Anthropology instructor John Dale Purcell recognized for ability to transcend theory and bring education to life for students
Thursday, March 27, 2014, Peterborough
John Dale Purcell, a course instructor in the Department of Anthropology at Trent University, has been named the 2014 recipient of the CUPE Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching. In receiving this award, Mr. Purcell is recognized for his ability to build strong connections with students and his encouragement of critical thinking in the classroom.
The CUPE Award is presented annually to a member of the part-time faculty at Trent University, represented by CUPE Local 3908 - Unit 1. The award recognizes the positive impact contract instructors have on students and their learning.
“John was unanimously chosen to be honoured for encouraging his students to incorporate anthropology into their everyday lives, inspiring them to go beyond observation and use education as a means of making a better future,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “He expands and redefines the boundaries of learning and education, instilling in his students a sense of compassion that helps them grow into socially responsible citizens.”
Mr. Purcell has taught a wide range of biological anthropology courses at Trent since 2006, working at both the Peterborough and Oshawa campuses. His research focuses on the biology of poverty, epidemiology, and the design of evolution-informed public health interventions. In his teaching, Mr. Purcell explores how evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives can be applied to understanding contemporary human health problems and behavior.
Mr. Purcell’s students praise the effort he puts into providing them with feedback, saying that the communication and inquiry skills fostered in his courses will serve them well in their other studies and beyond the institution's walls.
“I am extremely honoured to receive this recognition and award,” Mr. Purcell said, adding that Trent provides the right kind of environment to encourage outstanding teaching. “Credit for this award must also be shared with the many engaged and enthusiastic Trent students I have had the pleasure to work with and who have provided much inspiration over the years.” Mr. Purcell also offered heartfelt gratitude to colleagues in the Department of Anthropology for their strong support and assistance.
In addition to teaching at Trent, Mr. Purcell credits his long-standing work with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto for providing him with inspiration in the classroom. Currently working with the Emergency Department at CAMH, his previous research focused on the design and implementation of public health interventions aimed at reducing harm and risk in the community. Mr. Purcell and his wife, Kelly, live on a farm near Omemee, Ontario, and are currently researching sustainable farming practices and food production.
Mr. Purcell will receive his award at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Champlain College’s Great Hall. Honourees from previous years will also join us as we celebrate those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Trent University Announces Recipient of 2013-2014 Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award
M.A. candidate Ashley Neale recognized for dedication and engagement as a graduate teaching assistant
Wednesday, March 26, 2014, Peterborough
Ms. Ashley Neale, a graduate student and teaching assistant in the Department of History at Trent University, has been named the 2013-2014 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award. The award recognizes the contributions of academic assistants, and those who assist in workshop, tutorial, seminar, laboratory, and field settings.
In receiving this award, Ms. Neale is recognized as a skilled and passionate teaching assistant who goes above and beyond to ensure that her students feel comfortable, knowledgeable, and engaged during class.
“Ms. Neale is to be commended for the care and enthusiasm with which she approaches her role as a teaching assistant, and for the value she places on the importance of her students’ education,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “Her thoughtful approach to teaching and building relationships with her students demonstrates the multitude of ways in which she exemplifies the spirit of this award.”
Currently Ms. Neale is a teaching assistant for an undergraduate history course, “Going Global: How everyday things and ideas shaped world history,” while working toward completion of her Masters degree. Despite a busy schedule, Ms. Neale makes herself available outside of regular class time to help students navigate academic support services and improve their research skills.
“In the digital age, many students prefer to email their professors instead of coming to office hours. I wanted to make myself available in whatever form that took, recognizing their busy lives and schedules,” Ms. Neale said. “I like to be on a first-name basis--I tell students they can come and talk to me and my door is open, and that I'm always available via e-mail. I've taken that into my own teaching from those professors who inspired me.”
Ms. Neale’s inspiration began when she arrived at Trent University for her own undergraduate degree at the age of 17. “I liked the small school feel -- I came on a tour and just fell in love with it,” she said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew Trent had a good Concurrent Education program and a positive atmosphere.”
Long before she completed her B.A. in History at Trent and her education degree at Queen’s University, Ms. Neale had set her sights on becoming a university professor, realizing that the combination of research and teaching was integral to the life and career she desired. There was no question about where she wanted to pursue her Masters degree. “I wanted to come back to Trent desperately. I trusted my professors, and I knew they could get me where I needed to go.”
Ms. Neale’s graduate research is centered on the domestic and international impact of former United States President Richard Nixon, focusing on President Nixon’s domestic creation of American foreign policy and its impact. But she believes she is learning as much from her teaching assistantship as she is learning from her own studies.
“Students can challenge their instructors – they force me to rethink my own viewpoint. I hope they’ve learned a lot from me, but I’ve learned a lot more from them,” Ms. Neale said.
She is grateful to her students for engaging in open-minded, critical debate about the material in her course. “The main reason that I went into teaching was that I hoped to be able to make the type of difference in students' lives that so many special professors have made in my own academic journey at Trent.”
Ms. Neale will receive her award at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Champlain College’s Great Hall. Honourees from previous years will also join us as we celebrate those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Wednesday, March 26, 2014, Peterborough
Ms. Ashley Neale, a graduate student and teaching assistant in the Department of History at Trent University, has been named the 2013-2014 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award. The award recognizes the contributions of academic assistants, and those who assist in workshop, tutorial, seminar, laboratory, and field settings.
In receiving this award, Ms. Neale is recognized as a skilled and passionate teaching assistant who goes above and beyond to ensure that her students feel comfortable, knowledgeable, and engaged during class.
“Ms. Neale is to be commended for the care and enthusiasm with which she approaches her role as a teaching assistant, and for the value she places on the importance of her students’ education,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “Her thoughtful approach to teaching and building relationships with her students demonstrates the multitude of ways in which she exemplifies the spirit of this award.”
Currently Ms. Neale is a teaching assistant for an undergraduate history course, “Going Global: How everyday things and ideas shaped world history,” while working toward completion of her Masters degree. Despite a busy schedule, Ms. Neale makes herself available outside of regular class time to help students navigate academic support services and improve their research skills.
“In the digital age, many students prefer to email their professors instead of coming to office hours. I wanted to make myself available in whatever form that took, recognizing their busy lives and schedules,” Ms. Neale said. “I like to be on a first-name basis--I tell students they can come and talk to me and my door is open, and that I'm always available via e-mail. I've taken that into my own teaching from those professors who inspired me.”
Ms. Neale’s inspiration began when she arrived at Trent University for her own undergraduate degree at the age of 17. “I liked the small school feel -- I came on a tour and just fell in love with it,” she said. “I always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew Trent had a good Concurrent Education program and a positive atmosphere.”
Long before she completed her B.A. in History at Trent and her education degree at Queen’s University, Ms. Neale had set her sights on becoming a university professor, realizing that the combination of research and teaching was integral to the life and career she desired. There was no question about where she wanted to pursue her Masters degree. “I wanted to come back to Trent desperately. I trusted my professors, and I knew they could get me where I needed to go.”
Ms. Neale’s graduate research is centered on the domestic and international impact of former United States President Richard Nixon, focusing on President Nixon’s domestic creation of American foreign policy and its impact. But she believes she is learning as much from her teaching assistantship as she is learning from her own studies.
“Students can challenge their instructors – they force me to rethink my own viewpoint. I hope they’ve learned a lot from me, but I’ve learned a lot more from them,” Ms. Neale said.
She is grateful to her students for engaging in open-minded, critical debate about the material in her course. “The main reason that I went into teaching was that I hoped to be able to make the type of difference in students' lives that so many special professors have made in my own academic journey at Trent.”
Ms. Neale will receive her award at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Champlain College’s Great Hall. Honourees from previous years will also join us as we celebrate those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Blue Rodeo to Headline Trent University’s 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Weekend
Trent anniversary book launch and a weekend Symposium open to entire community as celebrations begin August 7-10, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014, Peterborough
A series of events planned for Trent University’s 50th anniversary will be headlined by a performance by the iconic Canadian band Blue Rodeo on August 8, as part of the University’s Anniversary Kick-off Weekend: August 7-10, 2014.
Just the beginning of a year-long celebration over the course of 2014/15, the Blue Rodeo concert announcement calls attention to a weekend that kicks off the anniversary celebrations with the launch of a special anniversary book, an architectural exhibition, open houses, and the Ideas That Change the World Symposium, featuring interactive panels with over 75 esteemed faculty. All Kick-Off Weekend events are open to the entire community and have already attracted registrants from far and wide.
“We invite the entire community to join us in commemorating this historic milestone. Trent is Peterborough’s university,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “Whether you participate in one of the many dynamic events that are planned, share a favourite Trent moment through social media, or (re)connect with the University in a more personal way, we look forward to celebrating with you and thanking the community for all its support throughout Trent’s first half-century.”
To learn more about the full roster of events, please visit trentu.ca/fifty and follow @TrentUniversity and #Trentu50 on Twitter. Please see below for information about purchasing tickets for Blue Rodeo, pre-ordering anniversary books, and registration for the Kick-Off Weekend.
KICK-OFF WEEKEND – AUGUST 7-10, 2014
Blue Rodeo in Concert – Friday, August 8, doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Trent is proud to welcome back Canada’s most popular roots rock band and alumni favourites Blue Rodeo, 25 years after their first concert at Champlain College’s Great Hall. Blue Rodeo will headline a special reunion concert at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, along with Trent alumni band The Burning Hell.
Tickets: $62.15, available at tickets.memorialcentre.ca
Opening Reception & 50th Anniversary Book Launch – Thursday, August 7, 7:00 -10:00 p.m.
Be the first in line to purchase the 50th anniversary book, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, and meet the author D’Arcy Jenish. Kick off the weekend by mingling with classmates, professors and community members in the Champlain College Great Hall.
Tickets: $20 + applicable taxes, available at https://www.eply.com/Trent50thanniversaryreunionweekend
Ideas That Change the World Symposium – Friday, August 8 & Saturday, August 9
Join over 75 of Trent’s most outstanding alumni and faculty as they converge to challenge thinking in the areas of: Education, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Sustainability and the Environment, Life and Health, and Critical Cultural Inquiry. Opening keynote address by Trent Chancellor Don Tapscott, world authority on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology. Presenters include Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. James Orbinski; We Day Global executive director, Dalal Al-Waheidi; Hong Kong real estate developer, Justin Chiu; Ontario Human Rights Commissioner, Fiona Sampson, and more. Symposium tickets include three panel discussions (hear up to 15 speakers), opening keynote, refreshments, and lunch both days.
Tickets: $110 + applicable taxes, available at trentu.ca/fifty/symposium
Ron Thom and the Allied Arts National Exhibit – open August 7 – October 19
A national travelling exhibit of selected art, architecture, and design by the legendary West Coast architect, Ron Thom. Thom is best known as architect of Trent University and Massey College, as well as an array of award-winning custom homes and theatres.
Visit trentu.ca/fifty/events_ronthom for more information about the exhibit.
Campus Meet & Greet, Reunions and Pub Events – Saturday, August 9, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Take this opportunity to meet current faculty, staff, students and retirees. Enjoy refreshments, take a walking tour of campus, and visit specialty areas for select department reunions. Pub reunions will also take place on Saturday evening – join friends and classmates at your “decade-designated” favourite local hotspot for live music by alumni bands including the Silver Hearts, Dan Fewings, One Love and more to be announced.
A Year of Celebrations
Following the Kick-Off Weekend, the University has a series of events planned throughout the year to continue the anniversary celebrations. Save the date for the Chancellor’s Anniversary Gala on October 17, and Trent @ 50: In Story and Song on October 18. Tickets for both events go on sale May 12, 2014. Visit trentu.ca/fifty for full details about 50th Anniversary events.
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For more information, please contact:
Lee Hays, director of Alumni Affairs, at (705) 748-1599 or leehays@trentu.ca
Tuesday, March 25, 2014, Peterborough
A series of events planned for Trent University’s 50th anniversary will be headlined by a performance by the iconic Canadian band Blue Rodeo on August 8, as part of the University’s Anniversary Kick-off Weekend: August 7-10, 2014.
Just the beginning of a year-long celebration over the course of 2014/15, the Blue Rodeo concert announcement calls attention to a weekend that kicks off the anniversary celebrations with the launch of a special anniversary book, an architectural exhibition, open houses, and the Ideas That Change the World Symposium, featuring interactive panels with over 75 esteemed faculty. All Kick-Off Weekend events are open to the entire community and have already attracted registrants from far and wide.
