Provost Mayo Moran’s Holiday Message to the Community

Dear Members of the Trinity Community:

At Trinity College, we have so much to be grateful for. We are so fortunate to learn, work and live in this marvelous campus at the heart of a great university.

I am very thankful to be able to work with a wonderful team of staff, faculty and academic dons, and with members of the larger community, including our Fellows and Associates and those who serve on the Board and committees. Their commitment and dedication to students and the College are outstanding. Not only do they educate, advise and nurture students, they make sure that Trinity runs smoothly and safely so that our campus is the best place it can be.

This year, we have made the College an even more welcoming and inclusive place. We now have a designated wellness room for students, upgraded all gender washrooms, and soon, we will have a new elevator and a new accessibility lift to the Junior Common Room. Our new archives space, which provides a wonderful home to enjoy Trinity’s rich history, will also officially open soon. Although there’s more to do, we are all working towards a common goal that will allow the College to flourish in the decades to come.

Our programs continue to be in high demand – a reflection of both the calibre of faculty associated with the College and the outstanding students who select to study here. We are focusing on providing more opportunities to learn outside of the classroom (through experiential learning, mentorship and integrated co-curricular programs), which will offer students new experiences to help them prepare for the transition to careers and higher education.

At Trinity we are committed to ensuring that our students realize their enormous potential and so supporting the whole student is a major priority. Our work in mental health, particularly with the launch of the Anne Steacy Counselling Initiative, and our shift to made-from-scratch cooking are just two of our many programs designed to enhance the student experience. We are also working hard to help alleviate students’ financial concerns so that all students of talent are equally able to concentrate on their studies and pursue the extracurricular activities that we know are so valuable. And our donors are central to this – last year they collectively donated more than $6 million to support all aspects of the College. Many alumni also return to campus to share their time, talents and experiences with the community. We are so grateful to our alumni for their generosity and ongoing investment in our students.

Trinity is a place for vibrant scholarly exchange, is home to lively gatherings (often to celebrate our beloved traditions), and is an incubator for supporting meaningful causes. This fall, we co-sponsored “Truth & Reconciliation Today” with Joseph Boyden. The Hon. Carolyn Bennett joined Chancellor Bill Graham to discuss the relationship with our Indigenous communities. Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands shared his personal stories about life, international law and justice as he delivered The Margaret MacMillan Lecture in International Relations. In partnership with the Loran Scholars Foundation, our Leading with Integrity Speaker Series brought Margaret MacMillan back to Trinity for an engaging discussion on history and politics with TVO’s Steve Paikin. And The Hon. Frank Iacobucci will examine Canada’s past, present and future relationship with Aboriginal peoples at the next Leading with Integrity event on January 24. Such occasions provide unique opportunities for the scholarly exchange of knowledge and ideas between all parts of the Trinity community – our faculty and staff, fellows, students and alumni.

In between their academic and other activities, our remarkable and talented students find time to give back, volunteering and raising awareness and funds to help others. Our student leaders, those in both formal and informal roles, are leading by example and inspiring others to do the same. Making a difference has always been an important part of the Trinity way and we greatly appreciate all that our community does to contribute to a more just and compassionate world.

It is a privilege to be part of such a generous community that cares for others and one another. Thank you to all members of the Trinity community for making 2016 such a remarkable year.

I wish you all a warm and wonderful holiday season with family and friends.

Yours truly,

Mayo Moran
Provost and Vice-Chancellor

Categories: Provost’s Messages