City & Culture

Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? ��ֱ�� alum perfects the mix

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:22:20 +0000

Researcher, entrepreneur ... and DJ to the stars? ��ֱ�� alum perfects the mix

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:22

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Amir Alam says ��ֱ�� provided the foundation he needed to succeed as a DJ, a cancer researcher and an entrepreneur (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

David Goldberg

Topic

City & Culture

��ֱ��

Faculty of Arts & Science

Woodsworth College

Subheadline

As a first-year student, Amir Alam toured with Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. Next, he refocused on his studies, published brain tumour research and launched a shoe-cleaning brand

Amir Alam’s arrival at the University of Toronto began with a friendly bet.

After watching a DJ spin records for a raucous crowd one evening as a teenager, he struck a deal with his mother: she would buy him a set of turntables if he was accepted to every major Canadian university to which he applied.

“The first choice was always ��ֱ�� – even before my family immigrated from Iran to Toronto, I remember hearing ��ֱ�� was the ‘Ivy League School of Canada,’” says Alam, who earned his honours bachelor of science degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science in 2015 as a member of Woodsworth College.

A first-year student, Alam moved into residence with his new turntables and collection of vinyl records in tow. He also began to frequent a local record shop near campus where he persistently approached the manager about a job, opening the door to regular gigs at downtown clubs and, soon after, touring opportunities with high-profile artists including Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.

Yet, despite the excitement that came with touring the world, Alam – aka DJ Crunch – says he missed belonging to the community that many students experience during their first year at university.

“When you're touring, you're always in a different city. You're in, you do the show, and you're out. It's a very scheduled and disconnected lifestyle. I really missed being around like-minded individuals and having meaningful conversations.”

So, music took a back seat as Alam focused on his studies and fulfilling a promise he had made to his father about completing a double-major in human biology and cell and systems biology.

Amir Alam looks through albums at Play De Record on Spadina Avenue, a store he worked at part-time during his ��ֱ�� studies (photo by Kemeisha McDonald)

Alam also took on mentorship roles and immersed himself in campus life. Beginning in third year, he worked as a lab assistant at SickKids’ Brain Tumour Research Centre alongside Gelareh Zadeh, a neurosurgeon-scientist at University Health Network (UHN) and a professor in ��ֱ��’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Alam then secured a full-time research position with UHN at the MaRS Discovery District, where he worked in neuro-oncology and published several papers on brain tumour research.

But new opportunities and challenges were about to change Alam’s trajectory once more.

He drew on his chemistry experience – and interest in street fashion – to develop a 100 per cent plant-based shoe-cleaning product called Shoe Laundry. Working with a lab in Edmonton, he refined the formula and Shoe Laundry soon became a full-time job.

“My scientific background in the labs at ��ֱ��, SickKids and UHN definitely helped me when I was developing the concept,” says Alam. “I knew what I wanted and I had the vocabulary to communicate with the lab.”

The company continues to grow. He’s developing a new, sustainable product that repels stains before they happen.

Alam has also dabbled in filmmaking, running a music festival, making his own music and working in artist relations.

He says he enjoys having multiple projects on the go – and is open to whatever comes next.

The most valuable skill Alam developed at ��ֱ��? Perseverance, he says, and making use of all the university has to offer.

“The reputation of the school speaks for itself internationally, but what really matters is learning how to use the tools around you to succeed.”

Now a mentor in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Venture Mentoring Service, Alam says he is eager to give back. His advice to current students is simple: unless you are certain about your career path, explore as many options as possible.

“You'll fail at some things, and you’ll succeed at others, but it's the only way to truly discover what you're passionate about.”

��ֱ�� and Blue Jays sports doc on serving as Taylor Swift's primary care physician in Toronto

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:20:45 +0000

��ֱ�� and Blue Jays sports doc on serving as Taylor Swift's primary care physician in Toronto

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 12/02/2024 - 09:20

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David Lawrence, medical director and staff physician at ��ֱ��'s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic and assistant professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, attends a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto with his wife (photo courtesy of David Lawrence)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

City & Culture

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Music

Toronto Blue Jays

Subheadline

David Lawrence says the physical and mental demands on Swift are comparable to those of elite athletes

David Lawrence is used to ensuring that high-level performers are healthy and ready to deliver on the big stage. A staff physician and medical director of the University of Toronto’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic, Lawrence is also lead team primary care physician for the Toronto Blue Jays.