“We invite the entire community to join us in commemorating this historic milestone. Trent is Peterborough’s university,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “Whether you participate in one of the many dynamic events that are planned, share a favourite Trent moment through social media, or (re)connect with the University in a more personal way, we look forward to celebrating with you and thanking the community for all its support throughout Trent’s first half-century.”
To learn more about the full roster of events, please visit trentu.ca/fifty and follow @TrentUniversity and #Trentu50 on Twitter. Please see below for information about purchasing tickets for Blue Rodeo, pre-ordering anniversary books, and registration for the Kick-Off Weekend.
KICK-OFF WEEKEND – AUGUST 7-10, 2014
Blue Rodeo in Concert – Friday, August 8, doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Trent is proud to welcome back Canada’s most popular roots rock band and alumni favourites Blue Rodeo, 25 years after their first concert at Champlain College’s Great Hall. Blue Rodeo will headline a special reunion concert at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, along with Trent alumni band The Burning Hell.
Tickets: $62.15, available at tickets.memorialcentre.ca
Opening Reception & 50th Anniversary Book Launch – Thursday, August 7, 7:00 -10:00 p.m.
Be the first in line to purchase the 50th anniversary book, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, and meet the author D’Arcy Jenish. Kick off the weekend by mingling with classmates, professors and community members in the Champlain College Great Hall.
Tickets: $20 + applicable taxes, available at https://www.eply.com/Trent50thanniversaryreunionweekend
Ideas That Change the World Symposium – Friday, August 8 & Saturday, August 9
Join over 75 of Trent’s most outstanding alumni and faculty as they converge to challenge thinking in the areas of: Education, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Sustainability and the Environment, Life and Health, and Critical Cultural Inquiry. Opening keynote address by Trent Chancellor Don Tapscott, world authority on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology. Presenters include Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. James Orbinski; We Day Global executive director, Dalal Al-Waheidi; Hong Kong real estate developer, Justin Chiu; Ontario Human Rights Commissioner, Fiona Sampson, and more. Symposium tickets include three panel discussions (hear up to 15 speakers), opening keynote, refreshments, and lunch both days.
Tickets: $110 + applicable taxes, available at trentu.ca/fifty/symposium
Ron Thom and the Allied Arts National Exhibit – open August 7 – October 19
A national travelling exhibit of selected art, architecture, and design by the legendary West Coast architect, Ron Thom. Thom is best known as architect of Trent University and Massey College, as well as an array of award-winning custom homes and theatres.
Visit trentu.ca/fifty/events_ronthom for more information about the exhibit.
Campus Meet & Greet, Reunions and Pub Events – Saturday, August 9, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Take this opportunity to meet current faculty, staff, students and retirees. Enjoy refreshments, take a walking tour of campus, and visit specialty areas for select department reunions. Pub reunions will also take place on Saturday evening – join friends and classmates at your “decade-designated” favourite local hotspot for live music by alumni bands including the Silver Hearts, Dan Fewings, One Love and more to be announced.
A Year of Celebrations
Following the Kick-Off Weekend, the University has a series of events planned throughout the year to continue the anniversary celebrations. Save the date for the Chancellor’s Anniversary Gala on October 17, and Trent @ 50: In Story and Song on October 18. Tickets for both events go on sale May 12, 2014. Visit trentu.ca/fifty for full details about 50th Anniversary events.
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For more information, please contact:
Lee Hays, director of Alumni Affairs, at (705) 748-1599 or leehays@trentu.ca
Friday, March 21, 2014
Trent Graduate Students Compete in Three Minute Thesis Competition
Students showcase their thesis research for a chance to represent Trent at provincial level in April
Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Twenty Trent University graduate students will compete in a Three Minute Thesis competition on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Market Hall in Peterborough. Each student will have just three minutes to explain their thesis research in lay-terms to a panel of local judges, with the aid of a single PowerPoint slide. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this free event.
“It would take hours to read a full Master or PhD dissertation full of complex research and discipline-specific jargon,” said Dana Capell, competition organizer and academic skills instructor at Trent. “The Three Minute Thesis competition is an exciting way to showcase some groundbreaking student research happening across all disciplines at Trent, in a way that requires no previous understanding of the topic.”
The first-place winner will move on to represent Trent at the provincial Three Minute Thesis competition being held in Hamilton, Ontario on April 24, 2014. Audience members will be asked to vote for the $250 Provost’s People’s Choice award. First and second-place winners will also receive cash prizes.
The judging panel in Peterborough includes Bruce Bonner, president, D.M. Wills Associates Ltd.; Jim Russell, CEO, United Way of Peterborough & District; and three Trent alumni, Bill Kimball, ’75, artistic producer, Public Energy; Carol Lawless, ’83, fundraising and communications coordinator, Greater Peterborough Health Services; and Dr. Tom Miller, ’82, physician, Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
The Trent University Three Minute Thesis competition is sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies, the Academic Skills Centre, Trent Graduate Student Association, Traill College, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and External Relations and Advancement.
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For more information, please contact:
Dana Capell, Academic Skills Centre, Trent University 705-748-1011, ext 7596 or danacapell@trentu.ca
Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Twenty Trent University graduate students will compete in a Three Minute Thesis competition on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Market Hall in Peterborough. Each student will have just three minutes to explain their thesis research in lay-terms to a panel of local judges, with the aid of a single PowerPoint slide. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this free event.
“It would take hours to read a full Master or PhD dissertation full of complex research and discipline-specific jargon,” said Dana Capell, competition organizer and academic skills instructor at Trent. “The Three Minute Thesis competition is an exciting way to showcase some groundbreaking student research happening across all disciplines at Trent, in a way that requires no previous understanding of the topic.”
The first-place winner will move on to represent Trent at the provincial Three Minute Thesis competition being held in Hamilton, Ontario on April 24, 2014. Audience members will be asked to vote for the $250 Provost’s People’s Choice award. First and second-place winners will also receive cash prizes.
The judging panel in Peterborough includes Bruce Bonner, president, D.M. Wills Associates Ltd.; Jim Russell, CEO, United Way of Peterborough & District; and three Trent alumni, Bill Kimball, ’75, artistic producer, Public Energy; Carol Lawless, ’83, fundraising and communications coordinator, Greater Peterborough Health Services; and Dr. Tom Miller, ’82, physician, Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
The Trent University Three Minute Thesis competition is sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies, the Academic Skills Centre, Trent Graduate Student Association, Traill College, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and External Relations and Advancement.
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For more information, please contact:
Dana Capell, Academic Skills Centre, Trent University 705-748-1011, ext 7596 or danacapell@trentu.ca
Renowned Environmental and Resource Studies Professor Tom Whillans to Receive Trent University Teaching Award
Professor and Researcher’s 30 Years of Service to be Recognized with Award for Educational Leadership and Innovation
Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Tom Whillans, an environmental and resource studies professor for three decades, will receive Trent University’s 2013-2014 Award for Educational Leadership and Innovation. The award honours Trent faculty members who have made a distinctive impact through their educational leadership, teaching, innovation and successful communication.
Professor Whillans joined the Environmental and Resource Studies Program at Trent University in 1983, spending nine years as department chair, and has spent decades researching ecosystem development, habitat restructuring, and other issues related to ecological restoration. In addition to his leadership in developing new curricula and programs, Prof. Whillans has been called Trent’s foremost champion of incorporating community-based research into teaching and learning for over 25 years, creating opportunities for universities to connect and work with community organizations on solutions to environmental issues.
“Dr. Tom Whillans is a natural choice to be recognized by the university for his educational leadership and innovation,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “His vision for evolving teaching methods and his enthusiasm for creating applied learning opportunities have both established Trent University as a pioneer in community-based learning and made a lasting impact on his students’ learning and future careers.”
Dr. Whillans’ leadership was fundamental in establishing and sustaining the Trent Centre for Community Based Education (TCCBE) and its partner organization, the U-Links Centre for Community Based Research in Haliburton County, both of which are internationally recognized and have led to Trent University’s position as a leader in community-based research and teaching. The organizations’ history began in 1989 when Dr. Whillans worked with renowned Trent professor Dr. John Wadland on an experimental course called “Bioregionalism”, matching student researchers with community organizations that lacked the capacity to conduct their own research. The course immersed undergraduate students in the ecological, cultural and economic development of the surrounding region while completing research projects in the Haliburton Highlands.
The success of “Bioregionalism” led to Dr. Whillans’ and Dr. James Struthers’ decision to offer a service learning course at the graduate level on Community Economic Development in Peterborough, which in turn became a pilot for the establishment of the TCCBE in 1996, a partnership between Trent University’s Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, the Peterborough Social Planning Council, and Community Opportunity & Innovation Network (COIN). The TCCBE and U-Links have become ongoing mechanisms for students, faculty and local organizations to pool their resources and work together on community-inspired research projects that enhance the social, environmental, cultural or economic health of the community.
Prof. Whillans’ students and his faculty colleagues praise his passion for real-world learning and community engagement, calling him a master at empowering students to take ownership of their education. “In all the courses I took with Tom, there was always a lot of hands-on learning. It was great to be able to come up with our own projects, to be creative in our own way,” said Amy Tenbult, who graduated last April with an Environmental Resource Science/Studies degree, a program kick-started by Dr. Whillans during his tenure as chair. “That makes a huge impact. It gives us real life experience to be able to work on a project that the university might take on and utilize, to learn about employers that are out there, and find out what you can do with an environmental science degree.”
Professor Whillans’ legacy at Trent will include the visionary development of a new joint degree/diploma program in Ecological Restoration, a program unique in Canada which has been hailed as the ideal model for initiatives of its kind. In partnership with Fleming College, Prof. Whillans led the creation of a new program that takes advantage of excellence in applied environmental education across two institutions and provides students with two credentials in four years. “Right now in the environmental field there is a transition – it used to be that employers would hire college graduates to be field technicians, and university graduates for management positions, but with financial restrictions, now they need people who can do both,” says Prof. Whillans. “The students that come out of this program are very qualified, which makes them much more in demand by employers.”
Prof. Whillans has also been instrumental in developing funding grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), attracting new faculty members to Trent, and liaising with other educational institutions and community stakeholders to ensure that projects will have excellent teaching outcomes as well as significant community impacts. He believes that engagement with local and regional society is part of a professor’s core role, and that collaboration with partner organizations is the key to solving problems and finding solutions.
“These accomplishments have been entirely through the genuine and spirited collaboration of the Peterborough and Haliburton communities, my colleagues at Fleming College, and the students, staff and faculty of Trent University. I am grateful for that good company on this journey.”
Prof. Whillans will receive his award at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Champlain College’s Great Hall. Honourees from previous years will also join us as we celebrate those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Tom Whillans, an environmental and resource studies professor for three decades, will receive Trent University’s 2013-2014 Award for Educational Leadership and Innovation. The award honours Trent faculty members who have made a distinctive impact through their educational leadership, teaching, innovation and successful communication.
Professor Whillans joined the Environmental and Resource Studies Program at Trent University in 1983, spending nine years as department chair, and has spent decades researching ecosystem development, habitat restructuring, and other issues related to ecological restoration. In addition to his leadership in developing new curricula and programs, Prof. Whillans has been called Trent’s foremost champion of incorporating community-based research into teaching and learning for over 25 years, creating opportunities for universities to connect and work with community organizations on solutions to environmental issues.
“Dr. Tom Whillans is a natural choice to be recognized by the university for his educational leadership and innovation,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “His vision for evolving teaching methods and his enthusiasm for creating applied learning opportunities have both established Trent University as a pioneer in community-based learning and made a lasting impact on his students’ learning and future careers.”
Dr. Whillans’ leadership was fundamental in establishing and sustaining the Trent Centre for Community Based Education (TCCBE) and its partner organization, the U-Links Centre for Community Based Research in Haliburton County, both of which are internationally recognized and have led to Trent University’s position as a leader in community-based research and teaching. The organizations’ history began in 1989 when Dr. Whillans worked with renowned Trent professor Dr. John Wadland on an experimental course called “Bioregionalism”, matching student researchers with community organizations that lacked the capacity to conduct their own research. The course immersed undergraduate students in the ecological, cultural and economic development of the surrounding region while completing research projects in the Haliburton Highlands.
The success of “Bioregionalism” led to Dr. Whillans’ and Dr. James Struthers’ decision to offer a service learning course at the graduate level on Community Economic Development in Peterborough, which in turn became a pilot for the establishment of the TCCBE in 1996, a partnership between Trent University’s Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, the Peterborough Social Planning Council, and Community Opportunity & Innovation Network (COIN). The TCCBE and U-Links have become ongoing mechanisms for students, faculty and local organizations to pool their resources and work together on community-inspired research projects that enhance the social, environmental, cultural or economic health of the community.
