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Memory and Place: St. Michael's Student Showcase Celebrates the Donovan Collection

Mar 9, 2026 by jessica

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When artist Linda Martinello sat down in conversation with John Geoghegan, she described how her work is shaped by memories of significant places in her life. “There’s only so much you can take in and see and respond to,” she said. “I’m not trying to get the whole image.”

The conversation was the centrepiece of an evening hosted by the Donovan Collection Committee to increase student engagement with the Donovan Collection at St. Mike’s. Inspired by Martinello’s work, the theme for the evening was “Memory and Place.”

The event was complemented by a Student Art Showcase, with the Principal’s Office inviting students to submit original pieces exploring the theme.

Karina Stellato, Programs Lead for Academic and Community Engagement at St. Michael’s, said the evening was about bringing the Donovan Collection and art to the forefront. “We wanted to have students be the ones to create and showcase their work as a complement to this evening’s event. The hope is to have students engage with the arts, and have that be a catalyst for learning more about the Donovan Collection and what it offers our community,” she said.

John Geoghegan, a writer, art historian, and Curator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, guided the conversation, drawing on his curatorial expertise to probe the ideas behind Martinello’s practice. His curatorial work includes solo exhibitions of Derek Sullivan, Moridja Kitenge Banza, Rita Leistner, Sandra Brewster, and Ann MacIntosh Duff. He was Co-Editor of the award-winning publication Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael (2023) and former Senior Editor of Inuit Art Quarterly.

The conversation touched on her process and the places that have shaped it. Martinello works in oil and graphite on mylar and her subjects drawn from travels to Matera, Italy; the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico; historical sites in Turkey and Greece; and Banff, Alberta, where she completed a Visual Arts Residency at the Banff Centre in 2024.

She shared how the mentorship she received through working as a studio assistant for acclaimed painter Denyse Thomasos while completing her MFA and then again after graduation shaped her artistic vision, process, and creative trajectory.

Her work is held in prominent private and corporate collections and can also be found all around campus as part of the Donovan Collection.

The event was complemented by a Student Art Showcase, with the Principal’s Office inviting students to submit original pieces exploring the theme.

Shelli Cassidy-McIntosh, a member of the Donovan Collection Committee, introduces the event.

The response was enthusiastic, with student artists from across disciplines offering their own interpretations of how place lives on in memory.

For student artist Radhika Punchhi, the theme inspired her to paint a scene with special meaning. Her piece depicts a woman standing alone beside a street food cart, a self-portrait that explores her experience of cultural belonging. “I specifically chose this type of food because when it’s eaten, you usually enjoy it with a bunch of people — it’s street food, there’s a lot of interaction,” she explained. Radhika’s parents had immigrated to Canada and then moved back to India. The painting reflected her experience of being back in her country of ethnic origin. “I specifically made the subject a lone figure because it was based on my experience of feeling lonely in my own cultural makeup,” she said.

St. Michael’s student Carrie Ji took a more sentimental approach, painting a scene from a photograph taken of her in a café — a place she came to realize had quietly anchored many of the significant moments of her life. “The theme was really special to me, especially as someone who’s very nostalgic,” she said. “Having the chance to convince myself to paint something like this for an exhibit really drove me to create something meaningful.”

Together, the works in the Student Art Showcase reflected what Martinello’s own practice has long embodied: that memory is never a perfect record, but something that is felt. By bringing her work and her thinking to campus, the evening gave students the space to explore that idea in their own voices and reminded us that art can turn the landscapes we carry inside ourselves into something others are invited to enter.

It is awards season and the St. Mike’s Troubadours took home two prestigious awards.

At the U of T Drama Festival hosted by Hart House from February 25-28, the USMC Troubadours were awarded two of the festival’s most prestigious honours. The festival is known as a high-profile showcase for up-and-coming theatrical talent.

Emi Sunahara-Meadows’ performance in Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey garnered her the Donald Sutherland Award for Best Performance and Mashreka Mahmood took home the Robertson Davies Playwriting Award for Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey.

Of Mashreka’s original play, the award presenters stated, “This is an artist that took risks with their writing, told a story that not many of us would try to write because it’s out of time, out of place and very old-fashioned if you would say so. But it takes courage to tell this kind of story and this playwright went for it, used all the tropes, and hooked us in right away.”

Emi’s performance was heralded by adjudicator, Tony Ofori, as compelling and created a strong connection with the audience.

The annual festival is a competitive event intended to provide an encouraging platform for the development of student talents, promotion of creativity and the recognition of excellence in theatrical performance and production. The festival provides an opportunity for U of T students from all campuses to compete for fun and adjudicated awards. A full list of the award winners is available on the Hart House Theatre website.

The dual recognition underscores not only the strength of the troupe’s original writing but also the caliber of its onstage talent, marking a significant milestone in the Troubadours’ ongoing artistic legacy.

