A Gathering of Friends Sharing Memories: 50th Anniversary Chancellor's Gala

Over 300 guests gathered at Trent University to celebrate fifty years of history

It was truly a night to remember as Trent University welcomed hundreds of alumni, community supporters, staff, faculty and friends to a spectacular 50th Anniversary Chancellor's Gala on Friday, October 17, 2014, celebrating five decades of learning, laughs, friendship and unforgettable experiences.

President Leo Groarke, chancellor Don Tapscott ’66, and Master of Ceremonies, bestselling author Linwood Barclay ’73, welcomed over 300 guests to the Trent Community Sport and Recreation Centre to celebrate Trent’s past, present and future on this milestone occasion. Special guests included Ontario's newly-appointed Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, who brought congratulations to the Trent community; past Trent chancellor Roberta Bondar; past presidents Bonnie Patterson and John Stubbs; and founding president Tom Symons, who shared wonderful memories of Trent's earliest days.

The evening also featured the debut of a new tribute video in celebration of the anniversary: watch "50 Years of Trent University" for an in-depth reflection on the meaning of this milestone in our history.

The weekend celebrations are far from over, as Trent brings two more unique and memorable events to the Peterborough community on Saturday, October 18. The Community Parade honours the original opening ceremony of Trent University at Rubidge Hall, Trent’s first home, in 1964. Showplace will also feature a truly one-of-a-kind performance at "Trent @ 50: In Story & Song."

To learn more about the anniversary celebrations, please visit trentu.ca/fifty and follow@TrentUniversity and #Trentu50 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

From 1964 to 2014: Celebrating 50 Years of Trent

50th Anniversary events draw alumni and community

On October 17, 1964 Trent University was officially opened. The historic date was celebrated with a parade and ceremony. Over the past 50 years, Trent has grown from a fledgling institution with 100 students to one of Canada’s leading universities, with 40,000 alumni, award-winning faculty, and world-class research and teaching facilities.

Over the weekend, 50 years to the day of Trent's opening, alumni, staff and faculty, friends and community members gathered to mark the University's milestone anniversary with a number of dynamic events, including a re-creation of the official opening ceremonies with a parade downtown Peterborough and a ceremony in front of Rubidge Hall, Trent's original home, as well as the Chancellor's Gala, which brought 300 special guests to a transformed Athletics Centre gym to celebrate the occasion. The gala was hosted by Chancellor Don Tapscott '66 and emceed by celebrated alumnus and international best-selling author Linwood Barclay '73. Other special guests included: the newly-appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell; past Trent chancellor Roberta Bondar; past presidents Bonnie Patterson and John Stubbs; and founding president Tom Symons. On Saturday, October 18 the 50th celebrations came to a close with a one-night only original Trent production at Showplace Performance Centre where Trent alumni, students and friends brought the history of Trent to life through stories, music and pictures from each of the University’s five remarkable decades.

Photo galleries from the 50th anniversary celebrations can be viewed on the University's Facebook page. View the 50th Anniversary video here.

Find out more about all events and celebrations, and learn more about Trent’s past, present and future by visiting the 50th Anniversary website.

A Canadian Symbol of Hope: Understanding the Meaning of Terry Fox's Legacy

Dr. Jenny Ellison recently joined Trent University as an assistant professor in the Department of Canadian Studies, and is already making a name for herself by sharing her research on one of Canada’s most iconic heroes.

As part of her research on physical fitness and body image in contemporary Canadian culture, Prof. Ellison will present her latest work on Terry Fox’s impact on national identity at a public talk at Mount Allison University and the Versions of Canada conference in Charlottetown later this month. On Sunday, September 14, Prof. Ellison will also be speaking at the Terry Fox Run in Peterborough.

“Terry Fox is a unique figure in the Canadian story, because his achievements were recognized in their own time,” Prof. Ellison said. “He made patients’ struggles with cancer public in an unprecedented way. People were only beginning to talk about cancer openly at this time and he put a public face on the disease.”

Terry Fox was a university student when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and had his right leg amputated shortly after the diagnosis. In April of 1980, he began the “Marathon of Hope” – a 26-mile-a-day cross-Canada run to raise money and generate publicity for cancer research. The run gradually generated more and more public attention, and Terry was deemed a hero and incredible for his remarkable achievement. By September, Terry’s cancer had returned, causing the run to end; the media carried regular reports on his health. When he died on June 28, 1981, he had raised $24 million for cancer research.