So when the opportunity arose to serve as primary care medical doctor for Taylor Swift during the Toronto stop of her Eras Tour, he approached it like he would caring for high-level athletes and teams.

“Just like in an athletic team, the focus was on ensuring the health and readiness of a high-performing individual – in this case, Taylor Swift – along with her core team and supporting personnel,” says Lawrence, who is also an assistant professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of family and community medicine. “The physical and mental demands on her as an artist are comparable to those of elite athletes, with grueling schedules, significant physical exertion and the pressure to perform at peak levels.”

Lawrence was approached by senior front office members of the Rogers Centre and Blue Jays organization for the job. “It’s fairly common for high-profile artists to reach out to local professional sports teams for logistical or medical support during large events,” he says.

His role: provide primary care services on-call for Swift, her crew, support staff, family members and even children traveling with her team.

He says the dynamic of working with a large, well-organized team behind the scenes felt familiar. “Crew members, much like the staff supporting athletes, often face their own physical and mental stresses,” he says. “The overarching goal in both scenarios is the same: to address any issues quickly and efficiently so the performance, whether on stage or on the field, can continue seamlessly.

“The pressure to ensure readiness and a rapid return to performance if anything arose was another parallel, making this experience feel very much in line with my usual work.”

While Lawrence wouldn’t have called himself a Swiftie before this experience, he says he was incredibly impressed by the pop star’s performances. “The production was staggering and Taylor’s ability to perform for over three straight hours was nothing short of remarkable, making it clear how much preparation and effort go into delivering a show of that calibre,” says Lawrence. “It was a true showcase of an incredible combination of talent and hard work. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the dedication and effort behind such performances.”

Lawrence was also struck by the passion of Swift’s adoring fans.

“It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” he says. “The energy in the crowd was electric. With everyone singing every lyric so passionately it felt like the audience was just as much a part of the performance.”

��ֱ�� to mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:25 +0000

��ֱ�� to mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/06/2024 - 16:45

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(photo by Laura Pedersen)

Topic

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A ceremony on the St. George campus will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Soldiers’ Tower

The University of Toronto will mark Remembrance Day across its three campuses on Nov. 11 – including a ceremony on the St. George campus that will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Soldiers’ Tower.

The 44-metre tower, which houses a 51-bell carillon, was erected beside Hart House in 1924 to honour soldiers and members of the ��ֱ�� community who fell in the First World War.

The monument was later expanded to include the names of 1,185 people who fell during either the First or Second World Wars, while the annual Service of Remembrance that takes place at its base honours those who served in both the Great Wars as well as other conflicts.

“The most important aspect of this day is drawing the community together,” says Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldier’s Tower committee and a retired lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army.

Beginning at 10:25 a.m., the St. George campus service will include carillon recitals before and after the ceremony – and will be followed by a free public reception in the Great Hall of Hart House. The Memorial Room in Soldiers’ Tower will be open until 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, at ��ֱ�� Scarborough, the community will honour alumni, students, faculty and staff who fell in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts. The in-person ceremony begins at 10:45 a.m. at The Meeting Place, Science Wing, and features the UTSC Concert Band, Concert Choir & String Orchestra.

At ��ֱ�� Mississauga, an in-person ceremony will take place at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Davis Building, near the flagpole. The UTM Indigenous Centre is also hosting a poppy-beading workshop on Nov. 8.

Flags on all three campuses will be flown at half-mast on Nov. 11.

Soldiers’ Tower

The 44-metre tower, erected beside Hart House in 1924, houses a 51-bell carillon (photo by Laura Pedersen)

Between 1923 and 1924, the University of Toronto ��ֱ�� Association raised $397,141 to build a war memorial and establish scholarships to honour community members who served in the Great War – the equivalent of more than $7 million in today’s currency.

The tower’s carillon is played by three different carillonists, who use their hands and feet to play a keyboard that sounds the bells during spring and fall convocations and other special ceremonies, including on Remembrance Day.

The ranks, names and units of those lost to the university in the First World War are etched in stone on the memorial screen. Other features of the monument include the memorial arch and the Garden of Remembrance.

In the Staircase of Honour, stained-glass windows depict men and women who contributed to the war effort.

