FALL 2019

TWEAKING MOLECULES Next-Gen science: Concordia emerging as a leader in synthetic biology

JAMES TUPPER COMES HOME > STUDYING FAT > THEY SHOOT! THEY SCORE! An exciting benefit for you as a Concordia University graduate.

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5673-1218 AMG AD Ad_Request-Concordia_8-125x10-75_DEC07.indd 1 2018-12-04 3:53 PM GINA CODY SCHOOL LOOKS FORWARD JAMES TUPPER Fast-growing engineering COMES HOME school succeeds with 12 The Concordia grad who had a role Next-Gen approach to in the acclaimed TV drama Big Little burgeoning field. Lies spoke at Homecoming this fall By Joseph Leger 16 and also talked about his pride in being a Canadian in Hollywood. By Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins

TWEAKING MOLECULES STUDYING FAT Concordia researchers’ work in the emergent field of synthetic Researchers at Concordia’s biology could someday change PERFORM Centre are changing your life — from improvements the way we look at fat — and in drug delivery to finding how different people have new fuels that could reduce different problems with it. environmental damage. 36 By Marta Samuel By Daniel Bartlett 26

LIVING ON THE AIR THEY SHOOT! THEY SCORE! Concordia grads are all over the airwaves in Canada’s two largest The business of sports is a big one. cities. Five high-profile hosts talk 46 From executives to managers and about their careers — and those now to the NHL’s first female scout, awful early-morning wake-ups. we talk to half a dozen grads who 41 have accomplished a lot. By Richard Burnett By Sean Farrell

10 | WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP By Damon Van Der Linde 22 | URSULA EICKER ON CITIES By Maeve Haldane 52 | FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES By Rachel Andren

fall 2019 volume 43 number 2 concordia.ca/magazine

COVER: 2 IN GOOD C OMPANY The cover art shows a conceptual image of a DNA molecular structure. (Thinkstock) 5 CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA

CORRECTION: 56 ALUMNI NEWS On Page 55 of the Winter 2019 edition of the 60 HONORARY DEGREES Concordia University Magazine, the caption for Photo #8, should have read: “The 1968 Loyola 68 IN MEMORIAM Warriors football team, including Dominic D’Ermo, BA 74, and Richard Jones, BA 65, celebrated its 50th 70 WORDS & MUSIC anniversary at the Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre.” The magazine regrets the error. 72 ENOUGH SAID IN GOOD COMPANY

In Good Company is a series on inspiring grads who work for corporations and non-profits that hire a large number of Concordia alumni. To be featured, please contact us at Heads-up! [email protected] or @ConcordiaAlumni on social media. Concordia grads driving innovation

Aura Innovation wants to make fleet drivers’ lives easier, safer

SIMONA emergency vehicles. “We lab of Concordia's student followed by an avionics RABINOVITCH can help them reduce fuel branch of the Institute of engineering specialist job at costs, reduce insurance Electrical and Electronics TRU Simulation + Training, startup by Concordia premiums, train drivers Engineers. “The prototype thanks to Concordia’s A grads wants to use more quickly, track them was very much developed Co-op program. heads-up display (HUD) and send information late at night,” Cool says. They met when Hercule technology to improve directly to the windshield.” “We both had jobs, boot- marched into the IEEE the efficiency, safety and Hercule, 26, explains strapping the startup on the Concordia lab looking for bottom lines of commercial that “the business prem- side, any time we had was the right collaborators to vehicle fleets. ise is that we have features devoured by this idea.” get a startup off the ground. With plans to launch we integrate already and the Hercule, who grew up “There was one guy in the this winter, their startup, service we offer is to create in Markham, Ont., says room, typing at the computer Aura Innovation, uses custom HUD features, any- he has always had an wearing slippers,” Hercule “augmented reality and thing our client desires.” entrepreneurial bent. recalls. “He was like, the Internet of Things to The duo started devel- As for Cool, he’s into ‘What do you want?’ ” create a fleet-management oping the concept in 2016 cars and entered the Shortly thereafter, they service,” explains co- during pizza-fueled work aerospace industry with officially partnered up to founder and chief technology sessions at the Electronics a CAE internship in 2014, apply for a startup program officer Tristan Cool, BEng at Concordia’s District 3 (electrical engineering) 17, Innovation Center. They got who started the company into the program, where, Cool with chief executive officer says, “they give mentorship, Gabriel Hercule, BComm help you pitch, speak to in- (attendee). “We offer clients vestors, approach clients.” a dashboard-mounted, It was there they first met heads-up display device that Sujan Soosaithas, BEng projects a hologram onto the (mech.eng.) 09, MEng 18, windshield displaying route their assigned mentor, who information, speed, lane would later come aboard guidance, braking gauge and as the company’s third co- a number of features related founder and chief operating to driving information.” officer (with a focus on While HUD technology mechanical design, manu- can be found in luxury con- facturing and supply chain). ong

sumer vehicles, says Cool, K “We’re using an innovative a 26-year-old Montrealer, ong approach for a product that’s H tor

Aura’s product is “not just a really disrupting different an interface, but a working aspects of the automotive cceler tool.” By targeting commer- A industry,” says Soosaithas. rinc cial vehicles as their client B “We’re thinking about base – think delivery vans, “THIS COULD NOT BE MORE OF A CONCORDIA INVENTION,” SAYS TRISTAN COOL what the future looks like, (CENTRE), AURA INNOVATION’S CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER. GABRIEL HERCULE semi trucks, taxi drivers, IS AT LEFT; SUJAN SOOSAITHAS IS AT RIGHT. [about] augmented reality,

2 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine (_Insérez _ _ _ un _ nom _ _)

human-machine interaction. with former professors in the We’re pushing those Department of Computer and boundaries and I find that Electrical Engineering. really fulfilling.” “I encourage Concordia Things really got roll- developers, engineers and ing in late 2017, when they business students to take the were accepted into London, leap while they're young; it’s England’s Startupbootcamp really not that scary,” says IoT accelerator program (as Cool. “If you have to change HUDlog, their company’s cities, get international as original name). Theirs was soon as possible, build the (______) one of nine projects chosen right team and have faith in out of 350 for 2017’s IoT your idea. You’ll get ‘no’ 10 accelerator program. The times more than ‘yes,’ but trio went to London. the yes is always a big win.” BELIEVES “They invested in us,” Soosaithas also values Cool says. “We got really his Concordia ties. “What chummy with the London made the difference for me NOTHING scene, spoke to custom- was the Concordia Institute ers, developed the product of Aerospace Design & and built the team.” (Which Innovation (CIADI),” says IS IMPOSSIBLE now, they say, includes two Soosaithas, who was ac- interns and several contrac- cepted into its internship tors, plus the co-founders.) program back when he was Nominate the entrepreneur Then came a second round a student. This, he adds, of pre-seed funding as part of helped him land a variety of or executive that you think Brinc’s Connected Hardware internships “doing all these deserves to be recognized accelerator program in Hong different things,” which he Déposez une candidature au rcgt.com/prix Kong, where they were ac- feels made his CV stand out as Person of the Year cepted into its spring 2018 to Concordia’s District 3 as program. The trio spent the a possible mentor. “The dif- summer of 2018 there and ference is seen here; that’s rcgt.com/awards visited factories. what attracted [Hercule and d’ici au 30 novembre 2019! Now, Cool says, they’re in Cool] to considering me as the process of “de-bugging, a mentor. I’m part of this doing sales, developing part- project because they consid- nerships and getting ready ered me good enough to be for launch.” Hercule says a mentor, which opened the that now, before seeking door to be a co-founder.” to raise seed funding, data As for Hercule, he is another focus. “We want very much connects to more data than we know what Concordia’s entrepreneur- to do with, and tweaking, ial spirit. “For me, it was all tweaking, tweaking, until about building a business we get it just right.” from day one,” he says. Aura Innovation's prod- “I dedicated a lot of time uct (for which they hold at Concordia at District 3. three pending patents for I would just go there and hardware, interface and ap- write ideas. And today, most plication) “could not be more of my friends and the people of a Concordia invention,” I go to for business advice says Cool, who keeps in touch are Concordia-based.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 3 VPAA-T20-59701-ADVERTISEMENTS-Person of the Year awards.indd 1 02/10/2019 4:23:05 PM setting an example Award encourages women to dive into engineering

don’t have any heart-tugging stories Concordia, or now at work, and it has about growing up and having to walk been great to be able to nurture and “I for miles without shoes to get to show my creative side even in the David Moorcroft, BA 77 school, or dreaming about having enough engineering discipline. money just to buy a tin of corned beef. I decided to set up the Ahema award That was my father’s story, but, years for a female student in the Gina Cody later, he and my mother traveled the School of Engineering and Computer world, raised their four young girls (me Science at Concordia, to support other included) and put us all through university. girls in pursuing their goals. Female My parents believe firmly in a good graduates in these industries are the education. My father was a university women who will be the example and professor, so he started us out at an early encouragement for the next generation age practicing mathematical problems at of women interested in entering the the dinner table. STEM fields. The award, $,000 per As an international student at Concordia, year for three years, offered to a female I was incredibly blessed and privileged to student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in have all my fees paid for by my parents, Engineering and Computer Science, is while my older sisters took care of also an expression of my gratitude to my living expenses. While I was those who played a role in my education. under no obligation to pay Going through the BEng program at them back, my father always Concordia prepared me for my first job reiterated the importance of in the HVAC industry with the selection helping others in return. of coursework and projects I focused on. At Concordia I was able to After several years in the industry, challenge myself and my I wanted to help others and I immediately ambitions through the Building thought, what better place to start than Engineering program. I am as with the university that opened the door interested in fashion, jewelry for me to become part of the industry and dance as I am in I wanted to be in.” construction, big trucks and Mercy Quarshie, Eng., BEng 20, machinery. That has never is aftermarket service manager at changed through my years at Dehumidified Air Solutions.

Find out how you can join Mercy Quarshie, in giving to Concordia. Info: concordia.ca/giving | 54-848-2424, ext. 4856 | -888-777-3330, ext. 4856 | [email protected] #CUpride THE CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA

District 3 partnership lays foundation for cooperation between Israeli, Palestinian communities

Innovative program Entrepreneurship in Montreal in late July a deeper understanding of the connects entrepreneurs will be used to foster trust for the final two weeks of Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Concordia students between participants the program, where they and the differing narratives for hands-on learning – acting as a catalyst to participated in a series involved,” says Lobna Agbaria, with social impact approach and mitigate of workshops, coaching Program Director of OGS. tensions from the continuing and expert sessions, and During their stay, OGS Israeli-Palestinian conflict. explored the Montreal participants were housed JULIA SCANDELLA, The program will allow innovation ecosystem. The together at Concordia’s Grey BA 15 Concordia students to Concordia student teams Nuns Residence. Shared gain valuable experience will formulate exercises for living quarters increased oncordia’s District 3 through startups. the emerging entrepreneurs opportunities for partici- C Innovation Center is “The Our Generation and help them tackle some of pants to build trust and partnering with fellowship Speaks-Concordia their startup challenges. understanding. program and startup incuba- Accelerator Program exem- The program ended with Concordia students tor Our Generation Speaks plifies how collaboration, an innovation showcase on also reap benefits from (OGS) for a novel program entrepreneurship and Aug. 8 at District 3. the program – cultivating to promote cooperation in innovation – the pillars of The OGS-Concordia a broader worldview the Middle East. District 3 – drive progress Accelerator Program instills and gaining hands-on As part of the Our and help bridge cultural more than entrepreneurial entrepreneurial experience. Generation Speaks-Concordia divides,” says Xavier-Henri skills. It thoughtfully mixes “Working in the startup Accelerator Program, four Hervé, executive director Israelis and Palestinians ethos has been such a visiting Israeli and Palestinian of District 3. with the aim of build- blessing, and I’ve grown entrepreneurs will further de- The program was made ing economic and social immensely from it. It’s velop their respective startups possible thanks to the Naim partnerships. been such an eye-opening through collaboration with S. Mahlab Foundation’s “Common feedback experience working with District 3’s innovation resi- gift to the Campaign for I receive from our alumni these startups and seeing dency teams – three groups of Concordia: Next-Gen. Now. and fellows is that OGS what is possible for our multidisciplinary and multi- The OGS Israeli and injects in them optimism, future world,” says cultural Concordia students. Palestinian fellows arrived and enables them to grasp Kevin Lam, BFA 19.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 5 20 years of philanthropy and friendship

JULIA SCANDELLA, BA 15 “The foundation’s ac- them access to a high- philanthropist Che-woo Lui. complishments over the quality, international The CUHKF’s mission — to he Concordia University last 20 years are a testament education at Concordia,” make international studies T Hong Kong Foundation to the great leadership we says Graham Carr, interim accessible to students from (CUHKF) celebrated its have in Hong Kong — and president of Concordia. low-income families — 20th anniversary with a gala of the strength of its alum- “The generosity of the CUHKF resonates deeply with them. dinner on September 5, ni community,” says Paul has been remarkable.” Of Concordia’s alumni 2019, in Hong Kong. Chesser, vice-president of Over two decades, the community — which The gala raised $370,000 Advancement at Concordia. CUHKF and its board members counts 220,000 graduates to be shared between the By the end of 2019, the have raised close to $1 million. worldwide — 500 make their CUHKF and the Campaign CUHKF will have awarded The evening celebrated home in China. for Concordia. 135 Concordia scholarships the foundation’s “Our students have thrived The event featured to deserving students in main- accomplishments as thanks to donors’ support of more than 200 guests — land China and Hong Kong. well as key members, the foundation. As Concordia mostly alumni from the “Scholarships funded by including president and moves forward, many more 1960s through today — the CUHKF offer critical founder William Yip, who students will benefit as the as well as harp and tai chi financial support to many established the CUHKF with next generation of great performances. talented students, giving the support of long-time leaders,” says Chesser. tion a oundd F ong K ong H CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: HARPIST ENTERTAINS AT THE EVENT, CHINESE ART WORK, niversity U

GRAHAM CARR, INTERIM a PRESIDENT OF CONCORDIA, JEFF NANKIVELL, CANADA’S

oncordi CONSUL GENERAL IN C HONG KONG AND MACAO. e h t of courtesy otos h P

6 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine THE CAMPAIGN FOR CONCORDIA

Concordia Golf Classic aces fundraising goal

Over 150 Quebec business leaders participated in the 16th annual event

IAN HARRISON, BCOMM 00

ne of the university’s Omost anticipated fundraisers, the annual Concordia Golf Classic tournament and dinner, eclipsed past milestones with an impressive $427,600 raised on September 9. The record tally ensures that promising students benefit from university scholarships and bursaries. Thanks to Golf Griffon des Sources Services Laurentian Bank; Award recipient Olivia the support of sponsors and in Mirabel, Que., was once Sylvain Corbeil, Senior Vice- Herron described how participants, the event has again the host site for the President, TD Commercial financial assistance from raised close to $6 million gathering of business lead- Banking, Quebec and the Golf Classic helps since its inception in 2004. ers, alumni, donors and Atlantic Regions, TD Bank students get out of the rough. To date, more than 1,000 friends of Concordia, many Group; and Charles Douville, “While studying full time students have benefited of whom were repeat guests. BComm 84, Senior Vice- [at Concordia’s Faculty from Concordia Golf Classic Prominent attendees in- President, Regional Head of Arts and Science], I scholarships and bursaries. cluded honorary co-chairs of Commercial Banking – volunteer for a local crisis “Bursaries often mean Luigi Liberatore, LLD 18, Quebec, HSBC Bank Canada. line, run therapeutic and the difference between Louis Tanguay, BComm 75, René Douville, Head, educational programs for staying in school and drop- LLD 18, and André Desmarais, Corporate Finance Division teen mothers and sit on the ping out,” says interim BComm 78, LLD 07. – Quebec, BMO Bank of board of an anti-racism Concordia President and The following co- Montreal, was represented education organization,” Vice-Chancellor Graham presidents of the Golf by Claude Gagnon, President, she says. Carr. “Some recipients are Classic were present: Tony Operations, BMO Financial “I hope to pursue a career adult students, are married, Aksa, CFA, Associate Vice- Group, Quebec. in counselling psychology have young kids or care for President Commercial Also in attendance and work with young families aging relatives. Education Banking, National Bank; were co-presidents Maria and single parents. In the can be a risky investment. Sophie Boucher, Vice- Mangiocavallo, BComm 86, past, there were times I’ve Financial aid makes it a President, Business GrDip 89, Vice-President had to pause my studies sounder one.” Development, Business and Head, Commercial due to financial strain, so Banking and Roynat Capital, I appreciate how privileged Quebec Region, Roynat/ I am to have your support to Scotiabank; Nathalie continue my work.” oure among our Soucy, Head of Sales, Vice- Funds raised at the Golf #CUalmni President, Business Services, Classic will contribute to the Desjardins Group; Nadine Campaign for Concordia. C Renaud-Tinker, President, Next-Gen. Now. The Quebec Headquarters, RBC university’s most ambitious CA Royal Bank; and Demo campaign to date aims I Trifonopoulos, BComm 85, to raise $250 million to Vice-President and Region deliver next-generation Head – Quebec, Commercial teaching and learning to Banking CIBC. Concordia students.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 7

33988 Social Media Ads.indd 5 2019-05-23 11:03 AM Carr sees youth, diversity and ambition as Concordia’s big strengths Interim president says university well-placed to tackle future change

JAKE BRENNAN

raham Carr began his tenure as Concordia’s Ginterim president and vice- chancellor on July 1. He had previously served as the university’s provost and vice-president, Academic, since October 2016. Carr joined Concordia’s Department of History in 1983. He has held many administrative positions at

the university since then, niversity U including vice-president a

of Research and Graduate oncordi Studies and dean of C Graduate Studies. You’re becoming research intensification, seismic changes coming in In these excerpts from an Concordia’s president at graduate education and higher education because interview published online, an interesting time for funding for students. And we’ve been developing a Carr discusses challenges academic leaders. Higher we continued to improve next-generation mindset universities face, what education is responding our infrastructure. for a while. makes Concordia a Next- to deep and rapid societal I think those were make- Gen university and how changes, many of them or-break decisions and years What new challenges do it is carving out a growing driven by the digital for Concordia, quite frankly, academic leaders face reputation as a place for revolution. How do you because we were embarking now that they may not innovation and partnerships. see societal demands on on something that was have a generation ago? universities shifting? changing the trajectory GC: I wouldn’t say there are Graham Carr: I was in ad- of the university. There more or fewer challenges ministration when the was a risk that we could today; it’s just a different university went through make bad choices but the reality. Part of that reality for severe budget cuts for suc- biggest risk would have university leaders is the in- cessive years since 2012. We been not to move boldly. credible complexity of the were operating under very Now we’re coming out organizations we lead, par- difficult circumstances. But of that experience into ticularly places as large as we also realized that there a somewhat better eco- Concordia. were a lot of great things nomic situation: the Board We have an unbelievably happening at Concordia and of Governors has just ap- diverse internal community we were determined to con- proved our first balanced and the array of external tinue to push forward, full budget in many, many years. contacts who interact with us throttle, to support them. Although we still have struc- is extraordinary. And when it And we did that. tural financial challenges comes to decision-making, We prioritized academ- to address, Concordia is everything is magnified ic growth, faculty hiring, well placed to deal with the and accelerated in an era

8 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine of social media by the speed to tack accordingly. All of doing – is that people are future by growing of information sharing – those things are key to being taking notice of what’s our international profile. accurate or not. a Next-Gen university. happening at Concordia. That’s something the It’s also a very destabiliz- There’s a sense that this university needs in order to ing time, in terms of what’s Does this make Concordia is a cool place to be, a unique sustain its momentum in a happening socially and eco- more nimble in a time of place where experimentation globally competitive higher- nomically. There’s a lot of rapid change? and out-of-the-box ideas education environment. oversight from government Yes. “Nimble” and are valued. And related to that is the now – which is fair enough: “university” don’t often I look at our student partnership piece, something we’re public institutions. fit together too well in numbers and I have to be- I began to appreciate when And I think the expectations the same sentence! But lieve that one of the reasons I was in research portfolios. that our alumni and donors on the university scale students have been beat- The cliché, which is true, justifiably place on us are of nimbleness, I think ing down the doors to come is that the problems of the big as well. Concordia dances as well here is that they sense that. world are too big to be solved as anyone – especially given They’ll get a great founda- by any one research group Concordia is distinguishing our size. tional education, for sure, or university. You need to itself as Canada’s Next- I think the other thing but they’ll also have other partner. That’s always Gen university. What does we have is ambition – opportunities, novel op- been Quebec’s approach “Next-Gen” mean to you? ambition to be recognized, portunities to explore and to supporting research, What qualities position to be successful, to discover, that they might not through the Fonds de Concordia to assume be the destination university have access to elsewhere. recherche du Québec that role? for students, to bring in A few years ago, Times and the Regroupements One advantage Concordia outstanding, quality faculty, Higher Education ranked stratégiques, etc. has is its youth: in some and to provide programs, us in the top 200 most I love the fact that respects, it’s easier for us activities and opportunities international universities Concordia is now leading to be forward-looking. within the university that in the world. A diversity of more and more research The history of Concordia’s prepare our students for students is part of it. But I networks across Canada founding institutions what’s coming in their lives. think what makes you an and internationally.