Prof. Whillans’ students and his faculty colleagues praise his passion for real-world learning and community engagement, calling him a master at empowering students to take ownership of their education. “In all the courses I took with Tom, there was always a lot of hands-on learning. It was great to be able to come up with our own projects, to be creative in our own way,” said Amy Tenbult, who graduated last April with an Environmental Resource Science/Studies degree, a program kick-started by Dr. Whillans during his tenure as chair. “That makes a huge impact. It gives us real life experience to be able to work on a project that the university might take on and utilize, to learn about employers that are out there, and find out what you can do with an environmental science degree.”
Professor Whillans’ legacy at Trent will include the visionary development of a new joint degree/diploma program in Ecological Restoration, a program unique in Canada which has been hailed as the ideal model for initiatives of its kind. In partnership with Fleming College, Prof. Whillans led the creation of a new program that takes advantage of excellence in applied environmental education across two institutions and provides students with two credentials in four years. “Right now in the environmental field there is a transition – it used to be that employers would hire college graduates to be field technicians, and university graduates for management positions, but with financial restrictions, now they need people who can do both,” says Prof. Whillans. “The students that come out of this program are very qualified, which makes them much more in demand by employers.”
Prof. Whillans has also been instrumental in developing funding grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), attracting new faculty members to Trent, and liaising with other educational institutions and community stakeholders to ensure that projects will have excellent teaching outcomes as well as significant community impacts. He believes that engagement with local and regional society is part of a professor’s core role, and that collaboration with partner organizations is the key to solving problems and finding solutions.
“These accomplishments have been entirely through the genuine and spirited collaboration of the Peterborough and Haliburton communities, my colleagues at Fleming College, and the students, staff and faculty of Trent University. I am grateful for that good company on this journey.”
Prof. Whillans will receive his award at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Champlain College’s Great Hall. Honourees from previous years will also join us as we celebrate those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Trent Anthropology Professors Participate in Archaeological Speaker Series on March 25 in Peterborough
Dr. Marit Munson and Dr. Susan Jamieson recently published first book in 30 years to bring new research on Ontario’s ancient past to light
Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University anthropologists Dr. Marit Munson and Dr. Susan Jamieson will speak at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., an event hosted by the Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society (POAS).
Dr. Munson, associate professor of Anthropology, and Dr. Jamieson, professor emerita, are co-editors of the recently published book Before Ontario, The Archaeology of a Province, the first book in 30 years to cover Ontario archaeology for the general public.
To learn more about Before Ontario, please visit http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsDetail.php?newsID=6257
Event Details:
What: Anthropologists Dr. Marit Munson and Dr. Susan Jamieson speak about Ontario’s ancient past at a public speaking event. Admission is free and light refreshments will be available.
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
120 Murray Street at Water Street
Peterborough, ON
For more information, please contact:
Tom Mohr, president, Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society
(705) 320-9979 or mohr@utsc.utoronto.ca
Friday, March 21, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University anthropologists Dr. Marit Munson and Dr. Susan Jamieson will speak at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., an event hosted by the Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society (POAS).
Dr. Munson, associate professor of Anthropology, and Dr. Jamieson, professor emerita, are co-editors of the recently published book Before Ontario, The Archaeology of a Province, the first book in 30 years to cover Ontario archaeology for the general public.
To learn more about Before Ontario, please visit http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsDetail.php?newsID=6257
Event Details:
What: Anthropologists Dr. Marit Munson and Dr. Susan Jamieson speak about Ontario’s ancient past at a public speaking event. Admission is free and light refreshments will be available.
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
120 Murray Street at Water Street
Peterborough, ON
For more information, please contact:
Tom Mohr, president, Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society
(705) 320-9979 or mohr@utsc.utoronto.ca
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Trent University Announces Recipient of 2013-2014 Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Mark Dickinson incorporates Indigenous pedagogies into Prof. John Wadland’s iconic Canadian Studies Course
Thursday, March 20, 2014, Peterborough
Recognized for his transformative teaching methods which have been significantly influenced by Indigenous concepts, Dr. Mark Dickinson, an instructor in the Canadian Studies Department, has been named the 2013-2014 recipient of the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching by Trent University.
“This award recognizes Dr. Dickinson for encouraging his students to form unique and individual responses to educational material, and for his efforts to create seamless connections between history, current affairs, and our lived experiences,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “He fosters a careful exploration of multiple levels of knowledge and perspectives so that each student may reach new boundaries in their understanding of Canada and its land.”
Trent University is consistently recognized nationally and internationally for award-winning faculty who are committed to the success of the individual student. The Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is named for Professor T.H.B. Symons, the founding president of Trent, and is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who displays exemplary teaching and concern for students.
Dr. Dickinson received his Ph.D. in Canadian Studies at Trent in 2007, and has been teaching at the University for the past seven years. He spent two years as a course instructor in Indigenous Studies, which he credits as being crucial to the development of his teaching philosophy. While completing his doctorate, Dr. Dickinson worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. John Wadland, a widely-renowned Trent professor and the first-ever recipient of the Symons Award in 1976. Professor Wadland’s signature course, “Canada: the Land,” established in 1972, became one of the best known and most influential courses in the humanities. After Prof. Wadland retired, Dr. Dickinson was given the task of carrying on one of Trent’s flagship courses.
“John was a brilliant teacher, so I wanted to honour the spirit and preserve the integrity of that classic course,” said Dr. Dickinson. “I also wanted to update the course for a new reality and a new generation of students, and to share the insights that I gained from my time in indigenous studies.”
Dr. Dickinson has built classroom environments that are lauded for their benefit to student learning, through his purposeful efforts to build community within both larger lecture and smaller seminar environments. He aims to treat students as co-discoverers in their own learning, while providing an engaging, high-intensity learning environment. “I approach the classroom as ceremony,” he said. “Learning becomes a collaborative project where we can all learn together, and gather as a community, break bread as a community, and talk to each other on a personal and human level.”
Holly Barclay, one of Dr. Dickinson’s former students, describes his teaching style as unique. Ms. Barclay received her Bachelor degree in Canadian Studies in 2012 and will soon complete her Masters degree in English (Public Texts) at Trent. She credits Dr. Dickinson’s approach to seminars, in which students are asked to lead two-hour classes, as immensely helpful in preparing her for graduate school presentations and teaching. “He encourages students to ask questions about our place in the world, and allows us to follow that learning in creative ways,” she said.
In addition to his reputation as an excellent teacher, Dr. Dickinson is also an acclaimed researcher and writer. A book based on his doctoral research, entitled Canadian Primal: Poet-Thinkers and the Rediscovery of Earth, will soon be published. In the book, he writes about the idea that Canadian “poet-thinkers” such as Robert Bringhurst, Dennis Lee, Tim Lilburn, Don McKay and Jan Zwicky are reconstituting a kind of wisdom tradition, expressed in verse, by which we might come to know the earth as more than simply natural resources. “They are opening up a window onto an entirely different way of being on earth,” Dr. Dickinson said.
Dr. Dickinson will receive his award at Trent’s spring Convocation. He will also be recognized at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence event, which will take place on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in Champlain College’s Great Hall to pay tribute to this year’s teaching award recipients. Honourees from previous years will also be present as those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching are celebrated. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Thursday, March 20, 2014, Peterborough
Recognized for his transformative teaching methods which have been significantly influenced by Indigenous concepts, Dr. Mark Dickinson, an instructor in the Canadian Studies Department, has been named the 2013-2014 recipient of the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching by Trent University.
“This award recognizes Dr. Dickinson for encouraging his students to form unique and individual responses to educational material, and for his efforts to create seamless connections between history, current affairs, and our lived experiences,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent. “He fosters a careful exploration of multiple levels of knowledge and perspectives so that each student may reach new boundaries in their understanding of Canada and its land.”
Trent University is consistently recognized nationally and internationally for award-winning faculty who are committed to the success of the individual student. The Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is named for Professor T.H.B. Symons, the founding president of Trent, and is presented annually to a faculty or staff member who displays exemplary teaching and concern for students.
Dr. Dickinson received his Ph.D. in Canadian Studies at Trent in 2007, and has been teaching at the University for the past seven years. He spent two years as a course instructor in Indigenous Studies, which he credits as being crucial to the development of his teaching philosophy. While completing his doctorate, Dr. Dickinson worked as a teaching assistant for Dr. John Wadland, a widely-renowned Trent professor and the first-ever recipient of the Symons Award in 1976. Professor Wadland’s signature course, “Canada: the Land,” established in 1972, became one of the best known and most influential courses in the humanities. After Prof. Wadland retired, Dr. Dickinson was given the task of carrying on one of Trent’s flagship courses.
“John was a brilliant teacher, so I wanted to honour the spirit and preserve the integrity of that classic course,” said Dr. Dickinson. “I also wanted to update the course for a new reality and a new generation of students, and to share the insights that I gained from my time in indigenous studies.”
Dr. Dickinson has built classroom environments that are lauded for their benefit to student learning, through his purposeful efforts to build community within both larger lecture and smaller seminar environments. He aims to treat students as co-discoverers in their own learning, while providing an engaging, high-intensity learning environment. “I approach the classroom as ceremony,” he said. “Learning becomes a collaborative project where we can all learn together, and gather as a community, break bread as a community, and talk to each other on a personal and human level.”
Holly Barclay, one of Dr. Dickinson’s former students, describes his teaching style as unique. Ms. Barclay received her Bachelor degree in Canadian Studies in 2012 and will soon complete her Masters degree in English (Public Texts) at Trent. She credits Dr. Dickinson’s approach to seminars, in which students are asked to lead two-hour classes, as immensely helpful in preparing her for graduate school presentations and teaching. “He encourages students to ask questions about our place in the world, and allows us to follow that learning in creative ways,” she said.
In addition to his reputation as an excellent teacher, Dr. Dickinson is also an acclaimed researcher and writer. A book based on his doctoral research, entitled Canadian Primal: Poet-Thinkers and the Rediscovery of Earth, will soon be published. In the book, he writes about the idea that Canadian “poet-thinkers” such as Robert Bringhurst, Dennis Lee, Tim Lilburn, Don McKay and Jan Zwicky are reconstituting a kind of wisdom tradition, expressed in verse, by which we might come to know the earth as more than simply natural resources. “They are opening up a window onto an entirely different way of being on earth,” Dr. Dickinson said.
Dr. Dickinson will receive his award at Trent’s spring Convocation. He will also be recognized at a Celebration of Teaching Excellence event, which will take place on Monday, March 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in Champlain College’s Great Hall to pay tribute to this year’s teaching award recipients. Honourees from previous years will also be present as those who exemplify Trent's commitment to teaching are celebrated. Community members are welcome to attend.
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Trent University History Professor Wins International Award for Business History Book
Dimitry Anastakis, Chair of Canadian Studies, Awarded the Hagley Prize for Book Examining Automotive Industry’s Public Policy and Business Enterprise
Thursday, March 20, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Dimitry Anastakis, history professor and chair of Canadian Studies at Trent University, has been awarded the Hagley Prize, an international award given annually to the best book in business history by the Business History Conference and the Hagley Museum and Library of Wilmington, Delaware. Published by the University of Toronto Press in 2013, Autonomous State: The Struggle for a Canadian Car Industry from OPEC to Free Trade is an examination of public policy and business enterprise that highlights various facets of the Canadian automotive industry’s evolution within national, continental and global contexts.
Dr. Joan Sangster, director of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, noted that this important honour reflects the international stature of research done by faculty at Trent University’s Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, and in particular Professor Anastakis’ critical intervention in transnational debates about economic policy.
“I am delighted that my book received this award, which is one of the most important in the business history field,” said Prof. Anastakis, who has been at Trent since 2004. “It is particularly humbling to be the first Canadian scholar to win this prestigious international award. So many previous recipients are leading scholars in the business history field, so I am honoured to have been chosen.”
Announced at the Business History Conference’s annual meeting, held this year in Frankfurt, Germany on March 15, the award includes a medallion and $2,500. Professor Anastakis was a co-recipient with one other author, chosen from a field of 89 entries. The prize committee encouraged the submission of books from all methodological perspectives, and in making its decision, was “particularly interested in innovative studies with the potential to expand the boundaries of the discipline.”
