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SWEET Farouk Jiwa turns rural Africans into honey-making DEAL entrepreneurs PLUS New Chancellor Roy McMurtry Bilingualism and the Brain The Oscars, John Lennon and ‘Sir Jerry’ cover photography: the magazine of york university georgina goodwin 4 Editor@YorkU A valuable kiss. by berton woodward 7 Leading Edge It has been a rewarding first year. by mamdouh shoukri 8 Universe Baroque is Back…What They’re Reading…The Limits of Charisma…Let’s Talk About Sex…The New Literacy…Bloggin’ Mamas…Do No Evil

C OVER 14 Sweet Deal How Farouk Jiwa helps African subsistence farmers improve their lives. by michael todd

E VENTS 17 Speed Mentoring Members of York’s new “50 to the Power of 50” group of prominent alumni offer quick – very quick – life lessons to students. by david fuller Guiding Lights: Remembering those who made a difference. by michael todd

L EADERSHIP 24 Roy McMurtry: A Life of Justice York’s distinguished new chancellor is keen to help students. by martha tancock

R ESEARCH 26 Nimble Minds Psychologist Ellen Bialystok finds bilingualism can put off Alzheimer’s. by martha tancock Drive Talkin’: Are bilinguals better at using cell phones while driving? by michael todd

H ISTORY 30 The Darkest Time York and the Azrieli Foundation team up to publish Holocaust memoirs. by martha tancock

S CIENCE 32 Nano Mechanic Biochemist Gerald Audette is at the cutting edge of work with cellular proteins. by david fuller

F ILM 34 The Oscars, John Lennon – and ‘Sir Jerry’ How lawyer Jerry Levitan turned his Beatle experience at 14 into an Oscar-nominated short – and heady times in Hollywood. by david fuller 37 York People Teacher and author Shernett Martin...art appraiser Charlotte McGhee 39 Giving The library space race. 40 Alumni Shared passions…Class Notes 50 Back Talk by bridget stutchbury How I track the decline of thesummer songbirds. 2008

YorkU Summer 2008 3 It was one for the books. by berton woodward It’s good advice for a president – and a university. by mamdouh shoukri

the magazine of york university volume 5, number 5

e d i t o r Berton Woodward [email protected] Being Yourself Lost Kiss m a n a g i n g e d i t o r Michael Todd [email protected] a r t d i r e c t o r James Nixon [email protected] s t a f f w r i t e r s David Fuller [email protected] n 1965, a York University ate spring is a glorious time of year at York – the Martha Tancock official gave my aunt a kiss – [email protected] days are long and not yet too hot, the trees are and thereby hangs a great a s s o c i a t e green and flowers are in bloom, and thousands of a r t d i r e c t o r Cindy Wilce tale. It highlights how students and their families converge on campus for I [email protected] L important the work of many unsung – or c o p y e d i t o r Marie Kopf convocation. It’s hard to believe nearly a year has passed since I not loudly sung – groups can be in sup- [email protected] began my term, a journey from being “York’s new president” porting a university. c o n t r i b u t o r s to simply “York’s president”. Along the way, I have been Anyone remember the ’60s? It was a KC Armstrong, Gary Beechey, guided by two simple words of advice I received from a friend time of dramatic social change with a Jonathan Dolphin, Georgina Goodwin, and top executive early in my tenure, words that were echoed Jeff Kirk, Lindsay Lozon, RSquared, great soundtrack – and in Canada, of Bridget Stutchbury, Shannon Wilmot on the other side of the world when I visited India on York’s countless Centennial projects. In the sub- librarian got wind that there might have behalf last January. urbs of Toronto, the University Women’s been a major gift to the library that YorkU is published bi-monthly, five times during While there, I met with executives of the Tata Group – the academic year, by the Marketing & Com- Club of North York was casting about for officials were unaware of. The librarian munications Division of York University. All issues Indian’s largest private company – the day after the Nano was what to do for their project in the run-up began an archival search, and eventually circulate on York’s campuses. The October, unveiled. The Nano, in case you missed it, is the world’s February and Summer editions are also sent to to Canada’s 100th anniversary in 1967. found the Star’s picture of Sanders alumni, for a total circulation in those issues of cheapest car – no airbags, no air conditioning, not even a My aunt, Janet Berton, was the president bussing my aunt, along with a newspaper 190,000 each. radio – and its launch was something of a revolution. It is in 1964-1965, and she and her com- account of the gift. But no one at York c h i e f m a r k e t i n g o f f i c e r the vision of the company’s head, Ratan Tata, who conceived robes. It is a moment of hope for the graduates and their mittee decided to raise money for books was able to place it – until finance officials Richard Fisher families, and for York – hope that they remember, as they at York University, which was just then confirmed that, indeed, a trust fund had p u b l i c a t i o n s d i r e c t o r make their way in the world, what they have learned here, preparing to move to its new Keele been established at the time but details Berton Woodward It’s been a rewarding year: and what York stands for: campus in North York. Their target was were lacking. The newspaper clippings, a d v e r t i s i n g the idea and saw it through excellence, diversity, acces- $5,000. not least the kiss, sealed the deal. Tel: 416-736-5058 to production, against the medical school momentum, sibility, social justice, fair- On Jan. 27, 1965, Wilfred Sanders, And what a deal. University Librarian E-mail: [email protected] advice of friends and critics ness. Hope that they See rate card, back issues and digital edition at York’s director of information & devel- Cynthia Archer announced in 2003 that yorku.ca/yorku alike. When asked about his expansion at Glendon – and remember to be themselves, opment, met with Janet and the com- the club’s newly rediscovered Centenary leadership philosophy, Tata, no matter where in the world Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069546 mittee to receive a ceremonial first Book Endowment of $5,000 was now Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: like my friend, said: “Be Roy McMurtry. they end up. cheque of $137.50. A Toronto Star worth $70,000, thanks to the wonders of Marketing & Communications Division yourself.” At York, we educate stu- photographer was on hand, possibly compound interest. This amounted to West Office Building, York University I haven’t met Tata, but those two words have served me dents to be citizens of the world, so it’s not surprising that 4700 Keele Street spurred by the fact that Janet’s husband nearly 10 per cent of the York University Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 well in an eventful year that, while challenging, has also been our alumni live and work in nearly every country; we are also was Pierre Berton, author, TV person- Libraries’ total endowment. Tel: 416-736-5979 very rewarding: the momentum for a medical school at York is connected to the world because we come from every part of ality and former Star columnist. Sanders In fact, this is just a portion of the Fax: 416-736-5681 building; the Government of Ontario is funding the expansion it. There are some 9,600 foreign-born students at York from gave Janet a peck on the cheek, the support the club has been providing to Address changes: [email protected] of Glendon into a Centre of Excellence for French-Language 173 countries – nearly 20 per cent of our total student popu- or 1-866-876-2228 camera flashed, and the club went on to York over the years, without great fan- and Bilingual Postsecondary Education; and York has Roy lation. It is inevitable, with this incredible mix of languages Ideas and opinions expressed in the articles do not raise the full $5,000, which it presented fare. According to club archivist Barbara necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of the McMurtry as its new chancellor. and cultures and ideas, that there will be divergent opinions, to the University on May 31, 1967. McNutt, its scholarships and bursaries for University or the editors. These are all significant milestones, to be sure, but to my differing ideologies and plenty of campus debate. Critical Strangely, the original $5,000 cheque York students have amounted to $53,700 ISSN 1708-4512 mind, there is an event even more important than these. If thinking and the push and pull of ideas are the lifeblood of

went astray at York, and the club replaced since 1963. The club’s focus has long PRINTED IN CANADA the mission of a university is to create and share new knowledge any university. it that October. Perhaps that’s a clue to been female students, and it was a big photography by jeffkirk to better society, then convocation is the highlight of the As we move towards celebrating York’s 50th anniversary in what happened next. supporter of the Women’s Studies pro- academic year. 2009, we do so knowing that our best years are ahead of us. 30% Absolutely nothing happened – until gram when it was launched at York. All of For the faculty and staff of a university, there is nothing York at 50 is a young and vibrant university, imbued with a Cert no. SW-COC-2029 the early 21st century, when a York that seems worthy of a kiss to me. Y more gratifying than seeing graduating students in their can-do spirit and committed to playing a critical part in the cultural, social and economic development of our world. We are a university being itself. Send letters, submissions, comments and ideas to [email protected]. Mamdouh Shoukri is York’s president and vice-chancellor. Y photography by jeff kirk by photography

4 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 7 ork’s new harpsichord looks as good as it sounds. Hand- made by Montreal craftsman Yves Beaupré, it had its debut Y onstage in the depths of winter but likely warmed the hearts of those hearing it for the first time. It was played in a concert of Baroque works by York Music Professor Stephanie Martin, a specialist in the period. “Interest in Baroque music has experienced a resurgence in the last 25 years,” she says. “I think we rediscover periodically how wonderful this music is, and we want to recreate it the way it would have sounded.” The instrument doesn’t have a huge dynamic range, unlike a piano. Partly that’s because it’s much smaller than a concert grand. Pianos were developed to fill big halls with sound, says Martin. “The harpsichord is really made for small, intimate spaces. In the 17th century people made music at home.” The strings of a harpsichord are plucked (in the early days using a bird quill, but now using plastic), not struck with felt hammers as in a piano. York’s “Flemish Style” harpsichord, which cost in the range of $17,000-$20,000, was commissioned by the Music Department in the Faculty of Fine Arts to support a burgeoning interest in Baroque performance. It’s based on a (still playable!) original made in 1624 and now housed in a museum in Colmar, France. Many different woods go into its making, says Beaupré. “We use pear, ebony, holly, spruce, oak, poplar and basswood.” Beaupré’s wife, Daniele Forget, did the ornate hand-painted decoration on the soundboard. Though an old instrument, modern musicians like The Rolling Stones have used the harpsichord in their music, and modern and avant-garde composers such as Francis Poulenc and Philip Glass have written concertos for it. “It’s an instrument with a warm, delicate sound and it’s portable, which is probably why it was popular among musicians and audiences more than three centuries ago,” says Martin. Y

MUSIC music makers: Martin and student Ian Uhlir Baroque is Back An elegant harpsichord comes to York

photography by jeff kirk

YorkU Summer 2008 9 BOOKS ore young female teens are vulnerable to HIV than ever before, according to Sarah Flicker, professor in York’s Faculty of What STUDIES M Environmental Studies. Flicker recently completed the Toronto Teen Survey, involving a diverse range of 1,200 young people aged 13-18 They’re drawn from 100 different Toronto communities. The survey’s aim was to The Limits of Charisma gather information from youth on assets, gaps and barriers that currently exist in sex education and public services and use that information to Reading Sometimes too much of it develop a city-wide strategy to increase positive sexual health outcomes for diverse Toronto youth, says Flicker. York people reveal what’s can be a leadership problem A key element in the data gathering was to get teens talking to teens. on the bedside table Initially 12 young people aged 13-17 were recruited to form an advisory committee to assist in the survey design. Later, 20 similarly aged teens Sam Lanfranco were given 10 weeks of training in how to facilitate survey workshop ses- Economics professor, Atkinson Faculty sions with their peers and provide peer education on prevention of HIV of Liberal & Professional Studies and sexually transmitted infections. The 1,200 teens surveyed partici- pated in 90 workshops. They submitted anonymous written questions to HEALTH “I love books for their patience. I be answered by the workshop facilitators. Questions were coded based on get to them when I can. I just topic and analyzed to identify common themes and areas for exploration. finished Arthur Herman’s Researchers found a high proportion related to sex acts and behaviours, How the Scots Invented the sexual readiness and pregnancy. Let’s Talk Modern World. The Scottish Doing research on adolescent sexual health isn’t easy. “There are all Enlightenment remains central kinds of barriers to working with youth,” says Flicker. “Many people don’t About Sex to modern society and to my field, want to admit that their teens are sexually active. So the first hurdle is just economics. I am reading Ursula K. getting over the fact that teens are sexual beings and we need to figure out A broad youth survey involves LeGuin’s novel Searoad. She is a great ways to support them. I think one of the reasons our survey was so writer and I worked with her mother, successful is that it involved teens as real partners at every step.” Y teens themselves Theodora Krober. Lastly, I am reading Pride of Place, Brenda M. Hudson’s t may seem paradoxical in today’s personality-driven world, but two York hen we talk about literacy, most of us think of history of the settlement of Prince researchers have found that having too much “charisma” can sometimes reading and writing. But there’s a new kind of Edward County, where I live.” I hinder a team leader’s performance and even have a destructive effect on the W literacy – the information kind. Luckily for team itself. Business literature has commonly characterized “charismatic” or students, York University Libraries (YUL) is on top of Jamie Burr “transformational” leadership as a superior style of leadership, says Len Karakowsky, a the trend. Grad student and triathlete, School professor of human resources management, but too much may be a liability, he’s To get the most out of their university experience, of Kinesiology & Health Science found. students need to be “information literate”, says Sophie He and colleague Igor Kotlyar examined leadership styles to learn which are the Bury, acting chair, YUL Information Literacy Com- “I’m preparing papers for my most effective in generating “productive conflict” among team members while mini- mittee. “Students researching a paper need to find ways comprehensive examination mizing negative interpersonal conflict. “Although there’s a lot known and written to navigate a vast and daunting array of information along with some systematic about the positive impact of transformational leadership on follower performance, resources,” she says. Those resources include scholarly reviews, so most of my reading is much less is understood about the impact of transformational leadership on perform- books, journal articles and credible Web sites, among with my nose in a scientific journal. ance in a work team context,” says Karakowsky. others. But when not hunting out exercise Often charismatic leaders’ great strength is that they are good at promoting “Information literacy builds on traditional literacy,” physiology articles, I enjoy non-fiction constructive debate leading to strong management decisions by the team. Karakowsky says Bury. “We’re awash now in information every day science books. Currently, I’m reading says they do this by appealing to individual team members’ self-concept, but this can be in every context and in an information economy, The Lore of Running by Timothy a double-edged sword. information literacy is one of those indispensable ‘soft Noakes and have just recently finished The passionate style of charismatic leaders can often inspire group members to skills’ that add to your value in the marketplace. What The Velocity of Honey by Jay Ingram, become more emotionally involved in the group’s interactions, he says. Involving the RESOURCES were once just library skills have taken on a broader the person who hosts “Daily Planet”. I self-concept means that group members want to prove to their leader – and themselves significance as information competencies.” enjoy the training books as a supple- – that they are indeed “worthy”. On the one hand, this can lead to productive and Bury notes that YUL often gets requests for library ment to my triathlon-racing hobby, lively debates of ideas and contribute to high-quality decision making. On the other instruction sessions from frustrated faculty who com- and I suppose my affinity for books on hand, bringing the self-concept to the table can also lead members to become hyper- photography by rsquared The New Literacy plain students don’t move much beyond the free Web random science facts just highlights defensive of their own ideas and vicious critics of those of others. Personal battles can Reading and writing are not enough – you when doing term paper research. “We now play a role in my inner geek. In fact, a look at my come to overshadow constructive, task-oriented debates and so the decision process need to be ‘information literate’ teaching students when and how to use Internet reading list might just supply the evi- ultimately deteriorates. resources like Wikipedia effectively, while also guiding dence needed to prove that the terms Karakowsky and Kotlyar’s study found that a less flamboyant, no-frills leader can them through the process of research using virtual and ‘jock’ and ‘geek’ need not be mutually often be more successful at engaging executive teams in brainstorming while keeping print collections and scholarly sources available through exclusive.” emotions and egos in check. Y rsquared by photography York,” Bury says. Y