Portraits of several illustrious graduates are on display in the tower. They include: Lt.-Col. John McCrae, who wrote In Flanders Fields; Maj. Thain MacDowell, who earned the Victoria Cross in the battle of Vimy Ridge, the only member of ��ֱ�� to receive the honour in the Great War; Maj. Fred Tilston, awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts in Hochwald Forest (Germany), 1945; and the co-discoverers of insulin, Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best. Both men served in the Canadian Army in the First World War.

In photos: 2024 All-Nations Powwow at ��ֱ�� Mississauga

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:48:42 +0000

In photos: 2024 All-Nations Powwow at ��ֱ�� Mississauga

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 10/16/2024 - 11:48

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Emilee Ann Pitawanakwat, a hoop dancer from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, was the head dancer at the second-annual All-Nations Powwow at ��ֱ�� Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

��ֱ�� Mississauga staff

Topic

The University of Toronto Mississauga recently welcomed hundreds of participants and attendees from as far away as Aotearoa New Zealand, for the second annual All-Nations Powwow.

Scattered showers didn’t stop the outdoor event from going ahead on Sept. 28.

It was the first time the All-Nations Powwow was held outdoors. The event, which took place on the north field in front of Maanjiwe nendamowinan, was free to attend and open to all.

��ֱ�� Mississauga photographer Nick Iwanyshyn was on hand to capture the day:

Dan Secord of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation performs a dance while spectators look on (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

More than 30 dancers in regalia competed in the Traditional Men’s and Jingle Dress Dance Specials and took part in intertribal spot and exhibition dances.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Celeste Pedri-Spade, who is an Anishinaabe scholar and artist from northwestern Ontario and a band member of Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation, took top prize in the Jingle Dress Dance. Pedri-Spade has a PhD in visual anthropology and travelled to the All-Nations Powwow from Montreal, where she is the associate provost of Indigenous initiatives at McGill University.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of a Māori delegation, visiting from Aotearoa, New Zealand, demonstrated Haka, a ceremonial dance in Māori culture, for the assembled crowd.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Outside of the dances, All-Nations Powwow attendees were invited to browse the vendor stalls, which featured a variety of canned goods and other food along with clothing, accessories and wellness products.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

All attendees were invited to participate in intertribal dances. Intertribal dances are for all ages, backgrounds and abilities, with no set dance style.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of the Manitou Mkwa Singers, Juno-nominated hand-drum performers from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, were among the invited drummers in attendance.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

John Hupfield, who is Anishinaabe from Wasauksing First Nation and one of the All-Nations Powwow Head Dancers, took part in a grass dance during the event. Hupfield, who has a PhD in education from York University, has researched the roles that Powwows play within Anishinaabe contexts of education and pedagogy.

He welcomed the chance to lead dancers and to share Powwow traditions with the ��ֱ�� Mississauga community.

“It is a space to work and gather together, share and pass tradition with everyone,” he said of the All-Nations Powwow. “That’s the beautiful aspect of it and I hope it continues to grow at UTM.”

Hip-Hop and the City: Shad and Kofi Hope bridge hip-hop and urban studies in ��ֱ�� course

mattimar — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:11:38 +0000

Hip-Hop and the City: Shad and Kofi Hope bridge hip-hop and urban studies in ��ֱ�� course

mattimar Thu, 09/19/2024 - 13:11

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Kofi Hope, left, and Shadrach Kabango, better known as Shad, are teaching Hip-Hop and the City at ��ֱ�� this fall (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Subheadline

The graduate course uses hip-hop music and culture as a lens to explore urban issues

Shadrach Kabango and Kofi Hope grew up immersed in hip-hop culture in the late 1990s, making music in basements, freestyling and participating in cyphers.

Today, Shad, as he is best known, is a Juno-award winning artist and rapper, while Hope is an academic and community advocate working with Black youth – and they’ve teamed up to share their knowledge via a new course at the University of Toronto called Hip-Hop and the City.

The graduate-level course is being offered by ��ֱ��’s School of Cities – a multidisciplinary hub at ��ֱ�� for urban research, education and engagement – in collaboration with the Faculty of Music.

The course uses hip-hop music and culture as a lens to explore historical urban issues. It also examines how these issues shape cultural expression and how culture, in turn, shapes cities – all while providing a platform for students to develop innovative solutions to today’s urban challenges.

“We’re focused on giving folks the foundation,” says Hope about the course.

