in her lecture ‘Slavery and Scotland: The Case of the Highland Estate of Glenaladale’.
The Gaelic Soul: an Evening with Donald S. Murray
Award-winning Scottish writer Donald S. Murray spent an evening exploring the depth of Hebridean culture and the Gaelic soul, drawing on his historical novels, poetry, and non-fiction work.
University Chancellor Visits St. Michael’s
His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo, Archbishop of Toronto and Chancellor of the University of St Michael’s College, visited campus at the end of the academic year. President David Sylvester and Catholic Religious Communities Archive (CRCA) Archivist Francesca Rousselle introduced Cardinal Leo to the first fruits of St. Michael’s Canadian Religious Communities Archive, an exhibit titled ‘The Big Maps: The Sisters of Service as Canadian Trailblazers’ in the John M. Kelly Library.
Over lunch, faculty, students, and administrators discussed shared priorities including the new Diploma in Catholic Leadership offered at St. Mike’s Continuing Education, the formation of Catholic leaders at Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology, and experiential learning opportunities.
Ireland Funds Canada St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
St. Mike’s President David Sylvester attended the Ireland Funds Canada St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, an annual event that brings together leaders from public life, business, and academia to celebrate the Irish community in Canada and the deep bonds between both nations.
President Sylvester Travels to Vancouver
President David Sylvester travelled to Vancouver to attend Universities Canada and Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Canada meetings, and to connect with alumni and welcome newly admitted students at a special regional gathering organized by the Office of Advancement to strengthen ties between St. Michael’s College and its west coast community.
Honouring Indigenous Aid Exhibit
The Honouring Indigenous Aid Exhibit, which launched at Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology in November 2024, is now on display in high schools across the Durham Catholic District School Board. The exhibit features archival materials documenting the generosity of the First Nations in Ontario to Irish Famine Relief in 1847. Global News covered the exhibit’s arrival at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School and interviewed Prof. Mark McGowan.
TCDSB Students Gain Hands-On Experience at St. Michael’s
Students from the Toronto Catholic District School Board explored book repair and conservation, event planning, and exhibit curation as part of their Specialist High Skills Major program. Throughout the day, students participated in hands-on workshops led by USMC staff including Jessica Barr, University Archivist and Records Manager; Francesca Rousselle, Processing Archivist; and Chinelle McDonald, Residence Care Coordinator.
Good Works Career Panel
The Good Works Career Panel, held in collaboration with St. Michael’s Continuing Education and Young Catholic Professionals Toronto, brought together young professionals and panelists from a range of industries to share insights on integrity and values in the workplace.