10 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 11 wo of the Web’s major attributes – confession and anonymity – fit perfectly into the venue of what has T become known as “mommy blogs”. May Friedman, a doctoral student in women’s studies at York, is researching mothering and infertility blogs to see what she can learn about what’s on mothers’ and would-be mothers’ minds. “In 1976, Adrienne Rich wrote, ‘We know more about the air we breathe, the seas we travel, than about the nature and meaning of mother- .... AN ECONOMIST SEES PROPERTY TAXES hood’,” notes Friedman, who says blogs are the perfect way for women to overcome shame and isolation – especially infertile women. The “mamasphere” has become a good place to take the .... AN URBAN PLANNER SEES DENSITY pulse of what Rich was talking about, Friedman says. “Mommy blogs are simultaneously celebrated and reviled. But they’ve become a critical component of cyberspace. It’s a cultural .... A GEOGRAPHER SEES A VERTICAL NEIGHBOURHOOD phenomenon. Yet, so far, there’s been little consensus on their purpose or possible implications. Are they just mothering narra- CYBERSPACE tives or are they ‘transgressive’? Are they redefining motherhood and mothering as a contested, messy and variegated enterprise? No one yet knows.” Friedman plans to use postmodern feminism, mothering Bloggin’ Mamas theory and life writing theory to do a critical discourse analysis May Friedman investigates of mothering weblogs as a way to explore and consider the mothers online implications of motherhood in the Internet era. Y

usiness and ethics has, at times, seemed a contradiction in terms (witness Conrad Black’s recent travails). But B there is a new breed of business leader on the rise, especially at York’s Schulich School of Business if students such as Ian Howard are any indication. Howard and a team of fellow b-students recently took top prize (US$10,000) in the North American Project Pyramid Case Competition designed to find practical business solutions to alleviating poverty in Ghana and other places in the world. The competition was organized by Net Impact, an interna- tional non-profit organization dedicated to developing a new generation of leaders who use business solutions to bring about social and economic improvements. “There’s a rise of counter- cultural evolution in b-school now with people working for non- profits like the World Wildlife Fund,” says Howard. “And the fact that Net Impact is one of the more popular clubs at Schulich BUSINESS is telling. I see many graduates now walk past Bay Street and WELCOME TO THE INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIVERSITY. At York, we tackle look for sustainability jobs and alternative pursuits.” real-world issues by bringing together researchers, graduate students and partners from Howard and team competed against 35 business schools different disciplines. Right now, geographers, urban planners and policy experts at from across North America. The Schulich team, consisting of QUESTION EVERY ANGLE. CITY, The City Institute at York University, are examining the problems facing large Howard, Matthew Cohen, Simon MacMahon, Bob Mann and Do No Evil Alexis Morgan, beat teams from such high-profile b-schools as STUDY EVERY ANGLE. cities in Canada and the world. They are investigating whether creative practices can be Wharton, Duke, Michigan and Chicago. Each had to develop a A Schulich team wins big in a used to educate and transform the experience of urban development in light of the RESEARCH EVERY ANGLE. business solution to a real-life poverty-related problem and competition to fight poverty photography by rsquared changing technological, economic and cultural experiences of globalization. It is this present their solutions to a judging panel of corporate execu- collaborative approach to creating new knowledge that makes York a leading research tives. The Schulich team’s focus was to build on the entrepre- innovator. To learn more about the interdisciplinary university, visit YORKU.CA neurial strengths of local people, eschewing an aid-based Saye – finish his radio journalism degree. That costs about approach. $1,500 a year. And I donated $400 to the One Laptop per Child So what’s Howard doing with his share of the Pyramid pot? Project (laptop.org). That leaves about $100 for me and “I’m using mine to help support a friend in Mali – Amagono Revenue Canada.” Y

12 YorkU Summer 2008 C OVER Farouk Jiwa helps African subsistence farmers improve their lives through small, eco-friendly businesses like beekeeping. by michael todd photography by georgina goodwin SWEET SUCCESS

magine a honey of an idea as rewarding monetarily as it is socially. Farouk Jiwa did. The York grad (MES ’03), who is a native Kenyan, has spent the years since his York graduation making a remarkable contribution to his former country through Honey Care Africa. HCA helps subsistence farmers improve their livelihoods by I introducing them to sustainable beekeeping. The company ensures that the rural farmers – half of whom are women – access the capital they need for start-ups as well as training and a guaranteed market for the honey at Fair Trade prices. Although Jiwa now calls Canada home, he travels frequently to Kenya and other parts of the world, setting up and attending to the honey and other sustainable, micro-financed businesses he’s helped establish. His work involves principles that relate directly to his time at York, which included gaining a graduate diploma in business & the environment offered jointly by the Faculty of Environmental Studies and the Schulich School of Business. As early as 2005, Jiwa was recognized as One to Watch by York’s annual Bryden Alumni Awards. Now he is one of 50 prominent alumni who are part of the new “50 to the Power of 50” group supporting York’s $200-million fundraising campaign (see following story). The bees have generated a lot of buzz. “The decision to promote honey production as a micro-enterprise at the local community level was driven by a number of factors,” says Jiwa. “From the market perspective, there was clearly a demand for honey both locally and within the wider region. At the time, my partners and I couldn’t understand why a tropical country like Kenya was importing honey all the way stepping up: Jiwa in Nairobi from Australia and the US and yet we had a much more lush and vibrant flora. I was particularly keen on finding an income-generating activity that could be undertaken by

14 YorkU Summer 2008 C OVER E VENTS small-holder subsistence farmers, who represent a majority of the demand for honey in major Kenya hotels, retail outlets and population, and didn’t require heavy inputs or buying more land.” local industries before pursuing the export market. Now, with a The decision to pursue honey production was also strongly strong foothold in Kenya’s domestic market, Honey Care has Speed influenced by the positive environmental impact that bees expanded honey sales to neighbouring Tanzania, the US and create, Jiwa adds. They pollinate native vegetation and food Europe. Although the recent political turbulence in Kenya crops, and beekeeping could be done on the periphery of caused some temporary problems for HCA, says Jiwa, the forests and national parks as an alternative to charcoal produc- decline of honey bees noted in some parts of the world has not tion. “Finally, we were looking for a commodity that was non- affected East Africa. Mentoring perishable because of the problems with road transportation in HCA’s success has received international recognition. In Members of York’s new ‘50 to the Power of 50’ rural areas, so we needed a product that would keep well. 2003 it won the prestigious Equator Prize from the United Honey seemed to be the natural answer.” Nations Development Program along with several other awards alumni group offer quick life lessons to students. for social entrepreneurship. The Equator Prize recognizes by david fuller photography by gary beechey Jiwa comes by his entrepreneurship skills naturally, it seems. innovative community partnerships that reduce poverty “My father was a serial entrepreneur and my mother a school through conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Jiwa etting career advice from Hatanaka told her of challenges he faced teacher. Between them, they ensured that my brother and I not was also recognized as one of the “Most Outstanding mentors like former lieutenant- in a career transition from professional only got a sound education but that we were well-grounded and Social Entrepreneurs” by the Schwab Foundation at the World governor Lincoln Alexander football player to financier and advised had a clear sense of the important values in life.” As a fourth- Economic Forum in 2005 and received a World Business G or top banker Bill Hatanaka her to take everything she could from her generation Asian-Kenyan and part of the first post-independence Award from the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders was already a rare opportunity for a lucky university experience. generation, he says, “I was fortunate to grow up in a strong, Forum. group of students at the launch of York’s Alexander (LLB ’53) and administra- stable and cohesive community environment. From a very early “50 to the Power of 50” group of promi- tive studies student Tamara Gordon – age, this gave me a very good understanding of the power of In 2006, Jiwa joined CARE Canada as director of CARE nent alumni. But these were life lessons both black and seated in wheelchairs – communities and a sense of just what can be achieved when Enterprise Partners, a social venture capital unit that seeks on steroids, delivered at a set of tables in talked about the dual challenge of coping people come together and work towards a common goal.” lasting solutions to poverty through market-based approaches the elegant CIBC Lobby of York’s Acco- with disability and racism. “I want you to HCA was launched in 2000 and, as part of his master’s designed to unleash entrepreneurship in emerging economies. lade East Building on March 26, one year let people know, that when you look at degree at York, Jiwa continued to work on elaborating his His most recent initiative with CARE Canada was a partnership before York’s 50th birthday. You’ve me, don’t look at my handicap, look at innovative business model. The initiative got a tremendous with Trade Facilitation Office Canada to support Gone Rural, heard of speed dating? This was speed what I can give to the world,” said boost from its first significant project, worth $50,000, with the an innovative social venture based in Swaziland, to successfully mentoring. Alexander, who added words of advice on Danish government’s interna- find a market for its products As emcee Barbara Budd (BA ’74) of what not to do from his days in the ’50s tional development agency, in Canada. Gone Rural seeks CBC Radio’s “As It Happens” kept time as an Osgoode law student facing racism. Danida. HCA manufactured to improve the lives of rural with a bell, students moved from table to “Stand up against wrong,” he said. the widely used Langstroth With a strong foothold in women who use traditional table every five minutes to soak up “When anyone demeans you, check them hives and distributed them to skills to create attractive wisdom from luminaries as varied as – but do it quietly. I did it in front of 250 small farmers who typically Kenya’s market, Honey Care bowls, placemats and other former TVO chief Isabel Bassett (MA students. Don’t do it the way I did.” worked less than 0.8 of a highly marketable household ’73), Ontario Science Centre CEO Irina Millo, a fourth-year accounting hectare. In the early days Jiwa has expanded sales to items in home-based busi- Lesley Lewis (BA ’71) and lawyer Dale student, so impressed her mentor, CBC distributed 100 of the hives nesses. This joint initiative Lastman (LLB ’82). They are among the Radio host Jian Ghomeshi (BA ’95), with he’d made to 25 families in Tanzania, the US and Europe. won the 2007 Canadian 50 grads who will act as ambassadors for her involvement in campus life that he said, eastern Kenya. The result was Manufacturers and Exporters the $200-million York to the Power of “It doesn’t sound like you need any men- highly successful. “Our first harvest was a mere 300 kgs of International Cooperation Award for Excellence. 50 fundraising campaign as it gears up for toring, you’re doing fine.” But Millo wel- honey and collectively made only $500,” he notes. “However, “Growing up in a country where more than half the popula- York’s anniversary year. comed Ghomeshi’s assessment that partici- that proved our model worked and gave us, the farmers and tion lives in abject poverty earning less than $1 a day, where so Sunita Moharaj, an accounting student, pating in campus life would help set her other partners the confidence to continue. We haven’t looked much human potential goes unrealized because people are did one of her five-minute interviews apart from other applicants in her field. back since.” According to HCA, the company captured 27 per struggling to meet basic needs, and a country where getting an with Hatanaka (BA ’77), chairman and Ivan Fecan (BA ’01), chair of the “50 cent of the domestic honey market in Kenya within its first four education is a privilege rather than a right, I was determined to CEO of TD Waterhouse Canada and co- to the Power of 50” group and head of years of business and established a network of 2,500 beekeepers use the opportunity I had been given to get a university educa- chair of the York to the Power of 50 cam- CTVglobemedia and CTV Inc., was who earned between US$200 and $250 a year, often double tion to try and make some contribution towards addressing paign. For Moharaj, it wasn’t as much impressed with the way the students he their previous earnings. That market share is now close to 40 these enormous challenges,” says Jiwa. what was said, as who was saying it. “I’d met went straight for “big-picture ques- per cent and there are nearly 9,000 households across East “A sense of empathy is a very strong driver for what I do. I heard some of the career advice about tions”. “They were all remarkably smart Africa involved in beekeeping with HCA. always try to remember that had circumstances been a little being well-rounded before,” she said, and self-aware,” he said. And after seven Honey Care’s business strategy has been to put the small- different, I could very well be one of the millions of people “but to hear it from someone like rounds of speed-mentoring, maybe a holder farmers at the centre of the business and to build a living below the poverty line. I therefore try my level best to William was definitely an eye-opener.” little more so. Y “Kenya first” marketing approach, says Jiwa. This involves provide the encouragement, advice and support to others that I focusing on the needs of the rural farmers to encourage them would have wanted them to provide to me if I was in their rare opportunity: (From top) student Maria Christoforou gets advice; student Ujjwal to start honey production, and to first serve the considerable shoes, and in a way that doesn’t take away their pride.” Ramdas with Debra Brown (BFA Spec. Hons. ’78); Fecan with student Ivan Katsevman; Y student Billy Lee with Ghomeshi; Sandie Rinaldo (BA Spec. Hons. ’73) offers her thoughts; Gordon with Alexander

