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    Queen’s names next Board chair

    Friday December 4, 2015
    By Craig Leroux, Senior Communications Officer

    Donald M. Raymond will succeed Barbara Palk as chair of the Board of Trustees, effective June 1, 2016.

    Don Raymond has been named the next chair of Queen's Board of Trustees.

    Queen’s has announced the appointment of Donald M. Raymond, an internationally respected investment executive and Queen’s alumnus, as the next chair of the university's Board of Trustees.

    Dr. Raymond will begin a four-year term as chair on June 1, 2016, succeeding Barbara Palk, who has served as chair since 2012. His nomination as chair was recommended to the Board by its Governance and Nominating Committee, following a thorough review and selection process led by Chancellor Jim Leech. 

    “Don has been a highly engaged member of the Board of Trustees and he will bring a tremendous amount of expertise to the role of chair,” says Chancellor Jim Leech, who serves as a member of the Board’s Governance and Nominating Committee and chaired the Advisory Subcommittee that recommended Dr. Raymond. “Queen’s is fortunate to have a wealth of experience among its trustees and both the Board and the university will benefit greatly from Don’s leadership in this role.”

    Dr. Raymond is managing partner and chief investment officer at Alignvest Management Corporation. He previously served as chief investment strategist for the $220-billion Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), where he spent 12 years helping to build the CPPIB into a leading global investment organization. He was instrumental in the development of the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Investing, and in their adoption by CPPIB in 2005.

    “As we prepare to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Queen’s Royal Charter, I am mindful of the selfless dedication of generations of leaders who conceived a humble, regional college and built a university with global impact,” says Dr. Raymond. “I look forward to working closely with my Board colleagues and the entire university community to enhance Queen’s strategic position as the quintessential balanced academy, ready to take on the next 175 years.”

    Dr. Raymond earned both a BSc and PhD from Queen’s in electrical engineering. He has been a member of Queen’s University’s Board of Trustees since 2008 and currently serves as one of its vice-chairs. He also serves as chair of the Board’s Investment Committee, vice-chair of its Pension Committee, and as a member of both its Human Resources and Capital Assets and Finance committees.

    “I look forward to working closely with my Board colleagues and the entire university community to enhance Queen’s strategic position as the quintessential balanced academy, ready to take on the next 175 years.”

    - Don Raymond, incoming chair of the Board of Trustees

    “Dr. Raymond will take up the role of chair at an important time for Queen’s, as the university celebrates its 175th anniversary and continues to advance its position as a leading research-intensive university that delivers a transformative student learning experience,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The Board has an important role to play in the governance of the university, including overseeing the goals of its strategic framework, and I look forward to working closely with Don over the coming years in his role as chair.”

    Barbara Palk has served on the Board of Trustees for 14 years and as its chair since 2012. During her tenure as chair, Ms. Palk presided over a number of important initiatives, including the completion of the Board’s governance reform process, the development of the strategic framework and the implementation of the new budget model

    The Board of Trustees is one of the university's governing bodies, along with Senate and University Council. While the Senate is responsible for academic matters, the Board is responsible for the overall operation of the university, including overseeing financial matters, property, and making senior appointments. Queen's is one of the country’s oldest degree-granting institutions and will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2016-2017.

    Tags: Campus Community|Financial Sustainability

    Circle of understanding

    Friday December 4, 2015
    By Wanda Praamsma

    In the cultural safety training session offered by Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre, participants sit in a circle – a non-hierarchical formation that allows people to see their interconnection, rather than their differences.

    [Laura Maracle]
    As Aboriginal Student Success Strategist with Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre, Laura Maracle has led cultural safety training sessions at Queen’s University for the past five years. (University Communications)

    “We want people to feel part of a whole, and to feel comfortable in sharing their stories,” says Laura Maracle, Aboriginal Student Success Strategist with Four Directions. “We want to take the power differential out of interactions, and create an environment of self-reflection and respect.”

