Massey College, Toronto
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Motto | Sapere aude (Latin) |
---|---|
Motto in English | Have the courage to be wise |
Type | College of the University of Toronto |
Established | 1963 |
Master | John Fraser |
Postgraduates | 130 |
Location | , , |
Campus | Urban |
Visitor | Henry N. R. Jackman |
Website | masseycollege.ca |
Massey College is a postgraduate residential college at the University of Toronto, established in 1963 with an endowment by the Massey Foundation. Similar to All Souls College, Oxford, members of Massey College are nominated from the university community, and are elected by and as fellows of the college. The president of the University of Toronto and the dean of graduate studies are ex officio members of the elected governing corporation, headed by the master of the college.
The college is well-connected with prominent figures of the national establishment, and is the sponsor and host of the annual Massey Lectures. It hosted the Man Booker International Prize of 2007.
History
Massey College was conceived by Vincent Massey, the 18th Governor General of Canada who attended University College as an undergraduate. Of the establishment of a new graduate college, Massey wrote, "It is of great importance that it should, in its form, reflect the life which will go on inside it and should possess certain qualities—dignity, grace, beauty, and warmth."[1] The Massey Foundation, for which Vincent Massey served as a trustee, provided the financial endowment.
Opened in 1963, the college was designed by Canadian architect Ron Thom, who subsequently designed the master plan for Trent University. Alan Beddoe designed the Massey College coats of arms.[2]
The founding Master of Massey College (1963–1981) was the celebrated Canadian journalist and author Robertson Davies, CC. Professor J. N. Patterson Hume, CM, was the second Master (1981–1988) and Professor Ann Saddlemyer, OC, the third (1988–1995). The fourth and current Master (1995– ) is the distinguished journalist John Fraser, CM.
Massey is home to an ecumenical worship space, St. Catherine's Chapel, the interior of which was originally designed by stage designer Tanya Moiseiwitsch. The Chapel features an 18th-century Russian iconostasis and a baroque-style pipe organ. The chapel was extensively redesigned in 2006 by the College architects, Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe and rededicated in June 2007.[citation needed]
During the 2006-2007 academic year, the College hosted the King and Queen of Sweden, held a special tribute in honour of its Founding Master, Robertson Davies, and was the host of the Man Booker International Prize in April 2007.[3]
Robertson Davies's collection of ghost stories "High Spirits" was written over 18 years. Each story written for and then read aloud at the college's annual Christmas Gaudy. The first story was "Revelation from a Smoky Fire," and is now the first in this wonderful, haunting collection. A tradition quickly became established and, year after year, Davies delighted and amused the Gaudy Night guests with his tales of the supernatural. The tradition lives on as one of Davies' stories is retold every year by a hired actor. The current master also pens a new story every year, also read aloud to the fellowship by the current master around the holiday season.
Fellowships
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Junior Fellows are postgraduate students of the University of Toronto, either in the study of art and sciences subjects or a professional discipline such as law or medicine. Resident Junior Fellows generally live in the college for up to three years before becoming non-resident Junior Fellows for another two years. Typically, about sixty Junior Fellows are resident and another sixty are non-resident. Each year, new prospective Junior Fellows apply to the college to be elected by the governing corporation.
Journalism Fellows are distinguished Canadian and international journalists in mid-career who are selected annually by a special committee that includes the president of the University of Toronto, the master of Massey College, and other members appointed by them. Journalism Fellows stay at the college for one academic year from September to May. The college participates in the Canadian Journalism Fellowship Program (formerly known as the Southam Fellowship) and the Scholar-at-Risk program for international scholars caught in sectarian, political or religious intolerance. Additionally, the college hosts a writer-in-residence chosen each year by the college and the University of Toronto's department of English.
Senior Fellows are elected from members of the University of Toronto faculty and other individuals who represent the academic and professional interests of the university. Senior fellows can serve as members of the governing corporation. The college also hosts visiting academics, generally on sabbatical leave, who are given the title of Senior Residents. In addition, the chancellors of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford (currently Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Patten of Barnes) both serve as Distinguished Honorary Fellows. After long and meritorious service to the college, Senior Fellows may be elected as Continuing Senior Fellows, which are lifetime appointments.