16 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 17 T AGLINE I NSPIRATION Guiding A Lights

Three members of York’s ‘50 to the Power of 50’ alumni group remember those who made a difference. by michael todd photography by jeff kirk

entors. Who hasn’t had one (or needed one) at some point in their life? Certainly, these three highly successful York grads all agreed that finding the right person at the right time to M guide the way made all the difference. As members of York’s new “50 to the Power of 50” alumni group, they in turn recently came to campus to offer their words of wisdom and experience to current York students (previous story). Here’s who they remember in their own lives.

Isabel Bassett (MA ’73) A longtime broadcaster and a former politician, Bassett was chair and CEO of TVOntario/TFO from 1999 until 2005. Previously she served as minister of citizenship, culture and recreation in Ontario’s Conservative government. She received an honorary doctorate from York in 2001. “Little did I realize back in the ’70s, as a young mother of three taking an MA at York in Canadian studies, that my professor in Canadian lit, Clara Thomas, would have a significant influence on my future. She encouraged me to turn my research on 19th-century Canadian women into a book. I would never have done this without her support. I wouldn’t even have thought I could write a book back then, surrounded as I was with small kids. “But I only had to look at Clara to see it could be done, as she was not only committed to her career but had a busy family life with her husband and two sons. Writing that first book opened up my world – for which I am forever grateful. It also encouraged me to take those first steps toward a broader intellectual life.”

YorkU Summer 2008 19 I NSPIRATION

Matt Dusk (BFA Spec. Hons. ’02) Jazz vocalist and songwriter Dusk was awarded an Oscar Peterson Scholarship at York and graduated with an honours degree in music. Since his first commercial release, Two Shots, in 2004, he has released two more albums. “I wasn’t originally enrolled in music at York – I was in economics and had a terrible time. After that year I had decided I was going to follow my dad into the family business. But my mother encouraged me to follow my love of singing and apply to the jazz studies program. I got accepted – to my amazement. “One of my mentors was John Gittins, who ran the Katherine Govier (MA ’72) program. When he heard my audition he said, ‘You’ve got Govier is author of eight novels and three short story collections, a great voice, Matt, but you can’t sing jazz worth jack shit!’ and editor of two collections of travel essays. She won the Toronto He introduced me to jazz pianist Bob Fenton [who was Book Award in 1992 and has been a visiting lecturer in creative adjunct faculty and has since passed away]. Fenton was one writing at York. of York’s best kept secrets. He was from Detroit and he’d played with all the jazz legends – Zoot Sims, Chet Baker, “Margaret Atwood gave a reading at the University of Alberta Nina Simone. He lent me recordings, brought me over to when I was a student. It was 1970. She worked full-time as a his house to jam for hours, taught me phrasing and how to writer in Canada: she proved you could do it. I moved east, and sing jazz. He was absolutely unselfish with his time and after graduate school, started to publish. I was at a party when experience. If not for him, I’d never be where I am today.” Writers’ Union Director Alma Lee said, ‘Someone would like to meet you.’ It was Margaret Atwood. “She said she was a fan of my column in Toronto Life. (That particular one was about trying to get men to do the housework. Or was it about buying men’s underwear?) When she heard I was writing fiction, she offered to read it. We met at her farm, and sat together in a barn while she made comments. Later she asked me to be on a committee of the Writers’ Trust. It is important to contribute. She has continued to be there, in our community of writers, for all of our benefit.” Y

20 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 21 YORK TO THE POWER OF 50

Lincoln M. Alexander, C.C., Q.C. Matt Dusk Farouk Jiwa Douglas W. Mahaffy LLB ‘53, LLD ‘90 BFA Hons. ‘02 MES ‘03 BA ‘66, MBA ‘71 Former Lieutenant Juno nominated Director, Private Sector Chairman, Governor of Ontario singer and actor & Development, CARE Canada McLean Budden Limited 50 Photo by Al Gilbert, CM William R. Fatt Jonathan C. Mann Colleen Johnston BA ‘74 BBA Hons. ‘82 BA ‘80 Gordon I. Ash CEO, Group Head Finance and CFO, Anchor and Host, ‘Insight’, BA ‘74 Fairmont Raffles Hotels TD Bank Financial Group CNN International Assistant General Manager, International Inc. Milwaukee Brewers Robert C. Krembil, C.M. Rachel A. McAdams Baseball Club Ivan Fecan MBA ‘71, LLD ‘00 BFA Hons. ‘01 BA ‘01 Chief Executive Officer, Actor Bradley J. Badeau, CA President and CEO, Chiefswood Investors Ltd. MBA ‘82 CTVglobemedia and Robert R. McEwen, C.M. Senior Vice-President CEO, CTV Inc. Armand P. La Barge MBA ‘78, LLD ‘05 50 and CFO, Burgundy Asset Man- 50 Group Chair BA Hons. ‘95 Chairman, President and CEO, agement Ltd. Chief of Police, US Gold Margot Franssen, O.C. York Regional Police Force Isabel G. Bassett BA ‘79 Sandie Rinaldo BA Hons. ‘73 MA ‘73, LLD ‘01 Founder, William A. Lambert The Body Shop Canada Weekend Anchor, Broadcast executive, journalist MBA ‘87 CTV News and former Chair & CEO, Special Partner, Jian Ghomeshi Birch Hill Equity Partners TVOntario BA ‘95 Edward S. Rogers, O.C. Broadcaster, LLB ‘60, LLD ‘94 Dale H. Lastman William J. S. Boyle, C.M. President and CEO, CBC Radio and TV LLB ‘82 BA ‘69, MA ‘71 Rogers Communications Inc. Co-Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell S. Goldhar Harbourfront Centre BA ‘85 Goodmans LLP Clayton C. Ruby, C.M., Q.C. President & CEO, BA ‘63 Sandra E. Levy Rudolph P. Bratty, Q.C. SmartCentres Senior Lawyer/Partner, BA Hons. ‘90, LLB ‘95 LLB ‘57 Ruby & Edwardh Katherine M. Govier Director, Human Resources, Senior Partner, Decoma International Inc. and Bratty & Partners MA ‘72 Chandra Siddan Author and Past President, two-time Canadian Olympic BEd ‘03 team member Founder, Mark Breslin PEN Canada and Past Chair, Writers’ Trust Regent Park Film Festival “50 extraordinary alumni. 50 remarkable years. BA ‘73 Lesley V. Lewis CEO and Founder, 50 Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C. BA ‘71 Glendon Ken Singh Yuk Yuk’s International LLB ‘68 CEO, BA ‘79, BA ‘81 The 50 Group — helping celebrate 50 years of Senior Partner, Ontario Science Centre President, Debra L. Brown Greenspan, White LLP Atlas International BFA Hons. ‘78 Stephanie J. Ling achievement at York University.” Photo by Al Gilbert, CM Freight Forwarding Inc. Emmy award winning BA ‘85, BA Hons. ‘87, MEd ‘02 Choreographer, Ethel Harris Founder & Principal, Irvin Studin IVAN FECAN Cirque du Soleil and more Cornerstone Preparatory BBA Hons. ‘99 50 MA ‘73 50 GROUP CHAIR The Milton and Ethel Harris School Rhodes Scholar and Author Barbara L. Budd Research Initiative BA ‘74 Nigel Lockyer Paul W. Tsaparis Radio Co-Host, Chantal Hébert BSc Hons. ‘75 MBA ‘84 ‘As It Happens’ CBC BA ‘76 Glendon Director, President and CEO, Journalist and Political TRIUMF Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. Rita M. Burak Commentator Rick Waugh BA ‘77 James B. Love, Q.C. LLB ‘73, LLM ‘86 MBA ‘74, LLD ‘07 Former Chair, Hydro One Inc. Jay Hennick 50 to the Power of 50 Partner, Love & Whalen President and CEO, and former Secretary of the BA ‘78 All are leaders in their chosen professions and proud York University alumni. Together they are 50 to the Power of 50, an extraordinary Founder & CEO, and Chairman and CEO, Scotiabank th Cabinet, Government of Ontario group of ambassadors helping Yorkcelebrate its 50 anniversary in 2009 and supporting our landmark fundraising campaign. FirstService Corporation Legacy Private Trust Joel S. Cohen York to the Power of 50 Jennifer Ivey Bannock Gordon A. Lownds MBA ‘92 BA ‘81 York’s 50th anniversary campaign has now reached more than $150 million—three-quarters of the way to our $200 million campaign goal. BFA ‘76 Writer and Producer, Director, President, The success of York to the Power of 50 will help York achieve its vision to become a leading international centre for interdisciplinary ‘The Simpsons’ Ivey Foundation ListenUp! Canada research and teaching. William A. Dimma, C.M. Ellis Jacob Steven G. MacLean MBA ‘69, LLD ‘98 MBA ‘76 BSc Hons. ‘77, PhD ‘83, DSc ‘93 Chairman, President and CEO, Astronaut, www.yorku.ca/foundation [email protected] 416 650 8210 Home Capital Group Cineplex Entertainment Canadian Space Agency L EADERSHIP T AGLINE