    Ms. Maracle has led cultural safety training sessions at Queen’s for the past five years, mostly in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She now leads sessions in departments across campus, upon request.

    The program – started by Maori nurse Irihapeti Ramsden in New Zealand in 1990 – is intended to bridge the cultural gap that exists particularly in relation to Aboriginal people, and to foster understanding and respect between people of all backgrounds. It was initially aimed at providing frontline health workers with knowledge and training that would help them understand cultural sensitivities and combat subtle and overt racism.

    “While this training was started to help Indigenous people, it really is for everyone. Being culturally competent helps everyone,” says Ms. Maracle. “We need to build awareness, create a climate of understanding, and we need to be open, unafraid to have uncomfortable conversations and ask questions.”

    During the three-hour training session, Ms. Maracle and participants move through a series of discussions, all with the goal of learning about each other, their families and cultural backgrounds, their beliefs and faiths, and their personal identities. Ms. Maracle gives each participant several Post-it notes – and on these, participants draw and write about themselves.

    “They draw a picture to depict their name on one note, and on the others, they answer the questions: What is your gift? And what do you want to share?” she says. “Essentially, what they put on the Post-it notes gives the group an understanding of their identity, what they feel they offer to the world, and how they are doing on an emotional level. This gives participants a chance to reflect on their own views and values, and gain insight into how they look at people of different backgrounds.”

    Ms. Maracle also facilitates the Kairos blanket exercise and provides short interactive lectures that help participants better understand the historical, political and cultural issues that impact Indigenous people and their communities. They also learn about concepts of holistic health and healing through an Indigenous lens.

    “This training is vital for our entire community,” says Caroline Davis, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) and co-chair of the Aboriginal Council Queen’s University. “In this safe setting, Queen’s staff, students and faculty members can learn and share together. In our society, it is easy to just look at each other’s differences, instead of what binds us together. This is an opportunity to become a more inclusive and understanding community.”

    More information on cultural safety training is available from Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre.

    Tags: Campus Community

    New edition of Life Lines available

    Thursday December 3, 2015
    [Life Lines]
    Read Life Lines online.

    As the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider for Queen’s University, Homewood Health publishes a number of regular newsletters, including Life Lines

    The newsletter is intended to support key personnel with a wealth of information on the topic presented. The current newsletter, entitled “Managing Expectations,” focuses on how to reduce holiday stress and actually enjoy the season.

    For more information on the Queen’s EFAP, visit queensu.ca/humanresources/employees/efap.html.

    For 24-hour EFAP services call 1-800-663-1142 (English) or 1-866-398-9505 (French). 

    Tags: Campus Community

    National recognition for Advocacy Institute co-founders

    Wednesday December 9, 2015
    By Communications Staff

    Grégoire Webber (Law) and Queen’s alumnus Owen Rees have been selected to receive one of Canada’s most prestigious civilian honours.

    [Owen Rees and Gregoire Webber]
    Owen Rees (Law’02) and Professor Grégoire Webber have been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. 

    Dr. Webber, the Canada Research Chair in Public Law and Philosophy of Law, and Mr. Rees (Law’02), a partner at the highly-regarded Toronto boutique litigation firm Stockwoods, will be awarded Meritorious Service Medals at an upcoming ceremony in Ottawa. The medals, established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to recognize individuals for remarkable achievements, will be presented by Governor General David Johnston (Law’66, LLD’91) on Friday, Dec. 11.

    Dr. Webber and Mr. Rees were honoured for their contributions to the legal profession, primarily their work in launching the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. This independent non-profit agency, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016, has been instrumental in improving the quality of legal advocacy in Canada.

    Dr. Webber and Mr. Rees met in 2003 while clerking at the Supreme Court of Canada – Mr. Rees for Justice Louis LeBel, Dr. Webber for Justice Ian Binnie. “When Owen and I attended hearings on the cases for which we’d prepared legal briefs for the judges, sometimes we thought that the Court could be getting more assistance from counsel,” says Dr. Webber.