The Troubadours, established in 2013, have long fostered student-led theatre that blends creative ambition with a deep respect for dramatic tradition. This year’s slat of productions included Little Women, Footloose and Drama Fest. Tickets for the current production, A Fae Play, are available now.

This year’s two-day SMC Undergraduate Research Colloquium is underway, offering attendees a glimpse into research being conducted by students from across the St. Mike’s community and beyond.

The Colloquium opened with a new addition: a panel sponsored by the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) titled “The Road to Research.” The panel invited Colloquium presenters to share how they first got involved in research and to offer practical advice for students looking to do the same. Suggestions ranged from connecting with graduate students to being intentional in outreach emails and applying to opportunities early. By embedding these conversations directly into the Colloquium, SMCSU aims to create a pipeline from today’s audience to next year’s presenters.

SMCSU President Sariha Dewan, who participated as a panelist, spoke to the significance of the new format. “A couple of SMCSU counselors who have been really involved in research outside of the Colloquium wanted to bring a perspective of what’s next after the Colloquium,” said Sariha. “How can students go from today, maybe being inspired by the research they saw at the Colloquium, to presenting next year.”

To carry that momentum forward, SMCSU will launch a Road to Research Resource Bank through its social media platforms, giving students ongoing access to guidance and opportunities beyond the Colloquium itself.

Following the panel, there was an interdisciplinary session, lighting round and a session co-sponsored by student groups for Celtic Studies, Medieval Studies and Christianity and Culture. The addition of student group-sponsored sessions helps bolster the visibility of SMC’s academic programs.

Angelina Semchuk presented her work on the role of setting in 19th-century Gothic literature as part of her Celtic Studies minor. Presenting at the Colloquium for the first time, she reflected on the experience, “It was nerve-wracking, but seeing the amazing turnout today, the room was full and that was really motivating.”

Sarah Fidora, a third-year student studying applied genetics and biotechnology with double minors in immunology and philosophy, shared research she conducted over the summer at Johns Hopkins University on Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species that serves as the primary vector of malaria transmission. For Sarah, the Colloquium offered a rare opportunity to present work done outside of U of T. “I wanted to participate because I wanted an opportunity to share the research that I did, especially given that it wasn’t conducted at U of T, so there wasn’t an allocated place for me to share my research,” she said.

The Colloquium continues to demonstrate the breadth and ambition of undergraduate research at St. Michael’s, with this year’s expanded format making space for more voices, disciplines, and conversations than ever before.

The University of St. Michael’s College is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Murdoch as Director of Communications, effective April 21, 2026.

Andy comes to St. Michael’s with an extensive background in university communications and marketing, along with a deep commitment to the arts and humanities. He joins us from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was Director of Strategic Communications. Before that, he managed communications in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montréal, Quebec. He began his university career at Dalhousie University, where he redeveloped its website.

“Andy brings exactly the kind of strategic vision and communications expertise that St. Michael’s needs as we continue to tell our story to the world. His record of building strong institutional identity, cultivating meaningful narratives, and supporting the communities he serves makes him an outstanding fit for our university. I look forward to welcoming him to the senior leadership team,” says University President David Sylvester.

Over his sixteen years in university communications, Andy has led innovative visual branding efforts, developed storytelling strategies across established and emergent media, and improved online user experiences. He has consistently aligned communications and marketing strategies with recruitment and advancement goals by championing the successes of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Prior to his career in higher education, Andy worked for regional and national media outlets, including The Coast, the Toronto Star, CBC and The Guardian (UK).

“I am honoured to join such a storied university. St. Michael’s mission resonates deeply with me: I love to see an institution that stokes a desire not only for academic success, but for social justice, inclusion, and actions that improve the common good. Universities play an essential role in community life across Canada and I look forward to helping St. Mike’s continue its tradition of developing passionate, caring citizens,” says incoming Director of Communications Andy Murdoch.

The start of the winter semester brought dignitaries to campus, well-deserved recognition for our outstanding volunteers and students, and, of course, plenty of snow.

Due to inclement weather, St. Michael’s and the broader University of Toronto closed the campus. Our groundskeeping and facilities teams worked tirelessly to clear the snow and ensure the campus was safe to reopen.

Opening of Ice Rink

With the arrival of winter weather, we opened our outdoor ice rink, the only one on the University of Toronto campus. The rink is an initiative of the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) and is open to all. Skates may be rented from the SMCSU office in Brennan Hall during its office hours.

St. Mike’s Student Makes Olympic Debut
Speaking of skating, St. Mike’s student Stephen Gogolev made his Olympic debut, earning a fifth-place finish in men’s figure skating. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!

