Concordia University Magazine – Winter 2016 (Volume 39, Number 3)

2016·13.2 MB·English

by  Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations

T16-29370-VPAA-Cover-Concordia Magazine Winter 2016.indd 1 2016-02-02 2:44 PM
NOnEeWti mREeA edLiItToIrE-Sin -chief of CLoncOordiaO KvpeloIryyN evrasl uwaGibthle t.h Iet’A bs itgoguTegsht nb eeTcwasursoHeo tmhse E aerme - ptrreopgirda mab,o”u hte t hsaeyirs .f u“Ttuhreeys ainre j omuorrnea ilins-m.
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Toronto Star and then interactive editor dead set on becoming a journalist, you net, so they have witnessed all these cuts
with The Globe and Mail before being really need to work your butt off and and layoffs in the industry and they’re
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prospects for journalism students. STRONG PROSPECTS pects for his journalism students: “In
fa“Itc deupenldts yon waho nI amd ta lkainlg uto,”m ni “wTheree aireg mohre peionple aond norg antizhatioens 2015 I had more people approach me
Wolfe says. “If they want to learn how doing journalism now in Canada than about job openings and I can say that a
JRDCUUIEFVLLTTIE,A UILS RWO TEPOH EMLERFA .WE K“,AA ES L HEOLEEU SNART LP RSTLEOHAECYYTI IEN NJTEGOYW U WSSRTI TNARHNAO LDAN NNJGOE EOWRUC.RS”UN LAAUPLSPI SM tIwtmohth’ uesca c ommth dm ouelorc,y enh tf h gtrhreieeaairrrdn a dipdntersidroo a nosmrptaehoel g ercroerotsiw uwn aitgosers ere takh: nv .Ihre d oRlro uiyioitgg ghkthfoa t akoi tnnted oB si.w n yg R todt“hhWmrigeeghiirmateincals eliwee z aIhela nvartdemideosa 1 tn cuh5iosp ern yaa yeycr deahee rtra ,snsrv”m eea SdegBnai obl’ltlv,y aearbu tenrhumadetllr laadniy nele tnbob wsuttia lioaeyeolnftsa .dd ts t. yWgIteo hjaHiunrese gtat h pg oseooner iet, nth mIhta scast at twb nomeo ’ttteuh tsaleeadnr yo snt nw otogh itmtoe hhiren aea.vg” nie say bd scoeveeamrnntaet ti asrnghuteeiysf.. t
at the Journal they have three more jobs carried by the legacy media, I am optimistic of journalism education. “When they go
as news app developers they are still about the big transition going on.” out in the world, they may not become A LIFETIME IN ACADEMIA
Chart the best course for your life in the years ahead. ttroy riencgo tmo mfilel nand.d A In dyobno’dt yh aI vken aonwy bwohdoy disSriulvpetriomnasn i nd othees aanpptircoipacahtei nsog mpeer mioadj.o r jsoeut rthnaatl iisst se xbturte mtheelyy h vaavlue aabnloet.h Tehre syk ailrle
dIfo peeso tphlies wjoabn at ntod diso g tohoadt kaitn idt iosf h waoprpky,. “seIne tthhee dneeaxtth fi avned to d 1e0ca yye oafr ss owme em raeya lly verTyh aadt’esp sto,”m heet hsainysg. t hat hasn’t changed 26 These six alumni are making great
there is lots of work.” strong traditional institutions,” he says. over the years. “When we were planning
“I think millennials and those just “It’s still unclear who is going to win and WINTER 2016 our celebration for our 40th anniversary strides in their university careers.
getting into the job market now are who is going to lose. We’ve been under- at Homecoming 2015, we went down the
going to have to think about why they going this transition for about a decade, list of our graduates. I didn’t realize how
A LIBRabree As sutriellR tion tpeYurressutee dtOh inat j woNuhrenrea lvieTsrm i,t Hand E aoMnf ad lIo tthO oifn ckh Vwaen gsetEi ltlo h gaov.e” another decade aincccloumdpesli CshTeVd M thoenyt arerea.l” N Tehwes l roenpgo lritsetr By Isaac Olson
leads,” Sonntag says. “The jobs that Is Sonntag worried about the downfall 32 Caroline Van Vlaardingen, BA 84, Mark
they find and appeal to them most of journalism? “In the short term — let’s Kelley, BA 85, co-host of CBC’s the fifth
Start with preferred insurance rates. mbea nyM enwosto obreg raatne wizha atvti ownies tc.”oanslid etr hto an esteavrym the, es anrye, 3x 0t t1 t0oh y4e0ae ryse a—r sn, oI. t Ihni nthke j olounr-g ecshtoarte a, nJadm nieew Os recdhiatordr ,o Bf AG l9o1b,a sle Nneiowrs a, n-
“In the long term, I tRhin. kH joourwnaalirsmd cWoueldb bes ter LnWaiiltbihs marr tciaofiuclrida lby ien rt’eeslmlia greknacbel ya nddif ofethreenr t. Jsoenllainhg K aeurtih, oBrA a 9n7d, sNpeowr tYso jroku Trinmaeliss bt,e asnt-d 38
roetmhearr kaalgbolyr idthifmfesr,e In tth. iWnkit hw ea ratrifiec giaoli ningt etoll irggeeetnn cbeee tawtnerda l mabthlegitnotaerkir tt hathnmacdt s im,sh I go torheiein ncguks t rowa etce hadar nere ggseou itlnhtsge, tfiaone gldde It o f JmCeBnaCnn aiNfgeeerwr Msa.n cdG eudirieto, rG-riDn-ipch 8i8e,f goef neral
and more curated resultss.”tudents’ dejsoauymirnnga ltaihsamtn’ sin ad ignotsoedr.e osrt ian bg awda tyhsi.n Ig’m, o nthoet r gra“mWse bauret wsme aplul ncochm apbaorveed otou ro wtheeirg hptr,o”-
than we will have to adapt.” Gabrial says. “This little journalism
Silverman — named one of the “most Gabrial, who was a TV newscast and program here in Quebec has produced
influential new-mBedyia fi gJureos oaf 20n15”n e fiLelda prtodiumcer feor rthe ABC and NBC af- some really outstanding people over the
by Toronto Life magazine — doesn’t filiates in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., years, and we will continue to do so.”
sugar-coat the facts either. “I think before earning a PhD and coming to
tshche omoalsjo wriiltly n oof ts etundde unpts i nin j ojouurrnnaalilsismm,” Csiognncso. r“dJoiau rinn a2l0is0m4 ,s stueedse nsotsm teo dgaoyo dh ave —is Rai Mchoanrtdr eBaulr fnreeettl,a BnAce ( wjoruirtenr.,) e 8d8i,t or IRVING LAYTON DON’T BE
Silverman says. “There are good skills an idea of whom they want to be. They and columnist.
