Historica will contribute a $1.5 million endowment over three years toward the Avie Bennett Historica Chair in Canadian History. A Chair in Canadian Literature will be established in 2004 with another $1.5 million. York will provide the equivalent of an additional $500,000 for each Chair. "We are thrilled to be establishing Historica's first academic Chairs at York," said Thomas S. Axworthy, executive director of the company. "York University's History Department has produced some of our nation's most distinguished historians," said Bennett, "and I am glad to be able to further that tradition thorough the endowment of this Chair." The combined commitment of Historica and York to promote the study of Canada's heritage in all its facets will ensure the vitality of the discipline, he added. Bennett said the Chair in Literature will further enhance the already strong international profile of York's English Department in the field of Canadian Literature at a time of increasing interest around the world in the talents of Canadian authors.

York President Lorna R. Marsden said the Chairs would be a lasting and fitting reminder of Bennett's contributions to preserving Canada's historical and cultural record. "This endowment from Historica is a vote of confidence in the innovation and leadership demonstrated by York's History Department over the years, and in the achievements of our English department in advancing the study of Canadian literature.

Historica is a new, charitable foundation dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Canadian history and its importance in shaping the future.

"We are running a very successful fund-raising campaign and have crossed the first milestone on target. This project has been embraced by the entire community," said Steve Mirkopoulos, Chair of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation, the organization providing the endowment along with the Greek community of Metropolitan Toronto. The Greek community aims to have the Chair fully endowed by December 2002 at $2 million with a $500,000 contribution from York. Discussions are underway to set up the program in Hellenic studies prior to establishment of the Chair. York University Vice-President Academic Sheila Embleton praised the Greek community for its contribution to enhance opportunities to study the Greek language,

culture and civilization that is the cradle of western democracy. She emphasized York's continuing commitment to ensure university education is accessible to all communities in the Canadian cultural mosaic. An estimated 1,000 students of Greek heritage enroll at York each year.

The luncheon celebration was hosted by senior officials of York University, including Vice- President Advancement Gary J. Smith, and Faculty of Arts Dean George Fallis. They were joined by Reverend Father Pavlos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis, Consul General of Greece Alexis Alexandris, President of the Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto Costas Menegakis, President of AHEPA Toronto Terry Farsalas, President of the Hellenic Canadian Media Organization Kostas Kranias, and executive officers and directors of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation led by Mirkopoulos.

Launched in spring 1999, the "YES I Can!" Real-time Science program links primary and secondary school students and their teachers to current world events, then supplements what they've seen with classroom resources and suggested curricula. Last summer, "YES I Can!" presented Your Drinking Water in response to the Walkerton tragedy. The program included resources designed to explain controversial environmental issues.

Now, thanks to the Suncor Energy Foundation's investment, Stiff and his team can take Real-time Science to another level with virtual tours of places like the International Space Station.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to support the "YES I CAN!" Real-time Science program," says Suncor Energy Foundation Manager Marie Stevens. "We feel this program is well aligned with our Foundation's objectives in trying to make science and technology come to life in real and inspirational ways for kids. It's quite fascinating for big kids too!"

Already 100,000 teachers from around the globe have used the YES I CAN! Site and it is one of the most accessed science-related sites of its kind on Industry Canada's SchoolNet. It is certainly proving its appeal to kids of all ages everywhere, and continues to grow exponentially with each new world event.

Watson and his wife, Diane, recently donated some of their most lucrative stock holdings to York University for the creation of The Diane and Ron Watson Awards. Available to Pure and Applied Science undergraduate students who have completed at least 24 credits, the awards will recognize both academic achievement and financial need.

The decision to donate shares instead of cash was also grounded in good financial sense. As of October 2000, Watson and others like him will pay tax on only 25% of their gains, instead of the usual 50%. It is York's policy to sell all donated shares as soon as possible to benefit a program of the donor's choosing.

But even more importantly for Watson, the charitable act is about honouring York and encouraging future graduates to do likewise. "Once they're in a position to do so, Diane and I hope that the Watson award recipients will help other students in a similar way."

The risks hit especially hard when Phelps considers York's Erivan K. Haub Program in Business and Sustainability, part of the Schulich School of Business' renowned MBA program and one of the longest established business and sustainability initiatives worldwide. It's a program Vancouver's Westcoast -- one of the country's leading sustainable energy companies -- has long regarded for the quality of its graduates and innovative research.

To help ensure the recruitment tap doesn't run dry, Westcoast recently announced plans to invest $50,000 in the Westcoast Energy Graduate Scholarship in Sustainable Development, the Haub Program's first endowed student award. The scholarship will support a continuing Master's student with an outstanding academic and research record, and demonstrated financial need.

"Not only great news for our students, this extraordinary commitment has tangible implications for the donor and York University," says Haub's Chair and Director David Wheeler. "Recruiting and retaining the brightest workers will help Westcoast secure long-term competitive advantage and sustain commercial success."