”Part of our tradition has always been to offer something different from what other universities were providing. There’s been an emphasis at Concordia on innovation, on experimentation, creativity, taking risks, truly valuing diversity, reading the horizon and not being afraid to tack accordingly. All of those things are key to being a Next-Gen university.“ is important and our Even with Concordia’s international university But we’re also seeing more and traditions matter and need strong momentum, you’ve is demonstrating that you more the benefit of expanding to be valued. But part of our said there’s a lot more can partner meaningfully the focus on partnerships tradition has always been to work to do. Can you beyond your borders. and collaborations beyond offer something different tell us what you plan Whether that’s laying research activity to develop from what other universities to prioritize? down the tracks for vibrant consortia of mobility were providing. My sense – from meetings mobility for faculty and opportunities for students. There’s been an emphasis with other university ad- students, or entering into Ideally, Concordia is at Concordia on innovation, ministrators and with people collaborative international an anchor institution in experimentation, creativity, outside academia, from what research networks, or Montreal – not just because taking risks, truly valuing faculty tell me their col- hosting global conferences, of what we do for the city, diversity, reading the leagues are saying about the I think there’s a prestige but also because of how we horizon and not being afraid breakthrough work we’re moment for Concordia in the connect it to the world.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 9 WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Meet two women who have forged careers through the power of strong leadership

The Concordia Alumni Women and hundreds of applications Leadership program empowers women and attended dozens graduates to connect, share professional of interviews across the experiences and expertise, and learn from country, but could no longer each other. In this new series, meet leaders find a position she felt from among Concordia’s nearly 100,000 passionate about. alumnae who fill the ranks of business, “The financial industry media, engineering, science, the arts, is still very much a boys’ humanities and more. Each issue, club and it’s a white boys’ we’ll profile both young and seasoned club at that. I’m neither of alumnae who will share their insights, those things,” says Pradhan. challenges and lessons learned. “I had two choices, (concordia.ca/alumni/women) I could either abandon the industry altogether, or I could recycle my career DAMON VAN DER LINDE, BA 08 and do something different. I always wanted to use my njali Pradhan, BComm 03, left skills to help other people, A Montreal to build an investment- so a friend suggested I teach management career in London, women how to invest.” England, with nothing but her Pradhan founded Dahlia Concordia degree and a hockey Wealth, an online platform bag full of belongings. that gives women the tools Already feeling confident working and confidence to make in finance thanks to her undergradu- the best financial decisions ate Co-op placements, she quickly rose for themselves. through the ranks at some of the big- “What I hear over and gest names in the industry, including over again from women Goldman Sachs and PIMCO. However, that I work with is that they can’t find felt inspired by the fact that Concordia when she learned that women are twice a financial advisor they connect with professors were usually experienced as likely to be in poverty at retirement and they don’t feel comfortable and financial professionals; something she as men, that sobering statistic sparked happy with the products they are being can now offer to her students. a fundamental shift in how she envi- offered,” she says. “In business, you want to be taught sioned using her financial expertise. “The lack of service geared toward by people who are ‘in the trenches’ and “When women feel confident invest- women’s needs results in women Concordia has many of those,” she says. ing, it changes everything. Not only investing half as much as men do, “My transition from a corporate their relationship with money, but also which is a real societal issue.” employee to an entrepreneur has been how they live their lives,” says Pradhan. Dahlia’s flagship product is an on- extremely interesting and edifying. It has In the wake of the 2008 financial line coaching program, where students been almost like a second education.” crisis, Pradhan returned home to can go through the curriculum at their Montreal a Chartered Financial Analyst own pace and have a weekly video chat with an impressive resumé. She sent out session with Pradhan. She says she

10 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine From Concordia to Google nowing the value of strong K leadership has taken Catherine Barry, BComm 06, to a place in her career where she oversees projects across several continents for one of the biggest tech companies in the world. As Head of Exchange Platforms at Google for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, she combines her passion for technology, advertising and relation- ship-management, across an incredibly diverse range of geographies, cultures and languages. “I’m working with companies that through their advertising support a free open web. I have always been interested in making information accessible and useful, which is very much at the core of Google’s values,” says Barry, who is “I think I’ve always been a leader,” “My first boss told me, ‘You need to based in London, England. says Barry. “From a young age, I was lead from the middle. You don’t need “Our clients are based in differ- the person to raise her hand to volunteer to be in a formal position to do that.’ ent places with different needs and for things.” It’s more important to cultivate your their own unique set of customers. At Barry says a key ingredient to network and be deliberate about who Concordia, I studied with people from becoming such a strong leader in her you are working for,” she says. all over the world. I would recommend career is that she has always sought out “We can all learn from each anybody with the chance to travel for other strong leaders to work with. other because there are going to be work take advantage of the opportunity. “One of the most important crite- challenging moments for everyone. Your curiosity can be endless.” ria I’ve had when picking my next role This is especially true for women While studying at Concordia, Barry is that my direct manager inspires me. who can face different family obligations was active in the Commerce and Along the way, I’ve had different kinds and other challenges in maintaining a Administration Students Association of leaders and managers who have work-life balance.” (CASA), where she was involved in helped shape me into the leader I am.” projects that included fundraising for Another principle that has guided charities and case competitions with Barry’s career is that you don’t need to other students. work in management to be a leader.

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33988 Social Media Ads.indd 3 2018-08-30 2:19 PM concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 11 GROWTH, LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION: WHY THE GINA CODY SCHOOL IS TURNING HEADS

niversity U

a

12 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine oncordi C STUDENT POPULATION HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE IN THE LAST DECADE

JOSEPH LEGER, BA 15 FOCUSING ON NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES n an era of smart cities, smartphones and smart cars, “Engineering and computer science are leading fields across our world is increasingly reliant on engineers and the world and the demand for highly qualified personnel computer scientists. Technology merges seamlessly is great,” says Amir Asif, dean of the Gina Cody School. Iinto our environment, often invisible to the eye, yet “However, GCS is the only school of its kind in Quebec nonetheless shaping and altering the way we live. that has expanded so much in the past 10 years.” Most of us would be hard-pressed to find any area of our “There are a number of contributing factors to our daily lives untouched by technology — which might explain rapid growth. I believe a big part of our success can be why the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer attributed to our efforts to introduce programs focused Science (GCS) is Concordia’s fastest-growing faculty. on next-generation concepts and technologies.” With roughly 10,500 students — 5,780 undergraduate and Asif points to the new aerospace engineering program, 4,700 graduate students —GCS’s enrolment has nearly doubled which is only the second of its kind in Quebec and the first since 2009. It is now one of Canada’s largest such faculties. at an English university, and the recently launched Master “It’s no secret that there’s a huge labour market demand for in Engineering with Engineering Management Option. engineers and computer scientists at the moment,” says Anne The latter is an interdisciplinary collaboration Whitelaw, BA 87, MA 92, PhD 96, Concordia’s interim provost between the Gina Cody School and the John Molson and vice-president of Academic Affairs. “And we are seeing School of Business, aimed at helping engineers who that demand translate into exciting growth in the Gina Cody aspire to move into management-level positions School. For example, our master’s of engineering program acquire business skills. saw more than 100 per cent growth in applications over the Providing students with courses and programs last year and a half.” tailored for a rapidly changing digital era is no easy feat. While the labour demands are undeniable, GCS’s growth With technology emerging, evolving and often quickly outpaces other Quebec universities. becoming obsolete, the challenge is to prepare students “Concordia’s been in a situation the last few years where for the world as it is, or as it will be when they enter the students have been knocking down the doors to come workplace, and not as it was five years ago. here,” says Graham Carr, Concordia’s interim president. The Gina Cody School not only manages to keep up, “Our enrolments have been completely out of sync with its courses and programs are often ahead of their time. the experience in the rest of the province. We are at a point For example, the faculty recently established the where we can’t continue to grow everywhere — we just Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, have to think about where we want to grow.” positioning itself as a leader in advanced manufacturing, It is a sentiment echoed by Whitelaw. clean energy and sustainability. “It’s critical that the education we offer is of the highest “Our undergraduate programs are modern and we caliber — and to do that we have to be smart,” she says. “The maintain them with regular changes,” says Christopher faculty has been very strategic in its growth and has focused Trueman, GCS associate dean, Academic Affairs. “We on research at the master’s and PhD level — which aligns with offer up-to-date options, such as avionics in electrical the university’s strategic direction to double our research.” engineering, biological and biomedical programs in computer This begs the question: what is happening at Concordia, and in engineering and aerospace in mechanical engineering, particular the Gina Cody School, that has so many people excited? in addition to the bachelor of engineering in aerospace.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 13 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE Beyond the exciting programs and courses, Asif says the faculty puts a lot of emphasis on experiential and hands-on learning. “Almost all of our courses have a lab component where students can put theoretical concepts to the test,” says Asif. “Plus, we facilitate industrial placements for our students with the eventual goal that all of our undergraduate students will have one work placement upon graduating.” niversity U One popular feature of the university’s focus on experiential a learning is Concordia’s co-op programs. Students enrolled in oncordi

a co-op program divide their time between the classroom and C a job placement in their field. “These programs offer students the chance to gain industry- “At Concordia, I have the freedom to do what I’m interested specific work experience so that when they graduate they are in and we have flexible working hours.” Being attentive to ready for the workplace,” says Anjali Agarwal, associate dean the changing needs of students has allowed GCS to develop a and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer curriculum designed for a digital world. Engineering. “When potential students visit, they get very According to Acemian, the goal is to move towards a blended excited when the see our state-of-the-art labs and hear about pedagogy of online courses and programs and in-person class- our many experiential learning opportunities.” es. This allows students the greatest flexibility to customize GCS also provides internships and other work-placement their education to fit their needs. opportunities through programs such as the Concordia “Online courses may seem like a small thing, but they make Institute of Aerospace Design & Innovation. a big difference,” says Acemian. “And it’s not just a question of These experiences help equip students with the tools and taking an in-person class, recording it and plunking it online. knowledge they need and in turn make the students more We are taking the time to develop them properly to make sure attractive to employers. the technology is supporting the pedagogy and working for the professors and the students.” FLEXIBILITY AND OPENNESS IS KEY Concordia has a well-earned reputation for being a STUDENT-DRIVEN INNOVATION student-first university. Dating back to its two founding Award-winning student groups and societies are an important institutions, Sir George Williams University and Loyola draw for prospective students; the Gina Cody School has no College, Concordia has a history of offering night classes shortage of those. and access to higher education to allow students to complete There’s Space Concordia, a student-run group that recently won their degrees while working. a $15,000 second- place prize in the first stage of the Base 11 Space This student-centric ideal remains a Concordia cornerstone. Challenge — an international student competition to design, build “We give everyone a chance — it’s our mission,” says Nancy and launch a rocket into space (the grand prize is $1 million). Acemian, senior lecturer in the Department of Computer HackConcordia, a student group that organizes ConUHacks, Science and Software Engineering. “The flexibility here is one an annual 24-hour hackathon at Concordia, is another. This of the things I love about Concordia. We offer evening classes year, the group’s fourth ConUHacks attracted more than 700 and online classes and we are catering to the needs of today. participants from between 40 to 50 universities — making it We are very open and we try to do everything we can to help one of the largest such events in the world. our students succeed.” “We empower our student societies to receive or get trained Christopher Trueman believes word of GCS’ openness and in what I call co-curricular activities,” says Asif. “These focus is spreading and driving growth. activities are not assessed academically, but they allow students “We have a reputation for helping students and for being to participate in competitions and events around the world — willing to accommodate their needs,” says Trueman. “Many and get international recognitions and awards.” of our students have jobs and our programs are structured Joining the Concordia Society for Civil Engineering made a real dif- to permit students to work a considerable number of hours ference for Giulia Tiramani, a fourth-year civil engineering student. and also maintain their grades.” “This student group completely changed my experience as “And we are fair to students. We are willing to offer students an undergrad. You have some classes, especially in your first a second chance when they have difficulties. So the word gets year, that might have 100 students and you don’t really have the around that Concordia has excellent programs and is fair.” chance to get to know anyone. Mengting Zhao, a fourth-year PhD candidate, says she is “Being in a student group allowed me to make those thrilled with choosing the Gina Cody School. “I’m very, very important connections; there are competitions, opportunities proud of my choice of coming here,” she says. to network and meet people who are actually working in the field — it just gave me such an enriching experience.”

14 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine DOUBLING RESEARCH THE GINA CODY EFFECT Great programs and opportunities attract top students and One challenge to closing the gender gap in engineering faculty, which in turn leads to great research. and computer science is the perception of these fields as “Our emphasis on graduate-level research is really allowing “male territory.” us to capitalize on some big research projects,” says Whitelaw. Popular culture – textbooks, film, television, even science “GCS is doing some amazing work in the areas of artificial fiction – depict men in the jobs of building rocket engines, intelligence, cybersecurity, chemical and materials engineer- designing bridges or creating video games. To break deeply ing and of course smart cities with Ursula Eicker, our new entrenched stereotypes, we need role models to inspire the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Smart, Sustainable and next generation to follow in their footsteps. Enter Gina Cody. Resilient Communities and Cities.” On September 24, 2018, Gina Cody made a landmark gift GCS received a historic research boost in 2018 with a in support of the Campaign for Concordia and the engineer- $15-million donation from the school’s namesake, Gina Cody, ing and computer science faculty. Not only was it the largest MA 81, PhD 89. personal donation ever given to the university, the faculty was Part of her gift is supporting three new academic chairs: renamed in her honour. The gift generated more than 400 in data analytics and artificial intelligence; in the internet of headlines around the world. things; and in Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing. The Giulia Tiramani was there when Gina Cody made her historic remaining funds are reserved for student financial support. announcement. “I felt an immense pride,” says Tiramani. “I’m “About 50 per cent of Gina Cody’s donation was for a woman and there aren’t many women in engineering in gen- scholarships,” says Asif. “Her gift will be funding a total of eral, particularly in civil engineering or building engineering. 40 PhD Scholarships and 100 undergraduate scholarships So knowing that she is a graduate and was the first woman PhD over seven years, with most of those for underrepresented in building engineering makes me proud. And maybe gives me populations or for students from underprivileged backgrounds.” a bit of hope, too — that maybe that could be me one day.” Asif says the focus on these groups is part of the Gina Cody For the first time in Canada, a woman’s name graces an School’s aspiration to be an inclusive faculty where equity, engineering and computer science school – and it matters. diversity and inclusion are a priority. “Having Gina Cody’s name on the school makes a difference,” says Acemian. “In a way it is almost giving MIND THE GAP women permission to go into engineering.” Engineering and computer science are fields that still have significant gender and diversity gaps. According to Engineers ”WE WANT TO MAKE CONCORDIA THE FIRST CHOICE FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING,“ Canada, only 13 per cent of working engineers in Canada are SAYS ASSOCIATE DEAN ANJALI AGARWAL. women. This is a big drop-off from the roughly 20 per cent of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded to women. The numbers are even lower for Indigenous women and women of colour. To help bridge these gaps and help retain women in these fields, a large portion of Gina Cody’s gift was earmarked to support equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives throughout the faculty, at both the student and staff levels. “We want to make Concordia the first choice for women in engineering,” says Agarwal. “This is a process that will take time because for change to happen it has to start in elementary or high school.” Agarwal says the faculty does a lot of outreach to high schools and CEGEPs to encourage girls and young women to consider pursuing careers in engineering and computer science. The faculty also created the All-Girls Summer Engineering and Technology Program, or GirlSET, a summer camp for girls in grades 8-11 and their first-year of CEGEP. The program is so popular that Agarwal says she doubled the capacity after the first year to accommodate the demand. Where the faculty has had great success is with attracting niversity U

international students; currently nearly 50 per cent of students a in GCS are international students — with strong representation oncordi from countries such as India, Iran and China. C

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 15 ‘My generation of Canadian actors has done extremely well in America’

James Tupper, a graduate of Concordia’s Department of Theatre, reflects on Big Little Lies and his journey from Dartmouth to Hollywood

SYLVAIN-JACQUES Fellow cast members DESJARDINS, BA 97 include household names such as Laura Dern, Shailene ames Tupper, BFA 92, Woodley, Alexander J has built an impressive Skarsgård as well as Oscar résumé of performances winners Meryl Streep and since graduating from Nicole Kidman. Season 1 Concordia’s Department was directed by acclaimed of Theatre. Quebec director Jean-Marc nnon

In recent years, Tupper Vallée (C.R.A.ZY., Dallas a G

has starred in TV series Buyers Club), and Vallée el ha ic such as Men in Trees, Mercy was executive producer M and Revenge. for Season 2. JAMES TUPPER, BFA 92, DISCUSSES HIS JOURNEY AS AN ACTOR AT A SEPT. 23, 2019 HOMECOMING EVENT. INSET: TUPPER WITH BIG LITTLE LIES CO-STAR REESE His latest high-profile “[Big Little Lies] feels like WITHERSPOON AND SEASON 1 DIRECTOR JEAN-MARC VALLEE. role was in the HBO franchise the halftime in the Raptors’ and critically acclaimed locker room,” Tupper says. miniseries, Big Little Lies. The “You’re part of a group that’s So I always tip everyone very on the Big Little Lies call sheet, gripping finale of the show’s phenomenal – and that’s well!” he says. his father replied, “Yup, she’s second season aired on July 21. really fun.” “I like the fans – I love not sending that picture to The show’s debut Tupper has come far when they come up to me to her friends.” garnered eight Emmy from Dartmouth, Nova ask to take pictures. I see it Tupper’s aunts are more Awards. In both seasons, Scotia, where he grew up, to as gratification.” effusive. “One called and Tupper lights up the screen Hollywood. His fame means Tupper credits his said, ‘I’m so proud of you, as the husband to actor he’s often recognized when father for helping him stay Jim!’” he recalls. “It’s like a Zoë Kravitz and ex-husband out in public. “I’ve always grounded as his career miracle to them.” to Reese Witherspoon, believed it’s nice to be im- ascended. When he sent his His miracle has been an Academy-Award portant, but it’s much more dad a photograph with his three decades in the making. winning actor. important to be nice. name next to Meryl Streep’s Following his Concordia stud- ies, he obtained a master’s degree in theatre from Rutgers University in New Jersey. ”My door is open to any Concordian or Canadian Throughout the 1990s and actor who direct-messages me on Instagram – early 2000s, he performed in some 50 plays. He was a I will help them. I’m very proud to be a Canadian member of Circle Repertory Company in New York and and I want to help others make it, too.“ featured in several off-Broad- way plays such as An Actor Prepares and After the Rain.

16 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Tupper retains fond Tupper remains close to seen one,” Tupper says. “The deep. It’s about loss and it’s memories of his student his Canadian roots and he workplace is a place of quiet about redemption.” days at Concordia’s theatre keeps a Montreal home. focus, a place where you stay What other opportunities program. “I remember every “I try to spend as much time within yourself.” might await? “I had an single teacher I had,” he says. as I can there,” he says. Tupper credits L.A. act- audition to be a villain in “It was a very exciting, terrific His children with ex-part- ing coach Caryn West for the next Fast and Furious program. It was like spending ner Anne Heche — son Atlas recommending he pursue movie,” he says. “That would three years in a womb, where Heche Tupper and stepson avocations between roles. be really cool.” we were allowed to grow as Homer Lafoon — are exposed “I learned Italian, I play the Tupper says he’s happy artists and as people.” to Canadian culture such as guitar and now I’m learning to keep building his career Given the competitive na- Toronto Raptors games and piano. I’m doing fun things, and his life. A notion his ture of show business, what trips up north. every day, to keep my spirits grandfather, a minister, allowed him to break out? He maintains a friendship up. No matter what happens, reinforced in Tupper lingers: “For me, it was a little bit with Canadian actor Sandra I’m still grounded in some- every person plays a small of vulnerability, a little bit Oh, a graduate of Montreal’s thing that I enjoy.” role in a big world. of technique, a little bit of National Theatre School of He is currently on the ABC “I’m on a beautiful stamina, a little bit of heart Canada, with whom he acted show A Million Little Things, adventure,” he says, noting and sticking with it,” he says. in Grey’s Anatomy. “Sandra is which examines the impact he might one day return to Concordia’s home base a great actor,” he says. of a suicide on four families: live in Canada. “I feel lucky also nurtured his creative “My generation of Canadian “It’s a show I’m really proud and grateful, every day, yet talent, Tupper says. “I think actors has done extremely well to be a part of. It’s really my heart is down home.” it’s a really special environ- in America. There’s one of us ment. The pressure is not the on almost every single major same; we have the freedom television show.” to explore in Montreal.” Tupper is happy to connect with fellow thespians when they reach out. “My door is open to any Concordian or Canadian actor who direct- Concordia University Magazine welcomes readers’ comments. Letters should include messages me on Instagram the writer’s full name, address, school(s), degree(s) and year(s) of graduation for – I will help them,” he says. alumni. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. No letter will be published without “I’m very proud to be a ent m

the full name of the correspondent. ge a

Canadian and I want to help n

Concordia University Magazine is published a

three times a year for alumni and friends of others make it, too.” M Concordia University. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views He’s especially keen to of the alumni association or of the university. ecords R help the next generation of Please address editorial correspondence to: nd a The Editor, Concordia University Magazine 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. actors with their auditions. ives

FB 520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 h Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 3876 “The hardest bridge to cross, rc Email: [email protected] A Advertising Email: for me, was auditioning for [email protected] film and television,” he says. Acting editor-in-chief: Doug Sweet niversity U

Acting Associate Editor: Ian Harrison “You go into a tiny, empty a Editorial contributors: Marta Samuel, room with nothing but your

Julia Scandella oncordi C

Design lead: Christopher Alleyne imagination. It’s very tricky.” y b

Editorial consultant: Heather Thompson Real-life sets are less oto h

For advertising information, call P 514-848-2424, ext. 3876. tricky. “People say that there JAMES TUPPER WITH SHANNON HOLMES, BFA 00, IN A PERFORMANCE Design: University Communications Services are pranks, yet in my 150- OF PEER GYNT AT CONCORDIA’S D.B. CLARKE THEATRE IN 1991. T20-59677 plus TV episodes I’ve never

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 17 Homecoming brought ‘memorable and meaningful connections‘ 16 major events draw more than 1,500 attendees

he 2019 edition of Bones television series spoke set of events,” Parisien says. Carr also delivered key up- T Homecoming was a of how her experience as “Many who attended made dates on our improvements great success, says Shanna a forensic anthropologist memorable and meaningful in various rankings, as well Parisien, BA 04, Manager helped bring her fictional connections.” as the university’s recent of Events in University works to life. Interim President and achievements. Advancement. Both the Black Alumni Vice-Chancellor Graham Carr Vice-President, “There was really strong Networking and Queer attended the Homecoming Advancement, Paul Chesser, programming and a great Homecoming events drew Concert and Cocktail at Oscar BA 94, GrDip 97, who emceed vibe,” she says, adding that large numbers of people, Peterson Concert Hall at the a number of events, including events were well attended. as did the celebration of Loyola Campus, where talent- the Concert and Cocktail, More than 1,500 people the 50th anniversary of ed jazz artist and Concordia says he was delighted by the attended 16 major events, Concordia’s MBA at what student David Marino en- large numbers of people who including more than 320 who is now the John Molson tertained. The cocktail that attended and the enthusiasm turned out for the Resolute School of Business. followed allowed old friends the displayed – especially at Forest Products lecture “I would like to thank to reconnect and raise a glass nail-biting Stingers football with Kathy Reichs, LLD 11. all the volunteers and staff to celebrate Concordia’s win over the Université de The well-known mystery who helped make this year’s 45th birthday, a milestone Sherbrooke – with no time writer and producer of the Homecoming such a terrific reached in August, 2019. left on the clock.