    The two were aware of the Supreme Court Institute (SCI), a Georgetown University law school-based program that promotes awareness of issues of importance to the United States Supreme Court. The centrepiece of the SCI’s activities is a moot court program that offers lawyers the opportunity to test-drive legal arguments they intend to make in their submissions to the Supreme Court.

    “We wondered if there was room for a similar initiative here in Canada,” says Mr. Rees. “If so, we knew it would have to be purpose-built for Canadian needs. That meant it had to be low-cost, accessible to all, and national in its scope.”

    With help and encouragement from Justice Frank Iacobucci, the Institute was born; Iacobucci, who was about to retire from the bench, agreed to serve as its chair.

    “I didn’t hesitate to support [the program],” recalls Iacobucci. “My reasons were simple. First, the aim of the proposal was to improve oral advocacy before the Court, which would be to the benefit of clients, the Court and the legal profession for their involvement. Second, Owen and Grégoire were law clerks in whom my colleagues and I had confidence and who were ideal to create and organize the institute.”

    The initiative quickly garnered enthusiastic support from Canada’s legal community an that support has continued to grow since 2006. When the first moot court sessions were held in 2007-2008, they took place in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Today, the institute sends out invitation letters to every lawyer who’s granted leave to appeal to the SCC, and the moot courts now are staged in major cities across the country. At first, about 20 per cent of eligible lawyers availed themselves of the opportunity to take part in the sessions. In 2014-2015, that number was close to 50 per cent.

    “We wanted to make sure the program would be free and available to any lawyer who’s scheduled to argue a case before the SCC,” says Dr. Webber. “Some of the larger firms in Canada and various federal and provincial Justice departments have their own in-house programs; however, we felt there was a real need for a non-partisan program that would be available to lawyers from smaller firms and cities across the country and wouldn’t be seen as just a central-Canadian initiative. In that sense, the Institute helps level the legal playing field.”

    Mr. Rees echoes those words.

    “Grégoire and I saw the institute both as a vehicle to help promote advocacy skills and as a way for us to give back to the legal profession and the Court,” he says. “Being awarded a Meritorious Service Medal obviously is a special honour, but we’re really accepting it on behalf of the many people who have helped set up the SCAI and make it a success – in particular Frank Iacobucci and all of the talented advocates who selflessly volunteer their time and legal expertise when they act as advocacy advisors during practice sessions or serve on our national and regional committees.”

    Read more about the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute.

     

    Tags: Campus Community|Law|Research Prominence

    Faculty move forward on writing skills at retreat

    Thursday December 3, 2015
    By Communications Staff

    To provide a quiet place to write and foster creativity, Queen’s University is hosting its first Faculty Writing Retreat on Friday, Dec. 11.

    A day-long event at the Donald Gordon Conference Centre, the retreat will feature panel discussions and presentations along with with long blocks of uninterrupted writing time.

    One of the faculty members taking part is Michael Pratt, Associate Professor and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Law. As an associate dean, Dr. Pratt adds, he has little time for much writing, so being able to devote a full day to the pursuit is an exciting prospect.

    “I want to learn what I can about writing more efficiently; about writing smarter,” Dr. Pratt says. “I think this is an ideal time for me to stand back and ask whether the way I have been approaching the writing process for almost 20 years might benefit from some fine-tuning. Ruts are a danger in academe as in all domains of life, and I am excited to have the opportunity to hear from some of my more prolific colleagues about how they approach the writing game.”

    His main area of research is contract law, and the philosophy of contracts, where he “explores the grounds upon which the state might be said to be justified in enforcing people to perform their contractual promises.” 

    Dr. Pratt is also a Research Mentor for the social sciences, arts and humanities at Queen’s – a role that promotes a culture of research intensity and collaboration for those within those academic communities.