ycdoaolu gt lhoeoiandrk nri enastge ,ja ohruocrhwn —atol ia swnmrdi tstech hweoseeoll la, —rhe oc awrli ltt io- aasirste ej osau lbrreenafaodlriyes et essv tteahbnrl ogisurhagdihnu tgah tteihinerg io rfw ridonme wn etthibte-y AWARD FOR TOO OLD
CREATIVE WRITING:
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POETRY By Soili Smith, BA 15
Take advantage of and Concordia University. 24 | winter 2016 concordia university magazine REINVENTING concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 25 By Soili Smith Aw atshnr’ete a yfreaaird o oldf boenecse b eexcpaluasine etdh etyo smtien tgh, abtu ht e tpwicot uhraep tpoy gpeeto ipnl eo,n zeo sohmo to. uGto: gdh ios ssto. Tpooow berigfu al ,
Making THE LIBRARY IRVING because they make honey, and from what he says the pastor, he can make ghosts.
your group privileges: Your needs will change as your life and FLIGSHYTS TMEAMNSA FGOERM EANLTL TLmhiabejro aRrr .yt Hr uaonnwdsaefrordrg moWeaestb iaos tner LAYTON uscpeonorntdiecoenlurutssidtaloeylo l ltyodh av af etbr oihefmao orn n vneaeeyr s,ai erosebous ysi .t as ’H stbo erere ewya,b astosoh oneakfrarseba, li ibesd eta oaolfsr so Dharaoevn eo’ ftlt eweanor rnirneydn, oIt ocae mfne ats,rt l itilhtle egr ematltleiyns bsgeu ynmogubenlrisgn.e gTr,,h bIe uyt
AWARD MAKING THE WORLD bears you see, and bees insofar as they are the in the wake of their sweetness is a bear. The
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or more when you the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program, By Fiona Downey and a better WRITING: lives, Concordians are bringing positive ocsour mrssoeem dk eiGnthoddi no afgn .s diTg hanse.k nTe hldye iwnnh gGy to hhdee r sdepi,od dknye’it nt soge ,tn hhdee hmiman Ite wne nnot wto. Hseee dthoee stnh’rte ree ymeearm obledr r wecheant thlye. tHoled’ s
Marie-Christine Houle-Trépanier CARING ALUMNI > JOURNALISM CROSSROADS > ACADEMIC LIVES POETRY change to their surroundings. tdhornokuegyh. tThhee d poansktoery ,c oanndcl suadiedd, Ib sye snaty yinogu, t sheies, mDaed a lbaosut ts ubmeems.e Hr.e M shy obto hsiss s fihrostt ab beeara rw tiotho. h Hise
combine your home and which offers preferred insurance rates, place By Sue Montgomery God’s so powerful he can make donkeys talk. b(wrohuogohpts m!) ea nodu tt htoe i gt.u Tnh teo ob ebaigr ,w thase rtoeo w sams aa ll
Each year, Concordia’s DeMpartemeentt of fiEngvliseh h ands out prizes for excellence in the It seems to me the difference between the hole that showed through to green grass where
auto insurance with us. oththate ris d eisacsoilyu natdsa apntedd g troea yto purro ctehcatniognin, g needs. ThinksTock 4FI8NWTTcorhre ei qatE ius2tn tia0vgu le1i,d f5 wFyiwe Apofsroor iAottreihf ntt rERhg$yen 5C( gafi0plwc0oiTstae hUierot adrlniSyc td)re h eaCaLr,wc atoai tapRrotuTreiuired hetgnnn,g istavYe tegnewcurdnsda o esUctw o gnrnSe trSuiosavono idtemlidirv SeosuPeriirms tagwltyd ird rstainOhiuntd ,ib unNiBsmagneAt.Tiw et T1 a5hsJ t.epe LuS orIdmrsrevetinfiIytnoth gslGai oinfLso d aonr yfi Ho swtowo aonn srep ksA Tuosiswr rots aasuf:r enipdnv tos gen efr oaotarnnrly p -C MfiaorcnFeetAdmaio t fiisinnv.c e eti doin-. ptcbIah anaetarnsedekt n soece er rs yoey haef twrnafhi rmdhne o ek tyblhni dicne gI lig o tspw htu isharcponeet ulessta m rsiytenoeea.ml a flyIrlr. ,ew o oGhtnahleednti’t notsit si fgtnn o.sco g mIost amea ia emnllpo li n tattoh neytfeotsoye os,wun ..n a T Iyg’hv,e eehr .e tcaGlahonoueodon lc d wdahnrnaeyiidsgt bte hp sdatihs .nmkokeuo.t lo.Id nGb b.eo eGno.o tdT odnhdoiegnw htinogt ,nhi tPgtu uhlcaeokm nleoepdl.. l i eGGtd boo ooaocuddktnn, i iingghh tt
tor for the online literary journal Cosmonauts Avenue (cosmonautsavenue.com). surprised by my limbs. I pull my knees into my bedbugs. Goodnight exposed brick. Goodnight
Pswuluapsyp, toeorv tesinaryvg e yy eaoanurdr o asuhluro mpwrno iyg oarsuas mocac ciraeot niaottrn itb,h useot es iast ’mst oae gtirmeaet. booihSMtuvya Ufe vtoa Eret rlco woco MhmsamsorOa dopaesiknNe ,sedte n tohrTti hthgf seoGhtreaeietearapOihn dr soswe M euep wrio aatoa Enrp trswrleR antd cras tiYoh uh sanw ra ns tgb lec.o l aenlre eo tintbtssn etugisoesre sm sidiupnn naoilean yntisch v ielseeniey..fri v eSGtrseh, ion rnttamyahatn t tweese icyo,vfi l tumeodahl fsec etfsacoeotmmiuhnrdn i abhedntti arertgtiovyis,vo i, cpwen nsunaghe r—y toe mdtgttdohhori afeeCiaafvkmyolcee: inhgr nssteciio egveton lh eirvavcmde,e ee diis.s,par ii T.nf m r pUAfhooehnpenv rmiiiledelvyr ane t a tatnhrthchnstteeierehst oylriywrin u ovahMe gelptorlhhasis wr cge odev a asfwapoz mmrtoiiohynnrabr oegtblli sdl gtsus.ei,peoto a ltomtnetshkisskneees iatyg nhtan oamgdidl n vfilt o whgahvr nehetaehmt va aabaetlg atuw tte chmmhhdkeea a nytt tkhsh i ha eaaomsnnp a ee CtchroeenTBUftoah hAnreMecie vit rnsPeeto errErlasioynnit trg ciiyonelna dindo sGsuhfhn ets iNltioiparrtorey gro.rete e’faHh s,tp eeBuaxerrr .no CewFc lp. B,arl erninatiMi aitdttnito scgic vhipr,eu nelsCua ahtocotesgleioluv ,sk mteeaa anywbynnsdiura, i u v t“ieinionomncuf gePtwse. fr vuSnien a h rrlco Fe seepaa v fia.Gof”itrlehlsnv to leb Fresiegea afaeiror n naroneenAud dane cradsrr pBin veeoStAinnrcts.tg ihm nrae tabra tnnCio yosBln ony.Cgc e.yoad, rrafdsrn ioaidnm f fto othrche uhe s eers on cItlwpbeu hrawoareecrrantksdnteetgcs indarhn ando ogrK udtf.eo hnf A b.“red lnIseo jtoa dewoinfnoap ba lnfm,o au”k’unt bei“ skstlbw o snillmh odeaovsyrrwi ea”eitn mr a Kagst nthio aehndsorveg e swe“ ,atbrI ismna t.llht, ooCyh bvo t.lfiheum o rtesy si eIosnt’- uumgu.b ”ip tn iI:t tlhese oDGSsSpvltoieoeoaoepnztdps... ny GWiGn iTogoh ivohoymidtd.s neibIno iolPignogtiht.hva lteGnte n lyoooaio ofnpSu dsote.oon-l Gopyidgas.oa h GdPsyta-,lo wauozoyocaldldeokin. smio itnGrg 1goaoh. nu odtG gtdrJ.oeueno anpidmgoehntes til. gs h. t
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EDITOR'S VOICE
To recognize the 60th anniversary of his parents
and to supports a student studying immigrant
life in Canada, Michael Lonardo and his
wife, Olivia Lewis, endowed a Concordia
scholarship in his parents’ name: The Maria
and Domenico Lonardo Scholarship.