TOP PHOTO: GINA CODY, MENG 81, PHD 89, (IN RED) JOINS PANEL DISCUSSION AT AN EVENT MARKING THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF CONCORDIA’S ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE FACULTY BEING NAMED FOR HER.

MIDDLE PHOTOS: ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS AT BLACK ALUMNI NETWORKING AND QUEER HOMECOMING EVENTS.

BOTTOM PHOTOS: DAVID MARINO ENTERTAINS AT CONCERT AND COCKTAIL, WHILE AUTHOR KATHY REICHS, LLD 11, SPEAKS AT THE RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS LECTURE WITH HOST AND CTV NEWS BROADCASTER CAROLINE VAN VLAARDINGEN, BA 84.

18 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine w

Buy second-hand books to support first-rate students!

Santos puts boot to Sherbrooke in Homecoming game Rookie kicker drills winning field goal with no time left on the clock oncordia Stingers rookie Vance who completed 24 CONCORDIA EPIC C kicker Bradley James of 33 passes for 426 yards Santos (in middle of photo, and three touchdowns. His above) stepped up to the ball favourite target was veteran USED BOOK FAIR on the 36-yard line and drilled receiver James Tyrrell, who it through the middle of the caught 11 passes for 176 NOV. 4–5, 209 uprights with no time left on yards and two TDs. 0 a.m. – 7 p.m. the clock to deliver a 37-35 Vance orchestrated an victory over the Sherbrooke offence that rolled up 25 first Vert & Or in the Homecoming downs and 443 yards. He football game at Concordia also hit slotback Jacob Salvail PRE-SALE Stadium on Saturday, for a 34-yard touchdown. September 21, 2019. The final major of the day SUNDAY, NOV. 3, 209 Although he dressed in pre- was scored by running vious games this season, this back Glody Musangu on  – 4 p.m. | $5 admission was Santos’s first time going in a three-yard run. for a field-goal attempt, with The Stingers held a All proceeds support student the Stingers trailing 35-34 at 19-point lead early in the time. He also connected the fourth quarter, but scholarships and the Student on three converts. Sherbrooke scrapped its Emergency and Food Fund The Laval native comes out way back into the game of the Collège André-Grasset and took the lead 35-34 football program. with 33 seconds left to play. concordia.ca/bookfair The win was the first for The game marked the start Concordia in four games this of an eight-game package Atrium, Engineering, Computer Science year and moved the Stingers of the most hotly contested and Visual Arts Integrated Complex, into a three-way tie with sports events in the 2019- Sherbrooke and McGill. 20 season. For more 55 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal It was also a breakout information on the game for quarterback Adam series, visit stingers.ca

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 19 Bookfair Magazine Ad_Oct2019_v3.indd 1 09/10/2019 2:35:20 PM Shuffle shatters target: pulls more than $130,000

Perfect conditions for 30th anniversary of annual walkathon

DOUG SWEET donations. One difference this year was the creation of henomenal!” That’s a special team that joined “P the way Concordia’s the massive climate-change interim president and march on the same day. That vice-chancellor, Graham 70-member team raised Carr, sums up the 30th at least $6,100, creating a edition of the annual Shuffle strong Concordia presence walkathon, which raised more in a march that organizers than $130,000 for student said numbered half a bursaries and scholarships, million people. shattering not only the “It’s phenomenal,” Carr $115,000 target, but also last says of this year’s Shuffle. year’s $114,000 record. “And it’s coming from inside the university, so it ‘It shows how shows how much people really care.” He offers “huge much people thanks” to all those who helped organize the event. really care.’ Paul Chesser, BA 94, – Graham Carr GrDip 97, vice-president Advancement, noted in his Since 1990, the Shuffle remarks to the picnic crowd has raised more than that he had participated $1.7 million for student in the first Shuffle. He aid in an event that is not announced that the “Shuffler only a fundraiser, but a of the Year” award was physical link between given to Virginia Gerald, Concordia’s two campuses receptionist in University – a 6.5-kilometre walk from Advancement’s downtown the Sir George Williams offices, who raised more campus downtown to Loyola than $1,400 for this year’s in N.D.G. cause. The September 27, 2019, The Shuffle Team of the event was, Carr told the crowd Year, from Concordia’s at the President’s Picnic next Sexual Assault Resource to the Loyola athletic field, Centre, raised $12,000. “the biggest, the best Shuffle. Former Stingers women’s It’s a fantastic day.” hockey coach Les Lawton, Weather conditions who suffered a stroke in were ideal, in contrast to 2015, walked in the march the previous day’s gloom again and raised $9,535, the and showers. biggest single amount raised Pumped up by energetic by an individual. emcee CTV Montreal News This year’s Shuffle broadcaster Caroline honoured former Biology rowne

Van Vlaardingen, BA 84, professor Dr. Bob Roy, B

more than 700 Shufflers who died in June 2019. revor T in nearly 50 teams raised His family raised $11,375 ENTHUSIASTIC SHUFFLERS WERE READY TO WALK ON TWO LEGS OR FOUR the record-breaking total for a student award named (JUNEAU THE POODLE PULLED IN $350!). through nearly 2,000 in his honour.

20 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine As Concordia’s Records Dramatic changes at Middle-aged? Management and Archives Concordia in the last decade, Department (RMA) explains including a sharp rise in the At 45, Concordia on its “Merger of Loyola number of graduate students College and Sir George as well as undergrads, mean is still a youngster Williams University” the university now has to page, the earliest formal “try and develop a pattern University well positioned to head proposal came in the late and a pace of growth toward its first half-century 1960s from Donald Savage, that we can fully support a Loyola history professor, and that is best aligned DOUG SWEET provost and vice-president and Michel Despland, with the areas we want Academic Anne Whitelaw the assistant dean of Arts to prioritize,” interim f universities’ ages were says. “The strong pull at Sir George Williams. president Graham Carr has I measured in human years, Concordia has on interna- They proposed a “Federal said in recent interviews. Concordia, which celebrated tional students and faculty University” which would “We’ve gone through a its 45th birthday on Aug. 24, demonstrates our stellar allow students to take period, particularly under 2019, might be considered to reputation outside Canada.” courses at both campuses Alan Shepard’s leadership, be settling comfortably into Back in the late 1960s and without paying additional where we’ve spent a lot of middle age. early ’70s, the idea of merg- fees, and they introduced the time trying to forecast and But, as was underlined by ing a quiet Jesuit college in idea of a bus service between position ourselves for a fresh set of rankings for Montreal’s west end with a Loyola and Sir George what’s coming. “young” universities pub- gritty downtown university Williams. The first such “For example, what will be lished June 26 in which that offered a lot of courses vehicle was a 13-seat van. the impact of the changing Concordia was named by at night was considered a big In 2014, RMA published economy on lifelong university rankings pow- challenge. The two institutions a special 40th anniver- learning? This should be erhouse Times Higher had different philosophies sary feature that details 40 a good fit for who we are at Education (THE) as the top and ways of doing things, said memorable historical events Concordia, given our history. Canadian university young- John O’Brien, Concordia’s from the past four decades So how do we prepare to er than 50, in “university first rector and chancellor, at Concordia, while what was address that need in creative, years,” Concordia is still a back on Aug. 16, 1974. “We then called Advancement and new ways?” relative pup. look forward now to a period Alumni Relations also pro- That first half-century is Created, after six years of creative friction.” filed 40 Great Concordians. just around the corner. of planning and conversa- tions, out of the merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University on Aug. 24, 1974, Concordia now ranks between 101st and 150th out of 351 so-called new uni- versities, THE says. The Young University Rankings, like the overall THE World University Rankings, evaluate five cate- gories, and in 2019 Concordia advanced in four: research, citations, industry income and international outlook. “This is further con- firmation of Concordia’s advantages in its interna- tional reputation, but also reflects our continuing successful efforts to dou- ble our research,” interim THE FIRST CONCORDIA SHUTTLE WAS A 13-SEAT VAN.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 21 Cities can lead the way toward global sustainability

New Concordia expert

in next-generation cities rowne factors social justice into B revor the equation T

MAEVE HALDANE, Environmental Engineering. Q: Tell us about how your Q: What are the important BFA 91 Eicker is building up a work led to sustainable considerations for a broad and interdisciplinary development in cities? city’s sustainability? rsula Eicker moved research team – from Ursula Eicker: I studied UE: Clean energy is crucial U to Montreal from her Engineering to Finance to solid-state physics [in the to prevent climate change, native Stuttgart, Germany, to Arts – that has access to 1980s] and had an inter- but if you look at city design, lead Concordia’s Cities Hub $10 million in funding over est in solar energy from the a change in our transport as the new Canada Excellence seven years, thanks to a beginning. The Green Party system is the most important Research Chair (CERC) federal grant. Most recently, was starting in Germany, so thing. For city design to in Smart, Sustainable and Eicker was the scientific everyone was looking more change, cars need to go away Resilient Communities and director of the Research seriously at environmen- or to be drastically reduced. Cities. She joined the Gina Centre for Sustainable tal issues. My first job, in It will be very hard to meet Cody School of Engineering Energy Technologies at France, was for a company CO2 targets if we continue and Computer Science in the Stuttgart University that developed solar mod- with individual cars, and the June, in the Department of of Applied Sciences. ules. Then I looked at solar change to electric vehicles modules in buildings and will stress our infrastructure. building efficiency and how In addition, cars make cities ”That last kilometre of you would match energy con- ugly and noisy and polluted. sumption and production: You need to move in small transport can be well You don’t have enough sun steps, very gradually. If you in winter when you need the drastically reduce individual organized, with cargo bikes most energy for an individual transport, in the beginning, or small electric transport building, so you need storage people and commerce com- if you really want to look at a plain. But where there’s a lot vehicles. We need more zero-carbon society. of pedestrian traffic, shops forms of micro mobility, more start to appear. Then you ask yourself how do you get goods scooters, more bicycles.“ to your place? But that last kilometre of transport can be well organized, with cargo bikes or small electric trans- port vehicles. We need more forms of micro mobility, more scooters, more bicycles.

22 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Q: What are Concordia’s live in the future? We can Q: How does Q: How hopeful are strengths for work come up with a concept of changing cities have you about our ability on cities? how we want to live and a global impact? to confront the world’s My department covers communicate, and then Many more people live sustainability issues? everything in the built see which role technology in cities, so cities need I’m reading Jorgen Randers’s environment – energy plays in the transition. to provide the housing 2052: A Global Forecast for efficiency, bringing and infrastructure for a the Next Forty Years. He renewables to infrastructure, Q: And what does the growing population. Now, predicts we will go in the occupancy behaviour, ideal city look like? in addition, they need to right direction because it’s modeling the city from Better use of public space do it in a sustainable way. the only one, because oil building scale to city scale. and a good social mix would Many cities have made and gas will be exploited – Then there are people in be the ideal city for me. For pledges to go carbon- whether that’s in 50, 100 or computer science who work me, density is not a problem. neutral. These are ambitious 200 years. It’s a question of on city scale models and Quite the contrary! I think goals and we know what time. We probably won’t go data management. In urban it can be a very creative needs to be done to translate fast enough and that means a studies people are working environment. I find many these goals into a real lot of unnecessary suffering on the urban form and how heterogeneous sets of action plan. It costs a lot of for a lot of people – wars and that affects energy and people together in an urban money, which is why it’s resource struggles, flooding. transport needs. There’s environment much more so slow, but it will pay back The more we work to do powerful data-visualization interesting than an urban eventually. The challenge is it faster than slower, the expertise in design and sprawl type of setting. to raise funds for the initial better. On a local or state computational arts so investment in the renewal scale you can do really you can really show how a Q: Which cities do you of infrastructure. ambitious things and I think city looks today in 3D and admire and for what traits? Cities are the right actors that would be great to be part animate this and how it European cities, like because they know what the of it. If a few progressive can develop in the future. Copenhagen, have reduced local problems are and can cities show how it can be We can bring every individual transport very think much more carefully done, then that could be a department in, from the well and they’re not in a about the social justice catalyst for others to follow. arts, sociology, finance, to benign climate, either. My topic. If you just tax CO2 and The beauty of my job is that name just a few, and that favourite city in the world everything becomes more I can think about this change will make [our program] is Barcelona. They’ve got a expensive, we have a social and help to get it going. unique. We can bring in progressive government and justice problem. You need performance arts to engage do a lot for social inclusion. to reimburse people who people and create some They started change at the can’t afford h eating any appetite for change. city edges where the more more. You need to have a disfavoured population mechanism of paying back. Q: Why do you prefer lives because the mayor of the term Next-Generation Barcelona comes from a Cities instead of social justice background. Smart Cities? They are slowly trying to There are already Smart create spaces without indi- You’re among our City research institutes, vidual cars, by connecting 220,000 #CUalumni worldwide, which are mostly several big housing blocks technology-driven. But to a superblock with no cars here, the approach is much inside. Inside everything is Share your news. broader – building a vision pedestrian and a community of where we want to go and can develop. then using the technology to Join @ConcordiaAlumni make it possible. It’s what on Facebook. you ask: How do we want to

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How Concordia’s work in synthetic biology could change your life

The university has a unique combination of resources to be a world leader in an emerging field

26 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine k stoc k in h T

DANIEL BARTLETT, BA 08 “You’ll get as many answers to Experience program, as well as Canada that question as individuals you ask, Research Chairs in Synthetic Biology, even from those who identify as Bioinformatics Algorithms and hen Brandiff Caron people working in synthetic biology,” Microbial Genomics. Investigators received a grant from Caron says. at the CASB also include Concordia the Social Sciences and While a general definition may remain University Research Chairs in Microbial WHumanities Research Council of elusive for the emerging field, the Engineering and Synthetic Biology, and Canada (SSHRC) to work with graduate consensus among Concordia researchers Optical Bio Microsystems. students at Concordia’s Centre for is that synthetic biology is the process A powerful combination of hu- Applied Synthetic Biology (CASB), of engineering novel biological systems man and physical resources support he noticed an interesting pattern to achieve specific functions that do Concordia’s significant role in the field. during his interviews. not exist in nature. It’s a nascent, “All of this has built momentum Looking at how the social, ethical interdisciplinary field that brings where you hire a lot of new scientists, and legal implications of the students’ together experts in biology, chemistry, build new infrastructure and have a work entered into their lab experiences, engineering, mathematics and physics. training program that attracts good the assistant professor at the Gina Cody It’s also a research area where students,” says Laurent Potvin-Trottier, School of Engineering and Computer Concordia has emerged as a leader. assistant professor in the Department Science and associate chair of the The university is home to the of Biology. Centre for Engineering in Society Synthetic Biology Applications “If you have good students, good asked each of the researchers to define program (SynBioApps), Canada’s first scientists and good infrastructure, synthetic biology. Collaborative Research and Training then you get good science.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 27

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STEVE SHIH AND HIS TEAM CREATED A SYSTEM TO BETTER FIND GENES RELATED TO CANCER AND DESTROY THEM.

‘IMMEDIATE AND OBVIOUS biology as a means of exploiting FOUNDATIONS HEALTH BENEFITS’ enzymes and developing them as tools BEFORE APPLICATIONS By turning biology into instruments that can help to produce therapeutics, One place where Concordia is and tools researchers can harness to bioplastics and biofuels. developing innovative research in achieve particular aims, the field has the Furthermore – where specific synthetic biology is at the Potvin potential to replicate systems that are of enzymes are related to diseases – Lab. Led by Potvin-Trottier, who value to individuals around the world. Kwan and his team have devised new joined Concordia in August 2018 after Caron notes that one of the most obvi- methods to identify drugs that target completing a postdoctoral fellowship ous areas where synthetic biology research them within pathogenic microbes or at the California Institute of Technology provides major benefits is medicine. tumour cells. This research could play in Pasadena, the lab’s team builds “Once we can figure out how to rep- an important role in fighting infectious circuits from biological components to licate what happens naturally, we’re no diseases and cancers. better understand how they function. longer reliant on often unsustainable Kwan recently received a Petro-Canada “One of the things I’m doing is trying and scarce naturally occurring resourc- Young Innovator Award for his exceptional to engineer robust biological clocks,” he es,” he says. “The specific source for research achievements at Concordia. says. “We use technologies like microflu- things like insulin and medications that “Our ability to be able to synthesize these idics, which allow us to monitor precisely have been around for a while are more things has immediate and obvious health how these clocks work. This has been precarious than people often realize.” benefits to everyone,” Caron explains. pretty successful as we made really good At Concordia, researchers are already Beyond medicine, Caron says clocks. We engineered them in bacte- demonstrating how their work can have synthetic biologists can also ria and they were so robust that we could extensive effects. significantly alter how we manufacture have these bacteria colonize the gut of Steve Shih, assistant professor in the and synthesize materials like plastic so mice and the clocks would still oscillate.” Department of Electrical and Computer they can degrade more easily yet fulfill Through their research, members Engineering, and his team at the Shih the same functions. of the lab aim to learn more about the Microfluidics Laboratory created a sys- “Plastics come from naturally occur- structural elements of biological oscil- tem that integrates the automation of ring and scarce resources as well – like lators so they can develop new systems complex biology experiments to find oil and fossil fuel products,” he says. that may be applicable in the future. genes related to cancer and kill them “There again, we can easily replicate The focus remains on the before they develop into the disease. what happens naturally, but change it fundamental side of synthetic Meanwhile, David Kwan, assistant to avoid some of the negative effects biology, though Potvin-Trottier professor in the Department of Biology, that we’ve become aware of and to identifies areas where the project’s focuses on using techniques in synthetic replicate many of the positive effects.” findings could have lasting effects.

28 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine “One of the long-term applications, for example, would be periodic drug SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY VS. delivery,” he says. “Instead of having to GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS take a drug every six hours, you would get a microbe in the gut that produces One of the most common objections synthetic biologists confront in their work is that the drug at six-hour intervals.” they are essentially dealing with technology that suffers from all the same problems For first-year PhD student Giselle as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). McCallum, the idea of trying to build models of existing biological systems Caron says researchers in the field often believe this is an unfair comparison, with many is what drew her to the Potvin Lab. of them arguing that it is the public who has an irrational fear of the unknown around She recalls taking a year off after her GMOs. This claim, the Concordia professor contends, simply highlights how experts master’s degree to look for a Canadian misunderstand the complaints individuals have with genetic engineering. university that aligned with her research interests. “The numbers show pretty clearly that people don’t necessarily believe that genetically Her search proved difficult at times. modified organisms are directly dangerous to a person’s health,” Caron explains. “Most “I found many schools focused on people are aware that the cross-breeding of plants and species have been happening for biomedical research or applications centuries – they’re not necessarily new. What is new is the consolidation of the power in synthetic biology, which is great to use these kinds of technologies into the hands of a very few huge conglomerates.” but wasn’t what I was looking for,” McCallum explains. Rather than having false impressions about what is happening from a technical “Then I came across the website perspective, Caron thinks the concerns detractors have around GMOs often have more for the Centre for Applied Synthetic to do with the business and corporate practices that frame the field. Biology and I found Steve Shih’s lab, David Kwan’s lab and Laurent’s lab, “I think those are perfectly justified and legitimate considerations,” he says. “Right now, and I thought this is exactly what a lot of those legitimate complaints about genetically modified organisms simply don’t I want. I talked with Laurent and it apply to synthetic biology". seemed like a good fit.” Today, McCallum is working on the Within the area of synthetic biology, Caron sees a lot of open questions in which biological oscillator project. The aim of researchers are hoping to learn from past mistakes and improve how the production her portion of the research initiative is of science takes place. He notes that synthetic biologists still have time to define the to have a system that will oscillate with relationship between the users and producers of new technologies, and identify ways the period she wants no matter what to diffuse their work to the rest of society. condition she grows the cells in. Like Potvin-Trottier, McCallum also “It’s a really exciting field to work in – that’s why I’m here.” recognizes ways in which her work could affect people’s lives. She uses ‘WE’RE WELL PLACED TO BE LEADERS IN THE AREA’ artemisinic acid – a precursor to an Caron examines the public policy, social and ethical factors that shape people’s anti-malarial drug – to illustrate her relationship to technology at Concordia’s Centre for Engineering in Society. He says point. Synthetic biologists engineer the centre has an exceptional design that differs from many other institutions across yeast to produce the compound to avoid the country. extraction from its natural plant source. “Future goals would be to actually “All scientists and engineers need ethics and communication training. What happens is apply this to something like periodic that in just about every other Canadian university, institutions outsource these subjects drug delivery by using engineered to other areas, such as the philosophy department,” Caron explains. “So, they go take probiotics, for example. Or utilizing a generic ethics course – as well as a writing course – that’s meant for everybody.” these clocks to control microbial metabolism and improving the Through the CASB, Concordia not only has professors and researchers in ethics and production of useful compounds in communication, but also in the ethics and communication of science and technology. synthetic biology, such as artemisinic acid,” she says. “We’re really well placed to be leaders in the area of looking at this work in progress “There are quite a few potential that is synthetic biology." applications, but for now I’m focused – Daniel Bartlett on the more fundamental aspects of the project.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 29 GENES AND CRITICAL synthetic biologists can create life out BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES of non-life, which carries both positive Located on the same floor as the Potvin and negative implications. Still, Caron Lab in the Genomics Building (GE) describes the field as a work in progress. on the Loyola Campus is the Kachroo “Given synthetic biology is in Laboratory (kachroolab.org). Led by a nascent stage, we have a rare Aashiq Kachroo, assistant professor in opportunity to organize a field of study the Department of Biology and Canada consciously and reflectively,” he says. Research Chair in Systems and Synthetic “What the field itself is trying to do is Biology, the group is interested in think about how to best self-regulate.” repurposing model organisms by Caron explains that one of the replacing human genes in yeast and over-arching aims of creating a self- other simplified cells. GISELLE MCCALLUM regulatory body is to get experts to Currently, the team is investigating work across all kinds of differences, whether all essential yeast genes in isolation, asking questions like how including national frameworks. He uses are replaceable by their human the disease is manifested at the cellular the profession of engineering in Canada counterparts. level and what needs to change to revert as an example that synthetic biologists “All organisms on Earth share a com- the disease phenotype.” might consider as they attempt to move mon ancestor, which means we share For Kachroo, joining Concordia in toward self-regulation. many genes despite billions of years of August 2017 had a lot to do with the “The professional system set up in separate evolution. Our work focuses on university’s clear mission and focus on Canada in the mid-’70s requires that understanding a fundamental question synthetic biology. He appreciates the professional engineering be structured in biology: Are shared genes function- faculty’s new members and the univer- in a specific way, but that the actual ally equivalent?” Kachroo explains. sity’s aim to recruit the best of the best. regulation of it is done by engineers “We have finished the humanization of “We also house the only Genome themselves,” Caron says. “The govern- all essential genes and have shown that Foundry in Canada, with access to ment isn’t coming in and saying here’s approximately 40 per cent of shared hu- state-of-art robotics to scale up the what engineers need to do. They’re man genes are still swappable in yeast.” synthetic biology projects,” he says. saying engineers need to decide what Kachroo’s interest in synthetic “Concordia has the best resources engineers need to do.” biology started during his PhD studies available to train young enthusiastic At Concordia, Caron has developed at the Indian Institute of Science in students in synthetic biology.” a technology-assessment method that Bengaluru, India. There, he worked on encourages undergraduate students a system in bacteria that, when mutated, ETHICAL, EQUITABLE to recognize the ethical, equitable and utilizes one of the most abundant carbon AND SOCIAL IMPACTS social effects of their capstone projects. sources in the world, cellulose. Despite some of its more obvious He has since used it with Concordia’s “I figured that if we engineered the bac- benefits, synthetic biology is not International Genetically Engineered terial strain to degrade this carbon source, without its critics. Machine (iGEM) team and is happy we would help solve the energy crisis that At the Centre for Engineering in with its results. our planet is facing,” Kachroo says. Society, Caron works as the in-house Since then, Kachroo has shifted ethicist for the Gina Cody School, his focus toward critical human genes as well as for the CASB. He is not an and how they are involved in essential apologist for synthetic biology and biological processes. His research approaches the field from an extremely could have far-reaching effects since critical perspective. any mutations that alter the function of “There are tons of highly problematic proteins encoded by these genes often practices taking place under the lead to human diseases. synthetic-biology umbrella that are “We engineer these shared biological unethical by any practical standard,” processes in simplified cells like Caron says. “Take things like designer budding yeast,” Kachroo says. “Thus, babies. It’s no longer a consideration to using evolution to guide synthetic think about them as a future possibility biology, we make surrogate strains that – it’s very much possible now.” resemble humans at the molecular level. Citing popular Hollywood films like This allows us to study these processes Jurassic Park and Gattaca, he notes that