Prof. Ellison’s research examines Terry Fox’s role in Canadian nationalism and “unifying influence”. Fox was described not only as a hero but also as a man who joined Canada together at a time when Canada was growing farther and farther apart. Nationalism was a key part of the public conversation of the late 1970s and early 1980s, as Canadians grappled with the rise of the Parti Quebecois and the referendum of 1980. In the contemporary context, Fox is celebrated for his tenacity, but in 1980 and 1981 Canadians viewed the Marathon of Hope through the lens of nationalist debates. People believed that he was representative of shared Canadian values, and saw the Marathon as a symbol of hope in a dark period of Canada’s history.

“There is one part of his message that people often forget. His core message in undertaking the run was that he wasn’t special,” said Prof. Ellison. “The marathon got everyone’s attention, and his story was so human, that it immediately captured the imagination of many Canadians.”

Trent Graduate Part of Team Who Found Lost Franklin Expedition Ships

Dr. Douglas Stenton '80, Nunavut director of heritage, part of historic discovery of Franklin shipwreck

As the world marvels at the discovery of one of the two lost ships of the Royal Navy’s Franklin expedition, Trent University congratulates Dr. Douglas Stenton ’80, a graduate of the M.A. program in Anthropology, for his key involvement in this historic moment.

Since 2008, the Government of Nunavut has been one Parks Canada's key partners in the search for the wrecks. Dr. Stenton, archaeologist and director of heritage for the Government of Nunavut, has led terrestrial site surveys on King William Island, Adelaide Peninsula and other locations in a search for evidence of the wrecks.

In 2014, Dr. Stenton’s team discovered two artifacts that played an integral role in the recently announced discovery by Parks Canada of the wreck of one of the Franklin vessels. Dr. Stenton’s team discovered the artifacts on an island in eastern Queen Maud Gulf, one of which was unquestionably from a Royal Navy ship. No such artifacts had been found in the area since the late 1800’s. Based on the discovery, Parks Canada’s marine archaeologists shifted their sonar surveys to the area near the island and quickly discovered the wreck.

“The Government of Nunavut is delighted to have made a major contribution to this historic discovery, which was the direct result of the close collaboration and sharing of expertise and resources between the Government of Nunavut, Parks Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Hydrographic Service,” said Dr. Stenton. “On a personal level, it was an extraordinary experience and a major highlight of my 30-plus years of conducting archaeological research in Nunavut.”

Dr. Stenton will be returning to Trent University on Saturday, October 25, 2014 as one of the distinguished Anthropology alumni who will be sharing their on-going research at an Archaeology Symposium. Dr. Stenton will be speaking about the Government of Nunavut’s involvement in the search for the Franklin wrecks, as part of the celebration of Trent’s eminent graduates’ contributions to the anthropological field. The event is supported by the Bagnani Trust, Trent University’s Vice President Strategic Initiative Fund, and the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre (TUARC).

Euglena, an Aquatic Organism that Eats Water Pollutants, to be Researched at Trent

An algae-like organism known as euglena is the star of an exciting new collaborative research initiative based at Trent University. The Euglena Research Program will bring together faculty and students at Trent to study the untapped potential of euglena, which have the ability to “eat” many different types of water pollutants like minerals, heavy metals, and phosphorus.

The new program was announced by Noble Purification Inc., a water filtration company based at Trent, during a gathering of community members and business development groups at Gzowski College’s Gathering Space on Tuesday, August 26. The work being done by Trent researchers will help increase the efficiency of Noble’s water purification technology, allowing communities to remove more pollutants from our fresh water supply, and will also provide an opportunity to sequence the genome of euglena, which could lead to further discoveries.