Maria and Domenico Lonardo
“
I SUSPECT PEOPLE Future tense
DON’T REALIZE
When I first started working in
HOW EASY PLANNED
the education sector in the mid-
GIVING CAN BE, NOT 1990s, the internet was just beginning
to explode.
TO MENTION
University administrators, among
“
HOW GOOD I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE others, wondered about the long-term
effect of this incredible new tool that
FITTING TO DONATE FUNDS
IT MAKES allowed people to communicate and
THAT COULD BE USED FOR access information from anywhere, fellow students, or for taking advantage critical-thinking journalists to tell good
YOU FEEL.” at any time. There was considerable of Montreal’s benefits. stories about their world.”
STUDENTS STUDYING
discussion about the prospects within While experts were wondering about In another 20 years, universities
IMMIGRANT LIFE the next decade or two of “universities the need for brick and mortar univer- and libraries with walls will certainly
– OLIVIA LEWIS
without walls” — institutions whose sities, they were even more concerned be here. And although their method of
IN CANADA.” students would study remotely, never about libraries. After all, it was said, delivering the news remains unclear,
stepping on campus. why waste money and space (and trees) well-educated journalists will likely re-
Obviously that would have had on books and publications that no one main in demand, too — forecasts of their
MICHAEL LONARDO, BA 75 a tremendous impact on the need would use? demise notwithstanding.
for classrooms and other facilities. Yet today Concordia’s libraries are After all, as Nobel Prize-winning
Institutions would be competing with booming. As university librarian Guylaine physicist Neils Bohr said: “Prediction
others around the world. Why choose Beaudry relates in “A library on the is very difficult, especially if it’s about
a local school when you could stay at move” on page 32, Concordia’s three the future.”
home and “attend” Harvard, Oxford libraries had 2.2 million visits last
or any other of the world’s few top- year. Students come for many reasons,
ranked universities? including to gain access to group study
Twenty years later, it seems the areas, new technology and a quiet place
predictions were off. Concordia, for to focus. The university is investing
YOUR GIFT instance, has added many walls, with accordingly by refashioning its
a number of new buildings on both R. Howard Webster Library. Concordia University Magazine welcomes
readers’ comments. Letters should include
campuses, and seen enrolment since There’s at least one other academ- the writer’s full name, address, school(s),
YOUR LEGACY the mid-1990s climb by about 50 per ic field at Concordia and elsewhere degree(s) and year(s) of graduation for
alumni. Letters may be edited for length and
cent, to about 46,000 today. whose future is uncertain: journalism. clarity. No letter will be published without the
E-learning, offered at the university Traditional print and broadcast news full name of the correspondent.
Concordia University Magazine is published
YOUR PLAN through eConcordia, is steadily growing. outlets have been facing major upheav- three times a year for alumni and friends of
And the internet provides new oppor- als over the past decade or so, vying with Concordia University. Opinions expressed
herein do not necessarily reflect the views
tunities to deliver information, such Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other
of the alumni association or of the university.
as the digital dispatches by Ann-Marie digital media as sources of information Please address editorial correspondence to:
A planned gift can help fulfill your financial, philanthropic MacDonald, Concordia’s first Richler about the world. The Editor, Howard Bokser
Concordia University Magazine
and estate planning goals. Concordia’s Planned Giving Writer in Residence (see page 6). Yet Nevertheless, Brian Gabrial, chair of 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
FB 520, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8
staff can meet your unique financial needs. thousands of students still make the Concordia’s Department of Journalism,
Phone: [phone], ext. 3826
daily trek to Sir George Williams and remains optimistic. In the story on page email: [email protected]
Loyola campuses for classes, lab work, 20, “Looking at the future of journal- For advertising information, call
514-848-2424, ext. 3876.
group meetings and other reasons. ism,” Gabrial says there remains an
Student intern: Katelyn Spidle
Call 54-848-2424, ext. 8945, or -888-777-3330, ext. 8945. There’s simply no substitute for per- important role for journalists as skilled Design: University Communications Services
T16-29353
sonal interaction with professors and and credible sources. “Our job is to train
#CUgiving concordia.ca/plannedgiving
concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 3
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CONCORDIA NEWS
10 CONCORDIANS
IN NEW PARLIAMENT
Canada’s new government includes
setting an
10 Concordia alumni Members of
Parliament, including eight Liberals from
Quebec. Led by Justin Trudeau, the Liberal
1 2 3 4
Party of Canada won 184 of the 338 seats in
example
the House of Commons on October 19, 2015.
The cabinet includes Anju Dhillon,BA 02, 1 Liberal from
Dorval–Lachine–LaSalle, Que., Parliamentary Secretary for Status
of Women, and Peter Schiefke, BA 07, 2 Liberal from Vaudreuil–
Soulanges, Que., Parliamentary Secretary for Youth.
The other eight alumni MPS are:
5 6 7
Why I contribute
Daniel Blaikie, MA 10, 3 NDP, Elmwood–Transcona, Man.