30 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Despite this, Caron admits that Nevertheless, he sees hope for the future. What advice does McCallum have for it is still sometimes challenging to “In a bunch of parts of the world with future scientists who want to pursue get engineers and scientists to think different cultures and gender norms, research in synthetic biology? seriously about the ethical implications there are actually more women in STEM “It’s useful to explore different fields of their work. He describes how many fields than there are men,” Caron says. early on because of the interdisciplin- experts think they are immune to the “There’s a lot of hope because ary component. You can always learn social problems that could arise from there’s a possibility that makes new areas while you’re working in syn- their research because they are only considerations around gender more thetic biology, but it’s helpful to have making the technology, not carrying it out. easily put into practice than they fundamental skills and understanding “It’s difficult to get students’ would in these other fields with in biology, chemistry, engineering and intuitions flowing around this stuff, more entrenched traditions.” mathematics,” she says. but synthetic biology can be a good way For McCallum, choosing to work in Caron agrees and says Concordia is to do it because it’s easier to see the synthetic biology has a lot to do with her an ideal place to pursue such research, potential problems,” he says. experiences interviewing for positions given the existence of the CASB and its “The unique structure of how issues of in labs. Because the field is still new, she close relationship with the Centre for technology and society are dealt with in notes that many principal investigators Engineering in Society. the Gina Cody School has afforded us great are young and thrilled to share their He also sees students benefit from ac- opportunities to promote some really passion with students. cess to Canada’s only Genome Foundry, awesome, cutting-edge research and the “I don’t know if I just picked good as well as Concordia’s involvement in best ways to incorporate ethical, legal labs to work in, but all my supervisors co-founding a new Global Biofoundry and social implications of science and were super enthusiastic to have me Alliance with 14 other institutions. technology into the actual classroom.” there,” McCallum says. “They’re very “It’s probably the best place in Canada excited about their field and really want to engage in this kind of research see- CLOSING THE GENDER GAP to teach the upcoming generation of ing as the Centre for Applied Synthetic Even though there are more female students about their research. I think Biology is the first and still only research scientists entering synthetic biology than that’s what pulled me into this field. institute of its kind, and the Centre for other science, technology, engineering and Why wouldn’t I work where somebody Engineering in Society is a unique mod- mathematics (STEM) fields, Caron is quick is eager to teach me about the things el that houses social scientists within the to note that they are still in the minority. that they love?” Gina Cody School.”

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CONCORDIA’S GENOME FOUNDRY IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN CANADA.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 31 YOU CAN DO SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS WITH A

‘It can help you be disruptive, and if you're disruptive, you can move things forward’

MEAGAN BOISSE, BA 17 Whitelaw knows several people who have been in senior positions in marketing and other types of departments who documentary filmmaker, a throat singer, an consistently hire students with arts degrees because they find international development advocate and a casting that BA or MA graduates are often able to do more than students lead. This incredibly diverse quartet share something with business degrees. Because they’re creative and risk-taking Ain common: they are all Concordia grads who have gone ont and they do things business books say are needed in a 21st- o fulfill some amazing and dynamic careers since completing century enterprise. their Bachelor of Arts. “It comes out of disruption,” Whitelaw says. “And I think The BA has sometimes been maligned in the popular press that’s the thing about art is that it teaches you, it’s constantly in an age when advances in science and technology are driving questioning if it’s done right. I think Concordia does that. rapid progress in so many aspects of everyday life. Try telling I think so many of our programs, our transdisciplinary pro- that to people who have one, or academic leaders who know a grams, have community engagement components. So it means thing or two about what a BA does and where it can take you. you’re not in an ivory tower thinking all the time. You’re actually “A BA gives you all the skills,” says Anne Whitelaw, BFA 87, out there putting things in practice.” GrDip 92, PhD 96, Concordia’s interim provost and vice- “The humanities touch on every facet of the human provost of planning and positioning. “It gives you transferrable experience,” says André Roy, dean of the Faculty of Arts and skills. It gives you the ability to write and to make arguments Science.​ “A BA is a dynamic and agile degree that equips coherently. You have the ability to analyze data, interpret data. students with the intellectual, social and emotional skills “There’s just something about doing a BA that makes you necessary to succeed in any path they choose.” think to always question, and if you’re always questioning, that We spoke with four successful grads to learn more means you have a tool kit to be disruptive. If you’re disruptive, about how their undergraduate experiences shaped their that means you can move things forward in the world.” career trajectories.

32 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine aron Hancox is the vice-president “All of this prepared me for what I do A of Markham Street Films in now: working for a private production Toronto. He gained notoriety earlier company and being an entrepreneur. this year when Catwalk: Tales from the I rely on my experience from Concordia.” Cat Show Circuit, a documentary he Today, Hancox looks fondly back produced and co-directed, was sold to on his time at the university. “I was Netflix and subsequently went viral. fortunate to have mentors and be in an “I love what I do, we produce all kinds environment where it was acceptable of content that celebrates people and to make mistakes. Montreal, and communities on the fringes of the main- Concordia, specifically, is where you stream,” says Hancox, noting he wouldn’t want to do your BA! There’s a vibrancy be where he is today if it weren’t for the to the city and university that’s hard time he spent at Concordia. to beat. I met many great friends and “The courses I did required me future collaborators during my time to work quickly and efficiently, and in Communication Studies.” forced me to speak and think critically about my work and defend my creative choices,” Hancox says.

aura Fraticelli is the Team Lead of “During my studies, my favourite lec- L the Casting Department at Ubisoft tures were the ones spent dissecting the Montreal, a video game company characters that populate both history known for franchises like Assassin’s and works of art,” she says. “Nothing Creed, Rainbow 6, and Far Cry. has changed. My favourite days are still While Fraticelli says she loved her the ones I get to spend reading scripts time at Concordia’s Liberal Arts College, while analyzing every character.” she also spent a lot of needless energy Fraticelli recalls how her first stressed about what she’d do after mandate at Ubisoft was Assassin’s her studies. Creed Origins, set in Ancient Egypt at “All of that was a waste of time, how- the end of the Ptolemaic period. ever, I never could have guessed where “I was overjoyed! As soon as I got my education would take me,” she says, home that night, I went digging through noting that while being an expert in old lecture notes, and the next morning Western Society and Culture might I bounced out of bed and arrived at not seem like it would lead to a career work early with the same energy I had in the gaming industry, it was actually walking into the favourite courses of a natural progression. my undergrad.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 33 ina Segalowitz is a professional Looking back, she says the education N throat singer, as well as a case she received at Concordia was far from worker at the Centre des Femmes textbook.“There was such a lively student de Montréal. While her interest in centred services approach to learning throat singing began before she came and a community of peer support,” says to Concordia, it was while attending Segalowitz, noting an integral aspect of university that she first learned her craft. her success as an Indigenous student was “Being a Sixties Scoop survivor I was the Centre for Native Education, then constantly searching for ways to recon- headed by Manon Tremblay. nect with my community. From a young “She provided a space on Mackay this feeling of accomplishment continues age I yearned to sing,” she recalls. that would become a second home to to serve her in her career as a front -line “In 1998, I met Taqralik Partridge, me for the four years that I attended worker, artist, board member and mother. who was also attending Concordia and Concordia,” she says. “It was a space “I pushed myself to learn more and looking to learn throat singing. Together where Indigenous students congregat- to share that knowledge to encourage we reached out to Evie Mark, a local ed to share meals, cheer each other on, others to follow their academic dreams,” expert in the craft, and she guided us share the trials and tribulations of being she says. “I am still in touch with Manon in learning throat singing.” away from their families and communi- Tremblay and the majority of the stu- Since then Segalowitz has performed ties, all while laughing along the way.” dents that I hung out with in the CNE. across Canada, the United States Segalowitz says through Concordia’s sup- My Concordia friendships have spanned and Europe. port system she felt empowered and that 25 years and sustain me to this day.”

lana Wright is a research and decolonization,” she recalls. E advocacy officer at Development From passionate debates about and Peace-Caritas Canada, a Catholic feminism and anti-racism in the international development and classroom to student -activist meetings humanitarian agency that works to and late nights at the Link student address poverty and injustice in more newspaper, where she was the Fringe than 30 countries. Arts Editor, Wright says her Concordia Wright, who also received a graduate experience taught her to have a critical diploma from Concordia in 1997, says eye towards the unjust social structures her passion for advocacy was fostered that serve to marginalize some people during her time at the Simone de and elevate others. Beauvoir Institute, where she studied “My BA experience offered me a feminist history, literature and theory. broad education in and out of the “I learned to analyze our world classroom, and this foundation through a gendered lens in the early propelled me to a career where my focus 90s, which was a dynamic time to learn has always been fulfilling the human strategies to address inequality based rights of the most marginalized and on gender and race —back then we vulnerable people; here in Canada were just beginning to talk about and also around the world.”

34 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine FOUR WAYS C CAA

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36 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine As the statistics continue to rise, WHO IS AT RISK? so does the risk of people developing Sylvia Santosa, Canada Research Chair such metabolic diseases such as in Clinical Nutrition, and associate Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular professor in the Department of Health, problems. These numbers, in Canada Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, and around the world, are expected leads a team of researchers at the to continue to increase without centre’s Metabolism, Obesity, and better support across the spectrum, Nutrition (MON) lab and is taking a including from medical, political cell-to-body approach to understand and educational fields. what makes someone with obesity more Which brings us to the F-word: fat. or less susceptible to metabolic disease How researchers The dictionary describes fat as a natural and weight gain. oily or greasy substance occurring in “We really want to know what it is at Concordia’s animals and plants, deposited as a layer about where fat tissue is stored in the PERFORM Centre under the skin or around certain organs. body that might promote a greater risk While we all need a certain level of fat of disease, as well as what affects those are transforming in our bodies, too much of it, and in characteristics,” says Santosa. the way we the wrong places, can lead to the The timing or duration of obesi- A GROWING serious health problems Canadians ty may have something to do with the approach fat are increasingly at risk of. cells. “Understanding how our inter- At Concordia University’s state- individual differences might affect our MARTA SAMUEL, GRDIP 10 of-the-art PERFORM Centre at Loyola metabolism or fat tissue can poten- Campus, faculty and students from the tially help promote more individualized besity in Canada, and many Department of Health, Kinesiology and treatment and treatment targets for the other countries, is on the Applied Physiology are conducting next- prevention of disease.” rise. The reasons why vary, generation research to better inform Santosa’s team also conducts clinical fromO increased fat and sugar in the how individuals and society approach research. One of her studies aims to junk foods we eat, to higher levels fat. The PERFORM Centre promotes determine how to set up better nutrition of alcohol consumption and more healthy living through preventative- requirements for bariatric surgery sedentary lifestyles, where screen time based programs, allowing researchers patients — people who have parts of is prioritized over physical activity. to lead innovative studies using the their stomach, and in some cases their Another reason lies in the paragraph latest equipment and facilities. intestines, removed to restrict the you just read. The language we use can From analyzing how health- amount of food or calories they can also have a negative effect, reinforcing promotion campaigns can stigmatize ingest. The evidence on which post- stereotypes and further stigmatizing people living with obesity to surgery nutrition recommendations people living with obesity. Some understanding why some people with are based, Santosa explains, is minimal. Concordia researchers are looking obesity develop certain diseases, such “If we are able to understand the closely into that problem. as Type 2 diabetes, while others do nutritional needs of individuals, then More than half the Canadian popula- not, PERFORM Centre researchers are maybe it can help them in terms of tion over the age of 18 — 64 per cent — is leading the way in advancing obesity recovery and weight maintenance overweight or obese, according to a 2017 prevention and treatments. post-surgery.” report from Public Health Canada. It’s Some of Santosa’s team’s findings an alarming statistic given its steady to date support existing evidence that increase from 49 per cent since 1978. people living with obesity since child- The numbers for children living with hood differ greatly from those who have obesity in Canada are equally concerning: developed it as adults. By understand- currently triple the amount they were in ing how tissue can promote or increase the late 1970s, with almost one in three the risk of metabolic diseases, Santosa’s children being overweight or living with research will help develop better obesity in 2017, according to the Heart treatment for obesity, from disease and Stroke Foundation of Canada. prevention to nutrition management. SYLVIA SANTOSA

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 37 AS POPULATION GROWS, SO DOES METABOLIC DISEASE Under Santosa’s supervision at the MON lab, Kerri Delaney is a PhD student who examines various regions of fat tissue on the body and compares them between different groups of people to see if there are disparities between or within each group. “Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing diseases in Canada,” KERRI DELANEY JESSICA MURPHY says Delaney. “Obesity is a direct risk three different parts of the body via fat people who have more stomach obesity factor for Type 2 diabetes and the tissue biopsies: from under the skin tend to be more metabolically ill than rate of obesity has been on the rise — known as subcutaneous fat tissue — people who have more leg obesity. Yet, at for the past 50, 70 years. We’re a from the stomach and from the thigh. a cellular level, research has shown that growing population and as we By comparing the fat cells in more than there are additional differences at play. become more obese, we develop one area — between individuals going Delaney’s objective is to determine the more metabolic diseases.” for bariatric surgery who may or may independent effects of Type 2 diabetes What makes Delaney’s research not have Type 2 diabetes — Delaney can and obesity on fat cells from different unique is that she examines cells in see which area is worse. For example, places in the body.

Q&A WITH CHRISTA Q. Have you ever felt body shamed? SMITH-KINGSTON A. I have experienced a lot of body Jessica Murphy’s research patient at the shaming. Its greatest affect has been Metabolism, Obesity and Nutrition Lab that I internalized that shame and it turned at the PERFORM Centre into a skewed perspective of myself — in the mirror and in my worth. Q. Describe some of the issues you’ve had with weight. Q. What would help (whether A. I grew up in the era of body shaming. on a societal level, through Girls and women were first defined by how education, medicine, etc.)? they looked. Through that lens, I was always A. I am grateful that we are seeing a on the heavier side, though I have never cultural shift in how we talk about bodies. actually been obese. The greatest struggle There is more and more awareness about I have had, that as a 33-year-old woman body shaming, and body positivity is on the ingston

I can now identify, is one of the mind: rise. More representation of all bodies in -K h it I have spent the better part of my life the media is necessary, with celebration in m S being crushed by the weight of my mind, tow. Practically, we need better education a rist h C wrestling with the voices of what size is on body types without shaming language of good enough, what size is too much. and on food origins and impact. ourtesy C Q. What has worked/ Q. Have you ever felt stigmatized not worked for you? because of your weight? A. My greatest success has come from What caused it? listening to those around me who have A. I have the benefit of having a confident PERFORM CENTRE spoken only words of encouragement, personality, and so my internal world did affirmation, and have asked questions not become my external world: I did not CALL OUT about the internal struggle. Paired with experience stigmatization because what Whether you’re a community member portion control, understanding what types I project when it comes to body can be looking to participate in a study or a of food are best suited for my body, and quite different from my personal feelings. graduate student who wants to engage fun and motivating exercise, weight loss in next-gen research, our PEFORM has ensued. What has not worked has been Centre wants to hear from you. Visit the strict regime that cares only for the concordia.ca/research/perform for more numbers related to calories and scales. information.

38 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL THE NEXT-GENERATION “I think the new food guide really As with disease, when it comes to losing OF HEALTHY LIVING supports what is useful for people who weight, some people have a harder Health Canada’s overhaul of Canada’s are trying to plan their daily meals and time than others. Jessica Murphy, Food Guide in early 2019 is a positive meet their goals for both health and weight another PhD student under Santosa’s development, say staff and researchers at management, if necessary,” she says. supervision at the MON lab, believes the PERFORM Centre’s Nutrition Suite. Through nutrition counselling and cook- the answer might lie in the age at which The suite’s supervisor, Théa ing workshops, Demmers helps advance obesity develops. Through her research, Demmers, a registered dietitian- research in the prevention of chronic dis- Murphy is trying to learn how that nutritionist, says the new guide is an eases and helps promotes healthy habits. timing affects disease risk, by analyzing affirmation of what she and fellow “I think the plate is visual, and seeing fat cells from people who have had colleagues have already endorsed: the proportions on it can be very posi- obesity since childhood and comparing we should consider meals as a well- tive and helpful for planning meals.” them with the cells of people who balanced plate of colourful and While overweight and obesity statistics developed it later in life. dark green vegetables, fruits, whole in Canada and around the world are After identifying abnormalities be- grains and protein. worse than ever, Concordia’s PERFORM tween the two groups, Murphy wants to The latest version of Canada’s Food Centre researchers have high hopes for an learn how each group responds to weight Guide supports a balanced plate of food, improved understanding of how fat works. loss. In terms of fat-cell characteristics, rather than suggesting a daily number Through their research collaborations she compares the differences between of servings from four specific food within the Concordia community and adult onset and childhood onset obe- groups, a recommendation that, until this beyond, the intention is to develop sity and then puts individuals from each year, had not been updated since 2007. knowledge in the field that will lead group on a weight-loss protocol of both The idea of the balanced plate, ac- to more personalized treatments, diet and exercise. cording to Demmers, has existed in and better prevention, education “We guide them in terms of how to diabetes education since the 1990s. and weight-loss programs. improve their nutrition and reduce their caloric intake by 20 per cent,” she says. The individuals in her study are also put on a cardio exercise program at the PERFORM Centre. Once they complete the full weight-loss protocol, Murphy conducts the fat biopsies and assessments once again to observe any differences. The goal is to get them to approximately 10-per-cent weight loss. Murphy is intrigued by the results. “It’s exciting to see how these two groups of individuals do change after the program, as well as to see if there are im- provements following their weight loss.” Murphy hopes her research will im- prove comprehension of obesity and how it is treated. To date, she’s had more than 20 individuals complete her program. In order to yield more robust research results, her goal is to have 30 to 40 people complete both pre- and post-measures.

THÉA DEMMERS IN THE NUTRITION LABORATORY AT THE PERFORM CENTRE ON THE LOYOLA CAMPUS.

niversity U

a oncordi C

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 39 STUDENT POETRY

Annual $500 Irving Layton Award for Creative Writing: Poetry

PROXY

BY ALIA BHIMJI (STUDENT CURRENTLY STUDYING FOR A BA)

I used to be a babysitter. I made nipples out of mineral things, I spoke in tongues too wide for me I spent the gold and I spent the silver.

I made tap water turn to TV dinners. I worked for lead from bunk beds, I bathed them in Epsom sweat and seaweed I used to be a babysitter.

I used to bring them army stickers. I made civvies out of buckeye roots, in high altitudes with coca leaves I spent the gold and the camouflage silver.

I went and shopped for coffee filters. I would drink like mothers ought to drink, I snuffed the grounds through rolled receipts I used to be a peoplesitter.

I’d tuck in their gloves when we had our winters. I’d make them shovel snow for daddy’s praises, he was paying my salary I spent the gold and the family silver.

I used to be a counterfeiter I used to be a quick relief I used to be a babysitter I took the gold and I took the silver.

40 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Concordia is all over the airwaves in Canada’s two largest cities. Sabrina Marandola recently launched a new afternoon-drive show on CBC Montreal. John Moore is a top-rated AM radio host in Toronto, while Andrew Carter and Elias Makos have AM morning shows in Montreal. Radio and TV personality Anne-Marie Withenshaw is familiar to French-language listeners and viewers in Montreal. How did Concordia help prepare them for what can be a gruelling career? And why is it much tougher than most people think? Freelance writer Richard Burnett, BA 88, found out.