    Two panels focused on different aspects of academic writing will be held, featuring Queen’s professors Gauvin Bailey, Wendy Craig and Stéfanie von Hlatky in the morning and Nicholas Bala, John Kirby, David Lyon and Pamela Murphy in the afternoon. During the writing sessions, writing strategists Maureen Garvie and Susan Korba will be available for individual consultations on papers and the writing process. Grants advisors will also be on hand to provide input to those creating proposals.

    The Faculty Writing Retreat is sponsored by: Faculty of Arts and Science; Smith School of Business; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science; Faculty of Health Sciences; Faculty of Law; Office of the Vice-Principal (Research); and the Office of Post-Doctoral Training (School of Graduate Studies).

    Tags: Campus Community|Research Prominence

    Going above and beyond to improve Queen's

    Thursday December 3, 2015
    By Communications Staff
    [Staff appreciation awards]
    The 2015 Staff Recognition Awards will be presented at the Principal's Holiday Reception on Dec. 8.

    Eight deserving individuals will receive Staff Recognition Awards at the Principal’s Holiday Reception on Dec. 8.

    The awards recognize staff members who consistently provide outstanding contributions to the learning and working environment at Queen’s at a level significantly beyond what is usually expected.

    The 2015 Staff Recognition Award recipients include Kathy Baer, Gender Studies, Kimberley Bell, University Library Services, Andy Hooper, Information Technology Services, Agathe Nicholson, French Studies, Carol Noel, Biology, Tice Post, Biology, Kathy Reed, University Research Services, and Francoise Sauriol, Chemistry.

    The presentation of the Staff Recognition Awards comes on the same day the university celebrates the contributions of all employees. Staff Appreciation Day will feature a number of events and activities including tours of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Summerhill and Benidickson House, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, the Miller Museum of Geology, the Queen’s Observatory and the Phytotron, which consists of six climate-controlled greenhouse compartments inside the Biosciences Complex.

    There will also be free fitness classes at the ARC, including yoga, Pilates and an indoor cycle class. Lisa Sansom from the Organizational Development and Learning unit within Human Resources will host a positive psychology workshop at the digital interactive classroom in Ellis Hall. Queen’s employees can start their day with a free medium hot beverage at all Sodexo outlets.

    Visit the Human Resources Learning Catalogue to sign up for Staff Appreciation Day activities. 

    Tags: Campus Community

    A Nobel celebration

    Thursday December 3, 2015
    By Andrew Carroll, Gazette Editor

    • Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks as Principal Daniel Woolf looks on during Thursday's send-off event at Grant Hall.
      Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks as Principal Daniel Woolf looks on during Thursday's send-off event at Grant Hall.
    • Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks to the gathered crowd during Thursday's send-off event at Grant Hall.
      Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks to the gathered crowd during Thursday's send-off event at Grant hall.
    • Members of the Queen's community gathered to celebrate the Nobel Prize win by Professor Emeritus Arthur McDonald (Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy).
      Members of the Queen's community gathered to celebrate the Nobel Prize win by Professor Emeritus Arthur McDonald (Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy).
    • Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks to the dancers and Queen's Bands members who performed Thursday.
      Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald speaks to the dancers and Queen's Bands members who performed Thursday.
    • Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald is interviewed by a number of media outlets following Thursday's send-off event at Grant Hall.
      Professor Emeritus and Nobel Laureate Arthur McDonald is interviewed by a number of media outlets following Thursday's send-off event at Grant Hall.

    With the Nobel Prize ceremony just a week away, Queen’s University took time to honour Professor Emeritus Arthur McDonald (Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) on Thursday with a special send-off event.

    Hundreds of well-wishers filled Grant Hall to mark Dr. McDonald being awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics, along with Takaaki Kajita of the University of Tokyo, “for their key contributions to the experiments which demonstrated that neutrinos change identities.” The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences made the announcement on Oct. 6.