Autonomous State is Dr. Anastakis’s sixth book. His first book, Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry, 1960-71 (University of Toronto Press, 2005) won the 2008 J.J. Talman Award as the best book on Ontario’s history published in the previous three years. His most recent book, Smart Globalization: The Canadian Business and Economic History Experience (University of Toronto Press, 2014), is a co-edited collection with Professor Andrew Smith of the University of Liverpool Business School. Dr. Anastakis’s next book, Death in the Peaceable Kingdom: Canadian History through Murder, Execution, Assassination and Suicide, will be published in 2015 by the University of Toronto Press Higher Education Division, and is based on his Trent University second-year course of the same name.
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For more information, please contact:
Dr. Joan I. Sangster, director, Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies
(705) 748-1011 x 7705 or jsangster@trentu.ca
Thursday, March 20, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Dimitry Anastakis, history professor and chair of Canadian Studies at Trent University, has been awarded the Hagley Prize, an international award given annually to the best book in business history by the Business History Conference and the Hagley Museum and Library of Wilmington, Delaware. Published by the University of Toronto Press in 2013, Autonomous State: The Struggle for a Canadian Car Industry from OPEC to Free Trade is an examination of public policy and business enterprise that highlights various facets of the Canadian automotive industry’s evolution within national, continental and global contexts.
Dr. Joan Sangster, director of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, noted that this important honour reflects the international stature of research done by faculty at Trent University’s Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, and in particular Professor Anastakis’ critical intervention in transnational debates about economic policy.
“I am delighted that my book received this award, which is one of the most important in the business history field,” said Prof. Anastakis, who has been at Trent since 2004. “It is particularly humbling to be the first Canadian scholar to win this prestigious international award. So many previous recipients are leading scholars in the business history field, so I am honoured to have been chosen.”
Announced at the Business History Conference’s annual meeting, held this year in Frankfurt, Germany on March 15, the award includes a medallion and $2,500. Professor Anastakis was a co-recipient with one other author, chosen from a field of 89 entries. The prize committee encouraged the submission of books from all methodological perspectives, and in making its decision, was “particularly interested in innovative studies with the potential to expand the boundaries of the discipline.”
Autonomous State is Dr. Anastakis’s sixth book. His first book, Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry, 1960-71 (University of Toronto Press, 2005) won the 2008 J.J. Talman Award as the best book on Ontario’s history published in the previous three years. His most recent book, Smart Globalization: The Canadian Business and Economic History Experience (University of Toronto Press, 2014), is a co-edited collection with Professor Andrew Smith of the University of Liverpool Business School. Dr. Anastakis’s next book, Death in the Peaceable Kingdom: Canadian History through Murder, Execution, Assassination and Suicide, will be published in 2015 by the University of Toronto Press Higher Education Division, and is based on his Trent University second-year course of the same name.
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For more information, please contact:
Dr. Joan I. Sangster, director, Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies
(705) 748-1011 x 7705 or jsangster@trentu.ca
Monday, March 17, 2014
Trent’s Collaborative Learning Model Endorsed by Leaders in Business, Government and Education
Bridging the skills-gap: employment statistics reflect the value of a Trent University education
Monday, March 17, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University’s collaborative learning model, developed over five decades, has been endorsed by Ontario leaders, according to two surveys involving key opinion leaders from across the education, government and industry sectors.
Trent’s distinctive learning environment equips graduates with unique skills in demand by employers, graduate and professional schools. 88% of Trent students are employed within six months of graduation, and that rate increases to 92% two years after graduation. Responses from business, government and not-for-profit leaders representing a wide spectrum of organizations in Ontario show that Trent’s approach to learning helps students to develop the skills that will land them great jobs and that matter most to employers in these sectors.
Leaders surveyed in both the public and private sector tend to place a great deal of value on many of the skills that Trent emphasizes in its programs and its learning approach, particularly: the ability to work in a team and collaborate in group settings, speaking and listening skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Leaders are much more likely to believe it is important for university students to learn how to think critically and to develop analytical skills than to gain skills for a particular career or profession.
In line with Trent’s collaborative learning model, more than 90% of respondents shared that they consider their most successful employees to be those who are highly collaborative and able to integrate multiple perspectives into their thinking. 80% also agree that the challenges employees face today are more complex and require a broader range of skills to address than in the past.
Trent’s collaborative environment and personalized, purposeful approach to learning proved to be popular amongst guidance counsellors from Ontario high schools as well. When asked to identify the most significant benefit to students of attending a university that places an emphasis on collaborative learning, counsellors were most likely to mention teamwork or the ability to work in a team environment; practical experience; workplace learning; or real world understanding.
Respondents also named other important benefits such as relationship-building skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to think and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Trent’s proven record of adopting innovative approaches to teaching and learning has a significant impact on our reputation as a leading institution.
Recently, the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) released a report entitled University Works showing that Ontario university graduates enjoy a lifetime of positive employment outcomes when compared to those with other types of education. Among the COU’s key findings were the fact that Ontario graduates have experienced the highest employment growth of any group of students over the past ten years; they earn significantly more; and they are more likely to be working at a job related to their studies.
Further, Statistics Canada recently issued a report called “The Investment of a Lifetime?” comparing outcomes for over 8,000 university, college and high school graduates over a 20-year period, the first study of its kind. The findings indicate that a university degree is one of the best investments available.
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For more information, please contact:
Kristi Kerford, director, Academic Skills Centre and Career Centre, Trent University
705-748-1011, ext 6010 or kkerford@trentu.ca
Monday, March 17, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University’s collaborative learning model, developed over five decades, has been endorsed by Ontario leaders, according to two surveys involving key opinion leaders from across the education, government and industry sectors.
Survey findings counter the commonly-held belief that most new graduates do not find employment: over 90% of Trent grads are employed within two years of graduation.High Employment Rate for Trent Graduates
Trent’s distinctive learning environment equips graduates with unique skills in demand by employers, graduate and professional schools. 88% of Trent students are employed within six months of graduation, and that rate increases to 92% two years after graduation. Responses from business, government and not-for-profit leaders representing a wide spectrum of organizations in Ontario show that Trent’s approach to learning helps students to develop the skills that will land them great jobs and that matter most to employers in these sectors.
“It’s no longer just what you know,” said Trent alumnus Dr. Don Tapscott, an internationally renowned business thinker and the Chancellor of Trent University. “It’s your capacity to solve problems, to think, to research, and to reinvent your knowledge base. Trent’s student-focused, customized, collaborative learning experience is the new model for developing knowledge workers who can build more effective social and economic institutions.”Employers Value the Trent Difference
Leaders surveyed in both the public and private sector tend to place a great deal of value on many of the skills that Trent emphasizes in its programs and its learning approach, particularly: the ability to work in a team and collaborate in group settings, speaking and listening skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Leaders are much more likely to believe it is important for university students to learn how to think critically and to develop analytical skills than to gain skills for a particular career or profession.
In line with Trent’s collaborative learning model, more than 90% of respondents shared that they consider their most successful employees to be those who are highly collaborative and able to integrate multiple perspectives into their thinking. 80% also agree that the challenges employees face today are more complex and require a broader range of skills to address than in the past.
“Trent grads don’t just move into the world of work, they quickly make their mark as leaders,” said Dr. Haroon Akram-Lohdi, professor and chair of Trent’s department of International Development Studies. “They emerge from Trent not only with sense of commitment towards social justice or community service, but also with a sense of urgency – to improve things now. That is the Trent advantage.”Endorsement from Educators
Trent’s collaborative environment and personalized, purposeful approach to learning proved to be popular amongst guidance counsellors from Ontario high schools as well. When asked to identify the most significant benefit to students of attending a university that places an emphasis on collaborative learning, counsellors were most likely to mention teamwork or the ability to work in a team environment; practical experience; workplace learning; or real world understanding.
Respondents also named other important benefits such as relationship-building skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to think and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Trent’s proven record of adopting innovative approaches to teaching and learning has a significant impact on our reputation as a leading institution.
“Ontario university graduates have higher employment rates and higher salaries than those with any other level of education,” said Bonnie M. Patterson, president and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities.Sector Research on the Value of a University Degree
Recently, the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) released a report entitled University Works showing that Ontario university graduates enjoy a lifetime of positive employment outcomes when compared to those with other types of education. Among the COU’s key findings were the fact that Ontario graduates have experienced the highest employment growth of any group of students over the past ten years; they earn significantly more; and they are more likely to be working at a job related to their studies.
Further, Statistics Canada recently issued a report called “The Investment of a Lifetime?” comparing outcomes for over 8,000 university, college and high school graduates over a 20-year period, the first study of its kind. The findings indicate that a university degree is one of the best investments available.
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For more information, please contact:
Kristi Kerford, director, Academic Skills Centre and Career Centre, Trent University
705-748-1011, ext 6010 or kkerford@trentu.ca
Trent/Fleming School of Nursing Receives Maximum Accreditation from Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
National body gives seven-year accreditation to program sites at Trent University, Fleming College and George Brown College
Monday, March 17, 2014, Peterborough
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing has received a seven-year accreditation for all of its sites and programs from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Accreditation Bureau, the highest accreditation possible for nursing schools in Canada.
The CASN accreditation reviewers visited the Trent/Fleming School to assess the educational programs at each of its three sites: Trent University and Fleming College in Peterborough, and George Brown College in Toronto. All three sites received the maximum seven-year accreditation, as did the four-year collaborative program, three-year compressed program, and post-bridge RPN to B.Sc.N pathway program.
“The members of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing are very proud of this achievement,” said Dr. Kirsten Woodend, dean of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing. “Exceptional and engaged students, faculty and staff, as well as strong collaborations with our college partners and health care agencies, have contributed to the outstanding learning environment here at the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing.”
The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing is the national accrediting body for nursing education in Canada. Accreditation promotes excellence and is recognized worldwide as an important, objective method to assess professional education programs. It also identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement that can guide decision making. The process provides administrators and faculty with information regarding areas that require development, modification and/or resources.
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing offers three program options, in partnership with Fleming College and George Brown College: an integrated, collaborative four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.) Degree; a compressed three-year program for students with sufficient university credits to fast track through the program; and a post-bridge RPN to B.Sc.N pathway program. The Trent/Fleming program has been recognized provincially as a model for nursing education programs, and was named a Best Practices Spotlight Organization by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing is unique in the province in that its curriculum is fully integrated across all three institutions. The program curriculum has been developed by both Fleming College and Trent University and six full-time Fleming faculty members teach at Trent. In addition to being situated at Trent, the program affords students with access to a host of learning resources and other services located at Fleming College.
Theoretical courses provide the foundation for the study of concepts underlying the art and science of nursing. Opportunities for practical application of theoretical principles are also offered throughout the program. Students in the program are exposed to a variety of contexts within which nursing care is delivered in today's world. A holistic approach to care delivery is emphasized in practicum opportunities, recognizing that the nurse must assess the needs of the client and encourage, advocate for, and support the client's quality health care.
For more information about the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, please visit trentu.ca/nursing.
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Monday, March 17, 2014, Peterborough
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing has received a seven-year accreditation for all of its sites and programs from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) Accreditation Bureau, the highest accreditation possible for nursing schools in Canada.
The CASN accreditation reviewers visited the Trent/Fleming School to assess the educational programs at each of its three sites: Trent University and Fleming College in Peterborough, and George Brown College in Toronto. All three sites received the maximum seven-year accreditation, as did the four-year collaborative program, three-year compressed program, and post-bridge RPN to B.Sc.N pathway program.
“The members of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing are very proud of this achievement,” said Dr. Kirsten Woodend, dean of the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing. “Exceptional and engaged students, faculty and staff, as well as strong collaborations with our college partners and health care agencies, have contributed to the outstanding learning environment here at the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing.”
The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing is the national accrediting body for nursing education in Canada. Accreditation promotes excellence and is recognized worldwide as an important, objective method to assess professional education programs. It also identifies strengths and opportunities for improvement that can guide decision making. The process provides administrators and faculty with information regarding areas that require development, modification and/or resources.
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing offers three program options, in partnership with Fleming College and George Brown College: an integrated, collaborative four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.) Degree; a compressed three-year program for students with sufficient university credits to fast track through the program; and a post-bridge RPN to B.Sc.N pathway program. The Trent/Fleming program has been recognized provincially as a model for nursing education programs, and was named a Best Practices Spotlight Organization by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing is unique in the province in that its curriculum is fully integrated across all three institutions. The program curriculum has been developed by both Fleming College and Trent University and six full-time Fleming faculty members teach at Trent. In addition to being situated at Trent, the program affords students with access to a host of learning resources and other services located at Fleming College.