ost mortals retire at 65, if premier Bill Davis, not come courting. the three reminisce about brokering the not earlier. Not Roland Two years later McMurtry won 1981 “Kitchen Accord”, the deal to Roy McMurtry. At 64, Toronto’s Eglinton riding and catapulted patriate the Canadian Constitution and A LIFE OF JUSTICE the former Ontario directly into Davis’s cabinet as attorney create the Charter of Rights and Free- M attorney general and general. doms. York’s distinguished new chancellor, Canadian high commissioner to Britain “Probably the most important deci- There’s one of Oscar Peterson (once a Roy McMurtry,rent Koppe risso nkeen thoug htot h ehelp’d die dstudentsand gone to organization, founded in 1998 and now situated in 50 acres of became chief justice of Ontario. “I just sion I ever made was to agree to enter the York chancellor, too). In the 1970s, heaven when he got a job with a landscaping crew hardwood forest in Aurora, Ont., does energy evaluations for felt there was an opportunity to do political world,” says McMurtry. Over “Oscar and I developed a dog and pony ‘do somethingat a cemetery. significant’. “I was totally reborn,” he says of homeowners, including the entire Georgina Island First more,” he says. He wouldn’t hang up his the next 10 years, he presided over a show.” McMurtry would use Peterson as by marthathe tancock unusual job that pulled him from his funk Nation. It’s also contracted by Ontario Power Authority to robes for another 11 years. Even then, particularly rigorous period of law bait to lure ad executives to lunch, then photographyB after byhis jeffmultimillion-dollar kirk business, Backstage assess low-income homes, where families pay disproportionate after fetes galore to honour a lifetime of reform, introduced a bilingual justice Peterson would buttonhole them about Pass, went under – courtesy of a comptroller who cooked the amounts for heating. distinguished achievement, he wasn’t system and launched community legal featuring more black people in ads. The books. In the aftermath, Kopperson had lost everything – his But Windfall was just the start. An interest in wind energy about to sink into a Muskoka chair. In no clinics. As a red Tory, his concern for the two became fast friends and just before home, marriage and friendship with his business partner. And led Kopperson to co-found the Ontario Sustainable Energy time flat, he joined Gowlings law firm less advantaged was homegrown. His he died last year, Peterson gave he was broke. “There was a feeding frenzy [among bankers and Association. He was also present at the creation of the Cana- and moved into a corner office in First father often defended underdogs and McMurtry an inscribed gold Rolex. “I suppliers], and by the time it was over there was just an empty dian Renewable Energy Alliance and the Community Power Canadian Place in the heart of Toronto’s bristled at the racism and anti-Semitism wear this with pride.” shell – and pretty much I was empty too.” Fund, and is chair of Green Communities Canada. Why start so financial district. When he isn’t giving that pervaded Toronto society in the There’s McMurtry with Nelson Man- Finding salvation in a cemetery may sound crazy – especially many organizations? “So often, when we want to accomplish legal opinions, he’s writing reports for 1930s and 1940s. Both parents dela. As high commissioner to Britain in after you’ve headed a marketing company with star clients such something, we get stopped by a regulatory or policy program,” Ontario’s premier on the roots of youth drummed into their three sons the old- the late 1980s, McMurtry chaired the as Madonna and The Beatles, and owned a four-bedroom he says. That’s when he launches a new non-profit to create violence and victim compensation or fashioned concept of “noblesse oblige” – Commonwealth Heads of Government home with a swimming pool and an SUV. But when Kopperson solutions officialdom can adopt, such as a program to grant chairing an advisory panel for Toronto’s with privilege comes responsibility. Committee on South Africa, which found himself jobless, homeless and penniless, he decided he government contracts for renewable energy so individuals mayor on community safety. And this The young McMurtry took it to played a role in ending apartheid. And needed a change. “I always thought the plan was to go out and obtain loans to build infrastructure to create it. “It’s all about spring, he added chancellor of York heart. A lifetime of community service there’s his mother, Elizabeth, the day she make as much money as I could and do what I wanted,” says removing barriers.” University to his repertoire. “What else began when the University of Toronto graduated in 1980 from York with a BA Kopperson (BBA ’78). “But it didn’t work out and I realized And his environmental efforts don’t stop at Canada’s am I going to do?” asks McMurtry, now history major volunteered with Frontier in history. She was 67 and had taken one that was not a good plan. My new strategy was not to make borders. Kopperson is also a director with the World Wind 76. “My wife always says our wedding College, a national literacy organization. course a year for 15 years, not for the money, but to do what I wanted to do.” And till he found out Energy Association, and has participated in international vows didn’t include lunch.” For two summers, he toiled in the degree but “for the pure joy of it”. what that was, he wanted serenity. “I couldn’t go into an office negotiations on the environment since 2002 through his The truth is McMurtry values York’s Rockies alongside immigrant railway Not all the peaks in McMurty’s career again.” At the cemetery, he found himself laughing once more, membership in international non-government organizations. commitment to social justice and com- workers by day and taught them English were captured on film. But the world enjoying the camaraderie of the landscaping crew. At one point, Climate Action Network recommended him for munity outreach and sees a chance to by night. He is still involved with agen- took notice when the chief justice ruled And ironically, it was thanks to the dead that Kopperson an NGO position with the Canadian delegation at UN negotia- engage students. “Young people have cies that help released prisoners, father- that Ontario was required to issue mar- found his new life. “On the way home I would drive past this tions on climate change and he later was granted official UN been a major part of my life,” says the less children, seniors without housing, riage licences for same-sex couples. For old farmhouse on top of a hill with a windmill and solar panels. I observer status for Windfall. father of six and grandfather of 12. “I’m and people who can’t afford lawyers. that The Globe and Mail dubbed him a thought, this guy is doing something cool, and I wanted to find For Kopperson, the journey has come full circle. Recently, hoping to impart some of my enthusiasm While in the west with Frontier Col- Nation Builder in 2003, one of countless out what it was about.” So he stopped one night, knocked on “I was addressing 150 CEOs from York Region and I was for politics. I think there is a strong lege, McMurtry fell under the spell of honours – including an honorary degree the door, and when it opened, was introduced to his future. thinking I was in a room with a bunch of unlikely environmen- element of altruism amongst students. majestic Mount Robson and began to from York in 1991 and the Order of “We spent a couple of hours talking about how they were trying talists. But the fact is, I’m an unlikely environmentalist too. I They want to do something significant.” paint. His office walls are now filled with Ontario this year – that he has received to reduce their footprint on the planet. That lit the fuse.” did drive an SUV and I had a perfectly manicured lawn, and For the first 17 years after he gradu- “happy memories” on canvas of world over his lifetime. Soon after, the former entrepreneur launched Windfall I did a lot of things unconsciously as I pursued the Canadian ated from Osgoode Hall Law School in travels with wife Ria, and he often Soon McMurtry will deliver his Ecology Centre, a non-profit that provides individuals, dream. After I lost everything, I realized that none of that stuff 1958, McMurtry was a trial lawyer, like donates paintings to charity auctions. reports to the premier and wrap up his communities and governments with solutions to environmental made me happy.” So he’s particularly glad to see curriculums his prominent father Roy Sr., and busy “One of the best decisions I ever made work for the mayor. After his May instal- problems. “Windfall is known for its innovation and ability changing in business programs. “I think schools are looking at raising six children. “Politics was only a was not to take up golf,” he says. lation at York – succeeding the equally to design and deliver [environmental] programs,” says business quite differently now,” he says. “I see courses on envi- hobby.” But as legal counsel for the His windowsills are also crowded with distinguished Peter deCarteret Cory, Kopperson. The name came from sitting under an apple tree in ronmentalism and ethics and corporate responsibility, which Progressive Conservatives, he “realized photos, mementoes of a “very interesting former federal Supreme Court justice – the graveyard. “The apples were plunking down around me as you never used to see.” the enormous potential for politicians to and very working life.” There’s one of McMurtry will don cap and gown in they fell off the tree, and I thought, there’s a lesson here: If you Now, as Kopperson makes plans to build a straw-bale house make a contribution.” In 1972 he McMurtry, Roy Romanow and Jean June as the University’s 12th chancellor, take care of things and leave nature alone, it provides.” with his new partner Violet Chew, he sees a very different busi- launched an unsuccessful bid for a federal Chrétien taken in 2007 at a special con- dispatching graduating students into the Starting with an idea to help people reduce energy use in ness life than he initially envisioned: “I’m part of a new breed of seat and might never have run again had ference arranged in McMurtry’s honour, world he occupies, full of opportunities their homes, Kopperson applied for a grant from the Ontario social entrepreneurs. Those basic business skills I learned at Trillium Foundation – “and Windfall grew out of that.” The York? I’m applying them in ways I never imagined.” his former football teammate, Ontario where lawyers packed the room to hear to do good – and to do more. Y Y

24 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 25 R ESEARCH

t’s hard to believe now, but up to the 1960s research they were learning two languages, were they aware of multilin- suggested that bilingualism made you stupid. Now we guistic structures? She devised a grammatical test to find out know the opposite is true – thanks in no small part to whether children could recognize language structure – and got psychologist Ellen Bialystok. The distinguished such surprising results, she couldn’t resist exploring a new Nimble Minds I research professor in York’s Faculty of Health has direction in her research. made a career of proving that bilingualism makes you sharper. Children were trained to recognize correct sentence struc- Psychologist Ellen Bialystok finds bilingualism can put off Alzheimer’s. Speaking two languages is like going to “brain gym”. It forces ture, then asked to decide if simple sentences had the correct by martha tancock photography by jeff kirk the brain to choose between one language and another and, in structure or not. Some sentences were correct but were nonsen- so doing, stays limber. From cradle to grave, it turns out. sical, like “apples grow on noses.” Bilingual children had no Bialystok’s pioneering work has made her a world authority trouble recognizing the sentence as having the correct grammat- on the subject. Every time she publishes a new study, she’s tied ical structure. But monolingual children couldn’t get past the up for days talking to reporters around the world. Especially in nonsensical meaning. Bialystok realized bilingual children could the last few years. filter and ignore competing and irregular verbal information Early on, much of Bialystok’s research focused on children. better than monolingual children. It was a light-bulb moment. Under some conditions, she found, bilingual children learn to She remembered a 1962 landmark study at McGill Univer- read faster and score higher in some kinds of cognitive tests than sity that showed bilingual children have better “cognitive flexi- their monolingual peers. Now, as she examines how bilingualism bility” and spent the next few years proving it. Every time she affects cognitive aging, baby boomers entering their sunset years gave a talk, though, people asked her if there were long-term are taking note. Last year, Bialystok published a high-profile benefits to bilingualism. By 2004, she had an answer. Middle- study that found lifelong bilingualism can delay symptoms of aged and elderly bilingual adults performed faster than their dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, by four years. monolingual peers when given the Simon Test – an on-screen More than one person has commented on how the real focus test that measures how fast they choose the correct answer of her research is aging, laughs Bialystok. “What I’m really inter- among competing stimuli. Clearly, speaking two languages ested in is the continuity of mental life. We’re not like snakes. enhances mental performance – at all ages. We don’t shed our brains and grow a new one as we age. We “To a person, journalists wanted to know if there were have to understand how the cognitive mind of a two-year-old implications for dementia,” remembers Bialystok. Last year, she becomes an adult mind and how it changes across the life span.” came up with that answer. Lifelong use of two languages can Bialystok never planned to be a leading researcher and delay the onset of symptoms of dementia by four years. She and respected authority on bilingualism. But, she says, “One thing her research team at the Baycrest Centre’s Rotman Research led to another.” Good at math and physics in high school, she Institute in Toronto examined the diagnostic records of 184 “did what smart girls in Toronto did” in the 1960s. At the Uni- patients with cognitive complaints and determined that 71 was versity of Toronto, she took sociology and philosophy because, the average age that dementia set in for one-language speakers she says, sciences were not really acceptable for girls. “I never and 75 for two-language speakers. bothered to think what my options were.” In second year, she Next question: Can bilingualism prevent dementia and majored in psychology because she hated sociology. The Hall- Alzheimer’s? No, says Bialystok, but it can reduce the rate of Dennis Report of 1968 was about to radically change Ontario’s the natural decline of a person’s executive processes – a set of educational system and Bialystok decided to join the revolution cognitive abilities responsible for things like prioritizing tasks in public education. In 1976, she earned a PhD in language and focusing attention – after age 60. “A bilingual person with and cognitive development at the Ontario Institute for Studies dementia or Alzheimer’s can maintain better cognitive in Education. But there were no jobs at universities, so she set- performance longer because bilingualism gives you a cognitive tled for being a research assistant in OISE’s Modern Language reserve, like a reserve fuel tank,” she says. Bialystok is 59, when Centre. She took charge of a project on second-language mild cognitive impairment – forgetting things – typically sets in learning and six years later had a budding reputation in the for everybody. She’s not bilingual either. However, she’s quick fledgling field. In 1982, she landed a job in York’s Psychology to point out other ways to build your cognitive reserve – Department. learning, reading, exercising (very important), socializing, At first, Bialystok returned to her doctoral enthusiasms. solving cryptic crosswords. She does them all. She expects How, she wondered, did children acquire literacy skills? Did to keep digging into that cognitive reserve. “It’s a very they learn spatial relationships through words or objects? If exciting field.” Y

26 YorkU February 2004 YorkU Summer 2008 27 T RAFFIC PARTNERS IN TOMORROW

York University congratulates SSHRC on funding 30 years of York research that makes a difference.

