Fall 2011 - University of Toronto Schools

President’s ReportBuilding the Future on a Strong PastThinking beyond the bricks and mortar to create a dream for the decades to come.Greetings from the UTSAlumni Association (UTSAA)!Many major and excitingdevelopments are occurring in whichUTSAA is keenly interested on yourbehalf: developments related to thepast, to the present, and to the future.Regarding the past – the Schools’and your past – our community hasjust completedits celebrations of100 years of excellence.Whetheryou identify youryears with Lewis,MacMurray,Gutteridge,Warden, Fleming,JohnWilkinson ’78president, UTSAAPearl, Newnham,Brooke-Smith,Levin, Mintz, orRobertson, youand your classmates can take pleasureand pride in being part of a century ofunique education and extraordinarygraduates. For its part, the UTSAAwas proud to have assisted those whovolunteered so much time and effortto make the celebrations last year soinclusive and special: ranging fromthe unprecedented attendance at theHomecoming events to the spectacularDouble Blue & White Ball. As anexus between the past and future,UTSAA is pleased to confirm thatmore $60,000 has been allocated to theCentennial Bursary.UTS is also celebrating the eraof Michaele Robertson’s leadership.We are immensely grateful for thecontributions Michaele made to theschool during her tenure – a time thatrequired a steady, experienced, andinspirational hand at the tiller.Regarding the present, I ampleased to report that the UTSAA itselfis vibrant and very active. Transitionin the UTSAA Board membership hasoccurred since last year. You are verywell represented by a full complementof eager, capable, and interested directors.Our able and effective formerpresident Peter Neilson has movedto the UTS Board where his energy,knowledge, and savvy will serve us allextremely well.I anticipate that UTSAA’s focus inthe 2011-2012 year will be on:• refining our governancemodel;• reaching out to all ofyou in increasinglyinnovative ways so asto inform and involveyou;• increasing the interactionbetween theUTSAA and theSchools’ faculty and students;• addressing specific priorities as theyare identified by the Board and asthey emerge.Which takes me to the future.UTS is entering a new era underthe leadership of Principal RosemaryEvans. You may have read about herbackground and experience in theSpring 2011 edition of this magazine.I now encourage you to call or meetwith her so that you can experience herpassion for UTS, her calm confidenceand her infectious enthusiasm for theYou are wellrepresented by afull complementof eager, capable,and interesteddirectors.future of the school, its students, andits stakeholders.Without doubt, a watershedmoment in UTS’ evolution occurredwhen the University’s administrationchose to reserve the physical site forUniversity uses. UTSAA thanks profuselyand admires profoundly thosewho spent innumerable hours andresources developing a plan that wouldhave accommodated both UTS andUof T in one glorious model. However,it seems that that vision is not to berealized.I predict that exactly ten yearsfrom now, as “371” becomes a source ofmemories – wonderful and rich memoriesingrained in all whoexperienced UTS withinits now-tired walls onBloor – we will be ableto say of the University’srecent decision “a doorclosed caused us to findour portal to the future”.We’ll also come toacknowledge that thosememories are not based on where theywere born but rather with whom.Finally, on behalf of UTSAA, Iencourage you to embrace as an opportunitythe new physical reality of UTS.Think beyond the bricks and mortar,share your dreams for the School inthe decades to come, volunteer yourtime, and donate available resourcesto assist our able leadership to realizeour dreams – do it for past graduates,do it for present students, and do itfor future generations of your fellowalumni. l R10 the root : t h e u t s a lu m n i m ag a z i n e | fa l l 2011