As of 2012, notable Senior Fellows of the college include John Polanyi, Ursula Franklin, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margaret Atwood, Sir Christopher Ondaatje, James Orbinski, Michael Valpy, Jiang Weiping, Peter H. Russell, Janice Stein, Michael Ignatieff, Adrienne Clarkson, Stephen Clarkson, Hal Jackman, John Ralston Saul, Michael Bliss, John Fraser, Anthony Pawson, Justice Rosalie Abella and Bob Rae.
Governance
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Massey College operates as a charity that is legally registered with the Canada Revenue Agency charities directorate as The Master and Fellows of Massey College. The governing body of Massey College is its corporation, composed of 26 Senior Fellows and chaired by the master of the college, with the president of the University of Toronto and the dean of graduate studies both serving as ex-officio members. Additionally, three other ex-officio members are nominated to the governing corporation by the Massey Foundation. Massey College relies on income derived from its own endowments and endowments held for its purposes by the University of Toronto, supplemented by other income from its catering facilities and summer rental programs.
The Visitor is the ceremonial and constitutional head of the college. Officers of the college, who report to the master, include the bursar, the registrar, the administrator and the librarian. Junior Fellows and Senior Fellows are elected to their positions by the corporation at one of its semi-annual meetings. The Quadrangle Society consists of individuals who are not fellows of the college, and serves as a bridge between Massey College and the non-academic community.
Massey College is one of three exclusively graduate residential colleges in Canada, along with Green College and St. John's College of the University of British Columbia; Massey College is the only one of the three that is self-governing.
During the academic year 2010/2011, the members of corporation are as follows:
- Professor Sylvia Bashevkin, Department of Political Science, Principal of University College, University of Toronto
- Professor Brian Corman, Dean, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto
- Dr. John Dirks, President, Gairdner Foundation
- Professor Wendy Dobson, Director Institute for International Business, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
- Dr. Colleen Flood, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
- Mr. John Fraser, Master and Chair of Corporation, Chair Canadian Journalism Foundation
- Dr. Jane Freeman, Office of English Language & Writing Support, University of Toronto
- Ms Margaret Hancock, former warden of Hart House
- Professor Elizabeth Harvey, Department of English, University of Toronto
- The Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman, Visitor
- Professor Heather Jackson, Department of English, University of Toronto
- Dr. Katherine Lochnan, R. Fraser Elliott Curator of Prints & Drawings, Art Gallery of Ontario
- Professor Peter Martin, Chair of the Department of Astronomy, University of Toronto
- Professor Elsa Marziali, Department of Social Work, University of Toronto
- Mr. John Massey, Artist, Massey Foundation
- Mr. Raymond Massey, Film producer. Massey Foundation
- Dr. David Naylor, President of the University of Toronto
- Dr. James Orbinski, Research Scientist, St. Michael's Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
- Professor Mary Ann Parker, Department of Music, University of Toronto
- The Honourable Bob Rae Q.C. of Goodmans
- Professor Sara Shettleworth, Departments of Psychology and Zoology, University of Toronto
- Mr. Peter Tovell, architect, Massey Foundation
- Professor Charles Ward, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto
- Mr. Ian Webb, investment analyst
- Mr. Richard Winter Q.C., College Solicitor and Arthur Child Senior Fellow
Activities
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Massey College sponsors the annual Massey Lectures broadcast across the country on CBC as well as the Walter Gordon Symposium on Public Policy. In conjunction with the University of Toronto's School of Graduate Studies, Massey fellows organise an annual symposium of interest to the broader community. There is an annual newsletter to all its constituent members: Senior and Junior Fellows, alumni (which include former Senior Residents like Preston Manning), and members of its Quadrangle Society (non-academic community members).[citation needed] Since 2009 Massey College has been home to the Health Strategy Innovation Cell, run by Massey College Senior Resident Neil Seeman. The Innovation Cell is dedicated to creating new business models for the delivery of healthcare using Internet technologies. [4] [5]
Massey Grand Rounds is a monthly dinner or breakfast meeting of medical and health related disciplines. Meals are arranged by Dr Aubie Angel and bring in a variety different mentors to speak with the students. The meetings are also used to plan an annual Medical Grand Rounds Symposium[6] on a topic of interest to the community.
