On Monday, York University welcomed a delegation to the Keele campus that included Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca, Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek, and Trinity-Spadina MPP Han Dong.
York University was one of the first stops on the premier’s week-long tour of postsecondary campuses in Ontario. The tour has allowed the premier to connect directly with students about a range of topics including recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), the post-graduation job market, as well as research, teaching and learning at Ontario’s postsecondary institutions.
From Left: Minister Helena Jaczek, Minister Steven Del Duca, York PhD student Jesse Thistle, Premier Kathleen Wynne, York PhD student Dessi Zaharieva and MPP Han Dong pose for a photograph in front of the site of York University Subway Station
The premier’s visit to York included a meet-and-greet with PhD candidates Jesse Thistle and Dessi Zaharieva, who shared their research and spoke with Wynne about their experiences at York, a meeting with YFS President Chenthoori Malankov and a discussion with Siva Vimalachandran, executive director, projects & development, York University Student Centre. Other highlights from the day were an introduction to students who work in the Lassonde School of Engineering’s BEST Lab and their unique entrepreneurial projects, an interactive tour of the Bergeron Centre’s Sandbox and 3D Printing Lab, a roundtable on access, tuition and education with the premier, ministers, MPP Dong and student leaders from across campus, and a tour of the Scott Library Learning Commons.
Lassonde student Sonal Ranjit (left) shares start-up project Shapetrace with Premier Wynne (second from right), MPP Dong (far right), and BEST Lab Director Andrew Maxwell (second from left)
Lassonde students Andrew Brown (second from left), Sogand Talebi (front right) and Milka Lijiam (back right) lead a demonstration for Premier Wynne in the 3D Printing lab
“Monday’s visit was a wonderful opportunity to have Premier Wynne, Ministers Del Duca and Jaczek and MPP Han Dong spend the afternoon speaking to our students about entrepreneurial education, graduate studies, access, learning skills and the high-quality teaching they are experiencing at York,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of York University. “The visit also showcased some of York’s most exciting new developments, including the Bergeron Centre’s innovative learning spaces, the site of the new York University Subway Station, and the site of our new Student Centre, a project that is the result of student-led collaboration and organization. Much of the campus tour was guided by our students, which provided the premier and her delegation with a firsthand look at the student experience here at York and the new technology and learning environments that are supporting their success.”
A group photo of students, government officials and senior administration from York University who participated in the roundtable
The tour culminated with a visit to Scott Library, where the premier was able to see York’s 21st-century study spaces, including The Learning Commons and the Collaboratory, in action.