Theoretical courses provide the foundation for the study of concepts underlying the art and science of nursing. Opportunities for practical application of theoretical principles are also offered throughout the program. Students in the program are exposed to a variety of contexts within which nursing care is delivered in today's world. A holistic approach to care delivery is emphasized in practicum opportunities, recognizing that the nurse must assess the needs of the client and encourage, advocate for, and support the client's quality health care.
For more information about the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, please visit trentu.ca/nursing.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014
2014 Local Hero Award presented at Trent University Oshawa Black History Event
"One Song, Many Voices" featured lectures, workshops, musical entertainment, local artisans, children's activities, and more
Trent University Oshawa hosted its third annual Black History month event, “One Song, Many Voices – Continuing the Dialogue” at the Thornton Road Campus on Saturday, March 1. The day was a vibrant combination of musical entertainment, local artisan and food vendors, exhibitors with historical information about the Durham community, lectures, workshops and more.
"Today, we reflect on the legacy of African-Canadians of the past and recognize a new generation of heroes – people with vision, determination, talent, and the ability to inspire us," said Mr. Roger Anderson, chair and CEO of the Region of Durham. "This event, recognizing important accomplishments, ongoing contributions and emerging leadership, becomes a chapter in that new history, a chapter that everyone here can help write."
Saturday’s event featured several intellectual and cultural highlights, including an appearance by two-time Juno award winner Liberty Silver. Ms. Silver shaped the foundation of R&B/soul for an entire generation of black female singers in Canada, having opened in the past for Bob Marley, B.B. King and Celine Dion, and performed for U.S. President Barack Obama. Keynote speaker Paula Madden, a Ph.D. candidate in Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and author of African Nova Scotian-Mi’kmaw Relations, spoke about her research examining the history and outcome of rights legislation in Canada and the United States. Sharing the floor with Ms. Madden was David Austin, author of Fear of a Black Nation: Race, Sex, and Security and Sixties Montreal, a text which won the 2014 Casa de las Americas Prize for Caribbean Literature in English or Creole.
Mr. Anderson also presented the 2014 Local Hero Award at the Black History event, an annual accolade presented by Trent University Oshawa to a deserving community member in the spirit of equality and diversity. This year’s recipient, Mr. Marvin Ishmael, is an actor, director, educator, and champion of Caribbean culture on an international scale. Mr. Ishmael appears as Mr. Bhandari on television’s Degrassi: The Next Generation, and is currently writing a new comedy series, Dreaming, featuring a multi-ethnic cast. Mr. Ishmael has been instrumental in creating cross-cultural awareness with The Caribbean Dinner Theatre in Scarborough and on stage through his theatrical work with We Are One Theatre Productions, for which he received a Chalmers award and a Dora Maver Moore award.
"His productions and roles reveal that what binds us together as human beings, our sorrows and joys, hopes and dreams - are much stronger than what divides us," said Mr. Anderson of Mr. Ishmael.
The Black History event was planned and chaired by Trent University Oshawa Librarian, Ken Field. In recognition of the dedication displayed by Mr. Field in hosting this cultural and historical event, Pickering-Scarborough East MPP Tracy MacCharles presented him with a certificate of excellence, speaking to the importance of his efforts.
Trent University Oshawa hosted its third annual Black History month event, “One Song, Many Voices – Continuing the Dialogue” at the Thornton Road Campus on Saturday, March 1. The day was a vibrant combination of musical entertainment, local artisan and food vendors, exhibitors with historical information about the Durham community, lectures, workshops and more.
"Today, we reflect on the legacy of African-Canadians of the past and recognize a new generation of heroes – people with vision, determination, talent, and the ability to inspire us," said Mr. Roger Anderson, chair and CEO of the Region of Durham. "This event, recognizing important accomplishments, ongoing contributions and emerging leadership, becomes a chapter in that new history, a chapter that everyone here can help write."
Saturday’s event featured several intellectual and cultural highlights, including an appearance by two-time Juno award winner Liberty Silver. Ms. Silver shaped the foundation of R&B/soul for an entire generation of black female singers in Canada, having opened in the past for Bob Marley, B.B. King and Celine Dion, and performed for U.S. President Barack Obama. Keynote speaker Paula Madden, a Ph.D. candidate in Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and author of African Nova Scotian-Mi’kmaw Relations, spoke about her research examining the history and outcome of rights legislation in Canada and the United States. Sharing the floor with Ms. Madden was David Austin, author of Fear of a Black Nation: Race, Sex, and Security and Sixties Montreal, a text which won the 2014 Casa de las Americas Prize for Caribbean Literature in English or Creole.
Mr. Anderson also presented the 2014 Local Hero Award at the Black History event, an annual accolade presented by Trent University Oshawa to a deserving community member in the spirit of equality and diversity. This year’s recipient, Mr. Marvin Ishmael, is an actor, director, educator, and champion of Caribbean culture on an international scale. Mr. Ishmael appears as Mr. Bhandari on television’s Degrassi: The Next Generation, and is currently writing a new comedy series, Dreaming, featuring a multi-ethnic cast. Mr. Ishmael has been instrumental in creating cross-cultural awareness with The Caribbean Dinner Theatre in Scarborough and on stage through his theatrical work with We Are One Theatre Productions, for which he received a Chalmers award and a Dora Maver Moore award.
"His productions and roles reveal that what binds us together as human beings, our sorrows and joys, hopes and dreams - are much stronger than what divides us," said Mr. Anderson of Mr. Ishmael.
The Black History event was planned and chaired by Trent University Oshawa Librarian, Ken Field. In recognition of the dedication displayed by Mr. Field in hosting this cultural and historical event, Pickering-Scarborough East MPP Tracy MacCharles presented him with a certificate of excellence, speaking to the importance of his efforts.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Trent University Announces Five Honorary Degree Recipients to be Recognized at 2014 Convocation Ceremonies
Award-winning novelist Joseph Boyden, renowned anthropologist Wade Davis, educator and Arctic researcher Shelagh Grant, accomplished public servant Richard Johnston, and investment leader David Patterson to be honoured at June convocation
Tuesday, March 11, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, announced on behalf of the University Senate the five outstanding individuals who will receive honorary degrees at Trent’s 47th Convocation ceremonies to be held from June 3 to June 6, 2014. Honorary Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Science degrees are awarded annually to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to academic life at Trent or to society as a whole.
“The individuals chosen as the 2014 honorary degree recipients represent many of Trent University’s key values, such as our commitment to leadership, intellectual collaboration, and social responsibility as global citizens,” said Dr. Franklin. “Through political and social engagement, contributions to the literary and academic fields, and a commitment to ethics and sustainability, our honorees truly embody Trent’s vision for students to become transformative members of Canadian society.”
Each of the following individuals will be presented with an honorary degree at this year’s ceremonies (full profiles follow on each recipient):
Joseph Boyden –Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded for achievements in literature of Canadian and international importance and in concordance with Trent’s history of First Nations engagement
Wade Davis – Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Science degree to be awarded in recognition of his embodiment of Trent’s interdisciplinary and community-based learning values
Shelagh Grant – Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded for long-standing service as an educator, and renowned achievement as a scholar of the Canadian Arctic
Richard Johnston – Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - 2:00 p.m. ceremony
Doctor of Laws degree to be awarded in recognition of his contribution to education, social services and community engagement
David G. Patterson – Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 2:00 p.m. ceremony
Doctor of Laws degree to be awarded for significant achievements in ethical investment strategy and leadership in sustainable research and business practices
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT PROFILES
Joseph Boyden
Joseph Boyden has emerged as one of Canada’s pre-eminent novelists and short-story writers, having won the Giller Prize in 2008 for his second novel, Through Black Spruce. His first novel, Three Day Road, was selected for the Today Show book club, won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the CBA Libris Fiction Book of the Year Award, and more. His latest best-seller, The Orenda, was shortlisted for both the Giller and the Governor General’s Award in 2013 and was just named the winning novel in the 2014 CBC Canada Reads debates.
Delighted to learn of the honorary degree to be bestowed this June, Mr. Boyden said: “I am deeply honoured to be offered this important distinction from a university so important to me. Trent has always made me feel so welcome to its beautiful campus. And now I can consider myself one of you."
Mr. Boyden’s writing focuses on First Nations heritage and culture, a topic that speaks directly to Trent’s long history in Canadian and Indigenous studies. He studied creative writing at York University and the University of New Orleans, subsequently teaching in the Aboriginal Student Program at Northern College. He is currently a lecturer with the University of British Columbia Creative Writing Program.
The acclaimed novelist’s involvement with Trent began as a writer-in-residence in 2006, and continued in 2012-2013 with his term as the Jack Matthews fellow, through which he embodied the values Mr. Matthews espoused as an innovator in Canadian education, learning, and global citizenship. His critical engagement with history and its relationship with the present bespeaks Trent’s fundamental commitment to critical liberal arts education. He has also built many close relationships with students and faculty at Trent, particularly his mentor, Trent Professor Emeritus John Wadland, and participated actively in the 40th Anniversary of the Trent Temagami Colloquium in 2013. Mr. Boyden has taken an active stance in environmental justice through his published writing and commentary, including expressing concern over hydro developments in Moose River Basin.
“Joseph Boyden’s works have reached international audiences and deepened the world’s understanding and respect for the complexity of Canadian culture. His formal inclusion in our alumni community … will expand Trent’s reputation for critical engagement of the study of Canada, the Indigenous peoples of Canada, and our hallmark commitment to social justice as a core value.” – nominator, anonymous
Wade Davis
Dr. Wade Davis is a professor of anthropology and the LEEF chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. Between 1999 and 2013 he served as explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and is currently a member of the NG Council of Explorers. Named by the NGS as one of the Explorers for the Millennium, he has been described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity.” Dr. Davis’s work as an anthropologist and botanical explorer has taken him throughout the world from the forests of the Amazon to the mountains of Tibet, from the high Arctic to the deserts of Africa, from Polynesia to the grasslands of Mongolia.
Dr. Davis is the author of 17 bestselling books including The Serpent and the Rainbow, which was later released as a feature film, and Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest, which won the 2012 Samuel Johnson Prize, the top literary award for nonfiction in the English language. Davis has written for National Geographic, Newsweek, Outside, Harpers, Fortune, Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and many other international publications.
His many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series produced and written for the National Geographic, Grand Canyon Adventure (IMAX 3D), and Earthguide, a 13-part series on the environment produced and written for Discovery. As a photographer, Dr. Davis has curated several major exhibits including The Lost Amazon, Museum of Natural History Smithsonian, and No Strangers: Ancient Wisdom in a Modern World, Annenberg Space for Photography. His own work has been widely published and exhibited.
A professional speaker for 25 years, Dr. Davis has lectured at more than 200 universities and spoken before a wide range of corporate clients such as Microsoft, Shell, Fidelity, Bayer, Bristol-Myers, Hallmark, Bank of Nova Scotia, MacKenzie Financials, and many others. His five TED talks have been seen by millions of viewers. In 2009 he delivered the CBC Massey Lectures.
Dr. Davis is the recipient of numerous awards, including several honorary degrees, the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Explorer's Medal, The Lowell Thomas Medal, the David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration and the $125,000 Lannan Foundation Prize for Nonfiction.
“In Trent’s best interdisciplinary tradition, Dr. Davis spans the worlds of natural science, social science and the humanities. He is passionate about conveying knowledge and wisdom through the arts. His fusion of environmental, Indigenous and social concerns resonates deeply at Trent.” – nominator, anonymous
"It is a very special honour indeed to be recognized in this way by Trent University. Over the years I have been fortunate to speak on campus on a number of occasions and I have always come away inspired by students and faculty alike,” Dr. Davis said. “To be acknowledged by the University in the very year that sees me and my family returning to Canada to live after two decades abroad is as good a welcome home as I could have ever hoped for."
Shelagh Grant
Professor Shelagh Grant was thrilled to learn of the honorary Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded to her at this year’s convocation ceremonies for long-standing service to Trent University as an educator, and renowned achievement as a scholar of the Canadian Arctic.
“I feel doubly honoured to receive this recognition from Trent, which has contributed so much to my success as a researcher and author,” Prof. Grant said.
Prof. Grant’s scholarship and leadership at Trent University has spanned more than three decades. After undergraduate studies in nursing science at Western University, she began her Trent career by earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and Canadian Studies in 1981, followed by a Master of History in 1983.
