Resilience is a word that we all know from before this pandemic began, and it is also the word that most appropriately describes our colleagues in DFA and at the University. It is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; it is the ability to spring back into shape. And though we spring back, the original shape might change, offering opportunities for renewal and innovation; the shape is transformed from what we may have known pre-COVID, but the embedded characteristics of dedication and steadfastness within DFA continue to drive positive change for our community.

Our goal has been and always will be, to provide a safe, caring and welcoming environment for students, faculty, and staff, while at the same time delivering positive learning, teaching, and working experiences that are on par with the best universities. Students come to York to enrich their minds and to build relationships that will last a lifetime. The work that we do in DFA truly does help to facilitate this. Although the pandemic has posed many challenges, we have continuously risen above it in the division and across the University.

COVID has presented substantial obstacles, but it has not stopped us from advancing the University’s goals and objectives. We made a difference in countless students’ lives, conducted ground-breaking research, and as we forge ahead with building our Markham Campus, we unveiled University Boulevard-where the Markham Campus will reside. We renewed washrooms and classrooms and added a Dome to the York Lions stadium converting the stadium into an all season sporting and event destination.

We continue to live our values within our community through our Social Procurement Policy, providing opportunities for diverse-owned businesses and the hiring of apprentices from within our community. Committed to driving positive change, the University released its Anti-Black Racism Framework, and the Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, while we in DFA established our own EDI council to work in alignment with the University’s EDI strategy. The University Services Centre was launched in June, and we can look forward to more services being incorporated as the Service Excellence Program continues to identify areas of improvement. With our eyes on Carbon Neutrality in 2049 and a focus on becoming a sustainable university, we continue to institute programs that are environmentally friendly, all the while working towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, incorporating the Toronto Bike Share on our campuses, mobile ordering, online YU-card services, online Bookstore ordering and delivery, all to help reduce our carbon footprint.  We are re-imagining the more than 190 acres of land on the Keele Campus with our Campus Vision and Strategy – embracing an opportunity to right the future. None of this would be possible were it not for the unwavering dedication of our colleagues in DFA and across the University.

We’ve come through a year that was filled with both challenges and victories. How reassuring it has been to know that we can count on all of you regardless of what faces us.

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to remind you that the University will be closed for the holiday break from Friday, Dec. 24 through to Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, and will re-open on Thursday Jan. 6, 2022. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on all the amazing things you have done and appreciate yourselves and your accomplishments.

Our colleagues are of many different faiths and philosophical traditions, but we all work together to embrace and promote joy, hope and a profound appreciation of one another.

Thank you for being part of DFA and the York family and I wish you all best wishes for the holidays and happiness for the coming year.

Carol