To celebrate York’s academic achievements, communicate its vision for the future and engage the communities surrounding its campuses, a number of special ‘U50’ events will take place throughout 2009, including celebrations on March 26th, the University’s official birthday.  The York University Foundation has already raised $180 million of its $200 million goal for the 'York to the Power of 50' campaign, to coincide with the University’s 50th year.

U50 event highlights:

• March 26: Student Appreciation Day will feature student-centred activities with refreshments for students as well as gift bags containing U50 pens, mugs and desktop lights, plus draws and giveaways in the East Bear Pit and Complexes 1 and 2.

• March 27 & 28: York’s 50 + 50 Symposium is a two-day “interdisciplinary discussion of pretty much everything”, featuring prominent Canadian and international thinkers, including Margaret Atwood, Arjun Appadurai, Nicholas Negroponte, Jeffrey Simpson, E.O. Wilson, Lloyd Axworthy, Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, and Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who will each be paired with York scholars as they investigate what we have learned in the last 50 years and how it will help us in the next 50. 

• March 26: The University will convene a special 50th Anniversary ceremonial meeting of York’s Senate in which Senators will be photographed in their traditional academic robes.  A reception will be held to honour York’s more than 200 award-winning faculty – Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, University Professors, Distinguished Research Professors and Canada Research Chairs.

• March 28:  A black tie gala, ‘York in Concert’, will feature performances from a pool of illustrious York alumni, including author Nino Ricci, vocalists Matt Dusk and Suba Sankaran and choreographers Debra Brown and Susan Cash. The concert starts at 7pm at the Tribute Communities Recital Hall and will be preceded by a reception at 6pm. Performers will join guests in a post-concert reception.

• March 23-April 22:  Torontonians will experience York’s 50th anniversary thanks to a 30-day visual domination of the Yonge/Bloor subway station.   Support for the campaign comes from York’s 50th Anniversary Presenting Sponsors: TD Bank Financial Group, Enbridge, Cineplex Entertainment and media sponsor CTVglobemedia and from patrons Tim and Frances Price, The Schulich Foundation, and the Lambert Family.

York’s U50 webpage contains schedules and further details about all of York’s more than 90 ‘U50’ initiatives, events and activities.

In his book, York University: The Way Must Be Tried, author Michiel Horn weaves archival research and interviews into a compelling narrative, documenting the development of an institution committed to helping professors and students reach across disciplinary boundaries.

As part of its 50th birthday celebrations, York University has partnered with Lailey Vineyard Wines to offer two U50 VQA wines, under the name ‘Vin 50’ – a 2006 Cabernet Merlot and a 2007 Chardonnay. From each bottle purchased via retail sale, $3.69 will go to the York University Foundation's 'York to the Power of 50' campaign to benefit York students.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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Media contact:

Keith Marnoch

York University, Media Relations

416 736 2100 ext. 22091

marnoch@yorku.ca