SABRINA MARANDOLA LIGHTS UP THE MONTREAL AIRWAVES

orn and raised in Montreal, Sabrina B Marandola, BA (Specialization in Communications and Journalism) 03, was the perfect choice to host CBC Montreal’s new afternoon radio show Let’s Go with Sabrina Marandola, which launched on Sept. 3, 2019. Marandola sat down for this Q&A ????? on her second day on the job. After many years in the journalism trenches – beginning as a news reporter for The Suburban newspaper to various TV, radio and digital news jobs for the Let’s Go with Sabrina Marandola How did Concordia prepare CBC – Marandola is uniquely qualified replaces Homerun. How did you for your current role? to host a daily show about Montrealers your show come about? I loved my time at Concordia, and their hometown. When Homerun host Sue Smith retired, I thought it was a great program. the search was on for a new afternoon It was a small program, they accepted What’s the hardest part of the job? host. A lot of people reached out to me about 18 people a year, so you had a lot Sabrina Marandola: Well, I just started and said, ‘Sabrina, I hope you’re going of the same people in your classes for the job, so maybe my answer will change to apply because you’ve paid your dues, the whole three years. It felt like a in a few months! I’ve been a substitute it’s your time.’ Then when I got the family. I also loved that your teachers host before, but now it’s about mentally job, I was in complete shock. I was silent were working journalists. So you knew embracing my new role. I’m not keeping which is so unlike me! I was hoping for that people in the industry were looking the seat warm for someone else. Now I the job, but I was for sure not expecting it. at your work. And the mandatory get to put my stamp on it. internships were fabulous. You cherish your Italian roots What’s the biggest misconception and have a passion for pizza. What professor or mentor was from the public about radio I am a pizza addict, specifically most influential in your career? personalities? Neapolitan-style pizza. I travel to Italy An influential teacher at Concordia was SM: I think people think, ‘Oh, you’re on really often and have tried many, many Bob Babinski, who was my radio teacher. the air from 3 to 6? That’s it!’ But that’s pizzerias. I love the pizza scene in His way of teaching really resonated not the case at all. There is a lot of prep Montreal, there are a lot of Neapolitan- with me. He was so calm and so patient. time, a lot of research, pre-interviewing style pizzas now available. I tell you, I totally fell in love with radio in Bob’s guests, writing scripts and editing, cut- when I go shopping and see something class and I still see him from time to ting tapes, cutting sound. There’s a lot I like, I go, “Hmmm, do I need this time, we still keep in touch. that goes into a show. pair of shoes or would I rather have six pizzas?” Pizza is on my mind all the time!

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 41 CJAD MORNING MAN ANDREW CARTER COMES OUT ON TOP

nergetic radio personality Andrew What was it like coming out publicly depression. You’re not supposed to have ECarter, BA 84, has been the morning about your battle with depression? any problems. man at CJAD – Montreal’s top-rated It was quite easy because in the context of So coming out was one of those things English-language AM radio station – how it happened – with the Bell Let’s Talk I did because it was right. I didn’t feel since 2003. But in 2017, Carter revealed mental health initiative – we had guests like brave or special. But I was touched when on-air that he had been battling cyclist and speedskater Clara Hughes and people came forward and said, ‘This is depression. Carter’s honest approach I felt kind of disingenuous sitting there what I’ve been living.’ You get some hope helped listeners get a handle on mental asking them questions about depression knowing that you’re not the only one. illness. Through it all, Carter never lost when I knew how it felt to be depressed. his good humour and remains one of I felt like we were not giving full ser- How did Concordia prepare you for Montreal’s favourite broadcasters. vice by talking to the same athletes and your current role? celebrities. It’s regular folks who are Volunteering at Concordia radio station What’s the hardest part of the job? still scared because of stigma. They are CIRL [now CJLO] was great because it Andrew Carter: Definitely getting up scared they will lose their jobs. It was allowed me to play radio and understand at 4 a.m. day after day after day. That’s even that way in my business too. I think and cultivate my desire to do radio. I was the hardest physical part. The hardest going back just a few years it would have in communication studies and journal- mental part is what I call land mines: been very uncool to talk about depres- ism – it was called a joint specialization you can say something you think is fairly sion. I’m not saying that about Bell at the time, a precursor to broadcast innocuous, but someone may not hear Media, but I’m sure some past bosses journalism – and I had great teachers it as you intended and it can become an would have said that is not good for the like Lindsay Crysler and the late Dennis issue. You’re always one stupid phrase Andrew Carter brand. It’s not good for Murphy. Being a journalism student away from disaster. That can be kind the happy morning man to talk about allowed me to intern at CJAD, and that’s of stressful. how I got my foot in the door and my first job. What’s the biggest misconception from the public about What professor or mentor was most radio personalities? influential in your career? AC: The one I hear a lot is from people CJAD evening newscaster Stu McIsaac who have good voices, who come up to in 1982, when I had a weeklong in- me and say, ‘My friends tell me I should ternship at the station. News director be a radio announcer because I have Gordon Sinclair said I could come back, such a great voice.’ And I say, ‘That’s like but would have to make a deal with one my friends telling me I should be lawyer of the newscasters. Stu McIsaac let me because I look good in a suit.’ It’s not come in for as long as I wanted. He had a talent, it’s an acquired skill. That’s tasks for me to do and he was very pa- what people don’t understand. tient because I was a moron. I was the guy least likely to excel, least likely to get D a radio job ever! JA C There are many other people who have influenced my career – Rob Braide courtesy gave me a chance as a morning man – oto h P but Stu McIsaac allowing me to stick CARTER’S HONEST APPROACH ABOUT BATTLING around at the very beginning, that DEPRESSION HAS ALSO BUOYED HIS LISTENERS changed my life.

42 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine CJAD RADIO HOST ELIAS MAKOS HITS A GRAND SLAM

he dynamic Elias Makos, BA 04, What’s the biggest misconception T ended 2018 with a bang when he from the public about radio launched The Elias Makos Show on top- personalities? rated CJAD radio on Dec. 31. The former When I meet people, many of them say, Montreal Canadiens and Montreal ‘It must be so tough to keep track of Expos PR man, who became a popular everything, to be on top of all the sto- personality with long-running on-air ries.’ It isn’t easy, but that is who we are. stints with CTV and Citytv, has found Radio hosts are already of that mindset, his stride as host of his own CJAD talk they love the news. I’m a voracious con- D JA C show which airs daily in the coveted sumer of news as well. I relish that stuff. 9 a.m. to noon slot. courtesy You worked for the Montreal Expos oto h What’s the hardest part of the job? before they left for Washington, D.C., P “WHEN I LOOK AT MY CAREER, EVERYTHING CAME Elias Makos: There is no hardest part in 2004. Do you think Montreal will OUT OF CONCORDIA, AND ALL THE CONNECTIONS of my job. I got really lucky. I think I’ve get another Major League Baseball I MADE THERE.” worked reasonably hard over my career, team? I’ve learned a lot of things. I studied at Yes, it is only a matter of when, not if. all these people because the connections Concordia, worked in the journalism And I say that without any hesitation. you make here will pay dividends.” department for seven years, all my work It’s happening. The process we are see- When I look at my career, everything at CTV and Citytv and all the other plac- ing is them figuring out how it happens, came out of Concordia, and all the con- es, it prepared me for this job at CJAD. and when it happens. We’re getting a nections I made there. Journalism I don’t think there is anything ‘hard’ in team back, you can take that to the bank. professor Peter Downie called me up in my job. It’s a thrill, to be honest. The job September 2004 – the same week the is high-energy, it’s a newsy show and Will they be called the Expos? Expos announced they were leaving for something that I thrive on. If it’s a full-time team in Montreal, or Washington – and invited me to apply a team that plays the majority of their for a technical instructor position, You must be happy you don’t have schedule in Montreal, then they’ll be because today every journalist has to wake up at 4 a.m. anymore. called the Expos. to be a technical wizard. That is how EM: Oh my God! The schedule I had as a my career took off. host and producer on Citytv’s Breakfast How did Concordia prepare you for Television Montreal was the worst! I was your current role? What professor or mentor was most constantly worried about getting enough It did everything. I was speaking to some influential in your career? sleep. But I have a great schedule today, journalism diploma students recently Peter Downie at Concordia was pivotal, and that also changes everything. Now I and told them I was so happy to be there but I also owe a lot to former Concordia have a social life. during their orientation because, I said, professor Bob Babinski, who saw some- “I’d like to give you some advice that all thing in me when he put together the journalism students should get when team Citytv had when they launched they start: Look around the room and their new station in Montreal. I know see all the people you have just met and that if I hadn’t ended up at Citytv, I guarantee you that in three, five and there is no way I’d be sitting in this 10 years these are the same people who chair today at CJAD. will be hiring you, and you will be hir- ing the people around you. So be nice to

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 43 MOORE! MOORE! MOORE! HOW MORNING MAN JOHN MOORE BECAME THE TOAST OF TORONTO

ontreal native John Moore, BA The other funny thing is, because of Has being an out gay man M 88, became the toast of Toronto these crazy hours, it’ll be 11 o’clock in affected your career? hosting the Queen City’s hugely popular the morning and I’ll feel like I’m playing Not really. I don’t make a big deal about morning show Moore in the Morning. hooky because all of my other friends it anyway. I’ve never believed you inform Moore spent years paying his dues, have real jobs. a debate by saying, ‘I’ve been at a mass launching his career as a reporter with shooting, so I know about gun control.’ CHOM in Montreal. There would be What’s the biggest misconception I talk about my partner on the radio but plenty of other gigs, including work from the public about radio it’s never that major a component. as an in-demand voice artist and personalities? columnist for the National Post. JM: It’s the same thing as when I used You were a founding member of Like many Montrealers, Moore has to do improv. People ask, ‘How hard Montreal’s On The Spot players. made Toronto his home. The bustling is it to go onstage and make things up?’ Do you miss performing metropolis tunes in Moore in the But good storytelling isn’t easy. I had improvisational comedy? Morning on NewsTalk 1010 weekdays a friend who said all I do on radio is I miss it terribly, but you get to the age from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. talk, then when I had him on my show, where you look like somebody’s dad he clammed up. and you shouldn’t be onstage anymore! I decided to dedicate myself fully to What was it like coming out my radio show in Toronto in 2003. publicly in 2019 about your battle with anxiety? How did Concordia prepare It’s a mixed bag. I want to be careful you for your current role? what I say because every interview There is a lot in my life that prepared I do, every encounter I have, centres me for this. I am a huge Concordia on that. All I can say is there was no booster and Communications is still D JA

C question whether I would talk about it everything to me. I loved doing the

because radio is about authenticity and degree. I also went to the School of courtesy

connection with the listeners. If I was Community and Public Affairs, and oto h going to tell my friends about this, then that was my foundation in politics, P

MORNING MAN JOHN MOORE SAYS, “IT’LL BE I was going to tell the listeners about this. history and economics. 11 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I’LL FEEL LIKE So after a month off work, I came I’M PLAYING HOOKY BECAUSE ALL OF MY OTHER FRIENDS HAVE REAL JOBS.” back and prepared a statement because What professor or mentor was I wanted people to know exactly where most influential in your career? What’s the hardest part of the job? I’d been. I don’t want to be a poster boy I wrote a column a few years ago John Moore: The hours. The hours are for anxiety, I don’t know if I’m even a about all the teachers who influenced insane. I get up at 2:30 in the morning good poster boy because it was relatively me. I can take it back to Grade 3. But and go on-air at 5:30. I always say it still easy for me. Others deal with this their at Concordia I learned much from feels like I’m getting into a moving car. whole lives. professors Donat Taddeo, Harold It ends at 9, but then there’s meetings But people reached out to me, like Thwaites, Margie Mendell and Dennis and interviews to do, and you spend parents whose kids and teens have Murphy and that’s a double connection the whole day wondering, ‘What are we anxiety, other people in my industry, because my Dad taught him, and going to do tomorrow? What are the big police officers, single moms, you name Dennis taught me. stories?’ You are pretty much working it. They said, ‘That’s me!’ Now they all the time. know they can do something about it, and that’s healthy.

44 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine COURTING CELEBRITY WITH MEDIA PERSONALITY ANNE-MARIE WITHENSHAW

anadian television and radio As a reporter for Flash on TQS, C personality Anne-Marie you reported from the Oscars, Withenshaw, BA (Comm.) 02, the Grammys and the Cannes became a household name in Quebec Film Festival. What did you learn as a hugely popular VJ on MusiquePlus about celebrity and fame? – the French-language sister station of AMW: I am still a fan, I still geek out MuchMusic – from 1998 to 2002. when I see Miley Cyrus or Diana Ross She quickly became a much-loved in concert. I turn into a 14-year-old. media personality in both French and But I learnt I like talking to musicians English, with gigs on the TQS daily en- and don’t really like talking to actors. tertainment show Flash and Montreal The stakes in the movie business are so radio stations CKOI and 92.5 The Beat. much higher and actors try not to go off- C B

Currently part of the Échangistes team script. But rock stars are eccentric and C WITHENSHAW ALSO HOSTS LES SAMEDIS D’ANNE-MARIE at Radio-Canada and C’est juste de la TV not very sheltered. When I had a bizarre EACH WEEKEND ON ICI MUSIQUE RADIO on ARTV, Withenshaw also hosts Les interview with Mariah Carey two weeks samedis d’Anne-Marie each weekend before she had her nervous breakdown, on Ici Musique radio. her handlers were like, ‘Oh, that’s Was it tougher for you as a woman Mariah! She’s just being funny!’ to break into the business, get What was it like to work At MusiquePlus I also learnt that fame respect and equal pay? as a VJ at MusiquePlus? comes in phases. For their first album, It wasn’t. I was lucky. My core of female Anne-Marie Withenshaw: My last year at artists are willing to do anything. Before friends at Concordia, there are five of Concordia was really weird because I was Britney Spears’s first album came out, us, we all ended up following each other. also working in TV. I remember turning we had access to her for three days. She We have always had each other’s backs. in my final paper (electronically) while I did everything for us! We let a lot of things slide that today was in a Toronto hotel room interviewing Then no more access with the release would be considered sexual harassment, Our Lady Peace! of an artist’s second album and peak though at MusiquePlus I never felt like But working at MusiquePlus as a VJ worldwide fame. They’re tapped out. I was treated unequally. I came in at the was not like working at Montreal’s HMV Then there is redemption with their tail end of the nineties, after the grunge superstore where I started selling re- fourth or fifth album, and they’re super era and riot grrrl movement when cords and then became their store DJ. willing to talk to you again. It’s very rare people were aware of feminism and the Lots of people at HMV were migrating that an artist doesn’t have that cycle. female struggle. to MusiquePlus which is how I found out Now I think we’ve taken a step back. they were looking for a new VJ. When I Do you prefer TV or radio? I remember once I went to interview showed up there, I had literally never done I’m lucky I’ve done both my entire Quentin Tarantino when he released his anything in TV. I did seven interviews and career. TV allows for access to so many 2007 film Grindhouse and I was stand- screen tests, and did one trial day. extraordinary worlds whereas radio ing in front of the elevator with a plate Working at MusiquePlus was bru- allows for proximity to the listener – of food – because at movie junkets they tal: you had to be your own researcher, talking to them is so intimate. I love also feed you, and you know me, I love writer, producer, editor, make-up artist, listening to radio and podcasts. to eat – and the elevator doors open and stylist and hairdresser. You had to do ev- out steps Tarantino. Harvey Weinstein erything. We still used clippings back in What’s the biggest misconception was also in the elevator. When Tarantino those days. I remember we had just one about radio and TV personalities? spotted me with my plate of food, he computer on wheels, and we wheeled it People think the job of a host is really said something like, ‘My God, a blonde around the office to do research on the easy. I still approach my work with the girl coming into an elevator with a plate internet! Meanwhile, other students at rigour I learnt in journalism school. of food in front of Harvey Weinstein – Concordia thought I had sold out. that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen!” And Working at MusiquePlus was really How did Concordia help shape you everybody laughed. So when people say hard work but it was magical. Suddenly and prepare you for your career? they didn’t know it was happening – no, all the artists I admired as a fan – like Concordia gave me a good group of peers everybody knew. People just thought it David Bowie – I got to meet and inter- I still work with today, really shaped my was funny. It was a different culture. view in person. way of storytelling and I have stayed in touch with many amazing teachers.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 45 THEY SH OOT! THEY SCO R E!

SEAN FARRELL Concordia lecturer Moshe Lander touch- es on one of the key reasons why, when Concordians make oncordia alumni have scaled he references the central point of a 1956 their marks in the a variety of summits on the article by economist Simon Rottenberg fields and in the arenas of the that essentially launched the study of the world of sport sportingC world, but they have also played economics of sports: “He (Rottenberg) significant roles in the business side of basically said that anybody who’s buying sports. Their careers have taken them to sports is buying the uncertainty of out- the Olympics, the World Series and the come,” Lander says. “So it’s not totally Super Bowl, and they have made their different from other forms of entertain- marks on the Stanley Cup, the Grey Cup ment, movies, television, that if you know and the Clarkson Cup. how the episode or how the movie is going And the business of sports can be to end it takes out some of the enjoyment.”

THERESE BRISSON WON A GOLD quite different than other business This feature looks at a number of former MEDAL IN WOMEN’S HOCKEY IN ventures, but very close to other forms Concordia students who continue to make 2002 AND NOW SERVES ON THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. of entertainment. their marks in this unique business arena.

46 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine T H EY SCORE! GREG KWIZAK, BA 06, is a major play- In addition to running the “Concordia just gave me a good er at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” scoreboard, public address system, foundation and supplied me the tools which is the actual registered trademark videos and music, ads, promotions and so that I can create,” Kwizak says. “I of New York’s Madison Square Garden. animation, the MSG team is responsible remember in my last year, there was As a senior vice-president at the for everything that goes into the a TV-production class and our teacher Madison Square Garden Company, Kwizak production of special ceremonies, was Liz Miller, and we were really is responsible for Event Production and such as jersey-retirement nights. charged with putting together a short Back of House Operations for all sporting Kwizak is particularly proud of the work television show, and everybody had a events and concerts at the company’s the team did prior to a game in February role and I was a co-executive producer. venues, including MSG Arena, Radio City 2019 when he directed the celebration “And I just got real-life experience in Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and the of the 25th anniversary of the Rangers’ a good, solid studio setting and the re- Hulu Theater at MSG. 1994 Stanley Cup. sources were well supplied at the time.” Prior to taking on this new role over the summer, Kwizak had served as senior vice-president of Event Presentation for the New York Rangers of the NHL and the New York Knicks of the NBA. Regarding his previous role he says, “We work in sports, but we work in entertainment and it is the fan experience. “I work with an incredibly talented team that oversees Rangers and Knicks event presentation, and all areas of pro- gramming and day-to-day operations for in-arena activity. It all ties back to fan engagement and the experience that fans should get, when they come to a game. It’s this complex, dynamic expe- rience that’s really set against the sport of the night. You can’t control how the team is doing, but we program every iota in and around what’s happening on the ice or on the court.”

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 47 MARK WEIGHTMAN, BComm 96, is the vice-president of development and operations for the Laval Rocket and Place Bell at Groupe CH, the company that owns the Montreal Canadiens. Weightman, who was previously pres- ident of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, oversees all commercial and business operations for the Rocket, an American Hockey League franchise that is the Canadiens’ top farm team, and manages the Laval arena com- plex that includes a 10,000-seat rink. “It’s not true that minor-league sports have minor-league venues anymore, be- cause it’s still the same person spending the same Canadian currency to come see “That says everything you need to join my two passions of marketing a show,” Weightman says. know about Concordia,” Weightman and sports. “And so you’re seeing more and more says. “I was very fortunate to have one “I like learning and experiencing AHL venues, minor league baseball professor in particular, a marketing things that are real, not just examples venues, that are sometimes every bit as teacher, Bryan Barbieri, who was a big from a textbook. And I felt that in my modern with the creature comforts of a sports fan. He would often use sports time at Concordia, they did a great job Bell Centre that you will find here even as a parallel to everything that we would of that. We had a lot of professors who at Place Bell.” talk about in our marketing classes. I also worked in the industry who would Weightman praises Concordia’s “real was very lucky just to happen to fall into come back and teach. To me, it made education for the real world” ethos. having him as a teacher. That helped it relevant.”

Hall of Fame (2008) and the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame (2009), both as an individual and as a member of the 1995-96 Stingers

e women’s hockey team. am F

of

ll a Named Concordia Female Athlete of the Year in 1995, Granato had H ey

k 179 goals and 330 points in 125 games during her three seasons with oc

/H the Stingers from 1994-97. ndford a S

“Cammi’s not just there to fiddle with the dials,” says TV hockey ve a

D analyst Craig Button, who also has experience as an NHL scout and executive. “The thing about great players, the thing about Hall of GRANATO IS FIRST FEMALE NHL SCOUT Fame players, they’re interested in being great. They want to be the Concordia Stingers star Cammi Granato has a long history of best at everything they do and Cammi fits that to a T.” staking a place for women in the hockey world. This fall, she broke new ground as the first woman named as a professional scout in The greatest scorer in American women’s hockey history, Granato the history of the National Hockey League, having been hired on was captain of the U.S. team that captured the gold medal in the first September 24, 2019, by the Seattle expansion team that will begin Olympic women’s hockey tournament in 1998 and carried the U.S. playing in the 2021-22 season. flag at the closing ceremonies in Nagano, Japan.

“What a time in sports right now, seeing all sorts of ceilings shattered Seattle general manager Ron Francis is a fellow Hall of Fame by women,” Granato says on the as-yet unnamed team’s official player who played with Granato’s husband, Ray Ferraro, for the website. “If I can inspire someone to become a scout or work in an Hartford Whalers. NHL front office, that's amazing.” “I want to stress that Cammi's résumé is why she got the job,” In 2010, she and Angela James became the first women players in Francis says on the team website. “She knows the pro game and its the Hockey Hall of Fame. She is also a member of the International players. When we talked about the role and how it is going to work, Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame (2008), the United States Hockey I mentioned the organization’s overall commitment to diversity.” 48 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine TRAINER TO THE ELITE: SPRACKLIN’S “I never actually thought I would run my own business the way BUSINESS GROWS AND GROWS I do and that it would expand the way it has so much,” Spracklin Kenny Spracklin, BSc 08, has carved out a distinctive niche in says. “I would consider myself more of a skilled practitioner in where the business of sports. His Montreal-based company, Spracklin I would work specifically with athletes, and that was my craft and that’s Performance Inc., provides personalized fitness training services where I put all my time and energy. The sidebar was the business side, to elite athletes, including a number of NHL players. but then they kind of switched when we got bigger and bigger.