    “We are here today to honour Professor Emeritus Art McDonald and his extraordinary scientific achievements,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “The dedication, perseverance, and passion for his field that he has demonstrated over many years cannot be overstated. The entire Queen’s community is extremely proud of Dr. McDonald, and of the hard work of everyone involved in the success of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.”

    Dr. McDonald took time to recognize the many contributors to the research, at Queen’s and around the world.

    “I am truly honoured to receive the Nobel Prize in physics,” Dr. McDonald says. “This award represents the culmination of the hard work and perseverance of colleagues at Queen’s and our other Canadian and international institutions that have been so essential for our success. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those at Queen’s who have been so supportive of our research with SNO and SNOLAB over more than 30 years.”

    While in Stockholm, Dr. McDonald will be participating in a number of events throughout Nobel Week, which culminates with the awarding ceremony on Dec. 10 at 10:30 am (EST).

    On Dec. 7, Dr. McDonald will be participating in the Nobel Laureate Press Conference and will deliver the Nobel Lecture in Physics on Dec. 8.

    Each of the events will be livestreamed via the Nobel Prize Organization’s website.

    On the day of the awarding ceremony, the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy will be hosting a special viewing of the broadcast at Stirling Hall, starting at 10:15 am in Lecture Theatre D.

    Tags: Arts and Science|Campus Community|Internationalization|Research Prominence

    Talk takes on gendered communication norms

    Wednesday December 2, 2015
    By Communications Staff

    As part of its ongoing commitment to empower young women at Queen’s through professional development and mentorship, Young Women at Queen’s (YWQ) is hosting its first public event on Thursday.

    [YWQ]
    Young Women at Queen’s (YWQ) is part of the larger Employee Resource Group initiative aimed at promoting the career development of equity seeking groups on campus. (University Communications)

    The interactive talk, entitled “Breaking the Sound Barrier: Moving Beyond Gendered Communication Norms in Higher Education” and hosted by organizational learning and change consultant Kit Malo, will take a closer look at the current state of gendered communication norms in the higher education workplace, with a focus on how women can move beyond coping strategies into transforming change.

    YWQ was created earlier this year as part of the larger Employee Resource Group initiative to promote the career development of equity seeking groups on campus.

    The event is the first installment of a speaker series aimed at creating a safe space to facilitate dialogue on campus about issues that affect young women in the workplace and throughout their career development.

    “By coming together to recognize and discuss this issue, it is our desire that this talk will motivate the audience to engage in strategies to support young women in their careers,” says Joelle Thorpe, a Clinical Research Associate in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative medicine, as well as one of the event’s organizers. “By creating spaces for this type of facilitated dialogue on campus, we hope that people find a safe and healthy way to have this sort of conversation.”

    Dr. Thorpe adds that Ms. Malo brings a “fresh and balanced perspective” regarding communication in the workplace and is particularly interested in equity, learning, and democratizing the workplace, which aligns well with YWQ’s mandate.

    “We invited Kit to speak to us about gendered communication in higher education because she has expertise speaking to small and large groups of employees about workplace group dynamics, and how to interact effectively with others,” Dr. Thorpe says. “We believe that since clear and effective communication is a skill vital for success in any career, Thursday’s event will be of interest to many in the Queen’s community.”

    Active since February this year, YWQ is comprised of self-identifying women in more junior roles at Queen’s. To date a number of lunchtime meetings have been held as well as a pair of clothing drives to donate work clothes to women in need.

    Thursday’s talk will run from 6-7:30 pm in Dunning Hall 12. For more information about this event, contact Linda Chan: Ext. 79331, linda.chan@queensu.ca. For more information about YWQ, contact Emma Sobel: Ext. 79002, emma.sobel@queensu.ca.

    Tags: Campus Community

    Queen’s to establish new position dedicated to sexual violence prevention, education and response

    Wednesday December 2, 2015

    New role aligns with recommendations from working group.

    Queen’s University is creating a dedicated Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator position.  The coordinator will be the central point of contact for students, staff and faculty and will lead campus-wide education, response, support, training and advocacy activities.