New Endowment to Expand Kelly Library’s Special Collections
A new endowment created by the Friends of the Kelly Library (FOTKL) to support the acquisition of rare and important materials will enhance the student experience while also serving as a lasting testament to the dedication of some of St. Michael’s hardest-working volunteers.

At their recent general meeting, the Friends announced a $100,000 commitment to establish the Special Collections Acquisitions Endowment Fund. The funds will be gifted following the 2026 book sale as part of a legacy initiative connected to the University’s 175th anniversary in 2027, according to James Roussain, William D. Sharpe Chief Librarian and Director of Special Collections at the John M. Kelly Library.

2025 Arbor Awards

Several members of the USMC community were honoured with the University of Toronto’s Arbor Award, the institution’s highest recognition for extraordinary volunteer service.

Among St. Michael’s College’s 2025 recipients were:

Maria Gallo, recognized for her leadership as president of the St. Mike’s Alumni Association and for her longstanding service on key committees;
Elizabeth M. Creal (Elizabeth Gilbert), honoured for her transformative work with the Friends of the Kelly Library and for revitalization efforts that enriched student and alumni engagement; and
Founders of the USMC Alumnae Initiative for Women, Rita Marie T. Hadley, Theresa A. O’Keefe and Brenda A. Sweeney, who are celebrated for building a vibrant alumnae network that advances gender equity, advocacy and meaningful programming at St. Mike’s.

Founders of the USMC Alumnae Initiative for Women receive U of T’s Arbor Award.

These honourees — along with others from across the University — were recognized for their mentorship, governance, fundraising, and support of student initiatives. Their dedication exemplifies the spirit of service the Arbor Awards celebrate and highlights the many ways they enrich the University experience for current and future generations.

Student Leadership Awards

Seven St. Michael’s students received the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award, which recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the University.

This year’s recipients are Sara Beaini, Bridget Bowles, Thomas James Gillespie, Clizia Martini, Katie McBain, Sun Jaehyun Sur, and Michelle Sum Yee Wong. Each has made a lasting impact on the St. Michael’s community.

Ireland Ambassador and Minister Visit USMC

On January 27, the University of St. Michael’s College welcomed John Concannon, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, and Patrick O’Donovan, Ireland’s Minister for Culture, for a special visit and meeting.

The visit provided an opportunity for meaningful dialogue on shared cultural, educational, and academic interests, strengthening ties between Ireland and the St. Michael’s College community within the University of Toronto.

The following day, President David Sylvester travelled to Ottawa to attend the launch of Canada-Ireland 180, a national initiative commemorating 180 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Ireland. His presence underscored the College’s longstanding ties to Irish heritage and its ongoing commitment to fostering international academic and cultural partnerships.

President Sylvester attends ACCU Annual Meeting in Washington

From January 30 to February 2, President David Sylvester travelled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. The gathering brought together leaders from Catholic institutions across North America to discuss shared priorities in higher education, mission-driven leadership and collaboration.

Book Launch for Professor Granata’s Book

The launch of Professor Paolo Granata’s latest book, Generative Knowledge: Think, Learn, Create with AI, was held on February 11 at the Rotman School of Management.

Professor Granata is widely recognized for his expertise in media literacy and recently discussed the “friction-maxxing” trend on CTV News.

Medieval Women Workshop

The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies hosted its annual workshop on the theme ‘Medieval Women: Authority and Observance’. Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., delivered the opening remarks, followed by presentations from Maureen Boulton on a fourteenth-century Occitan noblewoman’s prayerbook and Devon Sherwood on French Books of Hours for English patrons.

The workshop also featured two St. Mike’s Medieval Studies undergraduates — Meagan (Meg) Mellor, who presented on women performers in Chester’s medieval drama, and Annika Rempel, who explored female audiences in Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermons on the Song of Songs — presenting alongside fellows and faculty.

Aquinas Lecture

St. Mike’s Fellow Professor Liz Smyth delivered this year’s Aquinas Lecture, offering reflections on three outstanding European educators who significantly shaped the educational environment in Toronto and influenced the broader landscape of Canadian education.

Annual Donovan Lecture

This year’s Donovan Lecture featured a conversation with visual artist Linda Martinello, whose work can be found all around campus. Her work also inspired the evening’s theme of Memory and Place, which included the lecture and Student Art Showcase. Students from across disciplines were invited to to submit original pieces exploring how place lives on in memory.

Black History Month Book Display

During Black History Month, the Kelly Library curated a book display showcasing the wide range of Black voices and stories represented in its collection. The display featured novels by acclaimed authors such as Toni Morrison, biographies of civil rights leaders, and contemporary memoirs reflecting Black life today.

Co-Op Student Joins Continuing Education

Continuing Education is pleased to welcome co-op student Laura DeOliviera to the team. Currently in Grade 11 at Central Toronto Academy, Laura will assist with events and administrative tasks as part of a program that supports skill development and prepares young people for success in university.

