volume m24, issue no. 22, june 15, 2020
TRANSCRIPT
Intercom is published regularly and serves to inform Vanier staff and teachers of notices and special events. It is posted on the Vanier College Website and distributed electronically. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Submissions should be in WORD, and sent as an attachment. No formatting or bullets. Photos are welcome. Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the week of publication.
In Memoriam: Tony Romandini
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of former Vanier electric
guitar teacher, Tony Romandini on June 3, 2020.
Tony taught here for over 20 years and retired in 2012. In addition to being
a guitarist and teacher, he was a respected composer and arranger. As a
teenager he studied guitar in New York, and by the age of 15 had performed
with Maynard Ferguson. By the age of 20 he was working for the CBC and
performing in clubs around Montreal and abroad.
In addition to performing on guitar, Tony also played banjo, mandolin, and
classical guitar. He gave concerts of classical music in France and Germany during the 1960s, and has performed with the Montreal and Quebec
Symphony Orchestras.
Tony appeared several times in the Montreal International jazz festival, including as a backing musician to Oscar Peterson in the pianist's
appearance with the MSO at the festival in 1985.
Those of us who knew and worked with him will remember him fondly not only as an amazing musical talent, but as a warm, generous person
with a wonderful sense of humour.
Glen Ethier, Music Department
Volume M24, Issue No. 22, June 15, 2020
Arch Tech Class of 2020 fêted by faculty with online event
Following the cancellation of events honouring graduates, the Architectural Technology faculty hosted an emotional final send-off for the
Class of 2020, with a live online gathering. The virtual session included awarding the John Pitre scholarship (with John himself announcing
the winners), and a surprise goodbye video produced by teachers consisting of photos taken at department events over the years, with
inspirational messages from the entire faculty
.
Turnout was high: Almost the entire Arch Tech Class of 2020 attended, with all teachers in attendance.
Congratulations to the graduates!
Michael Lancione, on behalf of the entire ArchTech faculty
Screenshot from the live online event. Screenshot of the surprise video produced by
teachers in honour of the Class of 2020.
Arch Tech winners of the John Pitre Student Scholarships Congratulations to the 2019-2020 winners of the John Pitre scholarships for Architectural Technology students. John Pitre, a graduate of the
Vanier Arch Tech program, offers two annual scholarships.
One is awarded to the student at the top of the class (academically) at the end of their 2nd
year of studies in Arch Tech (this one goes to a 2nd year student). This year, it went to Aleah
Pompura (photo on the right).
The other scholarship is given to a 3rd year (graduating)
student, and it went to Maryam Pugganwala (photo on
the left). The criteria state that “This scholarship is
awarded to a graduating student at the end of the
Winter Semester, who places in the top half of the class
academically (as measured by cumulative average in program courses), and who has demonstrated the
most academic improvement over the period between the 3rd and 6th semesters in program courses.”
Congratulations to these two very deserving students.
Michael Lancione, Architectural Technology
Virtual Grad for ECE Students
Given these uncertain times, during which graduation convocations, and celebrations are being postponed and more often cancelled, the
Vanier College Early Childhood Education Department wanted to honor our graduates. Part of the excitement of a graduation is being able to
celebrate with friends and families and being recognized by teachers and administrators for achieving this educational milestone. Although
we cannot fill an auditorium, we have created a virtual GradAwaytion celebration for our students. These newly qualified Early Childhood
Educators, will soon be on the front lines supporting families and offering care and education to the young children in our communities. Our
department is proud to honor our graduates and to highlight this essential profession. We have included a video of our tribute. Enjoy the link
below.
Linda LeMesurier, Early Childhood Education Department
You've Come a Long Way Baby Dedicated to the parents, family and friends of the ECE graduating class. https://vimeo.com/427092028/7eda7c8c2a
You've Come A Long Way Baby! (Created with
@Magisto) Dedicated to the parents, family and friends of the Vanier College,
Early Childhood Education Class of 2020, as a tribute to your love,
support and encouragement…
vimeo.com
Presenting the E.C.E Graduating Class of 2020 https://vimeo.com/427585901/d8b13bdafb
E.C.E CLASS OF 2020 (Created with @Magisto) We are proud to present Vanier College Graduating Early Child
Education Class of 2020. Way to go ladies!
vimeo.com
Personalized messages from the teachers of the E.C.E department to the graduates. https://vimeo.com/427965178/b1019b7b94
A word to our graduates before you go...