York researchers break down traditional boundaries and bring together thinkers from across disciplines to tackle real-world issues. By leading innovative collaborations DriveAre bilingual people better at using cellTalkin’ phones while driving? by michael todd with partners like the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), our researchers n 2005, a study for Canada’s Traffic Injury Research To test whether bilingual people are better drivers while Foundation estimated the number of driver-placed cell using cell phones, Telner conducted a series of experiments at are creating solutions to societal challenges facing phone calls at 4.3 million, raising concern over the York’s Driving Lab under the direction of David Wiesenthal, a Canada and the world. Currently, SSHRC-funded increased risk for collisions due to driver distraction. professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health. I Indeed, who hasn’t cursed a driver gabbing away on a Telner tested 35 monolinguals and 47 bilinguals. Their per- research at York ranges from children’s health and cell phone while seemingly paying no attention to the road? It’s formance was evaluated in a virtual driving environment using a bullying to business ethics, and from homelessness and the modern equivalent of attention deficit disorder. computer driving-simulation program which measured a series Cell phones have been shown to be more detrimental to of safety benchmarks including speed and lane deviation. The refugee studies to the global impact of slavery and the driver performance than other distractions, such as tuning a experiment consisted of driving conditions without a cell radio or talking to passengers while on the move. This isn’t phone, and driving conditions with a hands-free cell phone African Diaspora. because of the physical problem of trying to steer and talk at where participants were engaged in simulated conversations in the same time, however. Rather it’s because drivers are paying English. more attention to the content of telephone conversations and “We found bilingual participants were better able to handle Knowledge is most beneficial when created together less to road conditions around them, says Jason Telner, a York the extra task of speaking over a cell phone when driving, com- with those who apply it. York’s PhD student in psychology. Telner is researching the relation- pared to monolinguals, relative to their own driving perform- ship between bilingualism, cell phone usage while driving, and ance without a cell phone,” says Telner. The bilinguals’ level of groundbreaking Knowledge driver performance. safe driving did decline, but not nearly as much. Telner notes that researchers such as York psychologist Ellen The research, Telner adds, is only the beginning of investi- Mobilization initiative connects Bialystok (previous story) have shown that bilingual people gating the role bilingualism plays in minimizing the driving university researchers, policy appear to possess cognitive and performance advantages in impairments caused by distraction from speaking over a cell attention-demanding, multi-tasking laboratory situations phone while driving. The increased attention capacity – and makers and community leaders compared to monolinguals. Bialystok’s findings attributed this ability to better manage cognitive resources in situations with across Canada, benefitting performance advantage to their more developed cognitive multiple tasks – may be the means by which bilinguals are able executive functions which they use to manage two languages to handle the extra task of speaking on a cell phone when citizens in areas such as simultaneously. driving, he suggests. But until Telner’s experiments, no one had tested whether “The implications of these findings are that perhaps regions health services, human bilinguals might also have increased immunity to driving per- that have a high number of bilinguals – such as Quebec – will rights, violence, aging, formance impairments because of their cognitive advantages. In not need to adopt policies that prohibit the use of cellular other words, can bilinguals more safely talk on the phone while telephones while driving or using other mobile devices such as and global health.

driving, compared to monolinguals? BlackBerries, GPS systems, iPods etc.,” says Telner. He even photography by rsquared “This research has relevance to large multicultural cities in posits the possibility that drivers in these regions should receive Canada such as Toronto, as well as Quebec, that have a high per- auto insurance reductions compared to regions with low num- centage of residents who are bilingual,” says Telner. He notes that bers of bilinguals. However, he notes, “Many more research in Quebec alone 40 per cent of the population is able to speak at studies would need to be conducted before any existing policies least two languages fluently, according to Statistics Canada. can be changed or any new policies considered.” Y To learn more about how York’s approach to research is redefining university research in Canada, visit www.research.yorku.ca 28 YorkU Summer 2008 H ISTORY

“When we read about the Holocaust and see where prejudice can lead, these mem- oirs act as antidotes to prejudice,” says Horowitz. They also “anchor the voice against Holocaust deniers.” Like the diary of Anne Frank, the memoirs are vivid, compelling accounts of how people reacted to The daily degradation and deprivation under German occupation. Horowitz, a scholar of Holocaust literature, says Jews sacrificed and risked much to keep diaries. “People would give up on sleep when they were tired and trade in food to get candles and paper and pens. Under the Nazis, it was illegal to keep diaries, so that compulsion to keep a record was quite extraordinary. Darkest These memoirs are a continuation of that.” They are also a “very Canadian story,” she says. Like other Time immigrants, European Jews “came here disadvantaged. They York and the Azrieli Foundation team up to publish memoirs by aging Holocaust survivors in Canada. by martha tancock

arguerite Elias Quddus has never forgotten Marguerite is 72 now, among the youngest Holocaust At the October launch of the day the Gestapo arrested her Jewish father, survivors still living. “So there is an urgency to collect as many the publishing project, a Ukrainian immigrant furrier in Paris, and testimonies as we can,” says Sara R. Horowitz, chair of the Azrieli said, “One sent him to sure death in Auschwitz concen- series’ editorial board and director of York’s Centre for Jewish story at a time brings a M tration camp. It was 1942 and she was six. Her Studies, which works with the foundation to produce the mem- different dimension to the worried mother put Marguerite and younger sister Henriette in oirs. “That first-person voice – the voice of memory – is very tragedy that befell our people. Writing the protective care of a Catholic agency, then waved goodbye. different from a historian’s account.” the stories has liberated the survivors. We were a When the war ended, the children were reunited with their As they grow older, those who felt they had no listeners to free people in a free society, but still we felt we couldn’t remarried mother and resumed life in Paris. In the 1960s, stories they desperately wanted to tell now feel compelled to leave talk about it for many years. We are free at last to tell our Marguerite immigrated to Canada with her husband and, like so a record. David Azrieli did – and that inspired the prominent stories. We are alive and our enemies were defeated.” many Holocaust survivors, rarely talked about those dark times. Montreal architect and developer to help others do the same. Since the Azrieli Foundation, headed by Azrieli’s daughter Years later, she returned to Paris for a last glimpse of the Azrieli was 17 when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939. Naomi, put out the call, 200 manuscripts – in English, but also before the fall: Azrieli as a teen in Poland about-to-be-demolished building where the family had lived He and his brothers fled to Russia, but when the Germans in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, French and Yiddish – have above her father’s shop. The visit unleashed a flood of memories, followed close behind, he made his escape on foot through flooded in from across Canada. Eight will be published every came without possessions. Many came alone. They were really and Marguerite, an artist, spent the next year feverishly painting. Uzbekistan and Iran and finally to British-run Palestine. “I was year and distributed free to schools, public libraries and anyone starting from zero. They built lives here. Most Canadians Only then was she able to write what she wouldn’t speak. never in prison and I was never in a camp,” says Azrieli. But he who asks. Each book features an artful cover, family photo- would find this contiguous with their own stories.” The result is Cachée, one of five memoirs published in the first lost his parents, his sister, one brother and his extended family. graphs, an introduction to provide historical context, and The accounts tend to be understated, adds Horowitz. Azrieli Series of Holocaust Survivor Memoirs. The series was Fifty years later he and his daughters retraced part of his route maps. “It was very important to us that the memoirs be of very “People don’t see themselves as heroes. They see themselves as launched last fall as a joint project of the Montreal-based Azrieli and 10 years after that he produced his memoir One Step high quality and look enticing to read,” says Horowitz. “The ordinary people getting on with life. They contend with feel- Foundation and York University to preserve and share the mem- Ahead. “My daughters were never satisfied that I had told them idea is to educate, not to turn a dollar.” The project could go ings of loss and bereavement, but they move ahead. If we oirs of those who survived the Nazi genocide of European Jews the whole story. I wrote my memoir because I wanted them to on for years. “There’s no definite terminus. We will keep on didn’t print their memoirs, we wouldn’t understand that during the Second World War and made new lives in Canada. know.” publishing as many of them as we can.” For many reasons. resilience.” Y

30 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 31 S CIENCE Nano Mechanic Biochemist Gerald Audette is at the cutting edge – sometimes literally – of work with cellular proteins. by david fuller photography by lindsay lozon

e doesn’t wear coveralls or skin his knuckles Once scientists understand how proteins work, he explains, reefing on lug nuts, but you could call Gerald drugs can be developed to suppress or modify a protein’s func- Audette a kind of high-end mechanic. He tion and reduce cell damage from cruder, less discriminating spends hours taking sophisticated machines drug compounds. The process can also help speed up the devel- H apart to see how they work. The difference opment of therapeutic drugs by eliminating a lot of trial and between Audette, a professor in York’s Faculty of Science & error. “By having a structure to guide our design, it allows us to Engineering, and those in the automotive fraternity is the size rapidly zero in on what kinds of compounds we need to synthe- of the mechanisms they work on: his are microscopic – and size. Instead of screening 100,000 compounds, you’re now alive. Welcome to the world of bionanotechnology, where lean screening a hundred,” he says. protein machines are the stars inside your body’s cells, meeting, Like any mechanic with a creative flair, however, Audette greeting and passing on DNA in an endless dance that few have wasn’t content to leave the proteins the way he found them. He ever seen close up. wanted to customize a few to see what would happen. As a Using a process called X-ray crystallography, Audette and his post-doctoral researcher at the University of Alberta, he once lab team are making detailed studies of how proteins, the suggested cutting a tail-like section off one protein, to see if it engines of cellular processes, work and how that might point the would help with a related problem of producing enough way to new methods of treating disease. By understanding the sample for study. The result was a classic “eureka” moment physical structure of proteins, Audette says, researchers can learn when he discovered the section rapidly began growing longer, about processes such as how bacteria transfer DNA to other much longer, after being cut. That set him on his second cells. Then they can design more specific drug treatments for research path – developing biological nano “wires” or tubing cancer or the new superbug bacteria and viruses. “You need to that could replace carbon filaments used in the manufacture of know the nuts and bolts of what’s going on,” Audette explains, nanotechnology. “Everything nano has carbon nanotubes in looking through his collection of 3D protein portraits. some variety or other,” Audette explains. “The problem is, as Audette’s research was the basis for a successful $1.6-million we branch out into more biological applications for these joint application to the Canada Foundation for Innovation with things, we’re finding that carbon nanotubes, which are made of York biology professor and fellow crystallographer Vivian soot, induce cell death – they are toxic. Our system is completely Saridakis, whose study of a specific protein and its biological biological in origin.” function requires the same equipment. The two found out in His passion for science came naturally to Audette. As a boy June last year that their proposal for an X-ray diffractometer, the in St. Albert, Alta., he helped his mother, a nurse, do blood- first one at York, and a cryocooling system to keep their crystal group testing. His father has a PhD in analytical inorganic samples safely chilling at -180 C had been accepted. “This brings chemistry and helped him find a place in graduate studies at the us onto a level playing field with other researchers,” Audette University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. His other passions, explains. when he’s not dismantling proteins, include the Japanese The method he and Saridakis use involves purifying a martial art of kendo – he’s a third-degree black belt at his club protein so it can be turned into a crystal that will reveal its in Mississauga – and playing with his young son. As an enthusi- component parts when X-rayed. By combining visual clues astic new faculty member (since 2006), Audette is equally from the resulting images with computer models of protein excited to be at York in the early days of its degree program in structure, Audette can locate the individual pieces of hardware biochemistry, launched in 2003. And once “Prairie Kendo on each protein and discover how it physically transfers DNA to Vagabond”, as he’s known to bloggers, gets all his new equip- adjacent cells. “It’s like building a 3D puzzle and the image is ment installed, he can settle in to some serious tinkering in his our guide,” says Audette. tiny garage. Y

32 YorkU April 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 33 F ILM

How lawyer Jerry Levitan turned his experience at 14 with John Lennon into an Oscar-nominated short – and heady times in Hollywood. by david fuller photography by kc armstrong

eroes have always been important to Jerry Levitan Ontario teachers’ libel suit against premier Mike Harris and, in (BA ’76, LLB ’79). As a child whose parents 1998, defended a group of Kingsville, Ont., high-school survived the Holocaust, he dreamed about students who had been strip-searched by school officials. Like Superman and sticking up for people. As a teen Superman with a Lennonesque penchant for controversy, H in high school, he worshipped the Beatles and Levitan fought for his clients and was getting noticed. especially John Lennon, the loveable cynic of the band who was But professional notoriety came at the expense of his speaking out against the Vietnam War and singing Give Peace a personal life. After his second marriage ended in divorce, he Chance. Like millions of ’60s kids, the 14-year-old was a suffered a breakdown and took a sabbatical to nurture his devoted fan desperate to show his hero how much he admired creative side. He turned to music, writing songs for his two- him. Unlike most of them, however, Levitan managed to meet year-old daughter, and became the children’s entertainer Sir Lennon and speak to him in person. It was a life-altering deci- Jerry. He even did some acting. It was during this personal sion that would lead, 39 years later, to an Academy Award renaissance that Levitan decided it was time to do something nomination and his own moment in the glare of celebrity. “quirky and off the wall” with the Lennon tape. “For decades On May 26, 1969, Levitan found his idol and wife Yoko people had been trying to talk me into selling my material, Ono in their room at Toronto’s King Edward Hotel during doing documentaries, doing films,” he says. “I got sick of it. their “bed-in for peace” tour of Canada. Posing as a reporter – Ultimately, I thought, I’m just going to do something for but fooling no one – Levitan asked Lennon for an interview myself and end it.” He decided to make his own movie about and, to his delight, received an immediate yes. He returned that “his story” and began a search for a young artist to make a evening to record a 40-minute discussion about the Beatles and short film. Through friends, he met animator Josh Raskin, who Lennon’s anti-war message, and take pictures. Afterwards, he introduced him to illustrator James Braithwaite. “The first couldn’t wait to tell his classmates, “I met John Lennon”. But drawing I saw from James,” says Levitan, “I thought, Oh my exultation turned to anguish when no one believed him until, God, the guy’s got the aesthetic of John Lennon, he gets the weeks later, he got his film back from the lab. Worse still, ’60s in a twisted, contemporary way. That sold me right away.” Levitan almost lost the most important artifact: the audio tape. With $30,000 of his own money and $20,000 from CTV’s After lending it to Toronto’s CHUM radio for that night’s Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent), Levitan, news as compensation for the use of their recorder, he fought with Raskin as director, produced a five-minute animated film, for weeks to get it back and did, but only after standing in the titled I Met the Walrus, in about 13 months. “When it was station’s lobby and screaming for it. Levitan’s encounter with finished, I said, OK, I’m happy and that was it,” he says. “I had the Walrus, as Lennon calls himself in the 1967 Beatles song no intention or pretence to submit it to film festivals.” I Am the Walrus, is a story he’s recounted many times since. But Raskin and Braithwaite and the folks at Bravo!FACT He calls it a defining moment in his life. were keen to try, and entered Walrus in the Brooklyn Film In the years that followed, though, Levitan tired of telling Festival. Other entries – and then invitations – followed for the tale and kept the tape and photos in a drawer, while he events in Canada, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, The Walrus and concentrated on his studies in York’s Faculty of Arts and France and the US, including the prestigious Sundance Film Osgoode Hall Law School. After graduating from Osgoode in Festival and the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest. Curiously, 1979, he became, in his words, “a cowboy litigator”, working the Toronto International Film Festival, citing stiff competi- at a large Bay Street firm where he mounted a successful tion, turned the film down, although they later named it one of Supreme Court challenge to Ontario’s Sunday shopping law. In the top 10 Canadian short films of 2007. 1990 he opened his own practice, where he later argued the I Met the Walrus started to win recognition and awards. At the Teenager ‘sir jerry’: Levitan at home