In addition to teaching at Trent for seventeen years, Prof. Grant is an accomplished scholar and prize-winning author. Her books and dozens of academic articles have established her as one of North America’s leading authorities on the history of the Canadian Arctic, sovereignty, and Inuit culture. Since the 1980s, she has been at the forefront of a renaissance of historical writing aimed at redirecting the eyes of Canadian policy-makers and citizens to the significance of our northern territories. Her second book, Arctic Justice: On Trial for Murder, Pond Inlet, 1923, won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Award for the best book on northern history in 2003. Her latest book, Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America, reaffirmed her standing, winning the $15,000 Lionel Gelber Prize in 2011 for the best English language book on global affairs, awarded by the Lionel Gelber Foundation and the Munk Institute of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, breaking ground as the first Canadian woman to receive the award. Polar Imperative also won the J.W. Dafoe Book Prize among other prestigious awards.
As well as her international recognition as a scholar, Prof. Grant has made significant contributions to Trent University as a teacher, serving as an adjunct professor as well as a mentor to students interested in the history of Canada’s north and its peoples. Recently, her legacy as an educator in the fields of Canadian and Arctic studies were recognized through the creation of the Shelagh Grant Endowment Award, supporting long distance travel for graduate student research and translation of dialogues with members of Aboriginal communities. Now retired from regular teaching, Prof. Grant remains active as an adjunct professor in Trent’s Canadian Studies Department and as a research associate of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies. She has received many accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and being appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2011.
“More than any other historian in the past two decades, [Shelagh Grant] has re-invigorated interest in the history of the Arctic through producing gripping narratives as well as powerful syntheses which connect the stories and the lives of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples who have shaped the history of Canada’s north.” – nominator, anonymous
Richard Johnston
Richard Johnston has had a distinguished and eclectic career in the public service. His professional experience includes working as an administrator at Trent, a federal public servant in Health and Welfare, a political organizer for the Ontario New Democratic Party, a provider of services to the elderly through Durham Region Community Care, the executive head of the Ontario Council of Regents, and president of the First Nations Technical Institute and of Centennial College.
He also served as MPP for Scarborough West from 1979 to 1990, becoming known for his work in human services while at the Legislature. He produced two reports on poverty in Ontario, provoking the government to appoint a commission to review social assistance, initiating a standing committee review of domestic violence for the first time at the Legislature, and raising concerns about deaf education in the province which led to sweeping reforms expanding the use of American Sign Language. Mr. Johnston was chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development when it dealt with controversial issues such as extension of funding to the Catholic school system and extra-billing by doctors. After leaving politics, Mr. Johnston was assigned the task of preserving the Toronto Islands community, and his recommendations formed the basis of the legislative solution that continues to this day. In addition, as a volunteer, he has served on Trent’s Board of Governors, the City Summit Alliance, Canadian Labour and Business Council, the Learning Partnership, Festival Players, and Three Oaks Women’s Shelter and was the first chair of the Education Quality and Assessment Council, the first executive director of the Colleges Standards and Accreditation Council, and is vice-chair of Taste the County, the tourism marketing organization for Prince Edward County.
Mr. Johnston has been recognized by receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Community Colleges, an Honorary Diploma from Niagara College, Honorary Fellowship of the Ontario Teachers Federation, and a Consumer Award from the Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped among others. Currently, he lives in Prince Edward County with his wife Vida with whom he owns and operates By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery and Vineyard.
“Trent has always been full of lovely surprises for me and my family, most of whom have attended or worked at the university,” Mr. Johnston said. “I was surprised to be accepted in the first class. I was bowled over to become Assistant to the Master of Peter Robinson after graduation and to be given the privilege of being a don at two colleges. Even the nomination to the Board of Governors came out of the blue. And now this amazing recognition of an honorary degree. All such positive affirmations to boost me along my life’s path. I am very grateful.”
David G. Patterson
David G. Patterson founded and is the current chair and chief executive officer of the Northwater Group of Companies, which includes the main operating company, Northwater Capital Management Inc.
Mr. Patterson acknowledged Trent’s role in his success when commenting on his honorary degree: “Trent University introduced me to the world of critical thinking which has provided a solid foundation for both my life and business career,” he said. “In my business, I am an investment manager and consultant to CEOs who run the businesses in which we invest. In this role, there is not a day that passes when I don’t draw on understandings and thinking processes that were developed at Trent. Since the 1960s, when I attended Trent, thirteen members of my family have chosen Trent for their undergraduate work. \Accordingly, my family has a great love and affinity for this gem on the Otonabee. I am deeply humbled to be chosen for this honorary degree from such wonderful institution.”
Mr. Patterson is a serial entrepreneur in the investment management industry. Since Northwater’s inception in 1989, Mr. Patterson has led the firm through the successful establishment of three innovative businesses. Northwater was the first Canadian firm to develop synthetic indexing to help pension funds invest more in foreign markets while staying within the then limiting foreign property limits. Next Northwater developed the largest Canadian entry in the hedge fund of funds business - a business that was sold in 2009.
In 2005 Mr. Patterson developed the third Northwater innovation by establishing an intellectual property business for the firm. The IP business has developed to be a $500 million business with a wide spectrum of investments in entertainment properties, patent management and investments in patent-rich early stage venture deals. Northwater is currently investing the third fund in this area. In addition, Northwater has a substantial business in creating risk parity portfolios.
Prior to founding Northwater in 1989, Mr. Patterson held a number of senior positions in capital markets and in the investment and finance industry including president of Security Pacific Futures Inc. in Chicago and director of Futures and Options for Burns Fry Limited. Throughout his career he has had numerous directorships and is currently a director of Textura Corporation of Chicago.
Mr. Patterson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Trent University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto.
“David’s commitment to principled leadership … has led to his extraordinary success in socially and environmentally responsible business, his quiet community engagement, and his service to, and support of, Trent University. He is a shining example of leadership in the financial community on the global stage, one that is rooted in the liberal arts and science education he received at Trent.” – nominator, anonymous
For a complete list of honorary degree recipients throughout Trent University’s history, please visit http://www.trentu.ca/secretariat/senate_hongrademinent.php
- 30 -
Tuesday, March 11, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, announced on behalf of the University Senate the five outstanding individuals who will receive honorary degrees at Trent’s 47th Convocation ceremonies to be held from June 3 to June 6, 2014. Honorary Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Science degrees are awarded annually to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to academic life at Trent or to society as a whole.
“The individuals chosen as the 2014 honorary degree recipients represent many of Trent University’s key values, such as our commitment to leadership, intellectual collaboration, and social responsibility as global citizens,” said Dr. Franklin. “Through political and social engagement, contributions to the literary and academic fields, and a commitment to ethics and sustainability, our honorees truly embody Trent’s vision for students to become transformative members of Canadian society.”
Each of the following individuals will be presented with an honorary degree at this year’s ceremonies (full profiles follow on each recipient):
Joseph Boyden –Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded for achievements in literature of Canadian and international importance and in concordance with Trent’s history of First Nations engagement
Wade Davis – Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Science degree to be awarded in recognition of his embodiment of Trent’s interdisciplinary and community-based learning values
Shelagh Grant – Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. ceremony
Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded for long-standing service as an educator, and renowned achievement as a scholar of the Canadian Arctic
Richard Johnston – Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - 2:00 p.m. ceremony
Doctor of Laws degree to be awarded in recognition of his contribution to education, social services and community engagement
David G. Patterson – Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 2:00 p.m. ceremony
Doctor of Laws degree to be awarded for significant achievements in ethical investment strategy and leadership in sustainable research and business practices
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT PROFILES
Joseph Boyden
Joseph Boyden has emerged as one of Canada’s pre-eminent novelists and short-story writers, having won the Giller Prize in 2008 for his second novel, Through Black Spruce. His first novel, Three Day Road, was selected for the Today Show book club, won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the CBA Libris Fiction Book of the Year Award, and more. His latest best-seller, The Orenda, was shortlisted for both the Giller and the Governor General’s Award in 2013 and was just named the winning novel in the 2014 CBC Canada Reads debates.
Delighted to learn of the honorary degree to be bestowed this June, Mr. Boyden said: “I am deeply honoured to be offered this important distinction from a university so important to me. Trent has always made me feel so welcome to its beautiful campus. And now I can consider myself one of you."
Mr. Boyden’s writing focuses on First Nations heritage and culture, a topic that speaks directly to Trent’s long history in Canadian and Indigenous studies. He studied creative writing at York University and the University of New Orleans, subsequently teaching in the Aboriginal Student Program at Northern College. He is currently a lecturer with the University of British Columbia Creative Writing Program.
The acclaimed novelist’s involvement with Trent began as a writer-in-residence in 2006, and continued in 2012-2013 with his term as the Jack Matthews fellow, through which he embodied the values Mr. Matthews espoused as an innovator in Canadian education, learning, and global citizenship. His critical engagement with history and its relationship with the present bespeaks Trent’s fundamental commitment to critical liberal arts education. He has also built many close relationships with students and faculty at Trent, particularly his mentor, Trent Professor Emeritus John Wadland, and participated actively in the 40th Anniversary of the Trent Temagami Colloquium in 2013. Mr. Boyden has taken an active stance in environmental justice through his published writing and commentary, including expressing concern over hydro developments in Moose River Basin.
“Joseph Boyden’s works have reached international audiences and deepened the world’s understanding and respect for the complexity of Canadian culture. His formal inclusion in our alumni community … will expand Trent’s reputation for critical engagement of the study of Canada, the Indigenous peoples of Canada, and our hallmark commitment to social justice as a core value.” – nominator, anonymous
Wade Davis
Dr. Wade Davis is a professor of anthropology and the LEEF chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. Between 1999 and 2013 he served as explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and is currently a member of the NG Council of Explorers. Named by the NGS as one of the Explorers for the Millennium, he has been described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity.” Dr. Davis’s work as an anthropologist and botanical explorer has taken him throughout the world from the forests of the Amazon to the mountains of Tibet, from the high Arctic to the deserts of Africa, from Polynesia to the grasslands of Mongolia.
Dr. Davis is the author of 17 bestselling books including The Serpent and the Rainbow, which was later released as a feature film, and Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest, which won the 2012 Samuel Johnson Prize, the top literary award for nonfiction in the English language. Davis has written for National Geographic, Newsweek, Outside, Harpers, Fortune, Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and many other international publications.
His many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series produced and written for the National Geographic, Grand Canyon Adventure (IMAX 3D), and Earthguide, a 13-part series on the environment produced and written for Discovery. As a photographer, Dr. Davis has curated several major exhibits including The Lost Amazon, Museum of Natural History Smithsonian, and No Strangers: Ancient Wisdom in a Modern World, Annenberg Space for Photography. His own work has been widely published and exhibited.
A professional speaker for 25 years, Dr. Davis has lectured at more than 200 universities and spoken before a wide range of corporate clients such as Microsoft, Shell, Fidelity, Bayer, Bristol-Myers, Hallmark, Bank of Nova Scotia, MacKenzie Financials, and many others. His five TED talks have been seen by millions of viewers. In 2009 he delivered the CBC Massey Lectures.
Dr. Davis is the recipient of numerous awards, including several honorary degrees, the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Explorer's Medal, The Lowell Thomas Medal, the David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration and the $125,000 Lannan Foundation Prize for Nonfiction.
“In Trent’s best interdisciplinary tradition, Dr. Davis spans the worlds of natural science, social science and the humanities. He is passionate about conveying knowledge and wisdom through the arts. His fusion of environmental, Indigenous and social concerns resonates deeply at Trent.” – nominator, anonymous
"It is a very special honour indeed to be recognized in this way by Trent University. Over the years I have been fortunate to speak on campus on a number of occasions and I have always come away inspired by students and faculty alike,” Dr. Davis said. “To be acknowledged by the University in the very year that sees me and my family returning to Canada to live after two decades abroad is as good a welcome home as I could have ever hoped for."
Shelagh Grant
Professor Shelagh Grant was thrilled to learn of the honorary Doctor of Letters degree to be awarded to her at this year’s convocation ceremonies for long-standing service to Trent University as an educator, and renowned achievement as a scholar of the Canadian Arctic.
“I feel doubly honoured to receive this recognition from Trent, which has contributed so much to my success as a researcher and author,” Prof. Grant said.
Prof. Grant’s scholarship and leadership at Trent University has spanned more than three decades. After undergraduate studies in nursing science at Western University, she began her Trent career by earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and Canadian Studies in 1981, followed by a Master of History in 1983.