“So, what’s the origin of the culture? Where did it come from? How did it start to disseminate across the U.S.? And touching on how it went global. But there’s many parts of that story.”

Shad and Hope encourage students to bring their full selves to the class.

“The class will be a mix of music students and students from other disciplines – so this opportunity for mutual learning,” says Shad, who hosted Netflix's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution. “If people participate fully, I think it’s going to be really rich and special.”

Hope says there’s always something new to learn about the global phenomenon that is hip-hop.

“I’m hoping to learn about sub-communities and sub-genres of the culture that I'm not familiar with,” says Hope, an urbanist-in-residence at the School of Cities. “We can really help to build a greater understanding of this thing that now is beyond just being South Bronx culture.”

Reel impact: How a ��ֱ�� alum brought free films to Toronto parks each summer

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:54:03 +0000

Reel impact: How a ��ֱ�� alum brought free films to Toronto parks each summer

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 08/16/2024 - 10:54

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��ֱ�� alumna and TOPS founder Emily Reid, right, poses with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow during a TOPS screening this summer (photo by Rebecca Tisdelle-Macias)

Topic

St. Michael's College

Subheadline

'There are times when I get caught up in the planning and the numbers of it all – but that goes away at showtime. When I look out and see such an impressive crowd, it's very touching and I feel enormously proud of it'

For more than a decade, the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) has been a staple of the city's summer scene. Whether it’s a cultural touchstone film or something more obscure, the screenings bring thousands of people together.

And it’s all thanks to University of Toronto alumna Emily Reid.

“TOPS exists at the intersection of community, culture, cinema, public spaces, accessibility and affordability, providing programming that is available to everyone regardless of financial means,” says Reid, who is the artistic and executive director of TOPS.

The venture began humbly in 2011, just a few months after Reid earned her master of arts degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Cinema Studies Institute.

The first screening billed as, “Movies in Christie Pits”, was a small, potentially one-off event, but Reid was determined to tap into something the city craved.

“I think there is such a strong desire for gathering and fostering cultural experiences together,” she says.

Within a few years, however, the park was packed every Sunday night – so Reid added more shows at more locations. After rebranding as Toronto Outdoor Picture Show and registering as a not-for-profit, Reid started running TOPS on a full-time basis.

“I didn't expect it to pay much, and I was right about that. It took quite a long time to take a salary,” says Reid. “And there are times when I get caught up in the planning and the numbers of it all – but that goes away at showtime. When I look out and see such an impressive crowd, it's very touching and I feel enormously proud of it.”

TOPS registered as a charity in 2020, which helped secure new government grants and sponsorship opportunities. This growth made it possible for Reid to hire more full-time staff and purchase better AV equipment to make the organization nimbler and more autonomous.

Thousands of people flock to Toronto parks every summer to catch Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (photo courtesy of TOPS)

Lights, camera, education

Growing up in the 1990s in small-town Quebec, the only movies Reid could watch were the ones she rented from the local video store. Her favourites included A League of Their Own and Strictly Ballroom.

Reid was infatuated with film but realized she wasn’t a born filmmaker. Her true calling was in film curation and supporting other people’s artistic goals. She knew ��ֱ�� could open the right doors and give her the experience she needed to make an impact.

“Toronto always sounded like a mythical place to be,” says Reid. “I knew its reputation as a city of cinephiles and a city of festivals; I’d never been to the Toronto International Film Festival.”

For the practicum requirement of Reid’s master’s degree, she worked at Toronto’s historic Revue Cinema, where she pitched and curated her first film series. She also learned the ins and outs of film sourcing, marketing and event production – all essential skills for her future startup.

��ֱ�� played a pivotal role in expanding Reid’s industry network. She formed close bonds with the 13 people in her cinema studies cohort, some of whom later became her collaborators at TOPS.

Felan Parker, associate professor, teaching stream, in the Book & Media Studies program at St. Michael's College, is a TOPS co-founder who has served several terms on the board of directors and regularly contributes to festival programming.

“Emily is the driving force behind TOPS, having taken it from humble beginnings to what is easily the biggest and best outdoor movie event in the city,” says Parker. “She is probably the most fastidious person I know, and community-oriented public arts is her passion and vocation.”