The good news for Spracklin’s clients is that he won’t ask them to do “And now we have 10 to 12 staff, so that’s a lot more. It’s a different anything he hasn’t done himself. Good luck keeping up with someone side to manage than the actual athletes. Instead of the one-on-ones or who swims with whales and sharks, and was planning to swim across the group trainings, now there’s staff I have to manage, which is a very each of the five Great Lakes within two weeks in September. different environment. But it’s great. It’s a totally different system. So I didn’t think we would get to this part originally, when I first started “I love that feeling when I’m working with people who are getting everything, but I’m very happy with the way things have evolved.” millions of dollars to actually compete, when there’s a lot on line, or an Olympic athlete who works for years towards one goal, like – Sean Farrell one game to win gold,” Spracklin says.

“They’re sacrificing so much, and their entire livelihoods, their entire lives, are all around basically how you can help them. I don’t like to take credit for them being able to win a cup or win a gold medal, because at the end of the day they are the athletes, they’re the ones doing everything.

“But if I can be sharp, then my tools can actually really help them.” h it m S

Spracklin is grateful that his general interest in business led him yle to take some finance classes while studying at Concordia. K

TAMARA MEDWIDSKY, GrDip 00, One of the biggest challenges her 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. MBA 03, acquired a wealth of real-world sport has faced occurred in 2013, when “Over the last, you know, five, six years experience at Concordia that is relevant the International Olympic Committee since that we’ve definitely raised the to her position as executive director of voted to drop wrestling from their profile of the sport from a market- Wrestling Canada Lutte. program less than 10 years after women ing and communication standpoint,” Medwidsky participated in a variety began competing in Olympic wres- Medwidsky says. “It’s actually been of sports growing up, yet she only tling in Athens. A campaign to reinstate really great. So I think that whole situa- discovered the one she truly excelled at wrestling was successful and more tion actually strengthened wrestling during her senior year at the University women’s events were added for the and really brought us back together.” of Toronto, where she completed her bachelor of science degree. “I don’t really know what would have happened if I hadn’t started wrestling,” Medwidsky says. “Would I have ended up at Concordia? Who knows?” Medwidsky became an elite wres- tler while continuing her studies at Concordia, all the while shifting her field of concentration to business. “It’s been an amazing experience,” Medwidsky says. “I don’t think many individuals have that opportunity. Working in the sport that I had my athletic career in has been tremendous, but not without its challenges.” TAMARA MEDWIDSKY (MIDDLE) IS INDUCTED INTO CONCORDIA’S SPORTS HALL OF FAME.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 49 The way forward is unclear in the wake of the CWHL’s failed attempt to pursue a not-for-profit business plan, in contrast to the U.S.-based National Women’s Hockey League. “That is the basic tenet of business, that it has to be for profit,” business lecturer Moshe Lander says. “What you do with the profits is up to you. But you have to be in it to win it. The guiding principle is that if you have investors and stakeholders and you’re telling them that the objective here is a return on investment, or that there’s a return on assets — whatever the return is, there’s got to be a return for it. LISA-MARIE BRETON-LEBREUX HOPES WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY RETURNS TO CANADA. “So even Hockey Canada and USA In 2016, Medwidsky was inducted into I learned in playing hockey where it’s all Hockey, if they want to get behind this the Concordia Sports Hall of Fame, about building high-performance teams product, they have to be in it for the which also counts THERESE BRISSON to achieve high-performance goals. purpose of making a profit. Otherwise, (inducted in 1997) and LISA-MARIE “There were many lessons learned you’re not going to be around long — you BRETON-LEBREUX (inducted in 2018) on the journey from Concordia to the can’t function in a scenario where you’re among its members. Both Stingers Canadian Olympic team, where I had the not trying to maximize earnings.” hockey greats are still involved in sports opportunity to perform on the highest Fingers are crossed that women’s in their respective professional lives. stage, where one in five Canadians are professional hockey will find the right Brisson, BSc 89, a six-time watching. Everything I do today is about business model in order to prosper in International Ice Hockey Federation real passion for building high-perfor- the sports world, which offers a unique world champion and Olympic silver mance teams and championing people product to its consumers, the fans. (1998) and gold medal (2002) winner, development. Evidence-based decision “It’s unscripted entertainment and is a member of the board of directors making is also important. We did all of so leagues will fall over themselves to of the Canadian Olympic Committee. that as athletes. For me, that started at try and ensure that the outcome is not “What we do with the Canadian Concordia, where I played hockey, and did predictable,” Lander says. “So whenever Olympic team is a nation-building my first formal training as a scientist.” you see competition committees project,” Brisson says. “A nation that is inspired by the performance and the “It’s that you want to be on the edge of passion of the Canadian Olympic team. your seat, and this is exciting, and it’s I don’t know of anything that inspires excellence not just in sport, but through going to a second overtime.” – Moshe Lander sport – and unites our country in the same way. We don’t see Canadians come Breton-Lebreux, BA 04, the Stingers’ reviewing rules, or changing free agency together as much as we do when we’re strength and conditioning coordinator, or salary caps, the entire aim is, at least cheering on our national team at the finds her position as assistant coach of publicly, to try and assure the public that highest levels. People don’t paint the Les Canadiennes women’s hockey team what you’re watching is not professional maple leaf on their faces to go the opera, in limbo. Professional women’s hockey wrestling. It’s not pre-determined and they just don’t – right? But they do for is at a crucial crossroads with the spring that’s how you get fans to pay. Team Canada at the Olympics.” 2019 demise of the Canadian Women’s “It’s that you want to be on the edge Brisson has been a marketing execu- Hockey League, which Breton-Lebreux of your seat, and this is exciting, and tive for the past 15 years, first with P&G had co-founded in 2007. it’s going to a second overtime. You get Canada and now with Kimberly-Clark. “This came as a shock, where the invested in it because you want your team “As an athlete, I had a lot of inter- sports and the league and our team to win. But even there, the euphoria of est and passion for people’s health and in Montreal is at the highest point of the win, and the catastrophe of the loss fitness,” Brisson says. “ “I learned a everything,” Breton-Lebreux says. is what you’re signing up for. It’s not fun lot about that while I was at Concordia, “I’m really proud of how we started and to sign up for something where you know and while working toward that B.Sc. in where we took it, and no one will take you’re going to win. And vice-versa. It’s Exercise Science, I played varsity hock- that away from me, ever. And I hope not fun to sign up for something where ey. I think that everything I do today that it will continue. But it’s really sad. you know you’re going to lose.” leading teams, people and businesses, I’m really sad.”

50 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine S . SS F Y Y FF, F Y C

– Lorraine Gosselin, BA 97

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52441-PlannedGivingAd-Lorraine Gosselin ad Fall 2019 .indd 1 2019-08-27 12:02 PM FACULTY SPOTLIGHT SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Looking forward Concordia’s grad school takes aim at future needs

RACHEL ANDREN, BA 02 GradProSkills also provides niversity U

coaching and support for the popular raditionally, graduate schools international 3-Minute Thesis (3MT™) a

have functioned as gatekeepers competition, which challenges oncordi 1 T C for the upper echelons of academia, students to share their research in 1 DEAN PAULA WOOD-ADAMS overseeing access to funding, facilities everyday language to a public audience 2 THE PUBLIC SCHOLAR COHORT 3 NEWSHA AREZI and research. Led by Dean Paula Wood- within three minutes. Concordia MSc 4 SUZANNE KITE Adams, Concordia’s School of Graduate (Chemistry) student Newsha Arezi Studies (SGS) has moved away from won the national competition this this traditional approach to embrace year, impressing the audience with her networking. Each skill is taught by the evolving needs of the academic research in developing smart delivery experts in the fields including Edie community as knowledge brokers and systems for anti-cancer drugs, Austin, Editorial Page Editor of the thought leaders, breaking new ground and her public speaking skills. Montreal Gazette and Graham Fox, for research development and adopting President and CEO of the Institute a broader approach to academic success. PUBLIC SCHOLARS: for Research on Public Policy, BEYOND LABS AND LIBRARIES a national think tank. STUDENT-FOCUSED SERVICES There has long been the stereotypical The Scholars are selected from all In recent years, SGS has enhanced idea of universities (and graduate faculties based on strict academic existing programs and developed new ways schools in particular) as ivory towers, criteria, and they represent Concordia’s to further propel the careers of gradu- cut off from the “real world.” To diversity. Notable alumni and ate students. GradProSkills, now led by combat this perception, Wood-Adams current Public Scholars include Academic Programs and Development was inspired to create the Public Nura Jabagi (Business Technology Manager Kristy Clarke, was developed Scholars Program, with the goal of Management) winner of the provincial to ensure graduate students have access sharing Concordia’s research with the Prix Relève étoile Paul-Gérin-Lajoie to skills required for successful careers larger community. Launched in 2017, award; Vanier Scholars Maya Hey within and beyond academia. Guided by under the guidance of Administrative (Communications Studies), Amir two main principles, skill training and Director Joanne Beaudoin and in Hooshiar (Mechanical Engineering) employability, GradProSkills currently partnership with the Montreal Gazette, and Sherif Goubran (INDI: Design, offers more than 350 free workshops the Public Scholars Program assists PhD Finance and Engineering); and 2019 exclusively to graduate students, on candidates transition from labs and Banting recipient Alex McClelland topics ranging from thesis planning libraries into real-world conversations, (Humanities). The Public Scholars and intercultural communication to with the goals of engaging with the actively engage with the public MS Office Suite. broader community and shaping as representatives of Concordia. The flagship of GradProSkills is public policy. They participated in Concordia’s Graduate School Base Camp. Held As part of their training, Public Homecoming event on September 20 at the beginning of the fall and winter Scholars participate in professional and teamed up with the university’s terms, Base Camp is a condensed development workshops not usually 4th Space on October 3 for “Health version of key workshops and is offered through academic channels, Matters”, an open event to discuss considered essential for newly- including social media, business and share new insights and progress admitted and international students. etiquette, public policy and professional within the field of health care.

52 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine 2

FORGING THE FUTURE The SGS continues to explore and create new ways to support graduate research and graduate students. The INDI and Public Scholars programs attract and promote the brightest minds and most dedicated scholars. These are but two of many initiatives. The SGS has long looked beyond borders as well, developing co-curricular programs 3 4 with universities around the world that offer graduate students the opportunity to earn a joint PhD degree with two BESPOKE DEGREES INSPIRE Other students combine existing different institutions, contributing to NEW AVENUES OF DISCOVERY disciplines in new and exciting shared research and greater combined Concordia’s School of Graduate ways. Suzanne Kite (INDI: Art and resources. In addition, new top-up Studies was the first in Canada to Technology) earned exceptional national scholarships have been created to create a full-fledged graduate program recognition in April 2019 as a Trudeau recognize, recruit and enrol talented that encouraged multidisciplinary Scholar. Kite’s research is at the fulcrum Indigenous graduate students. research. Launched in the late 1970s, of art and technology, investigating At its heart, the SGS is an incubator, the individualized program (INDI) artificial intelligence (AI) through the a bridge-builder and a knowledge has grown to function as an incubator lens of art and Lakota philosophy. broker, blazing new paths for graduate for developing new, and newly From that perspective, the materials research and propelling future careers combined, areas of research. that are used to develop, build and host of students: truly, a next-generation The results have been remarkable. an AI will contribute fundamentally to school of graduate studies. Under the guidance of current the character and structure of the AI. Graduate Program Director Rachel Currently, more than 130 INDI Berger, the program attracts intrep- PhD and master’s students are pushing id, creative minds who are willing to the boundaries of existing thought, cross boundaries and ask new ques- with new facilities and research spaces tions. Scholars like Wahéhshon Shiann being secured in partnership with other Whitebean (INDI: First Nations Studies) faculties and generous donors. The SGS’ work with the INDI team to map out new deep commitment to INDI is evidenced terrain and establish the parameters by the creation of a staff scholarship, of evolving research areas. Likewise, entirely funded by the department’s Concordia’s growing profile in Health administrative personnel and awarded Research was forged within INDI and annually to select students. evolved into the Health and Exercise Science PhD program this year.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 53 High School Sucks 2019 winner of the annual $300 English Department Drama Award

ABIGAIL CANDELORA

The following is excerpted from the one-act play High School Sucks.

high school bathroom. There are two stalls upstage right. A One is unusable — maybe the door is hanging off it’s hinges, or has an Out of Order sign taped up… it’s one of those high school bathrooms. There’s a mirror and a sink downstage left, perpendicular to the audience. The mirror can and probably should be a hanging frame, and the sink doesn’t need to be anything elaborate because it doesn’t work anyway, and it should have an almost used up paper towel roll on it, and not the good kind of paper towel, but the papery one that doesn’t absorb anything. Lights up on MAX, 14, distressed, her white t-shirt covered in tomato soup. Max: Well, I mean, if you’re there, God, like, it’s me, Max, and I’m having a terrible first day so could you maybe Max: This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, talk some sense into Katy and I don’t know, do you this cannot be happening. Okay. Max. Chill. It’s chill. have a spare t-shirt? A cardigan? A Tide-to-go? You’re chill. It’s fine. Everything is cool and chill. It’s Yasmin: Max, I, uh, think you’ve got this wrong – not that much soup. It’s chill. It’s fine. It’ll come out. Max: Okay, I knooooow it’s kinda bold for me to ask you (She rips off the remaining paper towel and tries to for something since I haven’t gone to church since dab the stain out, but it doesn’t really do anything. like, well, since before mom and dad got all crazy. She checks out her progress in the mirror. She’s more But I promise I’ve been really good! Or is being good distressed and trying to keep her cool) a Santa thing? That’s a Santa thing isn’t it. I’m sorry, Okay. Okay. It’s fine. It’s cool. It’s definitely coming God. You saw this summer, though. I had to spend the out. Right? Yeah. It’s totally coming out. summer in Bolton. Bolton. God, I don’t know if you’ve (It’s not coming out) ever been to Bolton but it’s as boring as it sounds. I Okay it’s not coming out. Maybe I need to rub it. couldn’t have pool parties or hang at the park with my (She rubs it and makes it worse) friends or anything all summer. And now my friends Okay! Don’t rub it. Okay. It’s cool. It’s chill. Water! I just, what, cut me out of the group? ‘Cause I’m just just need to rinse it with water and it’ll come right out. not cool enough for them anymore? It’s all because Yes. of Mom and Dad and their stupid divorce and making (She turns on the tap. No water comes out. She switches me stay with Grandma Lynn all summer while Mom the tap on and off, more furiously as she goes until she’s moved out with her stupid new boyfriend and now I’m fed up) covered in this stupid tomato soup that Jill was eat- Well screw you sink! Screw you high school! ing and Katy spilled all over me when I tried to sit with Just screw off! them all and it’s just all so stupid and unfair so like, (A pause, then…) God, can you fix this? Please? Um. Amen. Yasmin: (in the closed stall, unseen by Max)… Max? (Silence as Max waits for “God’s” answer) Max: Who’s there? Yasmin: Um, Max? Yasmin: Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Max: Yeah? Max: (drawn out) Oh my God… Yasmin: It’s Yasmin, actually. Yasmin: I didn’t mean to like, listen to all that – Max: What? Max: This is so cliché. Yasmin: It’s Yasmin. Not, uh, God. Yasmin: What? Max: Who? Max: I can’t believe I’m hearing God. This is so dumb. Judy Yasmin: We were in Ms. Cook’s class together last year. Blume is soooo grade six. (Pause) Yasmin: Oh, no, I’m not – Yasmin: I transferred in January.

54 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine (Pause) Yasmin: Please. Jasmine? Ms. Cook called me Jasmine on my first day Max: (Max shuffles through her backpack and pulls out a and everyone called me by the wrong name for the rest pad in a pink wrapper, that she slides under Yasmin’s of the year. stall) Here. Max: Ohhhhhh. You’re named Yasmin? Yasmin: Thanks. Yasmin: … Yeah. Max: You should keep a bag of supplies on you at all times. Max: Oh. Uh. Oops. My mom got me a little gold makeup bag when I first Yasmin: Yeah. So, uh. Not God. got my period to put pads and hair ties and stuff in. Max: Ohmygodthisissoembarassing You should ask your mom for one. Yasmin: I’m really sorry, I tried to tell you, but I didn’t want to Yasmin: Oh. My mom’s um – interrupt you. Max: Oh my God, is your Mom dead? I’m so sorry. Max: Oh my god today is so stupid I am so. stupid. Yasmin: Oh, no, no she’s not. Her and my dad are divorced. She Yasmin: No, no, it’s okay, really. lives in Syracuse now. Max: Wait. Where are you? Max: Where’s Syracuse? Yasmin: Um. The stall. Yasmin: New York. Max: And you’ve been there this whole time? Max: That’s far. Yasmin: Yes. Yasmin: Yeah. That’s why I moved here last year. My uncle and Max: Oh. his family live in town. Yasmin: Oh. No. I’m not – Max: Oh. Cool. Max: Are you okay? (Pause) Yasmin: Yeah, no, I’m fine. I’m not like. You know. Is it. Going okay in there? Max: Oh. Okay. Cool. Yasmin: I think so. I just. Place it down? Yasmin: I actually just, um, got my period. Max: Yeah. Take off all the packaging and put it in the little Max: Oh. box on the wall. Yasmin: For the first time. Yasmin: There’s no little box… It looks like it was torn off or Max: Oh. Do you have. Stuff? something. There’s an outline on the wall. Yasmin: No. Do you have. Stuff? Max: High school sucks. Max: Yeah, um, do you want a pad? Yasmin: Yeah no kidding.

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concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 55 ALUMNI NEWS

For news on the full slate of recent and future Concordia University Advancement events in Montreal, across Canada and the world over, visit concordia.ca/alumni.

To listen to podcasts or watch videos of University Advancement events, please visit concordia.ca/alumni/podcasts and concordia.ca/alumni/videos.

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CONCORDIA ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURIAL EVENING HERITAGE SOCIETY COCKTAIL WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP Our “Entrepreneurial Evening” gave six Members of Concordia’s Heritage Concordia Alumni Women and young alumni entrepreneurs the oppor- Society gathered in May for the an- Leadership hosted workshops in Ottawa tunity to pitch their business or startup nual cocktail celebration of planned and Montreal on “The art of nego- ideas to an audience of like-minded giving donors, which to date include tiation” and “Personal branding for alumni. A panel discussion with leading 215 members of our community. From executive presence,” respectively, professionals in the field of innovation left: Former Concordia President Alan which drew in more than 100 alumnae. followed. From left: Kim Fuller, BFA 96, Shepard, Amanda Kline, BA 11, report- In Ottawa, workshop facilitator Niem president, Concordia University Alumni er, CTV News Montreal; Silvia Ugolini, Huynh, professional and personal life Association, with panelists Katherine principal director, Planned Giving; coach, helped guests understand the key Macnaughton, BA 07, chief operat- Chelsea Okankwu, JMSB student in elements of a win-win negotiation ap- ing officer and co-founder, Mentorly; Accountancy; Guylaine Beaudry, vice- proach. In Montreal, Karen O’Mahony, Xavier-Henri Hervé, BEng 87, DSc provost, Digital Strategy, and University founder and CEO of Brandlucent 11, co-founder and executive direc- Librarian; Gérard Boismenu, profes- Branding Agency, shared tools and in- tor, District 3 Innovation Center; Cyrus sor, Department of Political Science, sight with guests to help them create Gorjipour, BComm 11, CEO and co- Université de Montréal; Paul Chesser, their own personal brands. 1 founder, Goalcast; and Ana Marinescu, BA 94, GrDip 97. 9 BComm 06, MBA 09, founder, Urbana STUDENTS AND YOUNG ALUMNI Marketing, and part-time facul- In May, Alumni Relations’ Student ty member, Graduate Certificate in and Young Alumni programming Entrepreneurship, Concordia. 5 included annual banquets for Concordia’s Garnet Keys 2 and ANNIVERSARIES Stingers men’s football team. 3 2019 marked a milestone year for We also hosted two Almost Alumni Concordia programs celebrating anniver- brunches in early June to celebrate saries: 10 years for graduate programs in the success of and promote connec- music therapy 6 ; 40 years for Concordia’s tions among students graduating in Science College 7 ; and 50 years for the Concordia’s June convocations. 4 educational technology program. 8

56 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine ASIAN ALUMNI NETWORK more than 800 guests to meet members NEWS DISRUPTERS In collaboration with the Canada China of Concordia’s administration and enjoy We hosted a “News disrupters” pro- International Film Festival (CCIFF), refreshments. Pictured are Faculty of fessional industry network event in Concordia alumni gathered for a Fine Arts student Lauren Mendes, with Toronto, where a panel of experts talked screening of the 2010 film production parents Lesley and Jessel Mendes. 11 about what’s to come in the quickly- Confucius to launch Concordia’s Asian evolving field of journalism. Pictured Alumni Network. Miao Song, BCompSc DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER from left: Patti Sonntag, BA 00, direc- 04, MCompSc 07, PhD 13, and Serguei LECTURE SERIES tor, Concordia Institute for Investigative Mokhov, BCompSc 02, MCompSc 05, As part of the Henri P. Habib Journalism; Jennifer Hollett, BA 97, MEng 07, PhD 13, co-organized the 4th Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series, host, reporter and producer; Mark edition of the festival. Guests mingled Concordia hosted a talk with David Kelley, BA 85, co-host of CBC’s The Fifth with director Mei Hu, actor Jinghan Ma, Lametti, Minister of Justice and Estate; Aalia Adam, BA 12, national on- director and actor Caiping Du, and 2008 Attorney General of Canada, which line video journalist, Global News. 13 visiting Concordia professor and actor was moderated by Aphrodite Salas, Suosen Lyu, among others. 10 MA 99, assistant professor in the NEW YORK CITY Department of Journalism. The Henri Alumni in New York City had a private PARENTS ASSOCIATION P. Habib speaker series features major tour of “Leonard Cohen: A Crack in The Concordia Parents Association political figures and was created in Everything” — the hit contemporary art greeted more than 130 families from honour of professor Habib, who founded exhibition inspired by Leonard Cohen’s around the world at its annual welcome the Department of Political Science at life and work. John Zeppetelli, BFA 84, event. Families of new students learned Loyola College — one of Concordia’s head of the Musée d’art contemporain about university services and registered founding institutions — in 1961. 12 de Montréal (MAC), where the show for campus tours. The day wrapped up debuted in 2018, spoke at the event. 14 with a reception at Grey Nuns garden for