    The new position will be housed in a new Sexual Violence Support Office and is the most recent step taken as part of the university’s response to a report and recommendations from its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Working Group.

    An implementation team, chaired by Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Alan Harrison, began its work in July, to advance the working group’s recommendations. The new role aligns with models at other universities, as well as recently introduced provincial anti-sexual violence legislation.

     “Queen’s has enhanced the profile of its sexual violence support services on and off campus, introduced new education programming for students and new resources and training for students, staff and faculty,” says Harrison. “We will continue our work on sexual violence prevention and response, which will include updating our draft sexual assault policy to reflect provincial requirements. The new position will play a leading role in helping us build on our progress to date.”

    For the start of the academic year, the university updated and distributed a “Steps for students to take after a sexual assault” resource poster; updated the Green Folder resource for faculty members, teaching assistants and staff, to provide more detail about the steps students can take if they or someone they know has experienced sexual violence; created and implemented new first-responder and bystander training; implemented new sexual violence-related prevention and education initiatives in orientation week; and hosted a visit and talk by the American gender violence scholar Dr. Rachel Griffin.

    Learn more about Queen’s services and supports involving sexual violence.

    Tags: Campus Community|Student Learning Experience

    Positive Space session among upcoming HR workshops

    Tuesday December 1, 2015
    By Communications Staff

    Queen’s Human Resources offers a variety of individual workshops as well as lunch and learn sessions. See below for more information about a few of the upcoming sessions offered from Dec. 10-17. Visit the HR website to view the entire learning catalogue and to sign up.

    Accommodation: Disability, Faith, Gender and More
    Thursday, Dec. 10, 9 am-noon, Seminar Room, Mackintosh-Corry Hall B176

    This course is an introduction to the elements of workplace accommodation. Participants will learn to identify the elements of a good workplace accommodation policy; discrimination in workplace culture, practices, policies, and procedures; workplace barriers to the full participation of persons from equity groups; and the essential elements of return to work programs.

    Queen’s Volunteer Engagement Certificate
    Module 2: Recruitment and Screening, Relationship and Information Management
    Thursday, Dec. 10, 1-3 pm, Seminar Room, Mackintosh-Corry Hall B176

    Learn how to leverage the Queen’s Alumni Volunteer Opportunities Directory (VOD), an online forum for volunteer recruitment, information and professional development. The VOD provides a means for Queen’s staff to post alumni volunteer roles, and for alumni to match their skills, experience and interests with volunteer opportunities that are right for them.

    Personal Resilience
    Friday, Dec. 11, 9 am-noon, Seminar Room, Mackintosh-Corry Hall B176

    Learn how to be more personally resilient in the face of difficulties. In this workshop, participants will learn:

    • What resilience is and the benefits of increased resilience.
    • How to do more than just bounce back from adversity.
    • How to be more aware of your own thinking traps -- and how to get out of them.
    • When to apply resilient thinking skills and turn this skill into a life-long habit.

    Positive Space
    Wednesday, Dec. 16, 9-11 am, Seminar Room, Mackintosh-Corry Hall B176

    The Positive Space program at Queen’s brings visibility and support to queer communities at the university. Members of the Queen’s community can become program participants by attending a Positive Space information session. The session includes an exploration of language and discussion of scenarios, to assure a shared level of familiarity with queer issues, local resources and discrimination policies. At the end of the session, those who wish to become participants can register and receive a sticker to post.

    Interviews: Mastering the Technique
    Thursday, Dec. 17, 9 am-noon, Seminar Room, Mackintosh-Corry Hall B176

    As an essential component of the recruitment process, mastering the interview can increase your chances of getting that dream job. This workshop will cover the following topics: how to prepare for an interview, the different ways interviews can be structured, how to answer those difficult questions, and what an employer can and can’t ask a candidate. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice interview questions in a supportive environment.

    Tags: Campus Community

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