There’s a strong connection between ��ֱ�� and TOPS, which draws more than 30,000 movie-goers each year (photo courtesy of TOPS)

Parker and Reid have teamed up to build strong ties between ��ֱ�� and TOPS. The organization has hosted numerous for-credit undergrad interns.

Isabella Brown, for example, is a ��ֱ�� graduate who joined TOPS as an intern and is now the organization's program administrator.

Despite TOPS’ success, Reid is tasked with overcoming existential threats year in and year out, citing underfunding of the arts. She says government grants are shrinking while inflation is rising.

“We lost all our sponsorship funding in the first week of the pandemic. And most of that has never returned, even though our festival is so much bigger, so much more successful than it was in 2019,” says Reid.

But Reid is hopeful that TOPS will continue hosting outdoor film screenings for many years to come. She knows the value it brings to the city she now calls home.

“When we hear that some arts entity is calling it quits, that doesn't mean something else won't come in its place. But it takes at least a decade to create something impactful. And we don’t live in a time where there are many resources available to create new things,” she says, adding that TOPS is grateful to the patrons who keep the festival running summer after summer.

“We need to preserve what we love and what we value as the cultural fabric of this city.”

��ֱ��’s Grid Modernization Centre receives $10 million in federal funding to advance energy transition

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 14:52:38 +0000

��ֱ��’s Grid Modernization Centre receives $10 million in federal funding to advance energy transition

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 07/29/2024 - 10:52

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(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Sayyeda Masood

Topic

City & Culture

Climate Positive Energy

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Leah Cowen

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Research & Innovation

Sustainability

Subheadline

Founded by the Climate Positive Energy institutional strategic initiative, the Grid Modernization Centre will help accelerate integration of novel green technologies

The University of Toronto has received $10-million in federal funding in support of the Grid Modernization Centre, a state-of-the-art facility in Toronto’s Downsview area that aims to accelerate progress towards a decarbonized, decentralized and digitalized power system for Canada.

Founded by Climate Positive Energy, a ��ֱ�� institutional strategic initiative, the centre will serve as a hub that provides utilities, regulators, municipalities and enterprises with the equipment and expertise needed to test, develop and commercialize a range of green technologies.

The Government of Canada announced the investment – which includes $5 million apiece from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Natural Resources Canada – at ��ֱ��'s Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship on Friday, July 26.

“On behalf of the University of Toronto, we thank FedDev Ontario and Natural Resources Canada for their $10-million investment in the Grid Modernization Centre,” said Leah Cowen, ��ֱ��’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “By convening stakeholders across the electricity ecosystem, Climate Positive Energy and their partners will help ensure the electrical grid remains safe and reliable, while supporting the development of clean technologies and jobs.”

Leah Cowen (left), ��ֱ��'s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, was joined by Ya'ara Saks (centre), minister of mental health and addictions, and Julie Dabrusin (right), parliamentary secretary to the minister of the environment, at the $10-million funding announcement for ��ֱ��'s Grid Modernization Centre (photo by Liz Beddall)

The first facility of its kind in Canada, the Grid Modernization Centre will foster innovations pertinent to electricity demand, which is estimated to double in the next 30 years according to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator.

“Through initiatives such as the Grid Modernization Centre here at ��ֱ��, we are collaborating to unlock a brighter future for our energy systems on the path to net-zero,” said Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the minister for environment and climate change and the minister of energy and natural resources.

“By supporting advancements in clean energy technologies, we are not only protecting our environment but also positioning Canada at the forefront of the clean energy revolution,” said Ya’ara Saks, minister of mental health and addictions and MP for York Centre, who attended the announcement on behalf of Filomena Tassi, the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

Ya'ara Saks and Julie Dabrusin speak with Associate Professor Ali Hooshyar during a tour of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics (photo by Liz Beddall)

Ontario’s existing grid faces a number of challenges, including extreme weather events, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and concerns around capacity, reliability, and security.

To address these challenges, the Grid Modernization Centre will enable an array of green technologies – from electric vehicle charging stations to battery energy storage systems – to be tested and refined before they are integrated with the grid.

It will also provide training opportunities for students and thought leadership on policy, regulatory and climate financing models.

Prior to Friday’s announcement, MP Saks and Parliamentary Secretary Dabrusin enjoyed a tour of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics led by Ali Hooshyar, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The centre specializes in research and development around electric power systems in areas such as integration of renewable resources into power grids and energy storage and distribution in microgrids.

