The 2024-2025 academic year brings forth some new challenges, but numerous opportunities as well.
Meeting and tour with Minister Valdez and MP Sgro
In September, we were thrilled to host Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez and local MP Judy Sgro on our Keele campus for a discussion and showcase with founders of YSpace-supported businesses. These included Mississauga eatery Honey Soul Food, portable electric vehicle charging company Kiwi Charge, specialized fertility tracking services provider Fibra, as well as gourmet snacks purveyor EATABLE Popcorn, high-end chocolatiers One More Cocoa, and healthy frozen desert maker Nanashake.
York University Offers Learning Session to Federal Deputy Ministers on AI
York University, in collaboration with the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), hosted a presentation, titled Disruptive AI for federal public servants in Ottawa. It was delivered by Professor James Elder, York Research Chair in Human and Computer Vision and Co-Director of the Centre of AI & Society. Professor Elder discussed how AI is transforming society, including education, the creative industries, healthcare and transportation. His remarks emphasized how leaders can strengthen linkages between academic, industry and public sectors, particularly focusing on the integration of AI into existing fabrics of technology and public policy in these key domains.
Markham Campus Grand Opening
On November 4, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, as well as other notable guests and partners celebrated the official grand opening of the new Markham Campus.
With its focus on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, the new Markham Campus is an integral part of York's mission to train and graduate work-ready talent of the future.
Queen's Park Advocacy Day and Reception
At the beginning of December, York was at Queen's Park for meetings with MPPs followed by an evening reception. It was a great opportunity to highlight university priorities with elected officials and showcase leading York researchers and YSpace-supported businesses practicing within the areas of health and healthcare. Thanks to all those who met with us and attended our evening festivities.
Meeting and Tour with Nolan Quinn
In January, York University welcomed The Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities for a tour of the Keele Campus. It was great to be able to showcase the ways in which York supports local entrepreneurs, like Kiwi Charge, demonstrate Ontario Research Funds at work through Dr. Derek Wilson’s TEnDev initiative to accelerate drug and vaccine development, and to show off the largest telescope on a university campus in Canada at our Allan I. Carswell Observatory.
York Welcomes the Viceroy
On January 22nd, Her Honour Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario joined us on the Keele Campus. Having Her Honour on campus was a fantastic opportunity to showcase York’s contributions to the arts, engineering, and health. At the Joan and Martin Goldfarb Gallery, Her Honour viewed samples from our broad artistic collection, including silkscreen prints produced by Andy Warhol. At the Faculty of Engineering in the Bergeron Building, Her Honour got to see how York is contributing to STEM education at all levels through our Kindergarten 2 Industry (K2i) initiative to help ensure no talent is left behind. At the Sherman Health Sciences Research Centre, Her Honour received an overview of Connected Minds, a groundbreaking York-led research initiative focused on understanding the interplay of humans and intelligent technologies, predicting technological disruptions, and using those predictions to drive new research and technology development. Her Honour received a demonstration of one of our Connected Minds research projects at our state of the art MRI facility.
