From the arrival of a new principal to our tradition of lighting up the campus in anticipation of Christmas, the fall was a busy time at St. Mike’s. Here are some of the things we celebrated during the months of October, November, and December.
New Principal Dr. Irene Morra Arrives — We offered a heartfelt welcome to Dr. Irene Morra as she assumed her duties on December 1, 2022. A St. Mike’s alumna with many family connections to the university, Morra comes to us from Cardiff University. In explaining why she has chosen to work at St. Mike’s, Morra says, “I’m drawn to St. Michael’s because it epitomizes, for me, the very ideal of a university experience.”
O’Mara, Donovan Receive Honourary Degrees — Two long-standing St. Michael’s professors – Sr. Mechtilde O’Mara, CSJ, and Fr. Daniel Donovan—received honourary degrees at the Faculty of Theology convocation in November.
St. Mike’s Celebrates Fall Convocation — University President David Sylvester presented remarks at the Fall Faculty of Arts & Science Convocation, which saw 139 of St. Michael’s students graduate.
President’s Capstone Awards Granted — Four graduates of St. Michael’s Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability program were awarded President’s Capstone Awards this November: Rosalind Share, Heather Anne McKelvey, Amanda Baron, and Patricia Escobar.
Convocation celebrations for 2020 and 2021 grads — On Dec. 14, St. Michael’s celebrated more than 360 graduates from 2020 and 2021. Grateful thanks to Eagle Feather Bearer Dr. Robert Phillips who led the procession Convocation Hall and to Colin Asuncion (BA 2011 SMC), the speaker at the graduation celebration.
Indspire Partnership Launched — St. Mike’s launched its partnership with Indspire to offer awards for Indigenous students. The application deadline for the next round is coming up on Feb 13, 2023.
St. Michael’s Hosts Vatican Event — In November, the University of St. Michael’s College hosted the Canadian launch of the research findings from a key pillar of Pope Francis’s ongoing synodal process, work that offers a voice to those often invisible and unheard in church communities and society. More than 300 people gathered in person and online on to hear about a report from an international theological research project, Doing Theology From the Existential Peripheries. The event has been posted on YouTube for those who were unable to attend.
Rosanne Rocchi to Chair Collegium — Toronto lawyer and St. Mike’s alumna Rosanne Rocchi was appointed Chair of St. Michael’s Collegium, chairing her first meeting, in person, in October.
Kelly Library Hosts Open House for Students — Staff introduced students to all aspects of our work and collections, from rare book and archival materials to research and writing help services, book preservation techniques, and Loans Desk offerings. We shared highlights on Instagram.
Research Consultation Hit New High — The Kelly Library is hitting new heights in terms of research consultations. Between May and January 1st, librarians conducted 241 research consultations, breaking the 2020 record of 200.
Our First Christmas Market a Success — Students, staff, faculty, alumni, neighbours, and community partners helped make the first St. Mike’s Community Christmas Market a success. More than 350 people passed through the gates to visit 25 vendor tables, with partial proceeds from sales donated to Romero House. Curious? Have a look at our video of the event.
Dante Exhibit & Reception, Manuscript Donation — Curated by Noel McFerran, our Dante exhibit won plenty of admirers at the library’s reception for the annual Dante lecture, held November 9th. Just weeks earlier, the Kelly Library was delighted to receive a modern handmade illuminated anastatic copy of Dante’s Inferno, known as Dante Guarneriano, from the Biblioteca Guarneriana in San Daniele del Friuli, one of Italy’s oldest and most venerated public libraries. Highlights of the exhibit are available the Kelly Library website.
Social Events Return to Campus — It’s been great catching up with friends both old and new as events have returned to campus. This fall, we saw the return of the Christmas tea, the Santa Claus parade party and staff Christmas party, all roaring successes. Another big hit was a donor reception honouring longtime coach Lex Bird.
Donovan Collection Work in AGO Exhibition — Babylon, a work familiar to many due to its prominent place in Madden Hall, is currently included in a retrospective of the work of artist Denyse Thomasos. The exhibit runs until Feb. 20 at the AGO.