In addition to teaching at Trent for seventeen years, Prof. Grant is an accomplished scholar and prize-winning author. Her books and dozens of academic articles have established her as one of North America’s leading authorities on the history of the Canadian Arctic, sovereignty, and Inuit culture. Since the 1980s, she has been at the forefront of a renaissance of historical writing aimed at redirecting the eyes of Canadian policy-makers and citizens to the significance of our northern territories. Her second book, Arctic Justice: On Trial for Murder, Pond Inlet, 1923, won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Award for the best book on northern history in 2003. Her latest book, Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America, reaffirmed her standing, winning the $15,000 Lionel Gelber Prize in 2011 for the best English language book on global affairs, awarded by the Lionel Gelber Foundation and the Munk Institute of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, breaking ground as the first Canadian woman to receive the award. Polar Imperative also won the J.W. Dafoe Book Prize among other prestigious awards.
As well as her international recognition as a scholar, Prof. Grant has made significant contributions to Trent University as a teacher, serving as an adjunct professor as well as a mentor to students interested in the history of Canada’s north and its peoples. Recently, her legacy as an educator in the fields of Canadian and Arctic studies were recognized through the creation of the Shelagh Grant Endowment Award, supporting long distance travel for graduate student research and translation of dialogues with members of Aboriginal communities. Now retired from regular teaching, Prof. Grant remains active as an adjunct professor in Trent’s Canadian Studies Department and as a research associate of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies. She has received many accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and being appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2011.
“More than any other historian in the past two decades, [Shelagh Grant] has re-invigorated interest in the history of the Arctic through producing gripping narratives as well as powerful syntheses which connect the stories and the lives of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples who have shaped the history of Canada’s north.” – nominator, anonymous
Richard Johnston
Richard Johnston has had a distinguished and eclectic career in the public service. His professional experience includes working as an administrator at Trent, a federal public servant in Health and Welfare, a political organizer for the Ontario New Democratic Party, a provider of services to the elderly through Durham Region Community Care, the executive head of the Ontario Council of Regents, and president of the First Nations Technical Institute and of Centennial College.
He also served as MPP for Scarborough West from 1979 to 1990, becoming known for his work in human services while at the Legislature. He produced two reports on poverty in Ontario, provoking the government to appoint a commission to review social assistance, initiating a standing committee review of domestic violence for the first time at the Legislature, and raising concerns about deaf education in the province which led to sweeping reforms expanding the use of American Sign Language. Mr. Johnston was chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development when it dealt with controversial issues such as extension of funding to the Catholic school system and extra-billing by doctors. After leaving politics, Mr. Johnston was assigned the task of preserving the Toronto Islands community, and his recommendations formed the basis of the legislative solution that continues to this day. In addition, as a volunteer, he has served on Trent’s Board of Governors, the City Summit Alliance, Canadian Labour and Business Council, the Learning Partnership, Festival Players, and Three Oaks Women’s Shelter and was the first chair of the Education Quality and Assessment Council, the first executive director of the Colleges Standards and Accreditation Council, and is vice-chair of Taste the County, the tourism marketing organization for Prince Edward County.
Mr. Johnston has been recognized by receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Community Colleges, an Honorary Diploma from Niagara College, Honorary Fellowship of the Ontario Teachers Federation, and a Consumer Award from the Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped among others. Currently, he lives in Prince Edward County with his wife Vida with whom he owns and operates By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery and Vineyard.
“Trent has always been full of lovely surprises for me and my family, most of whom have attended or worked at the university,” Mr. Johnston said. “I was surprised to be accepted in the first class. I was bowled over to become Assistant to the Master of Peter Robinson after graduation and to be given the privilege of being a don at two colleges. Even the nomination to the Board of Governors came out of the blue. And now this amazing recognition of an honorary degree. All such positive affirmations to boost me along my life’s path. I am very grateful.”
David G. Patterson
David G. Patterson founded and is the current chair and chief executive officer of the Northwater Group of Companies, which includes the main operating company, Northwater Capital Management Inc.
Mr. Patterson acknowledged Trent’s role in his success when commenting on his honorary degree: “Trent University introduced me to the world of critical thinking which has provided a solid foundation for both my life and business career,” he said. “In my business, I am an investment manager and consultant to CEOs who run the businesses in which we invest. In this role, there is not a day that passes when I don’t draw on understandings and thinking processes that were developed at Trent. Since the 1960s, when I attended Trent, thirteen members of my family have chosen Trent for their undergraduate work. \Accordingly, my family has a great love and affinity for this gem on the Otonabee. I am deeply humbled to be chosen for this honorary degree from such wonderful institution.”
Mr. Patterson is a serial entrepreneur in the investment management industry. Since Northwater’s inception in 1989, Mr. Patterson has led the firm through the successful establishment of three innovative businesses. Northwater was the first Canadian firm to develop synthetic indexing to help pension funds invest more in foreign markets while staying within the then limiting foreign property limits. Next Northwater developed the largest Canadian entry in the hedge fund of funds business - a business that was sold in 2009.
In 2005 Mr. Patterson developed the third Northwater innovation by establishing an intellectual property business for the firm. The IP business has developed to be a $500 million business with a wide spectrum of investments in entertainment properties, patent management and investments in patent-rich early stage venture deals. Northwater is currently investing the third fund in this area. In addition, Northwater has a substantial business in creating risk parity portfolios.
Prior to founding Northwater in 1989, Mr. Patterson held a number of senior positions in capital markets and in the investment and finance industry including president of Security Pacific Futures Inc. in Chicago and director of Futures and Options for Burns Fry Limited. Throughout his career he has had numerous directorships and is currently a director of Textura Corporation of Chicago.
Mr. Patterson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Trent University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto.
“David’s commitment to principled leadership … has led to his extraordinary success in socially and environmentally responsible business, his quiet community engagement, and his service to, and support of, Trent University. He is a shining example of leadership in the financial community on the global stage, one that is rooted in the liberal arts and science education he received at Trent.” – nominator, anonymous
For a complete list of honorary degree recipients throughout Trent University’s history, please visit http://www.trentu.ca/secretariat/senate_hongrademinent.php
- 30 -
Monday, March 10, 2014
Trent Business Students Collaborate with Colleges and Alumni to Host “Life After Trent” Networking Event
Dr. Suresh Narine, Peggy Shaughnessy, Maryam Monsef Among Distinguished Trent Alumni to Speak to Students
Monday, March 10, 2014, Peterborough
For their fourth year legacy project, a group of Trent University business students will host a networking event for students called “Life After Trent” on Tuesday, March 11 at 4:00. In collaboration with Alumni Affairs, the Careers Centre and the Trent Colleges, “Life After Trent” gives students a chance to hear more about what they can do with their undergraduate or graduate degree. During a wine and cheese reception, they will hear about life experiences from successful Trent alumni, including:
“We know that having a university degree is always valuable in the workforce, but students who are about to graduate are often apprehensive about how they will use their degree to get a job,” says Dr. Melanie Buddle, academic advisor and principal at Trent’s Peter Gzowski College. “The advantage to a networking event like this is that we introduce students to a variety of alumni with a very broad range of Trent degrees, who are successfully and happily employed. The broad critical thinking skills and valuable experiences that students gain in university – no matter what degree they end up with – will help them in their professional lives.”
For biographies of the alumni guest speakers, please visit the “Life after Trent Networking Event” on Facebook.
Event Details:
What: Students are invited to hear Trent alumni speak about their success following their university careers. Guests can register at the door; refreshments will be free, with an extra fee for drinks.
When: Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Peter Robinson Dining Hall, Peter Gzowski College
Trent University
1 Gzowski Way
Peterborough, ON K9J 8S6
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Melanie Buddle, academic advisor & principal, Peter Gzowski College
705-748-1011, ext. 7744 or melaniebuddle@trentu.ca
Monday, March 10, 2014, Peterborough
For their fourth year legacy project, a group of Trent University business students will host a networking event for students called “Life After Trent” on Tuesday, March 11 at 4:00. In collaboration with Alumni Affairs, the Careers Centre and the Trent Colleges, “Life After Trent” gives students a chance to hear more about what they can do with their undergraduate or graduate degree. During a wine and cheese reception, they will hear about life experiences from successful Trent alumni, including:
- Maryam Monsef - co-founder, Red Pashmina Campaign
- Dr. Suresh Narine - director, Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research; professor, Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry
- Peggy Shaughnessy - president and CEO, Whitepath Consulting and Redpath Social Network
- Dave Dolejsi - senior strategist, St. Joseph Communications
- John Alderdice - senior business development officer, Economic Development & Culture Division, City of Toronto
“We know that having a university degree is always valuable in the workforce, but students who are about to graduate are often apprehensive about how they will use their degree to get a job,” says Dr. Melanie Buddle, academic advisor and principal at Trent’s Peter Gzowski College. “The advantage to a networking event like this is that we introduce students to a variety of alumni with a very broad range of Trent degrees, who are successfully and happily employed. The broad critical thinking skills and valuable experiences that students gain in university – no matter what degree they end up with – will help them in their professional lives.”
For biographies of the alumni guest speakers, please visit the “Life after Trent Networking Event” on Facebook.
Event Details:
What: Students are invited to hear Trent alumni speak about their success following their university careers. Guests can register at the door; refreshments will be free, with an extra fee for drinks.
When: Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Peter Robinson Dining Hall, Peter Gzowski College
Trent University
1 Gzowski Way
Peterborough, ON K9J 8S6
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Melanie Buddle, academic advisor & principal, Peter Gzowski College
705-748-1011, ext. 7744 or melaniebuddle@trentu.ca
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Canada Research Chair in Feminist and Gender Studies Offers Expert Commentary for International Women’s Day
Media invited to contact assistant professor Dr. May Chazan of Trent University’s Gender and Women’s Studies Department
Thursday, March 6, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University gender and women’s studies assistant professor Dr. May Chazan is available for expert commentary on issues facing women in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8.
Professor Chazan was appointed Trent’s Canada Research Chair in Feminist and Gender Studies for a five-year term beginning in 2013. Professor Chazan is carrying out research that investigates why and how older women in different contexts are organizing and networking in global justice movements, to provide critical insights into contemporary struggles for social change.
“People talk about our aging population as a burden. This research will ultimately shift attention beyond the challenges associated with old age to the many contributions older women make in working for change,” said Prof. Chazan, whose work includes significant interdisciplinary connections with Canadian Studies, Indigenous Studies and international studies at Trent University.
Prof. Chazan is a Fellow of the Trent Centre for Aging and Society, a new research initiative that draws on Trent's reputation in interdisciplinary excellence to promote research and awareness about aging and old age. For more information, please visit trentu.ca/aging.
Thursday, March 6, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University gender and women’s studies assistant professor Dr. May Chazan is available for expert commentary on issues facing women in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8.
Professor Chazan was appointed Trent’s Canada Research Chair in Feminist and Gender Studies for a five-year term beginning in 2013. Professor Chazan is carrying out research that investigates why and how older women in different contexts are organizing and networking in global justice movements, to provide critical insights into contemporary struggles for social change.
“People talk about our aging population as a burden. This research will ultimately shift attention beyond the challenges associated with old age to the many contributions older women make in working for change,” said Prof. Chazan, whose work includes significant interdisciplinary connections with Canadian Studies, Indigenous Studies and international studies at Trent University.
Prof. Chazan is a Fellow of the Trent Centre for Aging and Society, a new research initiative that draws on Trent's reputation in interdisciplinary excellence to promote research and awareness about aging and old age. For more information, please visit trentu.ca/aging.
New Bachelor of Social Work Program at Trent University Approved by Provincial Ministry
Four-Year Program to Provide Students with Theoretical Knowledge, Social Responsibility and Professional Skill Sets
Thursday, March 6, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University is pleased to announce that its new Bachelor of Social Work program has received official approval from both the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance. The program will welcome its first students in September 2014.
Offered at the University’s campuses in Peterborough and Oshawa, Ontario, the new Bachelor of Social Work program at Trent will prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills for meaningful professional practice in a wide range of social work contexts.
“Social workers perform an important role in society, providing essential supports to communities by helping individuals, groups and families meet their basic human needs,” said Dr. Elaine Scharfe, Trent’s dean of Arts & Sciences – Social Sciences. “With its distinctive interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research teaching and learning, Trent University is uniquely placed to offer a strong Social Work program for students wishing to pursue a career in this diverse and interesting field.”
Through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, human rights and cultural awareness, in the first two years undergraduate students will develop a strong foundation of clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and social responsibility. The program will explore a range of contemporary themes connected to social work from across disciplines. Students who qualify for the professional years in the third and fourth year of the program will focus exclusively on social work theory and practice, including more than 700 hours of supervised clinical placement. Examples of field placements could include community counselling centres, sexual assault centres, mental health care, and pregnancy clinics.