The Noble team has an impressive group of Trent faculty members interested in euglena research and acting as scientific advisors to the program:

• Leading the group is Dr. Céline Guéguen, associate professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Sciences and Biogeochemistry, who has worked with Noble Purification Inc. to secure funding from the Ontario Centres of Excellence to conduct research on euglena’s ability to absorb a variety of heavy metals. Dr. Gueguen’s research sets the stage for future collaborations with Dr. Brent Wootton at the Fleming College Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment. 
• Department of Forensics chair and professor, Dr. Barry Saville, will manage the euglena genetics research project. 
• Dr. Neil Emery, vice-president research and international and professor of Biology, is one of the world’s leading scientists conducting research on cytokinins, a key plant hormone responsible for plant productivity. He will investigate cytokinins in euglena cells and their role in euglena cell division. This applied research will be vital in advancing the Noble technology used to produce euglena in the bulk quantities needed for municipal wastewater treatment. At its end of life, dead euglena’s composition contains approximately 20 -30% lipids, natural oils which have a high potential for utilization in many bio-energy or bio-materials applications. 
• Dr. Suresh Narine, professor of Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry, and Ontario Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Engineering, will be providing scientific advice on how to maximize the economic value of bi-products created by the Euglena BioFiltration System.

Founded by 20-year-old Adam Noble as a result of research he conducted for the Canada Wide Science Fair while in high school, Noble Purification Inc. initially focused on extracting silver nanoparticles from wastewater using Euglena’s unique properties. The company has also announced a new Euglena BioFiltration System, based on breakthrough research conducted at Trent, showing that euglena can absorb many different pollutants in water, from phosphates to lead.

Noble Purification Inc. is headquartered at The Cube incubator at Trent University, where it is part of the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster’s technology-focused business incubation program. There is great potential for future projects associated with Noble Purification, in partnership with the research capacity at Trent University.

Thank You for a Memorable Launch of Trent University's 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Trent University welcomed hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff, and special community guests to the 50th Anniversary Alumni & Friends Reunion Weekend from August 7-10, 2014. It was a wonderful opportunity for alumni to reconnect with classmates, meet new friends, and introduce their families to the University’s beautiful nature setting, its warmly inviting atmosphere, and the brilliant intellectual discussions that take place across campus and beyond.

The celebrations began on Thursday, August 7 with the Opening Reception and Book Launch, where alumni and friends were welcomed to campus by Trent’s eighth president, Dr. Leo Groarke; its founding president, Professor Tom Symons; and Julie Davis, vice president of External Relations and Advancement. D’Arcy Jenish, author of Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, spoke about the deep history he encountered while writing the book. From Trent’s very first students registered in 1964 to the newest graduates, alumni spent the weekend visiting the Symons Campus colleges as well as Peter Robinson College and Traill College, celebrating 50 years of sport at the Athletics Centre, and took in a special reunion show by Blue Rodeo and The Burning Hell at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

As Dr. Groarke put it in his introduction at the Symposium Keynote, “Any great party is enlivened with serious discussion.” On Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9, alumni and faculty were joined by community visitors for the Ideas That Change The World Symposium, led by a fascinating keynote address by Trent chancellor Dr. Don Tapscott on the topic of "Rethinking Civilization: Five Modest Proposals for a World that Needs Changing." The Symposium featured 15 focused panels with 75 of Trent’s renowned alumni and faculty leading insightful discussions on critical issues within the themes of Education, Critical Cultural Inquiry, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Life and Health, and Sustainability and the Environment. Symposium attendees emerged feeling re-engaged in academic conversations, enlightened on important topics, and inspired to make a difference.

Trent University would like to extend a special thank-you to the many individuals and organizations who helped to make the weekend such a successful kick-off to the coming year of celebrations.

“I want to express my personal thanks to the hundreds of volunteers, to the speakers, to the overwhelming number of alumni who attended, and to everyone who supported the weekend's events in one way or another,” Dr. Groarke said. “I am impressed by the passion that Trent alumni have for their alma mater and their engagement with its ideals.”

Visit Trent University’s Facebook page to see photo galleries from all the events of the 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Weekend, and to watch videos of Symposium speakers. Find out more about all the exciting events to come as Trent embarks upon a year of anniversary celebrations, including the Chancellor’s Gala, a Community Parade, and fascinating lectures by distinguished alumni.

New Trent President Leo Groarke Shares Thoughts on the Future of Education

Dr. Groarke began his term as president in July 2014

As Dr. Leo Groarke began his term as Trent University’s eighth president and vice-chancellor on July 1, 2014, he has wasted no time in reaching out to the community with op ed pieces in the Peterborough Examiner and in Peterborough This Week on July 18, 2014.