The college has a strong connection to the Canadian establishments and Canadian journalism. The college also strives to preserve an Oxbridge-type atmosphere by mandating the wearing of gowns at dinner, and incorporating regular High Tables — complete with after-dinner snuff — into its schedule; and balances this with very active outreach programs [citation needed]. The mandated goal of the college is to demonstrate through its corporate life the interconnectness between all learning.
Massey College also hosts its own Junior Fellow Lecture Series, sometimes called WIDEN-Massey, where graduate student members of the community are invited to talk about their research in a general way to their non-specialist peers.
Local and national arts organisations are affiliated with the college. Many college events feature singers from the Canadian Opera Company or musicians from the Taliskar Players as well as many talented Junior Fellows who share their music after supper or at events.
Physical building
Ron Thom's design for Massey College was inspired by the Medieval Oxbridge style college. The buildings all centre around one quad which is accessible through only two gates. The main gate is at the foot of the tower, along with the porter's lodge. The quad contains a large pond with fish and fountains as well as the bell and clock tower attached to the porch. The bells are rung three times a day during the school term to mark meal times. Around the quad are a total of five residence houses on the east, north, and west sides. The ground floors of these houses contain some administration offices. The largest building containing the majority of the public space available to members of the fellowship, is on the south side along with the master's house. Public space at Massey College includes the large dining hall, a small private dining room, a junior fellows common room, an upper library, the lower library, the "puffy couch room" (an informal common room with pool table, fuss-ball, big screen TV...), the Colin Friesen room (an alternative study space), the St.Catherine's Chapel, a computer room, and a bar.
The building is frequently studied by architecture students.[7]
Junior Fellows' suites vary in size but always contain a study or office area off of which is a bedroom. Bathrooms are shared amongst two or three students. Senior Fellows' suites are comparable to Junior Fellows' with the addition of fireplaces and private bathrooms. Like the public rooms of the college, private offices and bedrooms are also furnished with furniture designed by the architect.
Legend has it that the food served at Massey College is the best food at the University of Toronto. Navigating the cafeteria style service at lunch time has at times required charts and graphs in order to explain the most efficient flow of traffic. Suppers, Monday through Friday, are formal--requiring gowns be worn. Approximately every two weeks there is a High Table at which many members from the larger Massey community are present and which tends to show some element of spectacle. Special meals throughout the year include a Robbie Burns supper, a Thanksgiving supper, Chinese New Year, a formal Winter Ball, a wine-tasting event, and many more.
The Robertson Davies Library, also known as the lower library, houses the college's librarian as well as offices for the University of Toronto's Book History and Print Culture Program. [8] Off of the library is a working 19th century print shop. Some students work here as apprentices under the master printer. It is also open to public visits (with appointment) as a small museum about the history of printing. Printed keepsakes for college events are often made here.
Further reading
- Judith Skelton Grant (1994). "Robertson Davies: Man of Myth". Viking.
- Val Ross (2009). Robertson Davies: A Portrait in Mosaic. Random House of Canada.
- John Robert Colombo (1984). Canadian Literary Landmarks, p. 193. Dundurn Press Ltd.
References
- ^ History of Massey College
- ^ http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2010-03-07T21%3A52%3A20Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=104827&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam Alan Beddoe collection at Library and Archives Canada
- ^ Judges’ list for Man Booker International 2007
- ^ Innovation Cell Website
- ^ The Economist Magazine, "Health 2.0: How far can interactive digital medicine go?" April 16, 2009.
- ^ Massey Grand Rounds Website
- ^ "photographic study of Massey College". blogger / architecture student. 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Book History and Print Culture Collaborative Program". University of Toronto / University of Toronto. 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.