Faycal El-Khoury, BEng 84, 4 Liberal, Laval–Les Îles, Que.
to the Library Fund
Anthony Housefather, MBA 02, 5 Liberal, Mount Royal, Que.
Tomacz (Tom) Kmiec, BA 05, 6 Conservative, Calgary-Shepard, Alta.
‘‘ Eva Nassif, BA 05, MA 09, 7 Liberal, Vimy, Que.
W
hen I began Sherry Romanado, EMBA 11, 8 Liberal, Longueuil–Charles-
at Sir George LeMoyne, Que.
Williams Francis Scarpaleggia, MBA 84, 9 Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, Que.
University in Brenda Shanahan, MBA 88, 10 Liberal, Châteauguay–Lacolle, Que. 8 9 10
the mid-960s, the library
was in the YMCA building
on Drummond St. At the
time it had “closed stacks,”
THOMAS HOBLEY IN 205
meaning that students
THOMAS HOBLEY’S
could not physically enter SIR GEORGE WILLIAMS Accelerate the transformation of Concordia Libraries
the stacks to search for and UNIVERSITY YEARBOOK
PHOTO, 97 Support the next generation of student learning
borrow books. While the library did have the books we required for the
work and remained the go-to place for finding accumulated
Instead, we would first look up the desired books in card knowledge, one had to plan to use it effectively and not
catalogues, fill out request slips and hand the slips to library fritter away that valuable, non-renewable resource: time.
staff, who would go into the stacks and retrieve the books.
If the books did not meet our needs, they were returned The days of closed stacks are long gone. Yet even in today’s
and the process started over again. It could take a few world, where much of the access is virtual, there are still
iterations to acquire the correct books. impediments to getting to necessary resources — mostly
due to the cost of journals, books and other media.
Search time increased proportionally with the complexity
of the project being researched, and increased dramatically That’s why I contribute to Concordia’s Library Fund
at certain times of the day or week, when other students — to help reduce whatever physical or virtual
were attempting to get the books they needed. Students impediments exist today.”
had to queue to get access to the knowledge we needed.
The process was, to say the least, time consuming. —Thomas Hobley, BEng (elec.) 7
Find out how to join Thomas Hobley in contributing to Concordia. #CUgiving
Info: concordia.ca/giving | 54-848-2424, ext. 4856 | -888-777-3330, ext. 4856 | [email protected] #CUgiving
concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 5
VPAA-T16-29368-Setting an Example-Concordia Magazine Winter 2016 - Thomas Hobley - final.indd 1 02/02/2016 3:17:03 PM
CONCORDIA NEWS
ANN-MARIE MACDONALD, was the beauty of what Mordecai did. That’s the alchemical have a coffee with them and to feel it’s going to be okay. Nobody
PICTURED IN THE RICHLER miracle that happens if you do your job right as a writer — can tell you how to write, but they can witness you and they can
READING ROOM IN CONCORDIA’S
J.W. MCCONNELL LIBRARY if you write something very, very specific, it will have that just be an example.”
BUILDING, PUBLISHED HER THIRD
NOVEL, ADULT ONSET, IN 2014. universal application.
I know I’ve done my job as a writer when people who have What advice do you give young writers?
never been to, for example, Cape Breton Island, and who were AMM: “If you’re afraid of offending someone, write like they’re
not alive in the period in which I’ve set my story and who share already dead. And fear — any kind of fear of writing — is just
none of the ethnicities or even any of the particular traumas, procrastination. About criticism, you need to learn to me-
will nonetheless say, ‘You wrote my truth.’ I don’t know how tabolize it, to know the difference between what’s helpful and
that happens, but if you’re lucky, it does. what’s not and to remember that none of it can kill you. There’s
Bestselling novelist Ann-Marie
Mordecai had the gift of drawing a lot of people into iden- nothing magic — you have to go by trial and error.”
MacDonald is Concordia’s first tifying with characters that were often quite thorny, even
obnoxious, but we go there because they’re human. They’re If you could hang out with Richler today, what would you do?
Richler Writer in Residence
authentic. It’s about authenticity.” AMM: “I’d definitely want to go to a hockey game — the Habs
LOUISE MORGAN vs. the Leafs! Mordecai was a huge hockey fan and I love it,
You’re a lot younger, a feminist — what’s your connection too. I also play hockey. I’m really a Leafs fan, but now that I’m
estselling novelist, actor, playwright and host of CBC’s with Richler? in Montreal I have to engage and to know what happens with
B
Doc Zone, Ann-Marie MacDonald became Concordia’s AMM: “It doesn’t seem on the face of it an obvious mix, but actu- the Canadiens.”
inaugural Mordecai Richler Writer in Residence in ally it is pretty obvious. There’s a transgressive, comedic streak
September. For three months, she taught master classes to that we shared. There’s a love of narrative. I also think there’s a ——Louise Morgan, GrDip 99, is a communications advisor
English and creative writing students, mentored them and fearlessness. It’s been said about me so I think I can say it about at Concordia.
produced video dispatches from the university’s Mordecai myself — and I think it’s probably true. It’s a certain approach
Richler Reading Room for The Walrus magazine. Richler was a that I know Mordecai embodied as well. He made a lot of people
student at Sir George Williams University, one of Concordia’s mad when he wrote The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. It’s a clas-
founding institutions. sic now, but there was no guarantee at the time.”
You’re the first Richler Writer in Residence at Concordia. What’s it like working in Mordecai’s space?
How does it feel? AMM: “It’s beautiful. It’s intimate. It’s personal. I’m sur-
Anne-Marie MacDonald: “Excellent! I’m a half-Lebanese, full rounded by something that was essential to Mordecai Richler.
lesbian author, so the choice was obvious. Who else were they These books were his friends. I like to sit here and read. Every
going to ask to succeed Mordecai in his chair? It is an hon- time I look around I notice books that I’ve always meant to Join Ann-Marie MacDonald
our. I met him a few times and I will always feel that was a great read, like James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson. But I and Concordia creative writing
friendship manqué, because he died before I could spend the can’t write at this desk — the ergonomics are terrible!” students for an evening of dynamic
kind of time with him that I would have loved to.” conversation about writing and Mordecai
Tell me about your experience with the students. Richler’s legacy: April 19, 2016,
The first time you met Richler, you preceded him AMM: “The residency is a beautiful thing that brings together D.B. Clarke Theatre, Henry F. Hall Building,
at a reading — and compared it to opening for the the past, the present and the future. The students are young 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
Rolling Stones. writers, mostly interested in talking about their own writing.
AMM: “It’s true — and I told him that. It was at a reading at They were shy at first, but some faces and voices have emerged Register at concordia.ca/tol.
the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall. I read first, and quite a handful have come forward to connect.