(L-R) Chris Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and Deepa Kundur, chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, said the Grid Modernization Centre will help address crucial challenges around sustainable energy (photo by Liz Beddall)

Professor and chair of the department Deepa Kundur hailed the Grid Modernization Centre as a “crucial step” toward a safer and more sustainable society. "At ECE, we actively contribute to the technological landscape by addressing challenges in vehicle electrification, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This new centre represents ��ֱ��'s proactive response to society's energy needs, and I'm thrilled about its potential impact,” Kundur said.

Professor Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, described the clean energy transition as arguably the most important shift facing companies and communities today. “��ֱ�� has responded to this challenge by developing the Grid Modernization Centre," Yip said.

"Today’s investment is key in supporting the centre and propelling us towards a reliable, resilient and sustainable electricity grid that will power a clean energy future for generations.”

Read the Climate Positive Energy story

��ֱ�� alum shares her journey to becoming a celebrated Toronto restaurateur

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 30 May 2024 20:14:58 +0000

��ֱ�� alum shares her journey to becoming a celebrated Toronto restaurateur

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 05/30/2024 - 16:14

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Ambica Jain says she wants her guests at Adrak Yorkville to have a flawless dining experience while absorbing elements of Indian culture (photo by Matt Volpe)

Topic

Subheadline

After graduating from ��ֱ�� Scarborough in 2018, Ambica Jain went on to open the critically acclaimed Adrak restaurant in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood

Celebrated Toronto restaurateur Ambica Jain has come a long way since her first year at the University of Toronto Scarborough in 2014.

As a young undergraduate student, Jain knew she wanted to follow in her family’s entrepreneurial footsteps – but first needed to decide on an undergraduate major.

So, she chose mental health studies, which was then a fairly new program.

“At that time, there was such a stigma around mental health, especially in the South Asian community,” says Jain who graduated in 2018 and now owns Adrak Yorkville, a high-end Indian restaurant in Toronto that has a sister location in Richmond Hill, Ont.

Jain strives to ensure the dishes at Adrak Yorkville are as authentic as possible (photo by Ben Ehrensperger)

She says she enjoyed her studies – and, later, found some of the lessons she learned helped her run a restaurant.

“You really learn about interactions with other people, which for me applied to staff, guests – you name it,” she says. “I'm grateful that I chose that program, and I'm grateful it was at UTSC. I think it was a really good platform and a really good university to introduce you to the world.”

In 2017, Jain debated whether to apply for a post-graduate degree in business and law, or gain hands-on business experience first.

Her mother suggested she try taking on a leadership role at one of the family’s many business ventures: Adrak, an Indian restaurant in Richmond Hill that her family had owned since 2014.

She decided to go for it.

“We renovated it, got a new team, and it had a new jazzy vibe. It was this refreshing new take on it – and I started liking it a lot,” she says.

When the opportunity arose to open a second Adrak location in the trendy Yorkville area, Jain jumped at the chance to open a new restaurant on her own – and her quick success at the helm of Adrak Yorkville has made her a big name in the Toronto restaurant scene.

Since opening in 2022, Adrak’s Yorkville location has had several glowing reviews: it was named one of Toronto Life’s best new restaurants in 2023, has been mentioned in the New York Times, and even earned a coveted spot in the Toronto Michelin Guide.

The restaurant’s success is due in part to its authenticity, says Jain, who wants her guests to have both a flawless dining experience and absorb elements of Indian culture along the way.

“If you're walking into an Indian establishment, you should be able to learn something new and take away something about the culture,” she says. “With Adrak, it's all about this upscale dining experience where we remain as authentic as possible when it comes to flavours and presentation.”

The decor of Adrak Yorkville features numerous elements hand-picked from India (photo by Ryan Emberley)

Her belief in cultural authenticity is applied to every aspect of the restaurant, she says, including the decor.

“In our Yorkville location, all the elements have been hand-picked from India. So, whether it's our furniture or our wallpaper, they each have a storyline that has relevance to our culture and our heritage.”

Jain believes it's important to reflect on and celebrate her own South Asian roots, but also to spread knowledge about her culture with others. And what better way to do that than through food?

“When it comes to our culture, I think it's very important that you don't lose the authenticity and the traditions of the dishes you're trying to showcase to the guests,” she says. “And you must explain it as well. You can't just serve them a dish and be like, ‘Here you go.’ It’s very important to tell the story behind it all.”