(Created with @Magisto) The teachers of the E.C.E department give a personalized message
of congratulations to the graduates.
vimeo.com
Volunteers Requested to work on Planning a Day Devoted in Racism in Canada
As part of the 28th Annual Symposium on the Holocaust and Genocide, we would like to devote one full day to scheduling lectures devoted to
racism in Canada.
Given the importance of this topic and its magnitude, I would like to strike a special planning committee to look at ideas. Ideally this committee
would be made up of teachers, staff, outside community members and students.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Marlene Grossman, Psychology Department
Virtual Graduation 2020
Vanier College will be hosting our first ever Virtual Graduation Ceremony to congratulate the graduates of Summer 2019, Fall 2019 and Winter 2020. Feel free to view our hype video at the following link. The full Graduation Ceremony will be available at this same link in a few weeks. https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/graduation/
Giovanna Arcuri, Vanier Communications
Plans for Autumn Events and Festivals!
Although we do not yet know the exact form the Autumn 2020 Semester will take, it will likely not be normal. Hence, Vanier’s annual fall
events such as the Social Science Festival, Women of Science Week, Big Band Concert, English Symposium, and other events, may not take
place as they usually do in the Auditorium. In fact, they may become virtual events instead. Already, the28th Annual Holocaust and Genocide
Symposium, which was cancelled in April due to Covid 19 and the college closure, will take place virtually November 9-13, 2020.
Please let me know what you are thinking of doing in the fall for our regular festivals or what other types of events you may have in mind so
that I can help in any way possible, and the Communications Department can assist you in making your event a success. While you may be
swamped with redesigning your courses this summer, I’m sure you are also thinking of how to give our students, and especially our new first
year students the same a rich and varied experience of Vanier students usually receive.
Please let me know your views on fall events and festivals, your tentative programs, and whatever questions you may have so that we can
work together to maintain the high standard of student offerings and opportunities Vanier is renowned for.
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications and Corporate Affairs,
Social Science Festival 2020
Dear colleagues,
Hope you and yours are all healthy and well.
Before we head into the summer, I wanted to take a moment to advise everyone that I’m currently working on the organization of the 2020
edition of our Social Science Festival. Even if public health restrictions regarding assemblies will very likely still be in place this fall, barring any
(other) unforeseen circumstances, we’re nonetheless going to have a festival. The festival will be fully virtual; probably the first of its kind for
the Vanier community!
Given unsettling contemporary events like the Covid19 crisis and challenges/crises surrounding indigenous and visible minority social justice
and equity issues, the theme of the festival will be Community. I will keep everyone posted on potential speakers/participants and program
once things start crystalizing.
For those of you that are interested in working potential festival events into their course curriculums/outlines, the tentative date is set for the
week of October 19, and the following themes and how they relate to Community are likely to be covered (in some form): pandemics/Covid19,
racism, discrimination, inequity, identity, gender, indigenous issues, environment and mental health (many – if not most – festival activities
are likely to be somewhat tainted by the relationships between the various themes and notions of community during times of crises (like the
one(s) we’re currently embroiled in)).
Wishing you all a wonderful summer.
Ara Karaboghossian, Social Science
Vanier College Social Media Accounts
If you are considering starting a social media account for a Vanier program, department or project, and are not sure what to do, then read
on. Take a look at our guidelines for Facebook & Twitter. We will be preparing more guidelines soon.
Contact Vanier Communications and ask us any questions you might have. Your main contact in the department keeping track of the Vanier
accounts is Zsofia Orszagh. You may reach her via email at [email protected]
The College needs to know about the existence of any account linked to Vanier or using the Vanier name, so Vanier Communications asks for
access to Vanier Social Media Accounts. We do this so that important accounts don’t just disappear or become inaccessible because people
change jobs within Vanier, retire or leave for other opportunities. We had one case where the account holder passed away. So in order not to
lose the accounts, it is important to keep us informed and provide us (Zsofia Orszagh) with administrative rights. Once we have that, we will
also add your account under the list of Vanier Social Media accounts page on our website.