President Groake shared that he feels fortunate to have the opportunity to join Trent University, particularly as we approach the 50th anniversary, a milestone moment in our history. He looks forward to working with our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the community in Peterborough and Durham region to enhance a university already known for high quality teaching, excellence in research, and for the care it takes in preparing students for a successful future.

“As we enter the next 50 years of Trent’s history, I hope to continue to build Trent’s well-deserved reputation as a leading Canadian university offering a comprehensive and impressive range of academically rigorous programs while providing all the benefits of a personal, close-knit community,” said President Groarke.

In the editorials published today, President Groarke shares that his motivations for taking on his new role are rooted in university ideals and in Trent and the communities it engages. He also comments, based on his many years of experience as a post-secondary educator and administrator, on the impact of a university degree in providing students with the ability to see issues from a broader perspectives, to think critically, and to communicate well – skills and qualities which lead to higher earnings and more employment options. In sharing key aspects of his vision for the future of university education and of Trent, he points to several ways in which Trent aims to be a key component of the future of Ontario, of which community partnerships will be one critical part.

The entire University community warmly welcomes Dr. Leo Groarke. To read more about our new president, please visit www.trentu.ca/president.

Show Your Alumni Spirit with Trent 50th Anniversary Gifts and Clothing

The Trent Alumni online store now features special merchandise items to help celebrate the University’s50th anniversary, kicking off this August and continuing all year long.

Show your Trent spirit with a brightly-coloured scarf from your college, engraved mugs and glasses, leather and canvas tablet messenger bags, and many clothing options for men, women and kids. Make sure you have your anniversary gear in time for the Kick-Off Reunion Weekend!

Proceeds from the sale of 50th anniversary merchandise help support the 2014-2015 celebration initiatives.

“It’s very timely to launch this new line of Trent Alumni merchandise,” said Lee Hays, director of Alumni Affairs at Trent University. “We know alumni love to wear their Trent gear and with this new online store, everyone has a chance to enhance their wardrobe or send a Trent gift, from the comfort of home!”

Visit the online Trent Alumni store to view the full selection of Trent products available. Post a photo of yourself and your family members with your Alumni items and hashtag #TrentU50!

Former Canadian Ambassador Shares Experiences of Cuba with Students at Trent University Oshawa

Trent University Oshawa students had a rare and valuable experience when Mark Entwistle, former Canadian ambassador to Cuba, participated in a summer seminar class at Trent University Oshawa on Monday, June 23, 2014. A group of third- and fourth-year students had the opportunity to interact with Mr. Entwistle during an informal reception, followed by the seminar dialogue on Cuba and North America.

The seminar course is taught by history professor Dr. Robert Wright, who provides students with the opportunity to explore Cuban-North American relations in depth, both through discussion of scholarship in the field and through advanced independent research. The course examines the evolution of Canadian and American relations with Cuba since the nineteenth century, with a particular emphasis on the Castro era.

"Few Canadians know Cuba as well as Mark Entwistle," says Prof. Wright. "Students had the opportunity to discuss what they have read about Fidel Castro, for example, with somebody who spent over a hundred hours in his presence. But more than this, Mark has literally lived Canadian history, whether serving at the Canadian Embassy in the 'perestroika' era Moscow of Mikhael Gorbachev, or advising Canadian prime ministers and ministers. It is this extraordinary wealth of experience that Mark brought to the students of Trent Oshawa."

Mr. Entwistle was a Canadian diplomat for sixteen years and served as Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Cuba from 1993 to 1997. Among other achievements, he drafted the 14-point joint Canadian-Cuban declaration that ultimately led to the Chrétien-Castro state visit of 1998, the only one of its kind other than Pierre Trudeau's visit in 1976. Mr. Entwistle is widely regarded as the most activist ambassador Canada ever posted to Cuba. His Foreign Service career included assignments at the Canadian Embassies in Tel Aviv, Israel (1982-1985) and Moscow, in the former USSR (1986-1989), where he was responsible for political analysis and bilateral relations.

Prof. Wright interviewed Mr. Entwistle in 2004 while researching his book on Pierre Trudeau and Fidel Castro, Three Nights in Havana. Since that time, Prof. Wright and Mr. Entwistle have collaborated on several projects, including a highly successful round table on Cuba held at Trent Oshawa in November 2007, and the 2009 book Our Place in the Sun.