Learn long and prosper: ��ֱ��’s Fisher Library becomes ‘eternal archive’ on Star Trek: Discovery

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 17 May 2024 20:51:35 +0000

Learn long and prosper: ��ֱ��’s Fisher Library becomes ‘eternal archive’ on Star Trek: Discovery

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/17/2024 - 16:51

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Hy'Rell (Elena Juatco) leads Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Book (David Ajala) through the Eternal Archive and Gallery in an episode of Star Trek: Discovery that was filmed in ��ֱ��'s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

Topic

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

��ֱ�� Libraries

Subheadline

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library was chosen as a filming location for the latest episode of the sci-fi series because of its unique architecture and "commitment to preservation and the pursuit of knowledge"

The team behind Star Trek: Discovery didn’t have to venture too far into the final frontier to find the perfect venue for a boundless library containing all the knowledge of the universe.

The University of Toronto’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library stars as a complete repository of cosmic wisdom in the latest episode of the sci-fi series, titled “Labyrinths,” which premiered this week and is available to stream on Paramount Plus.

The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (photo by ��ֱ�� Communications)

With its tiered stacks of timeless tomes, the Fisher library – a brutalist architectural marvel – serves as more than a retro-futuristic TV setting, says Michael Cassabon, director of advancement at ��ֱ�� Libraries.

“I think the university is trying to imagine an ideal future and bring it into the present … whether it’s working on inclusion, diversity and equity, or science and exploration,” he says.

“The Star Trek future represents a lot of what we’re trying to materialize.”

A self-proclaimed “Trekkie,” Cassabon says he had to set his fandom aside when reviewing the request to bring the USS Discovery to Fisher Library, which holds about 800,000 volumes and 5,000 linear metres of manuscripts.

Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery (photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

The Toronto-based production has previously filmed at various ��ֱ�� locations. However, camera crews rarely gain access to Fisher Library’s valuable stacks and a shoot of this scale was unprecedented, Cassabon says.

The deciding factor? The pivotal role Fisher Library would play in the run-up to the series finale, offering the galaxy a glimpse of the rich trove of knowledge preserved within its walls.

“It was exciting that Fisher Library wouldn’t just be a backdrop,” Cassabon says. “It was like the library itself was a character – a very important character – in the story.

“The Fisher Library is a national treasure, and we thought this was a really good way of making it known to a lot of folks out there.”

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery sends the crew on an interstellar scavenger hunt to uncover a hidden ancient power. The final clue lies in the “eternal archive,” an infinite library safeguarding the secrets of the universe.

As soon as Star Trek: Discovery location manager Melissa Warry-Smith read the site description, she says only one place came to mind.

“Not only does [Fisher Library] look like it is from the future and could in fact have been plucked directly from the Star Trek universe, but the library’s commitment to preservation and the pursuit of knowledge is intrinsic to the core values of Star Trek,” Warry-Smith says.

Larry Alford, right, university chief librarian, observes filming from a director's chair (photo by Michael Cassabon)

“The library is a stunning example of what we can achieve when we care deeply about preserving and sharing knowledge, and commit to coming together to use that knowledge for a shared vision of a better future for all – and what could be more Star Trek than that?”

This respect for the preservation of knowledge shaped the production team’s approach to shooting the scenes, says Cassabon.

Filming took place overnight to minimize disruption to readers and researchers. The crew worked with Fisher’s librarians and archivists to implement strict protocols to protect its precious collections, including using heat-free lighting to prevent damage to delicate materials.

Cassabon and Larry Alford, university chief librarian at ��ֱ�� Libraries, were on set for part of the shoot.

For Cassabon, meeting the show’s cast and crew was a fanboy moment.

“It was super surreal for me,” he says. “These are my childhood heroes.”

Filming took place overnight to minimize disruption to readers and researchers`(photo by Marni Grossman/Paramount+)

Cassabon adds that many researchers, professors and students have drawn inspiration from Star Trek as they look to tackle some of the greatest challenges in the world – and beyond.

Many of the show’s themes are reflected on campus, he says.

For example, the episode’s search through the “eternal archive” echoes the work of a ��ֱ��-led international research collaboration that’s using new techniques to unearth long-hidden stories lurking within Fisher Library and other collections, Cassabon says. And he notes that Star Trek has a nearly six-decade history of breaking new TV ground when it comes diverse representation and inclusivity – another one of the university’s core values.