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concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 57 ALUMNI NEWS

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MBA 50TH ANNIVERSARY CODE-E As part of the John Molson School of CODE-E, a theatrical robot created Business’s MBA 50th anniversary celebra- by PwC to interact with students and tions, Concordia hosted an alumni panel spark interest in technology, made its discussion called “Authentic leadership: first Canadian appearance at Concordia the importance of leading by example”. University. CODE-E moderated a Leaders in their fields talked about suc- discussion between Gina Cody, MEng cessful engagement and performance 81, PhD 89, namesake donor of the in organizations as a result of authentic Gina Cody School of Engineering and leaders. Pictured from left: Anne-Marie Computer Science, and Lori-Ann Croteau, BSc 86, dean, John Molson School Beausoleil, a partner and national of Business; Farah Ahmad, MBA 07, chief leader of Forensic Services practice commercial officer, Strategikon Pharma; at PwC.Pictured from left to right: Josée Perreault, senior vice-president, Amir Asif, dean, Gina Cody School of Bombardier Recreational Products; Ingrid Engineering and Computer Science; Chadwick, associate professor, Department Anne-Marie Croteau, dean, John of Management; Simon Foucher, MBA 16, Molson School of Business; CODE-E; president, JMSB alumni chapter. 15 Lori-Ann Beausoleil and Gina Cody. 17

CANADIAN INVASION? Department of Journalism graduate Michel Boyer, BA 12, (left, in photo) Ottawa correspondent for CTV News, met with fellow alumnus Thomas Daigle, BA 10, London correspondent for CBC News, over the summer in the U.K. 16

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concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 59 HONORARY DOCTORATES

Concordia honours 10 outstanding individuals with honorary degrees

rom June 10 to 12, 6,000 FACULTY OF ARTS 12 Four Nations Cup medals linguistic and cultural au- F Concordians made the AND SCIENCE, for Team Canada. She was tonomy of Mexico’s diverse transition from student to JUNE 10 team captain at the 2014 Indigenous populations. graduate, joining our network Sochi Olympic Winter Among other honours, in of more than 220,000 alumni Aimee Mullins, LLD 19, is Games. Ouellete is the 2008 Schmelkes received around the world. During the first double amputee founder of Girls Hockey the Comenius Medal from our spring convocations at in history to compete in Celebration, a tournament UNESCO for her career as Place des Arts’ Salle Wilfrid- Division 1 NCAA track that brings young women a researcher. Pelletier, we welcomed 10 and field, and went on to together to play and meet distinguished individuals compete for Team USA in the role models from Canada’s Kamaljit Bawa, DSc 19, is who have made their mark 1996 Paralympic Games. She Olympic team. She has also a global leader in biodiver- in a range of fields in Canada has set world records in the been an athlete ambassador sity conservation, climate and the world. 100 metres, 200 metres and with Right To Play since change and sustainabil- long jump events. In 2012, 2004, and an ambassador ity sciences. Currently SPECIAL CEREMONY, Mullins was named Chef and active fundraiser for Distinguished Professor of JUNE 9 de Mission for the United the Quebec Breast Cancer Biology at the University of States at the Paralympic Foundation. She joined Massachusetts Boston, Bawa Kent Nagano, LLD 19, has Games in London, and the coaching staff of the has been a Bullard Fellow been the music director of appointed by then Secretary Concordia Stingers women’s at Harvard University and a the Orchestre symphonique of State Hillary Clinton to the hockey team in 2012. Guggenheim Fellow. Beyond de Montréal (OSM) since Council to Empower Women his groundbreaking re- 2006 and is in his last season and Girls Through Sports. Sylvia Schmelkes, LLD 19, search, Bawa has promoted with the orchestra. Under his In 2018, she became one of is a pioneering researcher the engagement of civil so- leadership, the OSM has con- the youngest inductees into and advocate for reform in ciety in conservation efforts ceived, built and opened the the U.S. National Women’s Mexico’s education system by founding the Ashoka Trust new Maison symphonique Hall of Fame. and one of Latin America’s for Research in Ecology and de Montréal, built and in- leading proponents of in- the Environment, consis- augurated the Pierre Béique Caroline Ouellette, LLD tercultural education. She tently ranked among the top organ, and seen a revival of 19, one of the most accom- is currently Academic Vice- 20 think tanks in the world. critically acclaimed recordings plished women’s hockey President of the Universidad Among his many honours, and touring activities. Among players, won four consecu- Iberoamericana in Mexico his most recent include the Maestro Nagano’s many hon- tive Olympic gold medals, City. Her leadership has Linnean Medal in Botany ours is the Governor General 12 International Ice Hockey contributed to the founding and the Jose Cuatrecasas of Canada’s Meritorious Federation Women’s World of nine intercultural univer- Medal for Excellence in Service Medal (Civil Division), Championship medals and sities that aim to support the Tropical Botany. which he received in 2018.

60 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine JOHN MOLSON helped make it Canada’s He also sits on the board of FACULTY OF SCHOOL OF sixth-largest commercial the Global Sustainable Energy FINE ARTS, JUNE 12 BUSINESS, JUNE 11 bank. Vachon has served on Partnership. He was ap- many corporate boards, in- pointed honorary president Gilles Mihalcean, DFA 19, Peter Simons, LLD 19, is cluding Molson Coors and of the Ordre des ingénieurs is a major figure in Quebec President and CEO of La Groupe CH Inc. For his pro- du Québec’s Soirée de contemporary art. A self- Maison Simons. Founded fessional and community l’excellence en genie 2019. taught sculptor, he has in 1840, the Quebec-based work, Vachon received the After 20 years of involvement exhibited his work interna- retailer is Canada’s old- 2016 Global Citizens Award with Centraide of Greater tionally since the mid-1970s est privately owned family from the United Nations Montreal, Martel will co- while raising the reputation business. His leadership Association in Canada. He chair its 2019 campaign. of Quebec artists abroad. helped the chain expand was appointed a Member Mihalcean has been an ac- from Quebec City to 15 stores of the Order of Canada that Natalie Panek, DSc 19, is a tive figure in the Montreal across Canada. Simons is a same year. senior engineer in Mission art scene through colloquia, vocal advocate for fair fis- Systems at MDA, a Maxar public speaking and men- cal and social practices. He GINA CODY SCHOOL company. She works on toring the next generation is regularly called upon to OF ENGINEERING Canadian space robotics and of artists, including stu- share his expertise on the AND COMPUTER space exploration programs, dents in Concordia’s Studio Canadian retail landscape SCIENCE, JUNE 12 including the ESA’s ExoMars Art Program. Among his and how local merchants can 2020 rover. Panek complet- honours are the Prix Paul- compete in today’s global Éric Martel, DSc 19, has ed an internship at NASA’s Émile Borduas in 2011 and market. In 2008, Simons been President and CEO Goddard Space Flight Center the CALQ Bourse de carrière became a Chevalier of the of Hydro-Québec since and attended a Space Studies Jean-Paul Riopelle. National Order of Quebec, 2015. He ensures the com- Program at NASA’s Ames and in 2018 was named pany continues to meet the Research Center. Panek a Member of the Order expectations of its custom- works to change the ratio of of Canada. ers and shareholders while women in the science, tech- maximizing its contribution nology, engineering and Louis Vachon, LLD 19, has to the global energy transi- mathematics (STEM) fields. three decades of experience tion. Martel chairs the World Among her many awards and in the banking sector, large- Economic Forum’s Electricity accolades, Panek was named ly spent rising through the Industry community and is to the 2015 Forbes 30 under ranks at the National Bank among the stewards leading 30 list. of Canada. As President the organization’s initiative and CEO since 2007, he has to shape the future of energy.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 61 ALUMNI UPDATES

Alumni with more than one degree Exagens, was named one the fields of human, animal, from Concordia, Sir George Williams of Canada’s Top 50 Women and environmental health. and/or Loyola are listed under in financial technology for their earliest graduation year. 2019 by Toronto’s Digital Rina Carlini, BSc Finance Institute. 93 (chem.), was named VP, Research & Innovation, Michael Harris, BA, Tamás Zsolnay, BA (econ.) at Rapid Dose Therapeutics 69 MA 78, was awarded a is the new President and CEO Corp., a Burlington, ON., Doctor of Letters, honoris of the University Hospitals life sciences company. causa, by McGill University Kingston Foundation, the for his lifetime commitment fundraising arm for Kingston Per Nyberg, BCompSc to Canada’s literary scene. Health Sciences Centre (info. sys.), was named and Providence Care, a Chief Commercial Officer Terrance S. Carter, teaching hospital affiliated at Stradigi AI, a Montreal 72 ATTD, the Managing with Queen’s University. company engaged in artificial- Partner of Carters, an Ontario intelligence solutions. law firm, was named to the Manon Bernard, BA Government of Canada’s 87 (urb. stud.), was named Stéphane Poirier, Advisory Committee on Director General for the city 94 BComm (intl. bus.), will the Charitable Sector. LESLIE WEIR of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. oversee Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport Maureen Berry, Dino Rambidis, BComm as President and CEO. 76 BA (theol. stud.), 88 (acct.), joined the senior was named VP, Corporate Michael Borys, management of Stornoway Nancy Tavares, Human Resources at 83 BComm (acct.), is Diamond Corporation, 95 BA (poli. sci.), was Aphria, Inc., a cannabis the new Chief Financial a diamond exploration appointed Sales Manager at company headquartered Officer at AutoCanada Inc. and production company Toronto’s Brompton Funds. in Leamington, ON. based in Longueuil, QC., as Andrea C. Martin, Chief Financial Officer. Bill Voyatzis, BA (anthro.), Leslie Weir, BA (hist.), BComm (quant. meth.), joined Montreal law firm will oversee the world’s was appointed CEO of PRS Jean-Charles Rocha, Dunton Rainville. fourth-biggest library as for Music, a U.K. company BA (comm. studies), was the new Librarian and that represents the rights hired by CBC/Radio-Canada James Harbilas, Archivist of Canada. of songwriters, composers as Sponsorship and Media 96 BComm (acct.), and music publishers. Creativity Specialist/Advisor GrDipl (acct.) 98, assumed Mohamed Ally, MA for the broadcaster’s 2020 the dual role of Executive 80 (ed. tech.), was appointed Peter Pamel, BComm (fin.), Olympics coverage. Vice-President and Chief Chair by the Commonwealth of was appointed to serve as Financial Officer at AltaGas Learning, an intergovernmental Judge of the Federal Court Deirdre Chisholm, Ltd., an energy infrastructure organization created in 1987 and Judge ex officio of the 89 MFA, is the new company based in Calgary. by Commonwealth Heads of Federal Court of Appeal by executive director at the Government, with the purpose the Department of Justice of Art Gallery of Southwestern Mario Rigante, BComm of sharing open learning and the Government of Canada. Manitoba in Brandon. (fin.), is the new Regional distance-education knowledge, President (Quebec), Private resources, and technologies. Francis Bradley, Demetra Kafantaris, Banking, at BMO. 84 BA (poli. sci.), is BComm, MBA 02, assumed Michael McAllister, the new President and the role of Executive Director, Jeroen van de Ven, BSc 81 BEng, was named CEO of the Canadian Administration and Operations, (chem.), is the new Chief President of Encana, a Electricity Association. at McGill University’s Operating Officer at Antelliq, Calgary-based oil and Faculty of Medicine. an operating unit within MSD natural gas company. Eric Schumacher, Animal Health, a division of 85 BComm, MBA 89, was Claude Guertin, New Jersey’s Merck & Co, Inc. Paul Costanzo, BComm appointed Group Treasurer 92 PhD (pure sci.), was 82 (acct.), GrDipl (acct.) 83, at Kuwait Projects Company named Director of the Pamela Edmonds, was appointed CEO at Sonaca (KIPCO), an investment Armand-Frappier Santé 97 BFA (art hist. and stud. Montreal, a subsidiary of the holding company in the Middle Biotechnologie Research art), MA (art hist.) 07, was Belgian group Sonaca, a world East and North Africa region. Centre. The Laval-based appointed senior curator of leader in the manufacture of Centre contributes to Quebec the McMaster Museum of Art. large aluminum wing aero Elisabeth Laett, research efforts, graduate structures for commercial 86 BComm (mktg.), VP, and postgraduate training, and business aviation. Business Development at and technology transfer in

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1 Marie-Ange Hoda Ackad, BComm 81, BFA 4 Patricia Belmar, BA 14, participated in the 7 Judith Klugerman, BFA 69, MFA 71, was selected 01, placed third at the International Symposium for 125th Annual Juried Art Show of the Women’s Art Society by the Stewart Hall Art Gallery in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Experimental Art 2019 Members Only Online Exhibition. of Montreal. Themed “Invigoration,” it was held at to present her solo exhibition, Gates, from September 1 1) Eating Cake Montreal’s Le Livart Gallery from April 24 to 28, 2019. to October 13, 2019. 7) Gates 4) Emerging from the Dunes 2 Suzanne Hatt, BFA 00, participated in La Virée 8 Robin Field, MA (art ed.) 72, will exhibit a survey of des ateliers, an open-studio event at three locations on 5 Rochelle Mayer, BComm 83, BFA (studio art) 10, explorations made over four decades as an artist and visual Montreal’s Parthenais St., from May 2 to 5, 2019. exhibited in the Salon du Printemps de l’Association des arts professor in INformed, at the View Gallery at Vancouver 2) Starting to Start Again Artistes de LaSalle, at Galerie Les Trois C in LaSalle, Quebec, Island University’s Nanaimo campus from September 13 to from April 25 to May 11, 2019. 5) Dans les bois November 1, 2019. 8) Socialization 3 G. Scott MacLeod, BFA 03, MA 13, presented “Resilience,” a talk and exhibition of works made by and 6 Josette Wecsu, BA 03, BFA 18, presented an 9 Hélène Béland Robert, BFA 78, GrDip 79, for people who have been touched by cancer. The January exhibition of paintings at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc exhibited works this past summer at both the Arbor 24, 2019 event took place at the Cedars Cancer Centre in Public Library in Montreal from March 21 to April 20, 2019. Gallery in Vankleek Hill, Ontario and the gallery of Montreal. macleod9.com 3) Jennifer 6) Whale watching in Newfoundland the Moulin La Lorraine at Lac Etchemin, Quebec. 9) Friendship in Shape and Colour

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 63 KUDOS

Concordia’s Advancement Anne-Marie Giroux, BFA Communications received 99, is a 2019-20 Salt Spring gold and silver awards at the National Art Prize Finalist. 2019 CCAE Prix D’Excellence Giroux has exhibited her work Awards. The Gold Prix both publically and privately D’Excellence for Best Printed in Canada and the US. Brochure, Newsletter or Flyer was won in recognition of the Carol McQueen, BA 95, was 2018 issue of Momentum, named Ambassador to Burkina Concordia’s annual donor and 1 2 Faso on Aug. 28, 2019. student newsletter. The Silver Prix d’Excellence in the catego- 14-year professional career experience, Traveling While L’ORDRE NATIONAL ry of Best Community Outreach and played with the Impact Black, making this the studio’s DU QUÉBEC Initiative was recongnized for between 2001-2006 in the fifth Emmy nomination. Grand Officer: Pierre campus volunteerism, student- North American second Lassonde, LLD 16. giving and sustainability at the division and later in 2011-12. Tony Loffreda, BComm 85, Officer: Morton Minc, 2018 Concordia EPIC Used was appointed to the Senate BA 67, jurist-in-residence Book Fair. Kathryn Walter, MFA 93, of Canada representing at Concordia and former artist and designer, Concordia the province of Quebec. chief justice of the Municipal ORDER OF CANADA University news editor, and A member of Concordia’s Court of Montreal. Companion: Alanis founder of FELT Studio, is Board of Governors, Loffreda Chevalière: Maïr Verthuy, Obomsawin, 1 LLD 93, to receive the 2019 Allied is a retired certified public distinguished professor emer- singer, filmmaker and activist Arts Medal from the Royal accountant, having worked ita, co-founder of Concordia’s Architecture Institute of the last 15 years at Royal Bank Simone de Beauvoir Institute Officers:Graham Fraser, LLD Canada (RAIC) in October of Canada. and its first principal. 12, former Commissioner of 2019 for her wall installation Official Languages, journalist, work in Canada and the Josh Schwebel, BFA 06, Nadia Myre, MFA 02, indig- writer; James A. O’Reilly, BA United States. and Larissa Fassler, BFA enous artist, and assistant 60, jurist for indigenous rights 99, are both shortlisted for professor in the Faculty of Fine Gina Cody, MEng 81, PhD the Berlin Art Prize 2019. Arts, was named Compagne de Member: Brenda Singer, BA 89, and Meyya Meyyappan, Selected artists, nine out of l’Ordre des arts et des lettres 67, mental health advocate DSc 18, were inducted into 750 applicants, produce a du Québec.. and founder, Progress Place. the Canadian Academy of solo exhibition and are then Engineering. Cody was evaluated by a jury, which Sofia Misenheimer, GrDip María José Giménez, BA honoured for her professional will choose three final prize 15, received the Emerging 08, was appointed as Poet accomplishments as an winners. Excellence Award from the Laureate for Easthampton, engineer and business leader, National Media Awards Mass. After studying French as well as her work supporting Rene Paredes, BA 12, former Foundation for her work at Carnegie Melon University gender equality, diversity and Stinger, kicked 5 field goals on Art/iculation, a bi-annual in Pittsburgh and Spanish inclusion, and commitment – including the game-winner – and bilingual arts and culture studies at Concordia, Giménez to philanthropy. Meyyappan for the Calgary Stampeders on magazine she founded. started a career in translation was honoured as a pioneer July 26, with his grandmother which led to publishing in nanotechnology research. from Peru watching him for Mark Galardo, MBA 17, vice- poetry and winning a National He is the chief scientist for the first time. president, Network Planning at Endowment for the Arts Exploration Technology Air Canada,was named one of fellowship. at NASA’s Ames Research Maria Xenos, BComm 14, Canada’s Top 40 Under for 2019. Center. was named a 2019 fellow Greg Sutton, 2 head coach of Ford’s Thirty Under 30, Nicolas Grenier, BFA 04, is for Stingers men’s soccer, was Felix Lajeunesse, BFA 03, a philanthropic leadership one of five shortlist finalists inducted into the Montreal Felix & Paul Studios, received course for Ford Motor of the 2019 Sobey Art Award. Impact’s Wall of Fame during a Primetime Emmy Award Company employees working An exhibition of the finalists’ half time at a home game nomination for Outstanding to address challenging works by will be presented at against Minnesota United FC Original Interactive Program social issues. the Art Gallery of Alberta from on July 6. Sutton enjoyed a for their virtual reality Oct. 5, 2019 to Jan. 5, 2020.

