York’s leading researchers were recognized for their groundbreaking research achievements and thought leadership during an inaugural gala event, held Feb. 27.
More than 100 people attended the gala to celebrate York’s 2012-2013 research leaders. Hosted by York University’s President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché, the event provided an opportunity to recognize the outstanding research achievements of York’s researchers over the past year, including those who received such accolades as being named Fellows of the 
Royal Society of Canada, Trudeau Fellow, Canada Research Chair and Canadian Institutes for Health Research Chairs, to name a few.
Mamdouh Shoukri
The depth and breadth of faculty and student research was showcased throughout the gala and an announcement of the recipient of the 2013 President’s Research Excellence Award was made.
“Our researchers continue to make great contributions to a vibrant teaching and learning environment, and provide a foundation for the continued development of exciting new and innovative discoveries here at York,” said Shoukri. “I would like to congratulate all of our leaders for their contributions to ensuring the continued success of York.”
“The work of York’s researchers and students is a source of utmost pride at the University and demonstrates our strength, our excellence in research and scholarship,” said Haché. “We plan to carry forward a tradition of celebrating the 
exceptional work of York’s researchers and students – and recognizing the impact of their research on society.”
From left, Mamdouh Shoukri, Roger Keil and Robert Haché
The event opened with a slide show presentation, highlighting the achievements of a wide spectrum of faculty and student researchers across the University, including book prizes, awards from internal and external agencies, donations for research, grants from tri-council agencies and more.
Following the welcome remarks made by Shoukri and Haché, Jim Stanford, an economist with the Canadian Auto Workers, Canada’s largest private sector trade union, delivered an intriguing keynote speech addressing Canada’s Innovation Deficit: Private, Public and Community Roles. Stanford is the author of Economics for Everyone (2008). He is also a frequent contributor to CBC Television’s “The National”, 
appearing on the program’s The Bottom Line panel, and a columnist for The Globe and Mail newspaper.
Jim Stanford
Haché then announced the winners of York’s inaugural Undergraduate Research Fair, held earlier on the same day, followed by a recognition of graduate student research by Barbara Crow, dean and associate vice-president graduate studies.
During the gala, a number of researchers were invited to the stage to receive special recognition for their outstanding research achievements over the past year. Associate Vice-President Lisa Philipps delivered citations for each of the researchers as they were presented with personal recognition items by Shoukri and Haché. The complete list of researchers include:
- Tamara Daly, School of Health Policy & Management, Faculty of Health
- Don Dippo, Faculty of Education
- William Gage, School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health
- Wenona Giles, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
- Christian Haas, Department of Earth & Space Science, Faculty of Science
- Laurence Harris, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
- Carl James, Faculty of Education
- Alison Macpherson, School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health
- Janine Marchessault, Department of Film, Faculty of Fine Arts
- Natasha Myers, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
- Arturo Orellana, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
- Debra Pepler, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
- Marcia Rioux, School of Health Policy & Management, Faculty of Health
- Catherine Robbin, Department of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts
- Harvey Skinner, Faculty of Health
- Jonathan Weiss, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
- Thilo Womelsdorf, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
- Norman Yan, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
- Georg Zoidl, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
Following the recognition of the 2012-2013 research leaders, the 2013 President’s Research Excellence Award was presented to Professor Roger Keil of the Faculty of Environmental Studies for his significant contributions to York’s research community.
Above: first row, from left, Norman Yan, Georg Zoidl, Janine Marchessault, Laurence Harris, Marcia Rioux, William Gage, Alison Macpherson. Second row, from left, Thilo Womelsdorf, Wenona Giles, Arturo Orellana, President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, Vice-President Research & Innovaton Robert Haché, Roger Keil, Tamara Daly, Jonathan Weiss, Debra Pepler, Don Dippo and Carl James
The Senate Committee on Awards selected Keil from the nine nominations for this year’s award – a $10,000 internal research grant – for his many achievements as an internationally renowned scholar who has shaped the interdisciplinary study of global urbanism.
Keil, who leads the $2.5 million Major Collaborative Research Initiative Global Suburbanisms: Governance, Land and Infrastructure in the 21st Century, has published 11 books and more than 150 articles, and was the editor of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, a premier journal in his field. He has also been a visiting scholar and professor at prestigious international institutions and he is the director of the City Institute at York University, an Organized Research Unit at the University.