At UTSC, we love welcoming back our own with warmth and opportunities for renewed connections and memories, and Alumni Reunion 2023 was no different, as over a thousand alumni gathered to reconnect with their alma mater and peers in spaces that fostered learning and merriment.
Festivities began with a lecture on the weird and fascinating mating habits of insects, with Prof. Maydianne Andrade and her team that worked on CBC’s Nature of Things. The experts from UTSC and University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) featured on the show, along with Director Andrew Gregg, came together for a special screening, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with members of the audience. The live insect display, which included a black widow spider, was especially a hit among the younger participants, who couldn’t get enough of the creepy crawlies.
Next up was the Stress-Free Degree Lecture ‘The Surprising Stories Superman Can Tell Us,’ which discussed the impact of great storytelling on the lives of those engaging with the stories. Taking a deep dive into the origins of Superman, a comic book hero who has captured our collective imaginations since the 1930s, Prof. Sonja Nikkila (UTSC), analyzed the characteristics associated with him and how they evolved over time to include the sensibilities of an expanding audience and changing times. Walking the audience through the timeline of Superman, the model immigrant and “perfect” superhero, Prof. Nikkila discussed oft-overlooked aspects of the popular culture icon and answered the many questions that the comic-book-loving participants had for her, leaving them with a host of resources to further their engagement with the topic.
Alumni Fest East made for an ideal summer Saturday afternoon – with a bbq, face painting, cupcake decorating and other fun activities. Over 600 attendees infused the campus with their enthusiasm and delight at being able to forge new memories along with their friends and loved ones.
The frolicking over ice cream gave way to the second Stress-Free Degree Lecture, 'Understanding and Managing Workplace Anxiety,' led by Prof. Julie McCarthy (UTSC). The session discussed the many aspects of this fast-growing phenomenon that most members of the audience had themselves experienced at some point while making space for much-needed discussion around the same. Prof. McCarthy shared insight and gave the participants tips on how they could address the issues that cropped from anxiety in the professional realm.
This Alumni Reunion was also an opportunity for those who attended the UTSC campus in the 1990s with exclusive programming and a chance to stay-on-residence. A 90s fan favorite the Mega Pub made for a fantastic evening for the alumni to get together, reminisce and refresh their bonds with each other while rediscovering the campus that has since grown exponentially since their time. With DJ Elmer Chan, one half of the 90s campus DJ duo, Rhythm & Rhyme, spinning tunes.
Thank you to our wonderful alumni community who brought the campus to life with their energized participation and made the Alumni Reunion such a success. We’re already marking our calendars to welcome you again next year.