“So much of Star Trek is imaging a world where … the things that label and divide us have faded away,” Cassabon says. “The university is all about trying to create a more inclusive and just world. It’s all about working together in harmony toward progress.”

Both ��ֱ�� and Fisher Library are credited in “Labyrinths,” which is dedicated to “librarians everywhere, dedicated to the preservation of artifacts, knowledge, and truth.”

��ֱ�� producers set to make their Cannes debut with two films

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 14 May 2024 13:19:49 +0000

��ֱ�� producers set to make their Cannes debut with two films

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 05/14/2024 - 09:19

Cutline

Weijie Lai, left, and Elizabeth Wijaya, right, have two films premiering at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Subheadline

Weijie Lai and Elizabeth Wijaya are co-founders of the development and production company E&W Films and teach in ��ֱ�� Mississauga's department of visual studies

The University of Toronto’s Elizabeth Wijaya and Weijie Lai are headed to the French Riviera to see not one, but two films debut at Cannes.

The two scholars – Wijaya is an assistant professor in ��ֱ�� Mississauga’s department of visual studies, Lai is a Cinema Studies instructor – co-founded the company, E&W Films, that led the production of Mongrel, which is set to premiere as part of the Director’s Fortnight, an independent section that runs in parallel to theCannes Film Festival and is organized by the French Directors’ Guild.

The film, which marks the feature debut of co-directors Chiang Wei Liang and You Qiao Yin, tells the story of Oom, an undocumented migrant who works as a caregiver in the mountains of rural Taiwan.

Meanwhile, director Trương Minh Quý’s Việt and Nam will compete in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard category, which is dedicated to non-traditional stories and styles. The film, also produced by E&W, follows two lovers, one from the north and the other from the south, on a mission that explores the dreams and trauma of the southeast Asian country’s children.

“I would say both films this year are heavy, but they have very distinct artistic visions,” Wijaya says. “With everything we work on under E&W Films, we look out for that sense of directorial vision or artistic voice.”

A still from the movie Mongrel (Image courtesy E&W Films)

Wijaya and Lai met in an undergraduate philosophy and film course at the National University of Singapore. They launched E&W Films for practical reasons: they needed somewhere to hold funds while raising money to make Lai’s thesis film project. Later, E&W Films produced a short project for an undergraduate schoolmate: director Kirsten Tan. Next, the pair moved on to produce Tan’s debut feature Pop Aye, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Fast forward to today and E&W Films now has more than a dozen productions under its belt.

Wijaya generally defines her roles as development, strategy and co-ordination while Lai is more hands-on, helping facilitate everything from ideation and scripting to fundraising, production, sales and distribution.

A still from the film Việt and Nam (image courtesy Epicmedia Productions Inc.)

The couple’s dedication to film media, as well as their teaching and scholarship, has enriched ��ֱ�� Mississauga’s department of visual studies, where they’ve built the UTM Asian Short Film Collection (accessible to anyone with a ��ֱ�� library account) and organized the UTM DVS filmmaker-in-residence program, which has welcomed international talents such as Davy Chou, Pimpaka Towira and Anocha Suwichakornpong to campus for workshops, lectures and screenings.

Two projects currently in development by E&W Films have also received ��ֱ�� Mississauga funding: an eco-horror project directed by Gogularaajan Rajendran was awarded the Black, Indigenous, and/or Racialized Scholar Research Grant, and The Sea is Calm Tonight by filmmaker Lê Bảo was given seed support by the Research and Scholarly Activity Fund.

The opportunity presented by the Cannes’ platform is enormous, the producers say.

“It's the biggest international market in terms of the number of attendees,” Lai says. “The most number of critics internationally are there. The most number of distributors are there and sales agents and things like that … So if you're there, in theory, more people will watch your film.”

While E&W Films has had a presence at the festival for years, this is the first time its work is set to be screened at Cannes.

“I think I’m excited just to see the first reactions,” Wijaya says.

Lai, too, says he’s looking forward to the experience.

“By the time we get to the world première, you've seen the film so many times that you’re actually bored stiff,” he says. “But for some reason, when you're sitting there with a fresh audience during the world première … the feeling is always different. You feel the energy of the audience, and fingers crossed the energy is good.”

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