64 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Johanna Mercier, MBA, Frederick Corey, BA Group, an advertising agency Ian Gartner, BA joined Gilead Sciences, 01 (poli. sci.), was appointed based in Montreal and Toronto. 13 (soc.), MA (soc.) 15, Inc., a research-based Vice-President, Sales, joined Ad Hoc, a Montreal- biopharmaceutical company Canada, at global supply-chain Harold Fortin, BComm based marketing research headquartered in California, management and logistics firm (mktg.), is now on board firm, as a researcher. as Chief Commercial Officer. Delmar International, Inc. as Strategist, Corporate Communications and Public Vassif Aliev, BA (poli. Stephan Morency, Leah Moss, MA (edu. Relations, at Montreal’s Public 15 sci.), ran as the candidate BComm (fin.), is the new studies), was named Senior Stratégies et Conseils. for the New Democratic Chief Investment Officer at Advisor to the Vice-Principal Party in the federal electoral Montreal’s Fondaction CSN. (Health and Medical Affairs) Lucas Koury, BSc (act. district of Vimy, QC. and Dean of the Faculty of math., fin.), was named Chief Deborah Radcliffe-Branch, Medicine at McGill University. Actuary at Zurich Canada. Fares Alkassmy, BA (psych.), was appointed 17 BComm (fin.), was Manager of Child and Philip Coté, BComm Devon MacDougall, made an associate at Russell Family Services at Collective 02 (fin.), was named BEng (soft. eng.), MBA 17, Investments (Montreal). Community Services Montreal. Director, Client Consulting was appointed Director of at bfinance Canada. Technology at Posera, Ltd., a Sébastien Bernier, Isa Maseeh, BComm Montreal provider of hospitality BComm (fin.) was named 98 (fin.), is the new Amin Mohammed software and payment solutions. Regional Consultant at Russell Chief Risk Officer at the 03 Alhassan, PhD Investments (Montreal). National Bank of Bahrain. (comm.), is the new Director- Maggey Pitre Oplinger, General for the Ghana GrDipl (admin.), is the new Camille Georgeson-Usher, Mahesh Shah, BComm Broadcasting Corporation. General Director and CEO MA (art hist.), was made (m.i.s.), was named EVP, of the Florentine Opera interim Transitional Executive Chief Product and Technology Michael Gentile, BComm Company in Milwaukee, WI. Director at the Aboriginal Officer at CDK Global, (fin.), was named CFA Curatorial Collective. Inc., a retail automotive Strategic Advisor at Radisson Andrea Judge, BEng, technology company. Mining Resources Inc. 08 was made Project Charles-Alexandre Manager at Fuss & O’Neill, Vennat, MBA, was named Sam Abdelmalek, Gerard Gomez, BA (hum. a civil and environmental Chief Corporate Officer at 99 MBA, was named rel.), was named Head engineering consulting firm 48North Cannabis Corp., a Vice President and Group Coach of the Lac St. Louis based in New England. vertically integrated cannabis President – Performance Lions of the Quebec Midget company based in Ontario. Engineered Products at AAA Hockey League. Majid Razmara, MCompSc, CTO Carpenter Technology and Co-Founder at MetaOptima Astrid Rutten, BComm Corporation, a Philadelphia David Charland, Technology, Inc., was a British (mktg.), joined Bloom producer and distributor of 04 BSc (act. math.), was Columbia Chief Technology Search Marketing’s Montreal high-performance specialty promoted to the position Officer award winner, thanks to office as an analyst. alloy-based materials. of Director, Institutional his efforts to develop software Business Development and to help medical professionals Justin Sonea, BSc (exer. Martin Landry, BComm Client Relationships at Sun track and detect skin cancer. sci.), was hired as the athletic (acct.), became Chief of Life Global Investments. therapist for the Cape Breton Corporate Development & Erika Rosenbaum, BA, Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Strategy at Neptune Wellness Jon Goyens, BA (leis. Montreal actress, was featured Major Junior Hockey League. Solutions, Inc., a cannabis sci.), was named Head in Untouchable, a documentary company located in Laval. Coach of the Baie-Comeau about the alleged crimes Gary Berdowski, Drakkar of the Quebec Major of disgraced Hollywood 18 MBA, a CFA candidate, Jean-François Junior Hockey League. mogul Harvey Weinstein. was appointed to the 00 Dasylva-Larue, position of analyst at Cycle BA (comm. studies), was Carlos Sanchez, BFA Marya Repac, MA Capital Management. made Creative Director at (photog.), and Jason 09 (Engl.), joined Montreal ad agency FCB Montréal. Sanchez, (ATTD), have taken law firm Cain Lamarre. Fanny Chouteau- their talents as filmmakers and 19 Lapierre, BComm Ben Vendittelli, BComm (fin), photographers to Montreal’s Eunice Bélidor, BFA, (mgmt.), was named MBA (inv. mgt.), assumed the Cinélande creative agency. 12 is the new director of Coordinator, Communications role of Executive Vice President, Concordia’s FOFA Gallery, and Marketing, at Chief Investment Officer, at Éric Adechi, BA (soc.), which showcases the Exponentiel Conseil, a Groupe Mach, Inc., a Montreal 05 was named VP and Group current artistic and research Montreal communications real estate development and Account Director at the Cundari practices of the university’s and public relations agency. management company. Faculty of Fine Arts.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 65 Be a GAME CHANGER Suppo a new era in Stinger spo s

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Stingers ad Spring 2019.indd 1 2019-06-04 11:18 AM DONALD L. BOISVERT (1951-2019): ‘Teaching was for him a kind of ministry’

Concordia remembers professor’s kindness, generosity and ‘wicked sense of humour‘

TAYLOR TOWER “He is an ordained queer theologian who looked at arlier this year, the me and my unconvention- E Concordia mourned the al research and said, ‘You loss of Donald L. Boisvert think differently and aca- (BA 75, MA 79), retired demia needs you,’ ” Holt affiliate associate professor says. “Never underestimate a in the Department of teacher who sees a misfit like Religions and Cultures, me and says, ‘Your work has who died June 19. value. You belong here.’ ” niversity U

Boisvert also served in a Daniel-Hughes says this numerous administrative respect for students made oncordi positions, including as C Boisvert one of the most beloved speaker of the Senate from faculty in the department. 2008 to 2012, and dean of a team. He had respect for He joined the Department “Here he was, a Christianity of students from 1996 to people and their opinions.” of Religions and Cultures in professor who left behind his 2003, during which time In his research, Boisvert 2003 as a senior lecturer, earlier vocation of studying for he endowed the Donald L. examined the intersection of teaching a variety of courses the Catholic priesthood, who Boisvert Scholarship for religion, gender and sexuality. and supervising and men- managed to hold office hours Gay and Lesbian Studies. “Donald made a huge im- toring students. In 2011, he with the air of a confessional,” Outside the university, pact through his pioneering received tenure and served she says. he was co-chair of the Gay and courageous scholarship as chair of the department “As an openly gay man, Men’s Issues in Religion on sexuality, masculinity, from 2014 to 2015. Donald created a queer-friendly Group of the American gender and religion,” says Cimminnee Holt (BA 08, and feminist space that allowed Academy of Religion and Leslie Orr, professor of MA 12), a student under students, particularly queer served as a guide and board religions and cultures. Boisvert’s supervision during students, to share their stories member of the Montreal Daniel-Hughes met her undergraduate honours, and feel seen, heard and valued.” Holocaust Museum. Boisvert when she joined master’s and PhD programs, Boisvert retired from Boisvert’s community the faculty in 2007, and says says his encouragement to Concordia in 2016 to pursue and student involvement he taught her how to have take risks and trust one’s his lifelong dream of taking began as an undergradu- critical conversations around ideas had a positive effect up the priesthood in the ate at Loyola College, one of sexuality and religion with that’s hard to quantify. Anglican Communion. Concordia’s founding in- her students. stitutions. Jane Hackett, a “He never reduced friend and colleague, met Christianity or other religious Boisvert during this time. traditions to homophobic If you want to honour Donald When making your contributions, “Donald was an activist and discourse or repressive sexu- Boisvert’s memory by making please specify that you would like a contribution to the Donald L. to direct your gift to the Donald L. very involved in student ality,” she says. “Instead, he Boisvert Scholarship for Gay and Boisvert Scholarship for Gay and life,” she says. “He wanted invited students and readers Lesbian Studies, you can do so: Lesbian Studies. Online, you can do so by choosing “Other” from the best for our students.” to question the problematic Online at engage.concordia.ca/donate the drop-down list of designation Hackett saw this devotion ways in which religious com- By telephone at 514-848-2424, options or by indicating that ext. 3884 continue when she worked as munities have and continue to it’s a tribute gift in honour of By sending a cheque payable to his assistant during his time as treat sexuality and gender with Donald Boisvert. Concordia University to: dean of students. “He was so real implications for queer Concordia University clever, and had a wicked sense people and vulnerable others.” 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., of humour. He taught me so Boisvert earned his PhD FB-520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 much by allowing me to be part in Religious Studies from of the process and feel part the University of Ottawa.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 67 IN MEMORIAM

Jean Vanier, recipient of the 1993 Loyola Medal, Concordia’s highest honour, dedicated his life to improving conditions for people on the margins. He founded L’Arche, a physical and spiritual haven for the disabled. There are now 154 L’Arche communities in 38 countries, helping 1,750 people. He was 90 when he died on May 7, 2019.

Douglas Barclay Gibson, Gordon V. Kelly, BComm 65, Terrence T. Conway, BSc Jacqueline L. (Stanton) BComm 73, July 4, 2019. BA 77, May 19, 2019, Langley, 62, MSc 63, May 9, 2019, Marriott, BA 84, MA 87, He was 67. B.C. He was 77. Bloomington, Minn. He was 77. May 5, 2019, Ottawa, Ont. She was 85. Dorothy (Gottheil) Riback, Robert Stephen (“Steve”) Lois Mary Read, BA 76, BA 53, July 7, 2019, Montreal. Petitpas, BA 89, June 9, 2019, May 7, 2019. She was 90. Gary F. Gagnon, BComm 55, She was 91. Montreal. He was 56. May 24, 2019. Maureen Foran, Cert 01, Robert E. (“Ted”) Constantine (“Dino”) BA 04, April 11, 2019, Montreal. Maxine (Strean) Sigman, Alexander, BSc 78, April 2, Athanasoulias, BEng 81, She was 57. MA 79, PhD 82, May 25, 2019. 2017, Orangeville, Ont. MEng 84, June 23, 2019. She was 80. He was 63. He was 61. Mitchell Shell, BComm 82, May 9, 2019. Anne (Gurevitch) Bellman, Tamara Valeri Dixon, BA 83, Savithri (Shanker) De BA 76, May 22, 2019. May 27, 2019. She was 61. Tourreil, PhD 96, June 18, Bert J. Rabinovitch, BSc 65, She was 84. 2019, Montreal. She was 84. May 19, 2019. Nora Bernier, BA 73, Thomas D. Reubens, MA 13, November 24, 2018, Pointe- Scott J. Harper, BA 93, Barry I. Shernofsky, May 25, 2019, Seneca Falls, N.Y. Claire, Que. She was 96. July 15, 2019. He was 51. BComm 75, May 19, 2019. He was 29.

Rachel (Brodeur) Ross, Cert Paul D. Kepron, BA 81, Anthony Boyce, Cert 95, Margaret (“Peg”) Wooley, 74, May 13, 2019. She was 83. GrDip 84, MA 93, May 17, 2019, May 12, 2019. He was 53. BA 53, May 21, 2019, Kirkland, Montreal. He was 62. Que. She was 91. Richard G. MacDonald, Simon Alphée Pothier, BFA BSc 53, BA 54, August 31, 2015. Joyce (Herman) Nadler, BFA 97, May 17, 2019, Châteauguay, Anne C. Bichay, BA 84, MA He was 85. 78, June 21, 2019. She was 79. Que. He was 86. 92, May 31, 2019. She was 92.

Alex J. Zaichuk, BSc 86, BA Heather J. Riddell, BA 74, Christine H. (Schmidt) Raphael (Ray) Fleming, 90, November 2018. He was 57. June 7, 2019. She was 72. Crosbie, BA 90, May 19, 2019. BComm 56, June 1, 2019. She was 53. Ray Smith, MA 85, June 20, David L. McCallum, BA 76, Irene (Brott) Landau, 2019, Mabou, N.S. He was 77. July 11, 2017, Ottawa, Ont. Alexander Wakarchuk, MA BA 92, June 2, 2019, Montreal. 73, May 25, 2019, Delta, B.C. She was 76. Bohdan (“Bo,” “Bobby”) Gérard P. Desbois, MEng 70, He was 93. Harmazy, BA 77, May 7, 2019. December 6, 2018, Thérèse (Guerriero) He was 66. Sherbrooke, Que. Angeloro, BA 87, Cert 89, May 28, 2019, Montreal. She was 98.

68 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine Vic Vogel, LLD 10, premiere musician, held a pivotal role in establishing Montreal as a world jazz capital. Loyal to the Montreal and Quebec music scenes, he performed at 35 editions of the Montreal Jazz Festival. Vogel also helped musicians in developing countries gain access to instruments to play their best. He died on September 16, 2019, at age 84.

Thomas Edmond (“Ed”) Sean S. Ryan, MA 13, July 19, Loretta (Rabinovitch) Ira Goldstein, BEng 86, Maloney, BA 68, June 4, 2019, 2019. He was 34. Anisef, BA 84, August 19, 2019. September 13, 2019. He was 56. Kingston, Ont. He was 74. She was 86. Jacqueline (Hayami) Miroslav Menard, BFA 92, Andre Gerolymatos, BA 78, Stevens, BA 60, July 19, 2019, Emil Zizek, BA 92, August 16, February 9, 2019, at age 57, May 30, 2019. He was 67. Montreal. 2019. He was 52. in Montreal

Lawrence L. Sofonio, BSc 61, Stanton W. L. Dalibor (“Dale”) Kosacky, Meeme L. Sultson, BSc 72, May 26, 2019, Garden Grove, Blennerhassett, BA 56, BComm 57, August 26, 2019. July 7, 2019, in Montreal. Calif. He was 84. July 26, 2019. He was 84. He was 96. He was 77.

Lorne B. Baker, BA 54, R. Michael Warren, BComm Willard (Millard) E. Beane, Joan F. Power, BSc 82, PhD February 1, 2009. He was 88. 58, April 29, 2019, Owen Sound, BA 65, August 29, 2019. 87, September 16, 2019, in Ont. He was 82. Kirkland, Que. She was 61. Thomas H. Steele, BA 69, Cornelis (Kees) Klerks, June 4, 2019, Montreal. Carol Lesley Hoffmann, BA BComm 69, August 26, 2019, William J. McQuillan, He was 79. 76, August 2, 2019. She was 84. Montreal. He was 80. Cert 98, September 19, 2019, in Laval. He was 67. James S.R. Matheson, BEng Chandra Dabholkar Richard W. Pink, BA 70, 72, June 2, 2019. He was 72. Gowrisankaran, MCompSc 89, August 21, 2019, Montreal. Peter A. Crooks, BSc 70, August 2, 2019. She was 80. August 19, 2019, at the age Mortimer Finkelstein, Vaughan E. McVey, Attd 54, of 83, in Longueuil, Que. BComm 47, July 17, 2019, Anne Maria Fahey, BA 76, August 24, 2019. Montreal. July 26, 2019, Pointe-Claire, Mark Handelman, BComm Que. Michael J. Ferrie, BComm 61, 68, September 25, 2019, Baila Yehudis Lazarus, August 20, 2019, B.C. in Montreal. GrDip 90, May 31, 2019. Gerald Daoussis, Attd 45, He was 79. She was 57. July 23, 2019. He was 93. Gerhart Von Kap-herr, Linda Kotovich, BA 71, MTM PhD 91, on August 3, 2019, in Jack E. Vineberg, BComm 51, Richard Donovan, GrDip 96, 76, GrDip 80, August 27, 2019, Cowansville, Que. He was 93. July 20, 2019. He was 93. August 3, 2019. He was 54. Verdun, Que. She was 87. Serge Ivanov, BA 90, Wayne G. Statham, BComm Allan Lennox, BA 61, May 3, Denise M. Washington, July 9, 2019, Pointe-Claire, Que. 92, July 3, 2019. He was 62. 2019. He was 83. BA 92, August 18, 2019. He was 54. She was 56. Pieter Christian de Jager, Carmel M. Kilkenny, BA BEng 79, December 2018. 86, GrDip 88, August 13, 2019, He was 89. Montreal. She was 62.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 69 WORDS & MUSIC

Redefining home, resilience and spirit

JULIA SCANDELLA, BA 15 Baselines in the Chesapeake vision of the renewal of the Alexandra Karb, BSc 71, Bay (Johns Hopkins Jewish spirit. The book is a MSc 80, shares her 20-year ecent alumna Melanie University Press, $59.95), collection of poetry and pho- struggle to protect her chil- R Proulx, BA 16, MA Victor S. Kennedy, BSc 62, tographs from the March of dren from the tyranny in 19, and current graduate examines the problem of the Living, an annual educa- their family. In her memoir, student Ashley Lanni have shifting baselines for one of tional program that brings Trapped: A Mother’s Quest collectively published a the most productive aquatic high-school students from to Reclaim Her Daughters children’s picture book resources in the world: the around the world to Poland, to (Guernica Editions, $25), about consent. The Bum Chesapeake Bay. learn about Holocaust history Karb brings the reader into Drum Conundrum (Tiny Beginning with the colo- by exploring concentration her traumatic past, recalling Tree, $11.50) tells the story nial period and continuing camps, ghettos and the killing the kidnapping of her chil- of Malina, a young girl who through the 20th century, fields of the Holocaust. dren by her husband.

is pressured into playing a Kennedy gathers an unparal- The 25th-anniversa- He leaves them in his Middle game involving touch that leled collection of scientific ry third edition of Jewish Eastern village, where she makes her uncomfortable. resources and eyewitness re- Views of the Afterlife moves to live so that she can From this experience, ports by colonists, fishers, (Rowman and Littlefield, $45 — at great risk — smuggle her Malina learns to speak managers, scientists and paperback; $105 hardcover) children out of the country. up and say No, while her newspaper reporters to create presents new material on Her memoir spans Canada, friends learn the importance a comprehensive examination little-known Jewish mystical Germany, Jordan and Saudi of always asking before of the Chesapeake’s environ- teachings on reincarnation, Arabia, while recording the touching someone — even mental history — so that we and more. Originally pub- peculiar, often disturbing if it’s just for play. can begin to understand what lished in 1994, the book is and always fascinating cul- The concept of “shift- has changed since, and why. a classic study of ideas of tures she encounters. ing baselines” — changes in afterlife and post-mortem historical reference points Simcha Paull Raphael, MA survival in Jewish tradition James Hawes, BA 94, used in environmental as- 75, has published two new and mysticism. Both his- recently published his first sessments — illuminates books. Echoes from the torical and contemporary, it full-length book of poetry. a foundational challenge Ashes: Holocaust Poems makes an important Jewish Breakfast with a Heron when evaluating the health of Life, Death and Re-Birth contribution to the growing (Mansfield Press, $17) of ecosystems and seeking (Albion-Andalus Books, $18) contemporary psychology explores themes as diverse as to restore degraded wild- depicts not only the ravages of of death and dying. nature, travel, love, coleslaw life populations. In Shifting the Holocaust, but a profound www.daatinstitute.net and Steven Seagal, placing

70 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine his subjects on equal innovationhubcanada.com/ Writing. He also published effects of trauma and what it ground, searching for innovate-montreal. books 25 and 26 this year. means to rebuild a home. empathy in even the most Colours to the Chameleon: mundane of events. It is a Laurence Hutchman, MA Canadian Actors on Monique Elizabeth Savoie, book of memories from the 79, has published his 11th Shakespeare (Guernica BA 06, has published her everyday to the extraordinary book of poetry. In The Editions, $25) is the first debut novel, The Hitchhiker's and the sensations they House of Shifting Time work of its kind in Canada. Patchwork of Photons arouse; finding humour (Black Moss Press, $17.95), The book explores 11 first- (FriesenPress, $18.99) — a where it can be found, Hutchman asks us to con- rate actors’ perceptions contemporary metaphorical but always taking time to sider how we connect with and comments in relation voyage on Earth. A vivid and ponder the mystery and time and preserve our sto- to performing Shakespeare poignant “parkour” of colourful miracle of it all. ries. This collection explores in order to offer a sense of wondering about day-to-day

Innovate Montreal (free on- both public history and per- what these actors mean by events, the novel is a family line; $85 hardcover) is many sonal history — on one page the work. Colourful, lively, saga full of chaos and order. Is it things at once: a high-qual- we contemplate the life of with strong considerations possible to survive a misstep? ity coffee-table book, online Anne Frank, then on the next of technique and inter- platform and augmented real- we may learn of Hutchman’s pretation, this book gives The latest book by Quebec ity video series that celebrates own great-grandmother, Canadian actors a rare and theatre historian Muriel Gold, the innovation ecosystem of Annie O’Brien. Just as time generous opportunity to ex- PhD 94, has been lauded by Montreal. Created in part by moves from past to present, plore the highest reaches the media for both introducing associate publisher Brahm we all participate in an inter- of their art with regard to anglophone readers to the Glickman, BA 79, the book twining story — knit together Shakespearean performance. legendary Yvonne Duckett, covers the city’s most vision- by shared places. Hutchman Garebian’s eighth poetry a.k.a. Madame Audet, and, ary innovators, start-ups, taught at Concordia in the collection, Against Forgetting in its French translation, organizations and compa- 1980s and was recent- (Frontenac House, $19.95) offering francophone readers nies, with the likes of IVADO, ly named poet laureate of delves into the personal a more detailed sense of the CEIM, Technoparc Montréal, Emery Village, near Toronto. history of a man affected by beloved and eccentric teacher Le Quartier de l’Innovation the Armenian genocide and who trained generations of — and Concordia’s District Keith Garebian, MA 71, the ways he makes Canada actors. Speak Up! The Story 3 Innovation Center. won a record-setting fourth home. The poetic lines and of Mme Jean-Louis Audet Browse the book’s inau- Mississauga Arts Council strong emotional tug of the (BouquinBec, $19.95) is Gold’s gural Montreal edition at Award for Established book outline the long-lasting seventh book.

concordia university magazine fall 2019 | 71 ENOUGH SAID

A thank-you note for dreams come true

LÉANDRE LAROUCHE, BA 19

Dear Concordia, ver the past three years, I’ve O written to many people who have had a positive impact on my life to say thank you. I’ve written to friends, parents, professors, employers, esforges D mentors. The reason I made this a habit ustin is that I have much to feel grateful for – J and think it’s the right thing to do. As I finished my last semester at Concordia only choice; perhaps I just knew I needed I had did become true with you: I became and crossed the stage on June 10, 2019, to live in Montreal and study in English – fluent in English, I can be published – at Place des Arts, it became clear that but not at McGill – ideally creative writing. and paid – in my second language and, you were the next one on the list. Almost Toronto was too expensive, and the United most astonishingly, the United States no everything I feel grateful for directly or States was but an unattainable dream. longer feels like an unattainable dream. indirectly has to do with the past three I didn’t know why you specifically, but In the fall, I moved to Pennsylvania on a years spent with you. I picked you – and I had no idea how Fulbright fellowship. I grew up in rural Québec, in a town much you would come to mean to me. Many other good things happened where the language of Shakespeare Three and a half years later, after during my undergraduate degree, but isn’t commonly spoken. Had it not graduating with distinction in English these three things alone made every sec- been for an elementary-school English Literature and Professional Writing, ond with you worth it. There’s too much teacher, Steven Jansma, I never would I realize how much I’ve learned and for me to say thank you for. This note have found a passion for the language. developed. I went from writing cringe- is, in fact, an edited version of a letter However, after Steven taught me, I worthy English prose to getting paid to I published on Medium. Even then, I feel somehow knew that learning English – write by American companies and get- like my words cannot possibly express and learning it well – would be the key to ting articles published. I can also see the how important you’ve been to me. I can my success. I began dreaming of being hardships, the failures, and the doubts say that I’ll always be one of your most fluent, of living and writing in English. – the moments when I wondered if I’d grateful and proudest alumni, but this The culture made it attractive and made the right decision to study in my will always be an understatement. the challenge compelling: mastering second language. Amid all this confusion, With best wishes. English to the point where I could be though, there’s one thing I always knew a writer seemed like a pretty good for sure: you welcomed me with open Léandre Larouche served as President investment of my time. arms, making me feel like I belonged of the Concordia Student Exchange A few good decisions later, I moved to and would succeed. This kept me going. Association and a research assistant in Montreal to study English literature and I never once thought of giving up. the Computational Linguistics at Concordia brought only one certainty with me: that As I look back to my undergraduate (CLaC) lab, as well as a writing assistant we humans need but one thing to devote work at Concordia, what I see is a quest for in the Student Success Centre. He studied ourselves to and that this thing, for me, self-realization made possible by a great abroad at the University of Nottingham was the English language. I began my un- university, a university that cares. The in England and is now a Fullbright dergraduate degree in January 2016 and people I encountered here encouraged foreign language teaching assistant hadn’t applied to any other university. me and made the challenge fun. I still at Lycoming College in Williamsport, I can’t recall the exact reasons you were my have much work to do, but the dreams Pennsylvania.

72 | fall 2019 concordia university magazine 180277

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