Trent Alumna Dalal Al-Waheidi Receives a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award for 2014

Trent University congratulates alumna Dalal Al-Waheidi, executive director of global We Day for non-profit organization Free The Children, upon being named as one of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants byCanadian Immigrant magazine on Tuesday, June 24, 2014. The awards celebrate the inspiring stories and achievements of notable immigrants to Canada.

Ms. Al-Waheidi grew up in the Gaza Strip in Palestine, and came to Trent in 1998 to study International Development Studies and Political Studies. During her third year, she took advantage of the Trent-in-Ecuador program to study abroad for a year. This “alternative educational experience” was significant for Dalal because “it provided a link between theory and practice”. Now through her career with Free The Children, which she learned about from the International Development Studies department at Trent, she works to support efforts to free children from poverty and exploitation through domestic empowerment programs and leadership training.

The award winners were honoured at a ceremony in Toronto on June 24 and on June 26 in Vancouver. Each of the RBC Top 25 award winners receive a commemorative plaque and a $500 donation will be made towards a registered Canadian charity of their choice. Winners will also be featured oncanadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25 and in the July print edition of Canadian Immigrant magazine.

Trent is proud to welcome Ms. Al-Waheidi back to campus this August to help kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations as one of the many distinguished alumni speakers participating in the Ideas that Change the World Symposium. She will be a panelist for the discussion of Canada’s Role in the World on Friday, August 8, as part of the Critical Cultural Inquiry theme. Ms. Al-Waheidi will also be one of four Honorary Chairs hosting the Trent International Program’s formal dinner on Saturday, August 9.

Trent University Oshawa Professor Robert Wright Launches New Book

Excerpt from best-selling author Prof. Wright's thrilling new book in Montreal Gazette

Historian, bestselling author, screenwriter and Trent University Oshawa professor Dr. Robert Wright will launch his next book, The Night Canada Stood Still, on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. A lengthy excerpt has been printed in the Montreal Gazette, which can be read online.

The new book revisits the drama and intrigue that led to the 1995 Quebec referendum which nearly split the nation, blending the historical details around the sovereignist campaign with the excitement and anxiety that was felt by Canadians watching the election results across the country. Dr. Wright has won a prestigious $15,000 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts for The Night Canada Stood Still, the latest in a series of accolades for his published work, including the Lela Common Prize for Canadian History for his national bestseller Three Nights in Havana (2007).

Dr. Wright, a professor of History at Trent University Oshawa, has built his career by challenging the way we think about Canadian history, foreign policy and sovereignty issues. His books include Our Man in Tehran: Ken Taylor and the Iran Hostage Crisis (2011), which was turned into a full-length, critically-acclaimed documentary film co-written by Dr. Wright.

Trent Indigenous Studies Professor Appointed as President of the First Nations University of Canada

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) has appointed Trent University Indigenous Studiesprofessor Mark S. Dockstator as its new president, effective July 1, 2014. Professor Dockstator has been an associate professor at Trent University since 1997, and also served as departmental chair and director of the PhD program.

“We are exceptionally pleased that Mark has been chosen to lead the First Nations University of Canada,” said Dr. David Newhouse, chair of the Indigenous Studies department at Trent. “He carries with him all the support of the Department of Indigenous Studies as he undertakes these important leadership responsibilities. It is an honour that one of our members has been chosen for the task for helping the First Nations University on the next step of its development.

A member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, Prof. Dockstator became the first indigenous person to graduate with a doctorate in law in 1994 from York University. His doctoral dissertation, entitled “Toward an Understanding of Aboriginal Self Government”, is a blend of Indigenous and Western knowledge and was used as a foundation for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples final report.

Prof. Dockstator has served as

• Founding Chairman of the First Nations Statistical Institute, Senior
• Negotiator and Researcher for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, President and CEO of Rama Economic
• Development Corporation, Special Advisor to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People and Special
• Advisor to the Chief Commissioner of the Indian Land Claims Commission, to name a few.

He also has a great deal of business experience and has a specific research expertise in Aboriginal issues, having served as principal investigator on an array of national and regional research projects in areas such as Aboriginal health, treaties, Aboriginal languages and culture, education and economic development.