Student Life Hopping with Activity — Of course, our students were keen to resume in-person activities, and this fall saw classics such as the return of Kelly’s Korner. The Office of the Dean of Students in collaboration with the Library, Registrar’s office and Campus Ministry hosted a week of events to celebrate wellness on campus including Therapy Dogs, Study Cafes, De-stressor events and more. Our Commuter Dons and Campus Ministry hosted a Jingle Ball on December 1st with carols, ugly Christmas sweaters, and lots of fun celebrations, while our residence community came together to celebrate the end of term and start of the holidays with formal dinners, where everyone dressed to the nines!
Campus Lights Shine — And, befitting the shortest days of the year, we saw the return of our festive Christmas lights, a bright spot not only for the students and employees of St. Michael’s, but for all who live and work in the neighbourhood.
Best wishes for 2023!
Duane Rendle is the Dean of Students at St. Michael’s College. Originally from Victoria, BC, Duane completed his BA at the University of Victoria in 1993, and then came to U of T to complete a Master of Industrial Relations. While attending U of T, Duane served as a don at St. Michael’s College and became very involved in student life. In 1998, St. Mike’s hired Duane to serve as their Dean of Men, a precursor to his current position.
Ceremonial Splendour
Over the past 22 years, I have had the great pleasure of watching our students graduate from a unique vantage point—that of the convocation beadle.
What, pray tell, is a beadle? That is a very common question and the same one I asked in the spring of 1999 when I first assumed the role. The beadle (sometimes spelled “bedel”) is an officer at a college responsible for ushering students into a formal ceremony, ensuring they are seated, and leading them back out when the ceremony concludes. Beadles are easily distinguished from the students by their academic regalia and, most notably, the presence of a large mace resting firmly against their shoulder.
The mace has been a symbol of university authority since the 11th century. It was originally intended as a weapon (!), presumably to fend off the rabble who begrudged the pomp and pageantry of the academic elites. Mercifully, such incidents were rare—so rare that universities began to adorn the mace, transforming it from a tool of combat into a ceremonial sceptre.
The University of Toronto mace was handcrafted in London, England and is constructed of gold-plated silver. It was a gift from Lt.-Col. Eric Phillips (chair of the Board of Governors from 1945 to 1964) and was unveiled at the June 1951 convocation. Since then, tens of thousands of graduands have witnessed the mace being reverently carried into Convocation Hall to officially commence their graduation ceremonies.
Under the mace’s crown is a cushion that bears the coat of arms of George IV, the sovereign who granted the university’s first charter in 1827. As the mace is turned, a series of panels reveal the cipher of King George IV, then the arms of Canada, of Ontario, and the University of Toronto. Additional images of crosses, maple leaves, fleurs-de-lys and beavers pay homage to U of T’s cultural and religious influences.
(At the Baccalaureate Mass preceding the convocation ceremony, I lead the graduands into St. Basil’s Church with the St. Michael’s mace. Please see the accompanying video to learn more about it.)
Serving as the beadle is easily the best perk of being the Dean of Students. Prior to the ceremony I am invited to the Chancellor’s reception, where I get to hobnob with academic dignitaries and the honorary degree recipients. Over the years I have met many well-known Canadians from the worlds of politics, the arts and academics, but I think my favourite encounter was with the irascible Rex Murphy, of The National Post fame. Mr. Murphy seemed genuinely interested in finding out what a dean of students actually does, and his east coast charm made me feel like I was chatting with the fellow on the next barstool, rather than a Canadian icon.
Leading the academic procession into Convocation Hall is always exhilarating. When the organ chimes and we begin our measured walk down the main aisle, every eye in the hall turns to watch the spectacle. In decades past, our procession was accompanied by the clicking of countless cameras and the light of 1,000 flashes; now though, most choose to silently record the grand entrance using a variety of handheld devices. Once the stage is ascended, I gently place the mace in its ornate cradle atop the beautifully carved table, where it serves as a silent witness to the crowning achievement of each graduating class.