In the 2014/15 launch year, students will have the option to study either full-time or part-time. In years to come, Trent also plans to launch a transfer pathway program for students who have already completed some post-secondary education. Several courses will be offered online.
For more information about the Bachelor of Social Work program, please visit trentu.ca/socialwork.
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Thursday, March 6, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University is pleased to announce that its new Bachelor of Social Work program has received official approval from both the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance. The program will welcome its first students in September 2014.
Offered at the University’s campuses in Peterborough and Oshawa, Ontario, the new Bachelor of Social Work program at Trent will prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills for meaningful professional practice in a wide range of social work contexts.
“Social workers perform an important role in society, providing essential supports to communities by helping individuals, groups and families meet their basic human needs,” said Dr. Elaine Scharfe, Trent’s dean of Arts & Sciences – Social Sciences. “With its distinctive interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research teaching and learning, Trent University is uniquely placed to offer a strong Social Work program for students wishing to pursue a career in this diverse and interesting field.”
Through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, human rights and cultural awareness, in the first two years undergraduate students will develop a strong foundation of clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and social responsibility. The program will explore a range of contemporary themes connected to social work from across disciplines. Students who qualify for the professional years in the third and fourth year of the program will focus exclusively on social work theory and practice, including more than 700 hours of supervised clinical placement. Examples of field placements could include community counselling centres, sexual assault centres, mental health care, and pregnancy clinics.
In the 2014/15 launch year, students will have the option to study either full-time or part-time. In years to come, Trent also plans to launch a transfer pathway program for students who have already completed some post-secondary education. Several courses will be offered online.
For more information about the Bachelor of Social Work program, please visit trentu.ca/socialwork.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Trent Women’s Studies Chair Gillian Balfour to Moderate Panel: “Women’s Voices @ Social Media”
Presentation and Discussion Exploring Cyber-Violence Against Women and Girls, Leading Up to International Women’s Day
Wednesday, March 5, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Gillian Balfour, chair of the Department of Gender and Women's Studies at Trent, will moderate a panel presentation and discussion on Thursday, March 6, beginning at 7:00 at Trent University’s Traill College in downtown Peterborough, focused on opportunities and challenges for women and girls who use social media.
Special guests and panelists will include Christine Sy, Ph.D. Candidate in Indigenous Studies at Trent University; Maryam Monsef, co-founder of the Red Pashmina Campaign; Karen Basciano, public education and special events coordinator for the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre; and Clara Ashley Vaz, gender equality consultant at Plan International.
“Women’s Voices @ Social Media” is a Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) event sponsored by the YWCA of Peterborough and Haliburton, the Canadian Federation of University Women and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.
Following the presentation and discussion, KWIC will host a reception at The Trend at Traill College, featuring a live multi-media presentation by local musician and filmmaker, Sarah DeCarlo, as well as an open mic.
Event Details:
What: Participate in a stimulating evening exploring cyber-violence against women and girls, and how they are claiming space in the realm of social media.
When: Thursday, March 6, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bagnani Hall, Traill College, Trent University
310 London Street
Peterborough, ON K9H 7P4
The evening is free and open to everyone.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Cosgrove, executive director, Kawartha World Issues Centre www.kwic.info
705-748-1680 or kwic@trentu.ca
Wednesday, March 5, 2014, Peterborough
Dr. Gillian Balfour, chair of the Department of Gender and Women's Studies at Trent, will moderate a panel presentation and discussion on Thursday, March 6, beginning at 7:00 at Trent University’s Traill College in downtown Peterborough, focused on opportunities and challenges for women and girls who use social media.
Special guests and panelists will include Christine Sy, Ph.D. Candidate in Indigenous Studies at Trent University; Maryam Monsef, co-founder of the Red Pashmina Campaign; Karen Basciano, public education and special events coordinator for the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre; and Clara Ashley Vaz, gender equality consultant at Plan International.
“Women’s Voices @ Social Media” is a Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) event sponsored by the YWCA of Peterborough and Haliburton, the Canadian Federation of University Women and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.
Following the presentation and discussion, KWIC will host a reception at The Trend at Traill College, featuring a live multi-media presentation by local musician and filmmaker, Sarah DeCarlo, as well as an open mic.
Event Details:
What: Participate in a stimulating evening exploring cyber-violence against women and girls, and how they are claiming space in the realm of social media.
When: Thursday, March 6, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bagnani Hall, Traill College, Trent University
310 London Street
Peterborough, ON K9H 7P4
The evening is free and open to everyone.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Cosgrove, executive director, Kawartha World Issues Centre www.kwic.info
705-748-1680 or kwic@trentu.ca
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Trent University to Offer New Postgraduate Human Resource Management Program
One-Year Certificate Prepares Graduates to Help Build the Organizations of the Future
Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Oshawa
In ongoing efforts to innovate programming and be responsive to regional needs at its Oshawa campus, Trent University has introduced a postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management, open to students who hold a Bachelor's degree from any university.
Faced with constant adaptation to change, businesses today need smart, versatile human resources professionals who can assemble teams and bring out their best. These and many other skills are at the core of Trent University’s new postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management, which provides a university-level focus on human resource skills and encourages students to understand and question the evolving nature of how companies organize and lead people.
Ideal for students with any Bachelor's degree and an interest in the management of people in the public or private sector, the program is designed to provide professional development that will prepare graduates for career success. The program will also offer critical knowledge and training to any students who wish to gain a more applied understanding of how to organize and lead people in today’s organizations.
Beginning in September 2014, the Human Resource Management program will be offered at Trent’s centrally-located Oshawa Campus on Thornton Road South, just minutes from Highway 401 and the Oshawa GO station. The program will be an excellent resource and stepping-stone for students focused on a future of employment in one of Ontario’s most highly-developed economic centres. Oshawa and the Durham Region have a strong manufacturing sector undergoing rapid diversification and a young, skilled labour force poised to lead local and regional organizations into the future.
“In this age of globalization and innovation, the ability to acquire, develop, and motivate talented people is the number one challenge for organizations,” says Dr. Angus Duff, Assistant Professor, Business Administration at Trent Oshawa and the Human Resource Management Program Coordinator. “The postgraduate certificate is designed for those students who wish to learn how Human Resource Management contributes positively to both organizations and the people who work for them.”
While studying Human Resource Management at Trent University, students will consider not just what organizations do, but what human resources should do, and why. It is an experience where we seek to develop the HR thinkers of the future, helping to lead the organizations of the future. The program approaches the topic of Human Resource Management, understanding how to attract and manage employees in today’s organizations, from a balanced perspective, balancing the needs of both employers and employees.
Trent’s program targets both new graduates preparing for a career in human resources, and also those already in the work-force who wish to take their HR career to the next level by becoming a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). The certification program may be completed in one year of full-time studies, or in two or more years through part-time studies, and includes 11 half-year courses in Human Resources, Accounting, and Economics. With successful completion of these courses and the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) National Knowledge Exam™, candidates will receive the CHRP designation.
Courses
In the fall, foundational courses in Accounting, Organizational Behaviour, and Human Resource Management are offered. In the winter semester, the Accounting and Human Resources course build on the foundational courses offered in the fall.
For a full listing and course descriptions, please visit trentu.ca/hrmc
Trent University Oshawa
The postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management is offered at Trent University’s Oshawa Campus, where the student experience reflects the human-centred values of the Human Resource Management program. The Oshawa campus features small class sizes, and a culture of respectful interactions amongst students and professors is considered the norm, making it an ideal environment to delve into the questions of how to manage people in organizations in a manner which treats them with dignity and respect.
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Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Oshawa
In ongoing efforts to innovate programming and be responsive to regional needs at its Oshawa campus, Trent University has introduced a postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management, open to students who hold a Bachelor's degree from any university.
Faced with constant adaptation to change, businesses today need smart, versatile human resources professionals who can assemble teams and bring out their best. These and many other skills are at the core of Trent University’s new postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management, which provides a university-level focus on human resource skills and encourages students to understand and question the evolving nature of how companies organize and lead people.
Ideal for students with any Bachelor's degree and an interest in the management of people in the public or private sector, the program is designed to provide professional development that will prepare graduates for career success. The program will also offer critical knowledge and training to any students who wish to gain a more applied understanding of how to organize and lead people in today’s organizations.
Beginning in September 2014, the Human Resource Management program will be offered at Trent’s centrally-located Oshawa Campus on Thornton Road South, just minutes from Highway 401 and the Oshawa GO station. The program will be an excellent resource and stepping-stone for students focused on a future of employment in one of Ontario’s most highly-developed economic centres. Oshawa and the Durham Region have a strong manufacturing sector undergoing rapid diversification and a young, skilled labour force poised to lead local and regional organizations into the future.
“In this age of globalization and innovation, the ability to acquire, develop, and motivate talented people is the number one challenge for organizations,” says Dr. Angus Duff, Assistant Professor, Business Administration at Trent Oshawa and the Human Resource Management Program Coordinator. “The postgraduate certificate is designed for those students who wish to learn how Human Resource Management contributes positively to both organizations and the people who work for them.”
While studying Human Resource Management at Trent University, students will consider not just what organizations do, but what human resources should do, and why. It is an experience where we seek to develop the HR thinkers of the future, helping to lead the organizations of the future. The program approaches the topic of Human Resource Management, understanding how to attract and manage employees in today’s organizations, from a balanced perspective, balancing the needs of both employers and employees.
Trent’s program targets both new graduates preparing for a career in human resources, and also those already in the work-force who wish to take their HR career to the next level by becoming a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). The certification program may be completed in one year of full-time studies, or in two or more years through part-time studies, and includes 11 half-year courses in Human Resources, Accounting, and Economics. With successful completion of these courses and the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) National Knowledge Exam™, candidates will receive the CHRP designation.
Courses
In the fall, foundational courses in Accounting, Organizational Behaviour, and Human Resource Management are offered. In the winter semester, the Accounting and Human Resources course build on the foundational courses offered in the fall.
For a full listing and course descriptions, please visit trentu.ca/hrmc
Trent University Oshawa
The postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management is offered at Trent University’s Oshawa Campus, where the student experience reflects the human-centred values of the Human Resource Management program. The Oshawa campus features small class sizes, and a culture of respectful interactions amongst students and professors is considered the norm, making it an ideal environment to delve into the questions of how to manage people in organizations in a manner which treats them with dignity and respect.
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Monday, March 3, 2014
Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research Hosts Conversation With International Sustainability Experts
Carbon Conversations: Sustainability, Labour and Low Carbon Development in Guyana and the Caribbean
Monday, March 3, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University will host a conversation about "Sustainability, Labour and Low Carbon Development in Guyana and the Caribbean" with the minister of labour of Guyana, Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul, and Canada's high commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles.
The conversation takes place at Blackburn Hall, Room 126, from 3:00 - 4:30 on Tuesday, March 4, as part of the ongoing Carbon Conversations Seminar Series hosted by the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research (trentu.ca/tcbr).
Event Details:
What: The Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research engages a broad spectrum of thinkers in the Carbon Conversations – from students and scientists to philosophers and consumers – generating discourse about carbon-related sustainability issues and the future of our world.
Featured speakers:
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Time: 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Blackburn Hall, Room 126, Trent University, Symons Campus
1600 West Bank Dr.
Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8
Media are welcome to attend. Please note, this is an invitation only event; seating is very limited.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Suresh S. Narine, director, Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research
705-748-1011 ext. 6105 or sureshnarine@trentu.ca
Monday, March 3, 2014, Peterborough
Trent University will host a conversation about "Sustainability, Labour and Low Carbon Development in Guyana and the Caribbean" with the minister of labour of Guyana, Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul, and Canada's high commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles.
The conversation takes place at Blackburn Hall, Room 126, from 3:00 - 4:30 on Tuesday, March 4, as part of the ongoing Carbon Conversations Seminar Series hosted by the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research (trentu.ca/tcbr).
Event Details:
What: The Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research engages a broad spectrum of thinkers in the Carbon Conversations – from students and scientists to philosophers and consumers – generating discourse about carbon-related sustainability issues and the future of our world.
Featured speakers:
- Dr. Nanda Kissore Gopaul, Minister of Labour, Guyana
- Dr. Nicole Giles, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Ambassador to Suriname and Plenipotentiary Representative to Caricom
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Time: 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Blackburn Hall, Room 126, Trent University, Symons Campus
1600 West Bank Dr.
Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8
Media are welcome to attend. Please note, this is an invitation only event; seating is very limited.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Suresh S. Narine, director, Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research
705-748-1011 ext. 6105 or sureshnarine@trentu.ca
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