Thank you.
Zsofia Orszagh, Web Communications Officer, Communications and Corporate Affairs
50 Years of Family
Our 50th Birthday is coming up in September, but due to the nature of the current pandemic,
we are not sure what rules will be in place at that time vis-à-vis social gatherings. As well, Vanier
is now, and always has been about family. In order to include alumni and former staff of all ages,
we have taken the proactive decision to delay the actual party until June 2021.
During this 50th celebration year, we will continue to either host or partner on College events,
in order to broadcast our school spirit. We invite you to see how your department can get
involved in the festivities. The Communications and Corporate Affairs Department is here to
help you promote your events, provide gifts for any alumni who are participating in some
capacity, and we are happy to help brainstorm when you are in the initial phases to see how we can add value and some 50th flair.
In the meantime, we invite you to go to vanierconnect.com, our exclusive networking portal for Vanier staff, students, and alumni. Contact
Atie Waxman at [email protected] for more information.
Atie Waxman, 50th Anniversary Events
RespectWorks Tools for these Times
Hello Everyone,
The Respectful Learning & Workplace Environment Office is here to support Vanier College’s commitment towards cultivating an inclusive,
respectful, safe, working and learning environment, free from discrimination and harassment, for all College Community Members.
To contribute towards the College’s invitation for us to recognize the impact of systemic discrimination so as to make concrete, ongoing, active
efforts towards individual, collective, and systemic change, the Respect-Works website is evolving, alongside the existing tools available related
to Diversity, Equity, Social Inclusion, and Indigenous Education, a list of resources that focus specifically on Anti-Racism, the majority of which
were referred by dedicated practitioners and members of the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in
Higher Education (CAPDHHE) Network. Click here to explore this list of articles, podcasts, books, and videos .
As a lifelong learner, I invite any and all feedback on how to strengthen these sections of the website to make such information accessible and
helpful to College Community Members in this work. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
Sending sincere best-wishes to you and yours this summer, and looking forward to continuing collaborative efforts towards learning, growth,
and change, in the Fall.
Anuska Martins, Respectful Learning and Workplace Environment Advisor,
VConnect Peer Mentors Needed!
VConnect is a peer mentoring program which aims to offer a supportive non-judgmental space for new students to build connections within
the Vanier Community, seek guidance and advice regarding their college success.
If you know of any students that are returning in the Fall 2020 semester who would be great mentors, please encourage them to apply.
Application form: https://bit.ly/3flhH8X
Ourania Zafiri, TASC
https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/mentoring/mentors/vconnect/
28th Annual Vanier College symposium on the Holocaust and Genocide
As many of you know, the symposium had to be cancelled in March due to Covid-19 and the college’s closure. We have been able to reschedule
the symposium to coincide with Kristallnacht and so, the symposium will now be held virtually (through the use of Zoom or some related
technology). All of our headline speakers have agreed to speak in November and they include:
Dr. Matthias Becker: Matthias is a postdoc research fellow at the Vidal Sassoon Center at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and he is
affiliated to the Center for Research on Antisemitism (ZfA) at the Technical University in Berlin and to CENTRIC, Sheffield Hallam University.
His research lies within the disciplines of (pragma) linguistics, research on prejudice, and internet studies and focuses on the construction of
implicit hate speech.
Kyle Matthews: Kyle Matthews is the Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia
University. His work focuses on human rights, international security, the Responsibility to Protect, global threats, and social media and
technology, and global cities. He works closely with the Canadian All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and has advised
Members of Parliament on issues related to international peace and security.
Dr. Barbara Perry: Dr. Perry is the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She has written extensively in the area of hate crime
and right-wing extremism. She has made substantial contributions to the limited scholarship on hate crime in Canada.
Tommy Schnurmacher: Tommy is a former radio host who was on CJAD. He recently has written a memoir to his mother entitled “Makeup
Tips From Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved My Mother’s Life”. He will be speaking about his experience growing up as a Holocaust survivor’s son
and how that influenced his own life.
More speakers will be added throughout the summer months. As you prepare for you fall semester, please keep these dates in mind.
Marlene Grossman, Psychology Department
Save the dates in August