As the ceremony concludes and the second stanza of “O Canada” begins, I take my cue to retrieve the mace from its holder and lead our newly minted graduands out of the hall and into the throng of well-wishers that await. But for me, my job is just beginning. Over the years I have made it a practice to linger in the crowd for as long as the Chancellor’s Office will permit, to congratulate families, shake the hands of the graduands, and pose with them in photos with the magisterial mace. Over the past two decades I have had the honour of being included in countless portraits, and I am always grateful to be included in such an intimate family moment. This, for me, is the highlight of convocation day and, after a respite necessitated by the pandemic, I cannot wait to return to campus and fulfill the hallowed duties of the beadle once again.
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Although the COVID-19 pandemic drew life on campus to an early close, St. Michael’s students continued to enrich the community with their talents and service as their coursework and extra-curricular activities transitioned to online platforms.
This year’s Student Life Leadership Awards recognize the outstanding extra-curricular contributions to the University and the St. Michael’s community as a whole during a particularly challenging time.
New awards recognizing Service in Student Mental and Physical Wellbeing, Leadership in Community and Cultural Development, and Outstanding Contributions to Social Justice Initiatives were introduced in 2020 to highlight areas of distinct interest to St. Michael’s students, staff and faculty.
Several awards recognize creative initiatives that are a vibrant part of campus life, including student publications and the arts. “The theatre is a space for people of all different experiences and backgrounds to come together and work to create something beautiful,” says third-year student Emily Villani. As Artistic Director for SMC Troubadours, Villani oversaw and performed in theatrical productions, including a recent production of Guys and Dolls.
Other awards recognize the work of students to foster inclusion, social justice, and a deep sense of welcome. A major goal for Sonakshi Sharma, a third-year student and Executive member of the Indian Students’ Society at U of T, is to help international students find more familiar and comfortable spaces in campus community—especially in the area of cultural representation. “I believe building such a community is important for students in order to have a comprehensive university experience,” says Sharma.
Athletics, a longstanding area of achievement and an important part of the education of the whole person at St. Michael’s, is another area in which students are being recognized for leadership and service to their peers. “Intramurals are an incredible foundation for a social and athletic life on campus!” says Mika Embury, fourth-year student and recipient of the Mary H. Lee Award for Leadership in Women’s Sports.
Student Life Associate Emma Graham describes the recipients as “leaders who actively encourage their peers to get involved, follow their dreams, and build up others.” Their influence has helped other students at the college become active participants in community life outside the classroom. Each award is peer-nominated, which means that each recipient is being recognized not only by the College, but by fellow students who benefited from their service.
The full list of the 2020 Student Life Leadership Awards can be found below, with more details available on Facebook.
- Award for Leadership in the Arts: Emily Villani
- Award for Leadership in Community and Cultural Development: Sonakshi Sharma
- Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Justice Initiatives: Adam Da Costa Gomes
- Award for Excellence in Peer Mentorship: Sam Gruppuso
- Award for Outstanding Exhibition of College Spirit and Pride: Simran Dhir
- Award for Service in Student Mental and Physical Wellbeing: Christeen Salik
- Award for Leadership in Student Publications: Ian Hauber
- Award for Male Athlete of the Year: Victor Wakelin
- Sr. Kathleen Heffron Award for Female Athlete of the Year: Elaine Pityn
- Mary H. Lee Award for Leadership in Women’s Sports: Mika Embury
- Kevin Fawcett Award for Freshman Athlete of the Year: Eloïse Alarie
When asked to describe St. Mike’s, students often mention “community” as a foundational part of their experience of the school. The newly renovated and fully accessible Brennan Hall offers – quite literally – a concrete example of the ways in which community is an essential and longstanding feature of the student experience at St. Michael’s. Amid the portraits of alumni and past professors, current students find themselves in a community as familiar as an extended family—and just as committed to their success in every area of life.
“The revitalization of Brennan Hall represents this university’s commitment to student experience,” says President David Sylvester. “By placing key services and resources alongside club and gathering spaces in the heart of our campus, the new Brennan Hall brings together every part of St. Michael’s student life—spiritual, academic, personal, and social—in the same way a St. Mike’s education forms the student as a whole person.”