34 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 35 TF AGLINEILM

At 14: Levitan, as depicted in I Met the Walrus

the LA Film Festival, the buzz about the Oscars, in Osgoode’s Moot Court, the relief of Academy executives. being short-listed for an Oscar became Levitan arrived late, blaming that day’s When I Met the Walrus didn’t win the serious. When the film won Best Ani- snowstorm. What really delayed him was Oscar (it went to Peter and the Wolf), mated Short at AFI Fest, pundits began a three-hour harangue from officials in Levitan reverted to character as the auda- touting it as a sure-fire nominee for Best Hollywood who accused him of pulling a cious teen who snuck into Lennon’s Animated Short Film – and Levitan’s stunt to promote his vanity project. Not hotel 39 years ago. With the credits little project dragged him into the maw only did the slight offend Levitan’s sense rolling on the big screen at the Kodak Shernett Martin of the beast known as Hollywood. of purpose in making the film, but their Theatre, he stopped Jack Nicholson, the Teacher,Teacher, authorauthor “That’s when things started to get out of insistence that he forego approval threat- reigning king of Hollywood, and intro- control,” he says as he recounts a ened to put him in bad graces with duced himself as an “Oscar loser”. Tolkienesque tale of Oscar lust and Lennon’s fiercely protective widow, who Nicholson kibitzed with him and planted media frenzy. “People went crazy, he had just met for the second time at an a dramatic consolation kiss on Levitan’s behaved poorly – people close to me,” event in Las Vegas a month earlier. (She girlfriend, dancer Anisa Tejpar. Then it In the Blood he says. “They were appropriating my had squeezed his hands emotionaly, was off to Elton John’s charity party to story.” It was an insanely busy time with remembering the bed-in with John. At enjoy the afterglow of his almost-Oscar It took almost 30 years but Shernett Martin (BA ’95) says she finally came to terms with the fact hundreds of requests for interviews from the same heady event, he was addressed moment. that she has a painful, life-threatening disease. She did it by writing My Friend Chantal Has Sickle major US networks and international as “Sir Jerry”, with a grin, by Sir Paul The following day, when the media Cell Disease, a hardcover children’s picture book she and her husband published last year about print media – all of which were managed McCartney.) calls stopped, Levitan could only reflect the incurable blood disorder. “I always wanted to be a journalist in school and I love to write,” skilfully by CTV’s media department at Talking to Hollywood that day, “I was on his experience – about why he made says the 37-year-old teacher-librarian in Toronto’s Jane-Finch community. It was there, at the behest of CEO Ivan Fecan, a fellow thinking, I wish I hadn’t done this,” he the original decision that began “his Stilecroft Public School, that she met fellow alumna Laura Martin (BEd ’06 and no relation), a York graduate. says. “I told them, I don’t want to end story” and about the sequel, where he teacher-candidate with fine arts training who offered to illustrate “Chantal’s” story. Then came an urgent demand for a my story with ‘I’ve pissed off Yoko lived for a moment in the clamour that copy of I Met the Walrus from the pro- Ono’.” After the post-screening lunch at Lennon endured for years and that finally Shernett’s teaching career began in her native Jamaica, where a student in her class died from ducers of the official Oscar promotional Osgoode, Levitan got a return call in a killed him in 1980. “I wanted my hero to the disease. That set her thinking about all the help she’s had from others, especially her mother. film. Levitan held out, wanting Ono’s Keele campus parking lot from Ono’s know who I was,” Levitan says. “I “She heard years of me asking ‘why me’ and finally said to me, we can’t say ‘why you?’” approval first. His response touched off a lawyer, saying she was aware he had han- wanted him to know how much I loved Shernett, who has been in a coma, had hip replacement surgery and suffered a heart attack crisis that threatened to ruin what had dled everything with great integrity and him – and for him to like me. And I as recently as December, is determined to beat the odds posed by the disease, which get become a glorious tribute to his hero. At he could do whatever he wanted. The accomplished all those things. Now tougher in middle age. “I won’t let it define me,” she says.Y a screening of the film the week before clip made it into the promotional film to I understand it.” Y photography by kc armstrong

36 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 37 T AGLINE

Charlotte McGhee Art appraiser No Antique The Space Race York Libraries seeks support for more study spots for students let’s get together: Learning Commons at University of Massachusetts ork Libraries’ vision for the future includes hundreds of dedicated to collaborative and active libraries required for a leading interna- new study spaces, comfort- learning, complete with multimedia tional institution for interdisciplinary Y able couches and enhanced meeting rooms, comfortable seating for research and teaching. access to special collections. Ultimately, group work, and access to writing centre The ambitions of York Libraries are One day, Charlotte McGhee (BA ’98) glanced around a friend’s it’s about creating spaces that best reflect counselling and other academic services. supported by the fundraising efforts of parlour and noticed a rare art nouveau-style Handel lamp perched the way students learn, research and “These types of spaces are being devel- the York University Foundation and its on the piano. “Did you know that lamp’s worth $18,000?” the excel. “Today’s students require two oped by many universities,” explains York to the Power of 50 campaign. One 32-year-old art appraiser asked. Her stunned friend gingerly types of spaces – active spaces for collabo- Archer. “Engaging students in the of the campaign’s four fundraising priori- shifted the lamp to a safer spot. His was the kind of you’re- rative learning and quiet spaces for indi- learning process now means more than ties is infrastructure, which includes new kidding reaction McGhee hopes the camera catches when she tells vidual study,” says University Librarian textbooks; it requires us to rethink the learning spaces. Donors at all giving owners their heirloom portraits or garage-sale landscapes are Cynthia Archer. “At Scott Library we are diversity of spaces and resources we make levels can help. For more information, striving to provide students with both.” available. That’s what a learning com- contact Tanling Yeung, chief develop- worth thousands on the CBC’s “Canadian Antiques Roadshow”. Scott is already one of the busiest mons is all about.” The University of ment officer, York Libraries, York Young, stylish and female, McGhee breaks the stereotype of academic libraries in the country, but it Massachusetts opened its learning com- University Foundation at 416-650-8210 the middle-aged, bow-tied, British-accented antiques expert. must keep pace with York’s population mons in 2005, and 79 per cent of stu- or [email protected]. Y But she couldn’t have found a more suitable career. At York, she growth. For comparison, the University dents report visiting either daily or more studied visual arts, then switched to cultural studies. “I decided I of Western Ontario has one seat in the than once a week. wanted a career in art rather than a career as an artist,” she says. libraries for every seven students, while at Rethinking the diversity of spaces and CAMPAIGN UPDATE After a year teaching English in Prague, she spied a Toronto ad for York, 17 students vie for each place to resources also means involving the online an assistant appraiser and sensed her destiny. Eight years later, study. Correcting this is a priority. Last environment. A recent commitment of Latest data on York to the Power McGhee hung out her own shingle – M&G Appraisals – in Orillia, fall, 200 quiet study spaces were added to $1 million from the Scott family will of 50, York University’s 50th anniversary fundraising campaign: Ont., an art and antiques generalist keen to specialize in “red- the third floor of Scott thanks to a gen- create the W.P. Scott Chair in E-Librari- hot” Canadian art. Insurance appraisals pay the mortgage, but erous gift from its namesake’s legacy, the anship, placing York on the cutting-edge Target: $200 million W.P. Scott Charitable Foundation. It is of innovation in our digital age. nothing beats an auction for heart-stopping windfalls – like the Current level: Over $150 million hoped these types of renovations can be York is pursuing other fundraising time last-minute bids on eBay soared to $1,500 for a watercolour duplicated on both the fourth and fifth priorities for its six libraries, including Time since launch: 19 months she bought for $45. “We all want to get rich,” says McGhee. Y floors, providing an additional 230 renovations to Glendon’s Frost Library Priorities for support: Pioneering spaces. and to existing archive and special collec- research and programs; student awards On the second floor, funding would tions space within Scott. These renova- and scholarships; Chairs and photography by lindsay lozon professorships; infrastructure. create a Learning Commons, a space tions will ensure York has the first-class photo courtesy universityphoto of massuchusetts amherst

38 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 39 But “York in New York” gathering steam. YUBAC, the For more information about Lindsay Reid in the Alumni and YUBAC aren’t the only McLaughlin College Alumni alumni groups – or to find out Office at [email protected] or groups getting active recently. Chapter, the york is U Alumni how to start one – contact 416-736-2100, ext. 33732. Y The last year has seen a flurry Chapter and the Masters in of activity in alumni groups, Environmental Studies at York with new branches established Planning Alumni Chapter Looking for Talent? Hire a York Student in Calgary, Ottawa and Israel, (MYPAC) have all been The Career Centre has launched a job posting system to reach and volunteers coming for- hosting events this past year York’s talented students. News: ward in Hong Kong and Van- and helping alumni foster their If you or someone you know is looking to hire a York student, couver. The groups in Ottawa own personal interests. the new system lets you: and New York have already “We’re thrilled to see so post a variety of opportunities including: part-time, full-time, hosted their inaugural events many York grads coming for- on-campus, summer, internship and volunteer positions; and the others will be ward to work together,” says manage student applications electronically; launching shortly. Allan. “We know that our com- collect application documents – for example, batch resumés – At the same time, a number munity is filled with passionate and download or view them online. of groups for grads with a people and it’s great to see that The system is free, quick and easy to use. See it at variety of interests have been one of their passions is York!” yorku.ca/careers/employers.

“On the other hand,” Toronto, but the group is Shared Passions Allan continues, “the recently- open to alumni from around launched York University the world who are interested a lot in common: (opposite, left) Sayma Hai, york is U Alumni Alumni groups get personal Black Alumni Chapter – in enhancing York’s black Chapter president (far left), with Yasir Khan, Yumi Hotta, Krishna S. YUBAC – isn’t limited to any community through net- and Adeyinka Daramola on a chapter boat cruise; (opposite, right) ith 200,000 alumni groups. “Local alumni one locale. It’s based in working and mentorship.” york is U’s Laura Caporusso (left), Christie Adams and Yulia Popov; alumni located groups are a great way for (this page, above) Ottawa Alumni Branch members at their launch across Canada people to do what they love – event in February; (top right) at the gathering for YUBAC’s launch, W and around the and to find others who share Nominations Open for 2008 Brydens former federal cabinet minister and Canada’s first black MP, Jean world, chances are that no their connection to York,” says The alumni of York University distinguish themselves Augustine (third from left), stands with alumni Karen Devonish matter where you live, you’re James Allan, director, alumni, by redefining what it means to succeed. (left), Michelle Hughes, Velma Morgan, Sonia Ellis and Michael not far away from another at York. Each year, York celebrates alumni who have attained Tulloch; (bottom right) Atkinson Associate Dean Gervan Fearon York grad. And you may have “New York City, for extraordinary achievements and made remarkable (left), Augustine, York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri more than just geography in example, is a place where it’s contributions to York and to their communities by and James Allan, York’s director, alumni, at the YUBAC launch. common – from field hockey important to have a strong local presenting them with these Bryden Alumni Awards: to urban planning to black his- network. Our ‘York in New tory and culture, Yorkies share York’ group is helping York OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD a wide variety of passions. grads in the Big Apple support PINNACLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD With that in mind, the each other and the University. REDEFINE THE POSSIBLE AWARD Alumni Office is working We provide a framework for ONE-TO-WATCH AWARD yorku.ca/alumni actively with grads in the York grads to find each other LOCAL HERO AWARD Greater Toronto Area and and work together, whether it’s Share your news — submit a Class Note beyond to help them explore If you know a great York grad who is making a organizing a regular pub night Learn about alumni events and difference in the world, visit the Bryden Awards their passions and connect or encouraging local NYC special perks with others who feel the same high-school students to choose nomination Web site to download a nomination form, at yorku.ca/alumni/bryden. Get on the list and sign up for our way, by building a network of York for their education. The nomination deadline is June 13, 2008. alumni e-newsletter