Michael Ondaatje read second and Mordecai read third. It was Each master class has a point of departure — for example,
awesome! He was legendary and I met him backstage, where first lines and what draws you through a book — and then it be-
he was smoking a cigar and drinking his Macallan scotch. He comes very much whatever the students want to talk about. The
offered me a drink and I said no, I can’t drink before I do a point is really to draw them out and witness them, to let them Recently moved?
reading. And he said, ‘I’m not going to do it any other way.’” express themselves and hear themselves be heard by me.
Update your records at
It’s validating.”
concordia.ca/keepintouch.
What made him a star in your eyes?
AMM: “Reading Duddy Kravitz was formative for me. I was 14 Did you have any mentors when you were a young writer?
years old. It may have been the first truly adult book that I read AMM: “I didn’t have one particular older person who took me
aanndd iIt l wovaesd f uitl.l of all kinds of transgression and it was full of life University uinngd ceorm thmeiurn witiyn,g I. dTihdi sh baveein agc cCeasnsa tdoa o athnedr i tw brietienrgs aw shmo awlle rwer it- Keep in touch.
a
ouWr fhaemni lmy.y O sfi sctoeur rrseec othmemree wnedreed m thaen yb odoifkf etroe mncee, ss,h beu sta tihda itt ’s ConCordi asolwmaeybs okdiny dw ahnod i sg efunretrhoeurs d. oSwomn ethtiem reosa dyo tuh ajnus yto wua anrte t,o j ubset wtoit h concordia.ca/keepintouch
6 | winter 2016 concordia university magazine concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 7
CONCORDIA NEWS
CONCORDIA SCORES $650,000 GIFT FROM SPORTSNET
Athletes at all levels strive TRY ONE MONTH ENJOY FULL DIGITAL ACCESS
to set records. Thanks to
TRY ONE MONTH ENJOY FULL DIGITAL ACCESS
the generosity of Canadian FOR JUST TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
all-sports TV broadcaster 99
FOR JUST TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Sportsnet, Concordia’s GLOBE
99
Department of Journalism ¢ GLOBE
has reached a career best of
¢
its own.
Sportsnet, which is owned
by Rogers Media, is mak- UNLIMITED
ing a $650,000 donation to
UNLIMITED
the journalism school — the
biggest in the history of the
$19.99/month thereafter*
department. The funds will
help advance sports journal- $19.99/month thereafter*
ism at the university. raCe
h
“This exceptional gift Keit
shows how highly regarded AT THE SPORTSNET GIFT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE COMMUNICATION STUDIES AND JOURNALISM BUILDING ON LOYOLA CAMPUS ON
DECEMBER 9 (FROM LEFT): SAMANTHA MILETO, JOURNALISM STUDENT; BRAM FREEDMAN, VICE-PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT AND
our journalism program is,” EXTERNAL RELATIONS; JULIAN MCKENZIE, JOURNALISM STUDENT; ANDRÉ ROY, DEAN, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE; SCOTT MOORE,
says Concordia President PRESIDENT, SPORTSNET & NHL PROPERTIES; ALAN SHEPARD, CONCORDIA PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR; AND BRIAN GABRIAL,
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM.
Alan Shepard. “Sportsnet’s
donation will ensure that to- The Sportsnet gift will help journalism program: un- through a number of
morrow’s reporters, writers create 15 annual scholarships dergraduate, diploma and awards and scholarships,
and commentators are ahead for the next five years, all master’s degree,” says André including the Rogers
of the game.” based on academic merit: six Roy, dean of the Faculty of Sportsnet Scholarship in
“We’re very impressed scholarships of $3,000 each Arts and Science. Communication Studies and
by the excellent programs for undergraduate students, “It’s an amazing contribu- Journalism, worth $2,400.
in Concordia’s Department seven scholarships of $4,000 tion to the program, a chance “Many students find it
of Journalism,” says Scott each for graduate diploma to support our students,” hard to pay tuition and make
Moore, president of Sportsnet students and two scholar- says Brian Gabrial, chair ends meet at the same time,”
and NHL Properties for ships of $6,000 each for of Concordia’s Department says Samantha Mileto, an
Rogers Media. “Our goal is to graduate students. Over the of Journalism, which cel- undergraduate journal-
elevate the training of great same time period it will also ebrates its 40th anniversary ism student and former
sports journalists across offer two annual prizes of this year. sports editor of the student
the country. It’s a time of $8,500 each, awarded to stu- The department offers a newspaper The Concordian.
extreme change and oppor- dents based on their sports three-year undergraduate “I cannot thank Sportsnet
tunity, which is very exciting. journalism portfolios. program, two one-year enough for its major contri-
The people in school now are “Part of what makes this graduate diploma programs bution toward scholarships
the ones who will create the gift so exciting is that it sup- — including a new visual for my fellow journalism
new media ecosystem.” ports all three levels of our journalism program — and a students.”
two-year MA in journalism The long list of Concordia
studies.” A journalism journalism graduates
program is relatively working in sports journalism
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8 | winter 2016 concordia university magazine
CONCORDIA NEWS
important, that other peo- Macco Organiques Inc. The secret to his rise to INSPIRING FUTURE
ple could go during the day (macco.cz/ca), a food success, he says, is to defer BUSINESS OWNERS
but he couldn’t,” she says. and pharmachemical gratification. “If you buy a Scheduled to open in
“Getting those degrees was company based in Salaberry- business and you’re eating 2016, the Bob and Raye
incredibly worth it in the de-Valleyfield, Que. out at expensive restaurants Briscoe Centre in Business
end, but we didn’t know just In 1987, Briscoe every night, driv- Ownership Studies will
how worthwhile it would be invested in IEC ing a BMW and provide a space for students
at the time.” Holden — a North spending all your and faculty to cultivate ties
Bob Briscoe initially want- American-based earnings, then with the business community
ed to be a research chemist, manufacturer of very likely you’ll and support teaching
yet when he finished his electrical rotat- fail,” Briscoe and research on business
undergraduate degree he ing equipment hives says. ownership.“There’s a lot
realized that managers and components arC To be success- more to entrepreneurship
a
whee rbee pcaamide a a l ostt umdoernet. i Sno t he —ac tasn ads c cuhrariernmtlayn ConCordi fyuolu, hnee eedx ptola sinavse, tnheawn, ”in svaeyns tBinobg sBormisecothei,n wgh o
first-ever class of the newly of the board. He and reinvest made a living by growing
ROBERT BRISCOE’S 1967
hatched MBA program at Sir was also president YEARBOOK PHOTO. what you make. existing businesses into
HE EARNED HIS TWO
George Williams in 1969. of AlimPlus Inc. CONCORDIA DEGREES “That’s what we successful companies.