“It is an honor to become the next President of the First Nations University of Canada,” said Prof. Dockstator. “The appointment offers an excellent opportunity to share the experience and expertise of Indigenous Studies developed here at Trent University, explore partnerships and build a network of Indigenous educational institutions for the benefit of both First Nations and Canadian society.”

The First Nations University of Canada is a unique Canadian institution that specializes in Indigenous knowledge, providing post-secondary education for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students alike within a culturally supportive environment. It provides a unique opportunity to study in an environment that supports First Nations cultures, languages, and values.

Trent Professor Chris Furgal Joins Leading Researchers to Discuss 'What Matters Now'

Dr. Chris Furgal, an associate professor in the Indigenous Environmental Studies program at Trent, will share his research about how indigenous communities will adapt to climate change as one of several “fascinating ideas” presented at the “What Matters Now” event on Wednesday, May 21 at Kingston’s City Hall.

Professor Furgal joins four other top Ontario university researchers for the final stop of this year’s Research Matters free speakers’ series, run by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). The series aims to showcase how university researchers are improving the health, happiness and richness of life around the world as well as helping government, businesses and communities make informed decisions.

“Research Matters highlights the tremendous breadth and value of university research being conducted right here in Ontario,” says Bonnie M. Patterson, President and CEO of the COU. “It’s no exaggeration to say that university research changes lives, and we want the public to take as much pride in that accomplishment as our universities do.”

Prof. Furgal recently received national attention for a report he co-authored about the food security plight of northern Canadians. The report, entitled Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada: An Assessment of the State of Knowledge, was released March 27 by the Canadian Council of Academics and quickly received national coverage from CBC News, Sun News, and other media outlets.

The study paints a picture of how challenging it is for Aboriginal people living in northern and remote communities to access safe, nutritious food on a regular basis. It describes food security in the north as a serious and complex issue with significant implications for health and wellness, especially for the Inuit. “Quite simply put, things need to be done now and on a large scale to address this critical issue in Aboriginal health in Canada,” Prof. Furgal said.

Hosted by public broadcaster Piya Chattopadhyay, the “What Matters Now” event will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and can be watched on a live stream online.

Graduating Students Reflect on Their Time at Trent Through Legacy Video

"A Proclamation of My Education" Shares Students' Favourite Trent Experiences

Watch the YouTube Video »

When Matt Patterson and Joseph Adams were asked to create a “Legacy Project” for their Management Thought class with Professor David Newhouse, they chose to make a promotional video to support Trent University’s recruitment process.

The Legacy Project, a unique component of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at Trent, gives students an opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge toward a practical initiative that can benefit others in the community. Matt and Joseph, both fourth-year BBA students set to graduate in June, wanted to encourage prospective students to consider Trent as a way to “leave their stamp” on their alma mater.

“The purpose of the Legacy Project is to make a change that will benefit future students of the program,” said Joseph. “We figured that a promotional video would be appropriate since Trent has made a huge impact on all our lives and we wanted to do something meaningful to give back.”

Matt had a camera and experience with filmography, so the video was a straightforward project for him. “Online videos for students looking at universities to enroll in after high school graduation are becoming huge,” he said. Matt and Joseph asked Trent graduate and current Bachelor of Education student Wyatt Short, a spoken word artist, to write a piece for the video that described Trent. Wyatt was pleased to be involved in the project.

“The poem is intended to be a personal reflection of my post-secondary experience at Trent University,” said Wyatt, who graduated with a degree in English literature and theatre last year. “My time at Trent University granted me the ideal experience, and others too have an equal opportunity to enrich their lives by attending Trent University.”

Wyatt’s professors had a strong influence on his perception of literature and theatre, and in his opinion, went above and beyond their call of duty to ensure student success and happiness. “It's a very personal experience, being a student at Trent,” he said. “I hope Trent continues to embrace what makes it unique. It has been a beautiful journey for me. I will never forget my education nor the experience it granted me.”

Matt and Joseph presented the video to their peers at a “Knowledge Café” in early April, and shared it widely on social media. The video has received significant attention.

“I've had online marketing companies retweet, favourite, and follow me on Twitter because of the video, and CBC followed after I tweeted the video to them,” said Matt.

Visit the Business Administration page to learn more about Trent’s collaborative and interdisciplinary business education program.

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.