40 YorkU Summer 2008 MORE REASONS TO STAY CONNECTED. FRIENDS, TRENDS, Class Notes: PRIVILEGES AND PERKS

1970 will be published by Guernica Editions within a year. Pacter, Carol (née Giverts) (BA Win- ters) retired after 31 years of Thorp, Veronica (MES) has worked teaching business and psychology as a freelance science/environment for the Toronto District School writer for the last 15 years in Board. She now runs a UPS store in Hobart, Tasmania, in her native Aus- Stouffville, Ont., with her husband tralia. Her interests include coast and their two children. Her son care (re-vegetating the local bush Aaron will graduate from York next land) and converting her lawn into year with a computer science degree, an ornamental kitchen garden. at which time Carol plans to return to York and resume her studies. 1983 1970: Carol Pacter and son Fox, John P. (MES) has lived in 1984: Lance Goddard 1972 firm in the Niagara Peninsula. Zurich for the last 14 years working lished a book of poetry, Life Story. In Martin, John A. (BA McLaughlin) was Sharon has also been an interior in investor relations with ABB, a a diverse family that includes seven recognized as Outstanding Profes- decorator for over 10 years and is a large power and automation tech- nationalities, Margaret has six sional Fundraiser for 2007, by the qualified home stager. nologies firm. He lives with his grandsons, one granddaughter, six oldest daughter while his son is Association of Fundraising Profes- Zeman, Don (BSc Winters) has great-grandsons and one great- studying in Toronto and his sionals Minnesota Chapter, for his moved to Edmonton after com- granddaughter. youngest daughter studies in the longstanding personal and profes- pleting his PhD in applied psy- UK. sional commitment to philanthropy. chology at the University of Calgary 1984 The tennis enthusiast and avid volun- last year. Fraser, Brian (PhD) celebrated the Dinsdale, Cynthia (BA Spec. Hons. teer is married and has four children. fifth anniversary of his company Stong) has taught innumerable art, He summers in Toronto and lives most 1975 Jazzthink, which uses live jazz to craft and kids cooking classes from of the year in Hilton Head, SC. stimulate leaders to imagine better Kotseff, Lawrence (MA) recently her home in Picton, Ont., and she ways of engaging their followers joined Fusion Homes as vice-presi- currently teaches art through the through conversations. He is the 1973 dent of planning & development, local community college. Cynthia is author of Jazzthink: Playing with the Shuman, Risa (BA Vanier) recently currently building homes in south- happily married and has two teenage Stuff of Success (2004) and is cur- retired as senior producer of “Sat- western Ontario. children. urday Night at the Movies” for TVOn- rently working on “Swing: Finding Simeone, Michael (BA ’74 Bethune, Goddard, Lance (BFA) is a producer tario. She continues to contribute to Your Leadership Groove”. He lives in MBA) came out of retirement in 2006 of documentary films and the best- CBC Radio One’s “The Sunday Edi- North Vancouver with his wife Jill. to start Artisano Bakery Café Ltd., a selling author of several books tion”, discussing all things cine- (MBA) is working group of casual restaurants in the Gilormini, Patrick depicting Canada’s contribution to YOU DESERVE THE BEST matic with host Michael Enright. towards his PhD, which looks at the GTA. The first opened its doors in the allied effort in the Second World impact of storytelling on corporate AS A GRADUATE OF YORK, YOU’VE EARNED YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH 2006 in Etobicoke and two new loca- War, including his latest, Hell & High social responsibility, at the Univer- THE YORK UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND THE PRIVILEGES THAT IT OFFERS 1974 tions are scheduled to open in Water – Canada & the Italian Cam- sity Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. McVanel, Sharon (BA McLaughlin) Oakville this year. paign. He is currently working on and husband Brian McVanel (BA McLean, Margaret (BA Winters) now further book, screenplay and docu- Spec. Hons. ’73 Winters) own and 1978 lives in a Toronto retirement home mentary film projects. operate McVanel Communications after losing her husband of 60 years ALUMNI MATTERS, YUAA GROUPS ALUMNI CARD Hawkins, Sandra (MES) shifted Gouda, Naguib (MBA) stepped down the alumni that keep you con- Inc., a marketing and graphic design in 2000. She has since self-pub- careers from social science policy as executive director of alumni & e-newsletter that delivers the nected to alumni in your area and Your passport to exclusive perks. researcher with the federal govern- advancement services at York Uni- latest news and special offers profession Order it online ment to interdisciplinary visual and versity earlier this year to become media artist in 1997. Her paintings, executive director of member serv- PERKS that give you privileged YORKINCOMMON, the virtual space videos and installation artworks are ices at the Ontario Medical Associa- access and great savings on prod- where you can further your career shown across Canada and interna- tion. During his four years at York, ucts and services and expand your social circle tionally. Located in Ottawa, she he transformed the Alumni Board, oversaw improved data collection teaches workshops and is the author EVENTS where you can have fun and of several books. and management, increased alumni participation and strengthened the rub elbows with other grads 1979 bonds between the University and its Oughton, John (BA ’72 Vanier, MA) largest constituency. works as a learning and teaching consultant at Centennial College in 1987 Toronto and runs a micro-mini press, Borins Ash, Irene (BA Winters) is a Sixth Floor, which produces pocket- photographer as well as a social sized books. His fifth poetry collec- worker & speaker whose focus is 1972: John A. Martin tion, tentatively titled “Time Slip”, 1983: Brian Fraser helping people develop healthy www.yorku.ca/alumni

42 YorkU Summer 2008 MORE REASONS TO STAY CONNECTED. EXCLUSIVE PERKS Class Notes: AND PRIVILEGED ACCESS aging attitudes. Her recent exhibit, pursue a career in radio and in 2005 McPherson, Jeffrey (BA Hons. Aging is Living – A New Perspective, landed a morning show in Fort McLaughlin) received a doctorate in provided a glimpse into the positive Frances, Ont. In 2007, he moved to 2006 from the Department of Reli- side of life in a long-term care Vancouver to work at 95 Crave, and gious Studies at McMaster Univer- facility. She is currently working on currently does the afternoon-drive sity, where he is now an instructor. her second book to be published in shift at QX104 in Winnipeg. He is the recent recipient of the 2007 the fall. McMaster Students Union Faculty Sone-Cooper, Lori (BA Hons. Vanier) Teaching Award (Social Science). Kailuweit, Kai (BA Bethune) has owns HR Alliance Consulting & lived in Guatemala since 1990. In Coaching in Toronto. Vadera, Peter (BA Calumet) has addition to working as a financial been a tax auditor for the Swedish adviser to Dresdner Bank Switzer- Internal Revenue Service, corporate land, he is involved in flying and 1991 taxation area, since 1999. He lives importing & selling ultra light air- Friendly, David (MES ’74, MBA) near Stockholm. craft. recently moved to Lunenburg, NS. As Zammit, Joseph (BA Winters) is he slowly eases into retirement, department head of special educa- 1987: Irene Borins Ash 1988 David continues to consult on emer- tion, business and computers in a with David Suzuki at exhibit Lawson, Sherry (BA Bethune) has gency response management and Mississauga secondary school in the worked as director of corporate safety management systems Dufferin-Peel Catholic District affairs & public relations at Casino auditing. School Board. He has spent the last Rama, Ont., for the past eight years. 18 years working with special needs In her spare time, she travels with 1993 students. her husband, plays golf, reads slasher novels and spends time with Keith, Alan (MBA) is vice-president 1995 her grandchildren, Paxton and of 20|20 Skills, an international Harper Josephine. Her first book, a Internet-based human resources Knight, Andy (PhD) was recently non-fiction collection of biograph- assessment & consulting firm based appointed executive director of the ical stories, called I’ve been shot at, in New York. new Global Centre for the Responsi- what’s your excuse?, was recently bility to Protect, located in New York. published. Robitaille, David (BA McLaughlin) He is also an external associate with was recently named country leader the York Centre for International & 1989 for IBM Canada’s corporate citizen- Security Studies (YCISS). 1994: Lori De Angelis ship and social responsibility pro- Murray, Kristina (BA Founders) cur- Gupta, Ravinder (BAS Hons. grams, based in Markham, Ont. Atkinson) has worked as a tax rently works as a professional realtor auditor for Canada Revenue Agency and opened her own company, Dis- since 1993 at its Mississauga office. 1994 tinctive Real Estate, in Nassau, Bahamas. She is married and has She lives in Brampton, Ont., with her De Angelis, Lori (BA Hons. Vanier) CONNECT WITH YORK FOR GREAT PERKS husband and their two children. one son. completed a post-graduate jour- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXCLUSIVE ALUMNI OFFERS ON EVERYTHING FROM SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Lam, Herman (PhD) now runs his nalism diploma at Humber College in Stern, Amy (BA Hons. McLaughlin) own consulting business in Toronto, 1996 and now works as a TV news recently resigned from her job of 11 TICKETS AND CAR RENTALS TO INVESTMENT SERVICES AND INSURANCE after 18 years of service with Glaxo- reporter on CHCH News Morning Live years as a recreation coordinator at a SmithKline. He also serves as presi- in Hamilton-Halton-Niagara. Her nursing home in Kitchener, Ont., so ALUMNI CARD dent of the Calibration & Validation husband David Pighin (BAS ’95, she can be home with her two chil- Your passport to exclusive perks. dren in Waterloo, Ont. Group, a non-profit scientific organ- Atkinson) is manager of budget & Order it online ization which focuses on validation corporate analysis at Sunnybrook 1994: Wanda Graham and pharmaceutical analysis. Health Sciences Centre. They’ve 1996 Polycandriotis, Spiros (BA Hons. been married for 7 years and live in Baker, Kevin (BA Spec. Hons. ‘94 Stong) works in the European Etobicoke with their newborn baby Atkinson, MA, LLB) works at the Col- Union’s diplomatic service and is boy Alessio Pighin. lege of the North Atlantic as VP for presently based in Brussels. His its Qatar project, a CNA-run college Graham, Wanda (MFA), an actor and previous assignments include playwright, received the newly cre- of technology in the Middle Eastern Barbados, Chad, Luxembourg and ated “Established Artists Recogni- country. He lives in Stephenville, Zimbabwe. He is married to Linda tion Award” for theatre from the Nfld., with his wife Kellie and their Van Duynhoven (BA ’91 Vanier) and three children Kendra, Kristian and Nova Scotia Arts & Culture Partner- ALUMNI PERKS SUPPORT YORK STUDENTS they have four children. ship, in Oct. 2007. Among only five Kameron. others honoured in the province, the Fan, James (BAS Atkinson) is presi- 1990 committee cited her “tenacity in dent of BOSSS Inc., a print and docu- Linkvist, Michael (BA Hons. never shying away from difficult ment management company in Mis- McLaughlin) went back to school to material”. sissauga, Ont. 1995: Andy Knight www.yorku.ca/alumni/perks

44 YorkU Summer 2008 MORE REASONS TO STAY CONNECTED. YORK DAY AT Class Notes: THE ROGERS CUP

Taylor, Jason (MES) was recently named executive director of the Utah Society for Environmental Edu- cation in Salt Lake City, the only non-profit dedicated to promoting environmental education in the State of Utah. Teeluck-Molnar, Mala (née Teeluck) (LLB) will celebrate her first wed- ding anniversary in September. Webb, Michael (BSc Spec. Hons. Stong) and his wife will celebrate their daughter’s second birthday in September.

