The month of April was one of the most momentous in York’s recent history. Each week was filled with exciting new developments for our University. I enjoyed participating in a number of events that will have promising implications for the future of York, including the grand opening of our iconic new Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence; a luncheon in recognition of York’s achievements in disability services, where I accepted the Canadian Helen Keller Centre Award on behalf of the University; and an interview on TVO’s The Agenda with Steven Paikin that united Toronto’s four university presidents in an important conversation on collaborative city-building.

Two of the most inspiring events happened towards the end of the month. On April 21, we launched the most ambitious fundraising campaign in our history, and announced the campaign target of $500 million. Impact: The Campaign for York University celebrates the University’s impact on the world – past, present and future – and acknowledges the alumni and major donors whose financial support has contributed to our success.

We face unprecedented global challenges today, including climate change, chronic disease, war and resettlement, and food and economic security. This campaign will accelerate York’s impact, positioning us as a 21^st-century educational leader poised to meet these challenges with real-world solutions. To learn more about the Campaign and its priorities, you can view this video:

On April 25, our Faculty of Environmental Studies opened its new Lillian Meighen Wright Centre and EcoCampus in southern Costa Rica. This new campus is an excellent example of the University’s global reach in promoting and protecting sustainability, while fostering international collaboration and research.

This unique campus will offer students hands-on experiential learning in a truly fascinating natural and cultural setting. In a blog post last month, I shared an example of what York students are capable of when we provide them with real-life learning experiences and resources. I cannot wait to see what our students are able to accomplish at the Lillian Meighen Wright Centre.