WHILE WORKING FULL TIME
By the time he finished his (alimplus.com) for TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. did,” adds Raye Providing mentorship to
MBA, Briscoe knew he want- 25 years, a compa- Briscoe, noting future business owners is ex-
hter ed to be a business owner. “It ny he formed in 1990. how the couple refrained actly what the Briscoes hope
aC
sCh was an evolution,” he says, Briscoe served as chair- from indulging in any big ex- the new centre will offer.
L esLie crediting those night classes man of the Canadian penses for the first 12 years “Nothing is more motivating
for giving him the opportu- Chamber of Commerce from of their marriage. than hearing a story of real,
nity to find his true calling 2001 to 2002. He received “We never did anything,” hard-earned success,” says
AT THE OCTOBER 23 GIFT ANNOUNCEMENT (FROM LEFT): ROBERT BRISCOE; STEVE HARVEY, FORMER DEAN OF THE JOHN MOLSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS;
RAYE BRISCOE; CONCORDIA PRESIDENT ALAN SHEPARD; WILLIAM MEDER, DIRECTOR OF THE BOB AND RAYE BRISCOE CENTRE IN BUSINESS OWNERSHIP STUDIES; and laying the groundwork the Alumnus of the Year she says with a laugh. “We William Meder, BComm 65,
AND BRAM FREEDMAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS.
for his career. Award from the Concordia went out once a year — on the centre’s director. “Our
His legacy includes three University Alumni our anniversary — and that goal is to bring successful
ALUMNUS ROBERT BRISCOE GIVES business ownership — an To support their young decades as president of Association in 2002. was it!” alumni back to Concordia
BACK WITH GENEROUS GIFT TO THE underrepresented area of family, Briscoe went to work and give them the opportu-
JOHN MOLSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS entrepreneurship. while Raye Briscoe stayed nity to speak to students and
“Bob is a great example of home to take care of their share their experience.”
ALYSSA TREMBLAY addition to two new scholar- someone who has given back four children. The only way A LEGACY OF SUPPORT A long-time friend of the
ships through the Bob and abundantly to the institution he could pursue his educa- A portion of Bob and Raye Briscoe’s generous gift will go towards creating two new scholarships: Briscoes, Meder says he
Robert Briscoe, BSc 67, Raye Briscoe Endowment for he credits as providing tion was by going to night the Bob and Raye Briscoe Undergraduate Scholarships and the Bob and Raye Briscoe MSc learned a lot about helping
MBA 73, received the Student Awards in Business him the tools to succeed,” school. In the 1960s, Sir Scholarships. students achieve their goals
education he always Ownership Studies. Harvey says. George Williams was the sole from his five years as aca-
yearned for — thanks to “Concordia is truly grate- “I feel we owe it to English institution offer- The Briscoes have been championing JMSB student success for over a decade. Established in demic advisor for the John
night courses offered by Sir ful that Robert Briscoe is Concordia,” says Briscoe, ing university-level evening 2001, the Robert J. Briscoe MBA Award supports MBA students whose undergraduate degrees Molson MBA International
George Williams University, setting the pace by giving who earned his two degrees courses in Montreal. — like Briscoe’s — were not in commerce. Case Competition. He hopes
one of Concordia’s founding back to his alma mater,” says by enrolling in night class- Briscoe’s dozen years of the centre’s resources will
institutions. Concordia President Alan es, part-time, over 12 years part-time study — six for The Bob and Raye Briscoe PhD Fellowship in Business Administration helps alleviate the encourage students to aspire
Over 40 years later and Shepard. “The Concordia while also working full-time. his BSc and six for his MBA financial stress of studying at the doctoral level. towards becoming owners
having enjoyed a highly suc- community is inspired by Getting a postsecond- — were challenging for the rather than just employees.
cessful business career, his generosity. Bob and Raye ary education was a journey young couple. Raye Briscoe “It’s a substantial and very prestigious fellowship,” says Harjeet Bhabra, JMSB’s graduate Raye and Bob Briscoe
Bob Briscoe and his wife, will help the next generation beset with obstacles for recalls how difficult it was to program director. “Awards like this let students focus on their doctoral studies, which in turn share that hope. As Raye
Raye, are paying that sup- of students reach their full Briscoe. respond to one of her daugh- leads to higher quality research.” Briscoe says, “Students
port forward with a major potential and help the JMSB “When I graduated from ters, after she asked why need to feel that they can
donation to the John chart new territory in busi- high school, my parents her father was still going to Andrea Kim is a PhD candidate and the most recent recipient of the fellowship. She feels deeply do it, and the centre will be
Molson School of Business ness studies.” couldn’t send me to univer- school when all her friends’ grateful for the financial stability and freedom the award provided her: “The fellowship enabled there to help them build
(JMSB). The gift will help Former JMSB Dean Steve sity,” he explains. “The other dads had finished their stud- me to do so much more. I was able to apply to conferences, give presentations and submit papers that confidence.”
establish the Bob and Raye Harvey says the Briscoes’ issue was that we got married ies a long time ago. to academic journals without worrying about finding a part-time job. None of it would have been
Briscoe Centre in Business gift creates a new focus on straight out of high school “It was hard to explain possible without that support.” —Alyssa Tremblay, BA 14, is a
Ownership Studies, in research and teaching in and had children right away!” to her that this was so writer at Concordia.
10 | winter 2016 concordia university magazine concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 11
CONCORDIA NEWS
D3
opportunities to innovate.” coaching, access to cutting- helped more than 1,500
The André and France edge technologies and ap- individuals including: 760
Desmarais District 3 Fund prenticeship-style learning. students and alumni in 2015; SUCCESS
DISTRICT 3 RECEIVES $1 MILLION will help young entrepreneurs “District 3 is a growing 500 students and alumni
STARTUP GIFT, CHRISTENS NEW bring products and services to success story thanks to our in 2014; 230 students and STORIES
COLLABORATIVE SPACE market faster by attracting in- generous donors, formi- alumni in 2013.
vestment. Startups generated dable volunteers, mentors, The majority of its startup
SYLVAIN-JACQUES donation to Concordia’s through District 3 may qualify coaches and entrepreneurial clients are recent univer- District 3 start up team Revol,
DESJARDINS District 3 is a concrete way for the Business Innovation students,” said Xavier-Henri sity graduates who possess maker of custom-made, wire-
for us to support innovation Access Program, a $20 million Hervé, BEng 87, LLD 11, and the necessary time, experi- less earphones that mold to
Budding entrepreneurs and further bridge the gap ner funding program that partners District 3 founding director. ence and financial support the contours of a person’s
with big ideas will get between higher education dresd businesses with universities “Thanks to the opening of required to launch a new busi- ears, raised US$2.5-million on
an additional boost towards and private enterprise.” J oe 1 and research institutes. our cool, collaborative ness. District 3 is allowing Kickstarter in two months by
success, thanks to a generous France Chrétien and modern new space, the Concordia to deepen its com- January 2016.