2001 Dixon, Sheri (BA Hons. Founders) works for a major computer company in Markham, Ont. She is also co- founder and agent for the live enter- tainment company, BLuSouL. Johnson, Casey (BA Founders) is owner of StoneCastle Communica- tions, a PR & media relations, con- 2007: Michael D’Urzo in Hong Kong sulting and creative services com- pany in Dundas, Ont. She also James, Angela (BES Hons. Bethune) school programming for “at-risk” oping community-based programs created the comic “T-Duck & Dillon”, lives in New Plymouth, New Zealand, youth as well as three other youth and services for seniors and disabled and is author of the recently pub- working as a project manager for a groups. adults in the west portion of North lished The e-Entity (iUniverse Inc., local government and loving it. She York. Jennifer is married and has Wolk, Neal (BA Hons. Vanier) works 2007). is married with sons aged 7, 4 and 2. as a transmission operator for Corus three children. Miller, Sandy (BA Hons. Calumet) Morse, Michael (MFA ’87, MA ’90, Entertainment. He will celebrate his THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT 1999 moved to Halifax after graduation, PhD) teaches in the Cultural Studies first anniversary with wife Debbie where she resided for six and a half ENJOY THE BEST MEN’S TENNIS IN THE WORLD AT THE BEST PRICE IN THE FIELD. Program at Trent University in Peter- this year. They live in Thornhill, Ont. Meek, Chanda (MES) is working on years working in several group YORK DAY AT THE ROGERS CUP IS JULY 22, 2008. borough, Ont. He is active in the jazz her PhD at the University of Alaska homes and small option homes. and creative improvisation music 1997 Fairbanks, trying to understand the After completing further studies, scenes, and composes for diverse Dewan, Rajeev (LLB) is a listing resilience of social-ecological sys- she relocated to Brampton, Ont. EXCLUSIVE ALUMNI PRICING for York THE ROGERS CUP delivers unmatched ALUMNI CARD artistic collaborations. He has one director at the Dubai International tems in Arctic Alaska. Your passport to exclusive perks. son and one daughter. Financial Exchange in the United Tripodi, Stefano (BSc Spec. Hons. grads, 30% off – it’s the best competition at the Rexall Centre – Bethune) is a partner with the 2002 Rogers Cup discount available a world class facility for 12,500 Order it online Temple-Smith, Joyce (BA Atkinson) Arab Emirates. Toronto law firm of Hackett Simpson fans at York’s Keele campus has worked as executive director of Cauchard, Sandra (BA Hons. Tripodi LLP, where he practices civil Malton Neighbourhood Services, a 1998 McLaughlin) was married in August Tickets for York Day litigation with a focus on entertain- United Way multi-service community D’Amico, Jennifer (BA Hons. 2006. She is a vocational rehabilita- at the Rogers Cup* ON YORK DAY, attend the complimen- ment and employment law. agency in Mississauga, Ont., since Bethune) has worked at Downsview tion consultant for NRCS Inc. in Section Regular Price Alumni Price tary reception for York grads, 1998. She recently obtained five Services to Seniors for the past 15 Barrie, Ont., helping injured workers where the food and drinks are on 2000 Gold $90 $63 years of funding to provide after- years, in various capacities devel- return to work. us. Take home door prizes, gifts, Silver $65 $45.50 Garant, Pamela (BA Hons. and giveaways Founders, BEd) teaches high school Kung, Grace (BFA Spec. Hons. Bronze $45 $31.50 history and social science at All McLaughlin) played the lead role in A Level 300 $25 $17.50 Saints Catholic Secondary School in Nanking Winter, at Toronto’s Night- Whitby, Ont. wood Theatre earlier this year. *Available for either matinee or evening sessions. Hackel, Deborah (BA Hons. ’97 Leonio, Rizza (BBA Spec. Hons. PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE Glendon, BEd) has returned to Calumet) successfully completed the teaching with the Kawartha Pine last requirement for the CGA desig- Ridge District School Board after her nation exam and has since joined maternity leave. Her son Duncan will the TSX Group in Toronto as a finan- 2001: Casey Johnson’s comic strip celebrate his first birthday in May. cial analyst. www.yorku.ca/alumni/rogerscup

46 YorkU Summer 2008 Class Notes: Class Notes:

2003 tion he is considering doctoral anniversary in September. An assistant to two vice-presidents at CI Pereira, Aaron (BSc Hons. Bethune) Oscar Peterson at his York installation in 1991 studies in ethics. account manager, she has worked at Investments, Toronto. She plans to is pursuing his studies at the Cana- Gross, Dov (MBA) was recently (EMBA) is man- the music publishing company, ole, return to York for postgraduate dian Memorial Chiropractic College appointed president of Paperless Champagne, Yvan aging director of the Carbon Reduc- in Toronto since graduation. studies. in Toronto. Intelligence Inc., a document man- tion Fund, launched in Toronto in (BA Hons. Calumet) is agement and document workflow Bastian, Tara D’Urzo, Michael (BA Spec. Hons. Radjpoust, Sepehr (BA Spec. Hons. 2007. The non-profit fund’s mission executive assistant to the president solutions provider based in Toronto. McLaughlin) is a full-time magician Glendon) was accepted into a joint is to source and develop high-quality of Baha Mar Development Company and is founder & creative director of LLB-MBA program at Ottawa Univer- carbon offsets for organizations. Ltd., a multi-billion-dollar hotel sity, but chose to defer his admission 2004 Mega Magic. He recently finished a Devoy, Desmond (BA Hons. Stong) development project in the two-month tour across China and in order to focus on his growing Jordan, Brianne (BA Spec. Hons. married his college sweetheart last Bahamas. was featured on the Comedy Net- online business, Snailmailme.com. Stong) will celebrate her first wed- October at Holy Name of Mary Roman Mendoza, Leslie (BA Bethune) work’s “Keys to the VIP” in Nov. Thompson, Elliot (BA Hons. ding anniversary with husband Peter Catholic Church in Almonte, Ont. recently purchased a new condo- 2007. He was part of a group of York Glendon) is pursuing a master of sci- in September. Silva, Joseph (BA Hons. Founders, minium and was promoted to a magicians featured in YorkU, Summer ence in education degree at Canisius Vidon, Philippe (PhD) is a professor BEd) has returned to Toronto to work senior position with Carlson Mar- 2006 (yorku.ca/yorku). College in Buffalo, NY. of earth sciences at Indiana Univer- with the Ontario Ministry of Public keting in Mississauga, Ont. (BA Hons. Gasenzer, Mathew (BA Hons. Yorgiadis, Aliki sity-Purdue University Indianapolis. Infrastructure Renewal, after 2006: Michelle Aguiar Glendon) currently studies at the McLaughlin) is enrolled in the first He lives in Indiana with his wife Eliz- working in Ottawa with the federal 2007 Ontario Institute for Studies in Edu- year of her LLB in the Faculty of Law, abeth. government’s Department of handed movement training, in Ashraf, Meesum (BA Stong) will cel- cation at the University of Toronto. University of Ottawa. Finance. healthy and stroke-patient popula- ebrate his first wedding anniversary He hopes to soon teach English and 2005 tions. in November and is excited about his Smith, Alison (BA Spec. Hons. ’03 history at the secondary school IN MEMORIAM Bridson, John (BA Spec. Hons. Stong, MSc) is a PhD student at the post-York transition to working full- Dermer, Jerry, professor in York’s 2006 level. Vanier) is working towards his mas- University of Waterloo investigating time in Toronto. Schulich School of Business, died at ters in public ethics at Saint Paul brain activity and behavioural Aguiar, Michelle (BA Hons. Stong) Channer, Christine (BA Glendon) Mediratta, Rahul (BHS Spec. Hons.) 66 of lymphoma on Jan. 23. He had University in Ottawa. Upon comple- changes associated with two- will celebrate her first wedding was recently promoted to executive is working towards his MSc in com- taught strategic policy and manage- parative social policy at the Univer- ment at York since 1980. sity of Oxford, UK. Garigue, Philippe, principal of Miraglia, Franca (MFA) serves as Glendon from 1980 to 1987, died at vice-president of the Playwrights 90 on March 25. An anthropologist Guild of Canada’s national council in educated in Paris and London, he Toronto. She has written several full- created Glendon’s International length plays, including Platinum Studies Program, among the first in Travel Club, which was produced for a Canada. He was an officer of the three-week off-off-Broadway run in Order of Canada. 2005, and Last Days of Graceland, Heller, Jules, founding dean of the recently presented by Toronto’s The- Faculty of Fine Arts (1968-1973), atre Passe Muraille in March-April. died at 88 in Phoenix, Ariz., on Dec. tion and its successor, the Ontario Ellington called the “maharajah of Pawlowski, Bartosz (BFA Spec. 28. The Bronx-born printmaking NDP (1953-1970), taught at piano” established several student Hons. Winters) has been invited to expert was a key force in the devel- McLaughlin and was very active in awards in the jazz program. A recip- study cinematography at the Amer- opment of the Joan & Martin Gold- the college’s life. ient of an honorary doctor of letters ican Film Institute in Los Angeles, farb Centre for Fine Arts on the Keele Nicholls, Ralph, distinguished from York in 1982, he was made an where he will graduate with an MFA campus. He received a York honorary research professor emeritus in honorary governor of York in 1995 in 2009. degree in 1985. physics, founding director of York’s and was a Fellow of McLaughlin Col- Le Dain, Gerald, dean of York’s Centre for Research in Earth & lege. Peterson was also a companion Osgoode Hall Law School from 1967 Space Science (CRESS) and an of the Order of Canada. to 1972, died at 83 on Dec. 18. Le officer of the Order of Canada, died Plourde, Charles, economics pro- Dain, who led a landmark commis- at 81 on Jan. 25. He founded CRESS fessor in the Faculty of Arts and the sion on marijuana use and went on and the Department of Physics soon Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Pro- to become a federal Supreme Court after arriving at York in 1965 and fessional Studies from 1976 to 2004, justice, oversaw Osgoode’s move was still involved with the University died at 69 of cancer on April 4. He from downtown Toronto to York’s when he died. received international recognition Keele campus. He received a York Peterson, Oscar, internationally for his groundbreaking research in honorary degree in 1976 and was a renowned jazz pianist and chan- natural resource and environmental companion of the Order of Canada. cellor of York University from 1991 to economics. McDonald, Donald C., a Fellow of 1994, died of kidney failure in Mis- York’s McLaughlin College, died at 94 sissauga, Ont., on Dec. 23, aged 82. Seeley, John, former York sociology of heart failure on March 8. The As an adjunct professor in York’s professor, died at 95 in Los Angeles former leader of the Ontario Co- Department of Music from 1984 to on Dec. 16. He was a founding faculty 2007: Franca Miraglia operative Commonwealth Federa- the late 1990s, the man Duke member, joining York in 1960. Y

48 YorkU Summer 2008 YorkU Summer 2008 49 How I track the decline of the songbirds. by bridget stutchbury Wings and a Prayer

t’s easy for me to break the ice at a cocktail party. success in raising a family is When asked the inevitable question of what I do, I following the fate of the little sometimes answer “bird detective”. Yes, I hide nestlings after they leave their I miniature radio-tracking devices on songbirds like nest, the so-called fledgling the wood thrush and Acadian flycatcher and begin a stake-out. period. This is where the bird Listening carefully to the tell-tale beeps on my hand-held detective comes in; radio- receiver, I follow unsuspecting philanderers through the forest tracking allows me to find the as they sneak off to have a one-minute stand with the next-door fledglings and know their fate. neighbour. I even do DNA testing on their kids so the evidence Hooded warbler nestlings, of infidelity (one out of every three females cheats on her for instance, hatch out of their tiny egg as wriggling little pink embryos with naked bodies and closed eyes. When they hop I follow unsuspecting out of the nest at the ripe old age of nine days, they are awk- ward, bulgy-eyed early teens mate!) will stand up in the philanderers as they with short stubby tails who court of scientific journals. cannot even fly. Still, it is safer This detective has turned sneak off to have a for the young birds to leave her attention, and her tracking home than to be sitting ducks skills, to solving a more one-minute stand. in a nest full of noisy brothers sobering mystery. Our song- and sisters. The parents con- birds are gradually disappearing, and the silent spring that tinue to feed their increasingly mobile offspring for another Rachel Carson feared does not seem like such a far-fetched three to four weeks until the kids are fully grown and ready to fable after all. At least two dozen species of songbirds have leave their parents for good. The fledglings are hard to find suffered a significant drop in numbers since the 1960s, over 30 because they are smaller than a cell phone and well camou- per cent in some cases, and include birds like the rose-breasted flaged, a needle in a forested haystack! grosbeak, wood thrush, eastern kingbird and bobolink. My students and I found that only 20 per cent of hooded The size of a population depends on credits and debits, just warbler nestlings actually survived the three-week fledgling like the balance of your bank account. Breeding produces new period. One victim’s remains, and the still working radiotag, recruits for the next summer (credits) and the deaths of adults were found underground in a chipmunk burrow, and another’s during migration and on their tropical wintering grounds signal was tracked to a moving object, a satisfied garter snake! removes individuals from the population (debits). When popu- Another was found mauled, its radiotag chewed up by a feral lations are on a downhill slide, reproduction is not keeping pace cat. with adult mortality. When all the threats are taken into account, a female Seems simple enough to figure out; just measure how many hooded warbler produces only one-fifth of a daughter, statisti- offspring are produced each year. With some patience and prac- cally speaking, each breeding season. So she would have to live tice, just about anyone who doesn’t mind tromping around for five years just to make the equivalent of a single daughter forests (mosquitoes, black flies and all) can learn how to find who survives to become a mother herself. This would be an bird nests, count how many eggs are laid and then see how unlikely event indeed, since most warblers live only 1-2 years at many nests evade detection by hungry blue jays, crows, squir- best. If I suffered the same prospects as a hooded warbler, I rels and chipmunks. The trickiest part of measuring a bird’s would have to give birth to 10 children just to have one daughter produce any grandchildren! Migratory songbirds are slowly going down the drain Bridget Stutchbury is a professor of biology in York’s Faculty of because not enough young survive to replace the parents who Science & Engineering and author of Silence of the Songbirds: die each year. If we do not help our songbirds, I may soon have How We Are Losing the World’s Songbirds and What We Can Do to to raise eyebrows by answering “bird undertaker”. Save Them (2007). Y

50 YorkU Summer 2008