One of the most important updates to the space is the relocation of the Office of the Registrar from Alumni Hall to the centre of Brennan. This places essential registrarial services at the heart of campus for both undergraduate students at St. Mike’s and graduate students at the USMC Faculty of Theology.
Students can make use of those services while also popping in to the SMCSU office, the Canada Room dining hall, or the Dodig Family COOP. With Campus Ministry and Student Life offices down the hall as well – and exciting events often taking over the COOP during evenings and weekends – the overall effect is that of a bustling home for students from every division of the school, and a place that caters to every part of student life.
Giancarlo Mazzanti ’84, Registrar and Director of Student Services, says “The revitalization of the main level of Brennan Hall has been the catalyst in improving the student experience on our campus.” He mentions one of the key benefits has been that staff “are in constant contact with students, and sharing in the community experience,” and that the new spaces bustle with students “studying and meeting with academic advisors, learning strategists, career advisors or our Campus Ministry team.”
Since the beginning of the new academic year, the revitalized Brennan has been buzzing with activity, from orientation programming to events and first club meetings. A recent Kelly’s Korner – an open mic night and longstanding tradition brought back in the new space – was full to overflowing the doors of the Dodig Family COOP.
“It looks beautiful and it is coming back to life!” says Maryrose Doucette, a third-year SMC student double-majoring in Christianity and Culture and Mediaeval Studies with a minor in Political Science. “The COOP being redone, the pool table, and of course the coffee shop are all a draw for me, and it’s great to walk through on my way to class and run into friends at every corner.”
The changes to Brennan are apparent from the moment a visitor walks in the south entrance. A bright and welcoming entrance space, the Tony J. Desanti Lobby features a curved wall imprinted with the names of members of the St. Michael’s community who made the renovation possible. The old-school USMC crest on the floor recalls decades of St. Michael’s history, while a pair of giant angel wings on the wall provide Instagrammable photo opportunities to students and visitors to campus.
In the updated central space, students now have a large variety of seating options while waiting for appointments or gathering with friends. One option is to grab a drink or a snack at Mike’s Café, a coffee shop quickly becoming known for its “Basil the Bulldog” signage where students can pick up St. Mike’s merchandise and a small selection of toiletries and living essentials in addition to Starbuck’s Coffee. Arrays of outlets next to every seating area make it possible for students to study or hang out for as long as they like without relocating for a battery top-up.
An essential part of the project was the update to the Dodig Family COOP, a beloved open space where students at St. Mike’s have gathered for decades. It has always played a particularly important role in the lives of commuter students, who treat the COOP as a home base for the days they spend on campus. The new COOP features soft seating, updated lighting, plentiful outlets, and a complement of glass-walled office spaces for student organizations and clubs, as well as a graduate student lounge with further comfortable seating. Microwaves and high-top tables make the COOP a place to eat as well as study, hang out, and gather for events.
Isabel Armiento, fourth-year SMC student and this year’s Editor-in-Chief of The Mike, finds that the revamped club spaces next to the COOP have been a boon to the campus paper’s operations, saying “we can now comfortably host in-house copy-editing and production sessions with more members present than ever before.” Armiento also notes the centralized office spaces make it easier to “hold outreach events in common student spaces and to communicate with Student Life and USMC faculty.”
The Class of 2023 has already begun to make themselves at home in the COOP and the adjacent offices, which are adaptable for a variety of uses. Passers-by often catch sight of board game nights and friendly games of pool on the new billiard table. From residential students to commuters, graduate students to those pursuing certificates in Continuing Education, visitors to the revitalized spaces find a new home for the community that has always made St. Michael’s unique.
Since its official opening in August of 1939, Brennan Hall has been at the heart of the St. Mike’s experience. 80 years later, thanks to the generosity of Brennan Hall “Champions,” gifts from alumni and friends, major class gifts, and a contribution from students through the Student Capital Improvement Fund, the Class of 2023 will be the first to enjoy a completely revitalized Brennan Hall throughout their entire experience at St. Mike’s.