gift from leading Montreal Desmarais, LLD 15, presi- A GATEWAY FOR future of District 3 startups is munity outreach.
businesspeople and dent of the Society for the NEW COMMERCE even brighter.” Of its clientele: In November 2014, three
philanthropists. Celebration of Montreal’s District 3 is an entrepre- ƒ 40 per cent are Concordia graduates launched
At a ribbon cutting on 375th Anniversary, said: neurial community within GROWING DEMAND Concordia alumni the District 3 startup Spoil
September 28, 2015, for “In our 21st-century Concordia in the heart FOR DISTRICT 3 ƒ 25.9 per cent are alumni Inc., an internet gift service.
the District 3 Innovation knowledge economy, incu- of downtown Montreal Since its 2013 inception, of L’École de technologie Spoil received backing from
Centre’s modern, collabora- bators increase innovation launched in 2013. The incu- requests for District 3 supérieure (ETS), the California-based venture capital
tive new space at Concordia’s for Montreal, Quebec and bator brings together people coaching and mentoring Université de Sherbrooke firm Y Combinator, the world’s
Faubourg Building, offi- Canada. The most effective who collaborate, create and have grown annually. District and the general public biggest business accelerator.
cials announced that André conduits for these startups innovate. District 3 provides 3 coaches and mentors have ƒ 19.4 per cent are HEC
Desmarais and France are universities.” Montréal alumni In February 2015, a District
Chrétien Desmarais gave The André and France ƒ 11 per cent are McGill 3 startup team, Heddoko,
$1 million to propel startups. Desmarais District 3 Fund University alumni competed as a finalist in the
Long-time supporters of will support three major 2 To date, 15 District 3 startups have ƒ 2.5 per cent are Université Munich, Germany, WT Wearable
Concordia, André Desmarais initiatives: de Montréal alumni Technologies Innovation World
raised close to $5 million in funding.
and France Chrétien ƒ Seed funding to help ƒ 1.2 per cent are Université Cup. Heddoko impressed
Desmarais are the first ma- District 3 entrepreneurs du Québec à Montréal competition judges with its
jor benefactors to support — makers — focus on The combined value of District 3 (UQAM) alumni high-tech suit that feeds body
District 3. The André and prototyping. The majority of District 3 data to smartphones.
startups is estimated at $30 million.
France Desmarais District 3 ƒ Makerspace expansion volunteers are students, fac-
Fund will advance entrepre- through investment ulty, staff and alumni. District In June 2014, District 3 start-
neurial projects with proven in District 3 product District 3 startups have created 3 volunteers have included up Team Glas earned a gold
market viability — and help development tools such 500 Concordia students, 45 medal at the highly competitive
further transform entre- as sensors, laser cutters over 100 jobs. external contributors who Shell Ideas360 international
preneurial ventures from and 3D printers. represent organizations, 36 sustainability challenge in
concept to startup. The in- ƒ Ramped-up operations external contributors and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Team
Sixty-five District 3 teams are
vestment is timely, since through the hiring of seven coaches. Glas, whose three members
1,500 aspiring entrepre- new District 3 staff, such currently being coached. To date, District 3 startups have backgrounds in business,
neurs have sought District as expert consultants 3 have all reinvested profits science and film studies, beat
3 expertise and requests for and coaches, to provide back into their companies out 700 others for its theoreti-
support are growing. diversified and specialized 1 AT THE DISTRICT 3 GIFT ANNOUNCEMENT AND LAUNCH ON 4 to hire more staff. About cal concept, Skywell, a water
SEPTEMBER 28 (FROM LEFT): XAVIER-HENRI HERVÉ, DISTRICT 3
“We firmly believe that skills to a broader range FOUNDING DIRECTOR; DEBORAH DYSART-GALE, CHAIR OF CONCORDIA’S 15 startups begun through harvesting device.
CENTRE FOR ENGINEERING AND SOCIETY; CONCORDIA PRESIDENT ALAN
accelerating innovation of startup teams. SHEPARD; AND BRAM FREEDMAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT District 3 have created 100
and nurturing talent is “We are grateful for the AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS. new jobs. All positions have
fundamental to our society’s Desmarais’s investment 2 THE REVOL CREW, INCLUDING CO-FOUNDERS NAVI COHEN AND been paying, full-time jobs
DANIEL BLUMER, BCOMM 09 (THIRD AND FOURTH FROM LEFT).
long-term prosperity,” said in Concordia’s District 3 additional to positions as-
3 SPOIL’S CO-FOUNDERS ARE (FROM LEFT) JAMES TRAF, CRISTIAN
Concordia graduate André Innovation Centre,” said ASENJO, BENG 13, CHARLES-ERIC GASCON, BCOMM 12, AND MIKHAIL sumed by startup founders. —Sylvain-Jacques
LEVKOVSKY, BENG 13.
Desmarais, BComm 78, Concordia President Alan About 85 per cent of District Desjardins, BA 97, is director
4 THE AWARD-WINNING TEAM GLAS (FROM LEFT): CHARLES GEDEON,
LLD 07, deputy chairman, Shepard. “This gift gives BCOMM 14, SAMI SAYEGH AND AL-HURR AL-DALLI, A CONCORDIA FILM 3 startup jobs went to recent of communications for
STUDIES STUDENT.
president and co-chief our most talented students Concordia graduates and a Concordia’s Advancement
executive officer of Power the tools they need to fuel few final-year students. and Alumni Relations.
Corporation of Canada. “Our their creativity and seize
12 | winter 2016 concordia university magazine concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 13
CONCORDIA’S IDEAS
FESTIVAL IS BACK!
Register for Thinking Out Loud:
concordia.ca/tol
MONDAY, MARCH 14
6:30 P.M. S O L D O U T
TUESDAY, MARCH 1
6:30 P.M. CONNECT THE
DOTS — THE
CONNECTING YOUR
SCIENCE OF CRIME
TECH FUTURE —
A CONVERSATION Kathy Reichs, a forensic anthropologist
and best-selling novelist, Professor
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT
Cameron Skinner, (Concordia’s
6:30 P.M.
Department of Chemistry and
Nora Young, broadcaster and author of The
Biochemistry) and PhD student Brigitte
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 CONNECTING AND Virtual Self: How Our Digital Lives Are Altering the
6:30 P.MS.O L D O U T WELLNESS — YOUR World Around Us, joins Professor Jeremy Clark, Desharnais discuss the real deal on
Bones-style science and crime solving.
(Concordia Institute for Information Systems
GAMES, ETHICS AND BRAIN MATTERS Engineering) to discuss what privacy means when
self-tracking and monitoring are routine.
HOW WE CONNECT
Author and psychologist Susan Pinker
(The Village Effect: Why Face-to-Face Contact
Clive Thompson, author of Smarter Than You
Matters) and Concordia Professor of
Think: How Technology Is Changing Our Minds D.B. Clarke Theatre, Henry F. Hall Building
Psychology William Bukowski discuss
for the Better, joins Professor Mia Consalvo,
face-to-face contact in a time of 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal
(Concordia Department of Communication
virtual connections.
Studies) in conversation about games, who's The talks are free of charge and open to the public.
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C O N C O R D I A . C A
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 7 P.M.–8:15 P.M.
concordia university magazine winter 2016 | 15
CONCORDIA NEWS
Can you describe some of these changes? advantage to them because regardless of their discipline they
AR: “Funding, as you know, is difficult. It’s a constraint. will be able to overlap and connect with others in a very mean-
Students are changing too. I’ve been an academic for 35 years ingful way. I talk a lot about permeability, that we don’t have
and I can say that students — from when I first entered the rigid barriers. We must allow a flow-through, laterally, not just
classroom in 1981 to now — have changed. Their expectations up and down.”
are not the same as they once were. Their way of communicat-
ing is not the same. Their way of imagining the future is not the What are your impressions of Concordia’s faculty and
same. It’s not about wanting to adapt to it — we need to adapt to students?
it. We have to think ahead and figure out who will be coming to AR: “I think we have a great faculty. We’ve been hiring and we
Concordia, how we will fulfill their needs and what we can do to continue to hire great people. I’ve met lots of them and I’m
get ahead of that changing curve. amazed at the quality of people Concordia is attracting.
The whole landscape of where the students are coming from Our students are great and diverse and I’d like to have a bet-
is changing too. I believe Concordia is carving a great niche for ter personal connection with them.
itself by having a good reflection of what is happening in the What I like about our students is that they’re very engaged
aChter Manodn htroewa li tr eisg eionnr.i cIh tihning ko uwre h’rieg ha egrr-eeadt uecxaatmiopnl ee nofv itrhoisn mdievnerts.ity nthoitn jguss.t C ino nthcoerird aiac aisd ekmnoicw pnu tros bueit cs lbouset wtoit sho mcieatnyy a dnidff ceoremn-t
h
sC Another change is technology. How do we embrace technol- munities and I think our students embody that. Concordia is a
L esLie ogy in terms of our thinking, our teaching? We have to have a vibrant place, it’s a place where things happen.”
ANDRÉ ROY, DEAN OF CONCORDIA’S FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, SEES THE FACULTY’S INTERDISCIPLINARITY AS AN ASSET BECAUSE OF THE GROWING NEED TO TACKLE SOCIETAL broader horizon. The mindset of how to apply knowledge has
ISSUES FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.
changed. When I was in school, we didn’t think much about What’s the best part of your job?
experiential learning. Now experiential learning is at the core AR: “I try to empower people as much as I can. As a dean, I’m a
MEET ANDRÉ ROY, DEAN OF CONCORDIA’S FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE — co-ops, labs, research teams, volunteering. It’s all part of the facilitator. I don’t just make decisions and implement them.
educational mindset.” The real crux of the matter is about students learning,
LESLIE SCHACHTER interdisciplinarity? In some ways yes, yet in some ways we still researchers creating, the intellectual endeavour, about what’s
have a long way to go. What is your vision for the Faculty of Arts and Science? going on in our minds. I try to find time during the week to
André Roy began his five-year term as dean of Concordia’s I believe that it really is the time of arts and science. As we AR: “I’d like the Faculty of Arts and Science to be the place attend events where people make you think differently. That’s
Faculty of Arts and Science in 2014. He recently sat down deal with complex problems, such as when dealing with policy where we create and enjoy all the possibilities that knowledge a lot of fun. Just sitting in a room having this feeling, that this
to share his thoughts on the faculty and its students, Concordia, about environmental issues, we need to work out the science can offer. That is, for a student or researcher, in any discipline, is what university is all about. It’s about sharing ideas and
and the challenges and opportunities presented by a changing to support it. Arts and science gives us flexibility and lateral to be able to find their own way here, their potential. offering different views. And as a dean, to be able to see all of
higher education landscape. thinking, fewer barriers across faculties and more opportuni- I’m very big on interdisciplinarity. I believe that most of this happening is a great reward.”
ties to exchange ideas for our students and researchers.” the major issues in society have to be dealt with from mul-
Can you share a bit about your own background? tiple angles. It’s about how we create those multidisciplinary —Leslie Schachter, BA 03, GrDip 13, is a Montreal freelance writer
Andre Roy: “I’m a geographer by training. I completed my What drew you to Concordia from Waterloo? teams, how we work together, how we share languages, how and photographer.
undergraduate and master’s degrees at Université de Montréal AR: “The University of Waterloo has a slightly different we understand each other. And exposing our students to this
and then I did a PhD at SUNY [State University of New York] structure than other universities. In the late ’60s they created kind of thinking, these ways of doing things, is a tremendous
in Buffalo. I then was a geography professor at Université de the Faculty of Environment, and that was a big draw for me
Montréal for 30 years before becoming dean of the Faculty of because of its interdisciplinarity. It was a microcosm of arts
Environment at the University of Waterloo for three years.” and science but with a cause — social justice. But then this
opportunity came up that could realign my professional ADMISSIONS
What are your thoughts on having a faculty that combines side with my personal side [his partner had moved back to
arts and science? Montreal] in a way that could be very exciting because of INFORMATION DAY
AR: “The Faculty of Arts and Science was created as a way of Concordia’s great momentum. And so here I am.”
thinking about interdisciplinarity. Have we achieved this
What are your impressions of Concordia?
DO YOU KNOW A
AR: “Concordia is in a position of change. The Concordia I am
seeing has more confidence and more drive and momentum. FUTURE CONCORDIAN?
I always thought that Concordia was a good partner but now
Bring them to Admissions Information Day
A little bird told us you I think that Concordia is a great leader too. My impression is and see a next-generation university in action.
that we’re going places here.
like to stay connected.
Tradition is great but sometimes it doesn’t allow you to move SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016
quickly. It’s a really, really rapidly changing environment. The
10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
landscape in higher education is shifting and I think Concordia
Follow your alma mater on
Twitter @ConcordiaAlumni. is positioning itself to be at the cutting edge of that change. My ccoonnccoorrddiiaa..ccaa//aaddmmiissssiioonnssiinnffoorrmmaattiioonnddaayy
overall sense of mission is really that if I can facilitate where
we’re going and help Concordia reach higher goals then that’s
#CUalumni
what I’d like to do.”
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