Christmas Market Raises Funds for Out of the Cold

December’s Christmas Market raised just over $1000 for the Out of the Cold Program at the St. Basil’s Church. These funds will go towards providing hot meals, comfort and kindness to those in need this winter.

**Fall/Winter 2026 Edition of St. Michael’s Magazine**

The Fall/Winter 2026 edition of St. Michael’s alumni magazine explores why families of St. Mike’s graduates continue to return generation after generation. Read the online edition to learn more.

Seven graduating St. Michael’s students have earned the University of Toronto’s highest recognition for the meaningful difference they have made on campus and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion, and drive, they have helped shape a more connected, inclusive, and vibrant university community. For their contributions they will receive this year’s University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards, which recognize outstanding student leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the university.

Recipients were nominated by staff, faculty, librarians, and alumni from St. Michael’s College.

Meet the student leaders whose contributions have made an impact:

Sara Beaini helped transform St. Michael’s into a more welcoming place for all students by championing inclusivity and belonging through her leadership of Pride SMC.

As student campus minister, Bridget Bowles engaged in campus outreach to serve the local unhoused community. She also brought a diverse community together through a shared love of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy by leading the Dante Reading Group.

Thomas James Gillespie served the St. Michael’s community in his roles as St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) Vice President of Finance and student campus minister. Throughout his tenure, he promoted transparency to help students better understand available opportunities and services, while working to forge strong new community bonds across the college.

SMCSU Vice President of Mental Health Clizia Martini has been a tireless advocate for student well-being. She focused her efforts on improving mental health accessibility across campus, with a particular emphasis on prevention and proactive support.

Katie McBain rebuilt the Celtic Studies course union following the pandemic by organizing events that grew student interest in the field and strengthened the academic community around Celtic Studies.

Sun Jaehyun Sur combined a deep passion for science with active engagement in undergraduate medical research, sharing his findings at the SMC Undergraduate Research Colloquium. He also worked behind the scenes to ensure successful student elections, drawing on his experience as an eight-time Chief Returning Officer.

Michelle Sum Yee Wong enriched student life on two fronts: amplifying student voices as President of the Book & Media Studies Student Association and nurturing a culture of creativity and expression as Arts Editor at The Mike.

St. Michael’s will present the winners with their awards at a banquet in Father Madden Hall on April 1^st.

For more information about the Student Leadership Award and the 2026 recipients, visit University of Toronto Student Leadership Awards | University of Toronto Alumni.

Two Medieval Studies students have created a splash with their translation of a 13^th-century Biblical-miracle play, a work they hope to see published soon.

Meagan Mellor and Lauren Saxberg were studying the play La Seinte Resurreccion, which is believed to date back to about 1255, when they determined the translation was problematic. Written in Anglo-Norman, a dialect of Old Norman that was in use from 11^th to the 15^th century in England, Ireland and Wales, the play details the passion of Christ. It survives today as a fragment of about 360 lines, detailing the passion of Christ, although the title does suggest the original dealt with the resurrection as well.

Meagan and Lauren “felt that the translation used in Professor Matthew Sergi’s ENG330: Medieval Drama was flawed and decided to work with the original manuscripts to produce something better,” explains Professor Alison More, who holds the Comper Professorship in Medieval Studies at the University of St. Michael’s College. The last professional translation was David Bevington’s edition in 1975.

Determined to do the work justice, the two students took on an independent study course with Professor Matthew Sergi, of the University of Toronto’s English Department, to improve on the manuscript. At the end of the fall semester Lauren and Meagan oversaw a reading of their translation in the Medieval World Drama Working Group.

Part of the challenge of the flawed translation likely rests with the scribe who copied down the fragment the students have examined.

“It’s a mess!,” Lauren says of the version they are working with. “The scribe did a terrible job. We think it’s a copy.”

The manuscript the students are working with to create an improved translation resides at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. While there is another copy of the manuscript at the British Library, they were unable to access it. Lauren notes that being unable to cross-reference the work placed additional emphasis on the skills they had learned in Professor More’s MST358: Medieval Book

Noting that they text they were examining is “very dry,” Meagan explains that, as translators, they tried to return to the tone of the era’s liturgical drama. “While they were performed in a religious setting, medieval performances were not boring,” she says, adding that medieval plays were often known to include an earthy, flippant, and at even bawdy, tone, celebrating the human experience, a reality they hope is better reflected in their translation of secondary characters in the play.

The process of re-translating the fragment meant “stripping it down to the bare bones,” says Lauren.

The two were conscious of looking for the “same syllabic metre and verbal flow” as found in other plays of the era written in Anglo Norman, a dialect that is not as well known as others of that vintage, says Meagan.

While the two students are members of New College, their dedication to the Middle Ages – Meagan is an English specialist and medieval studies major while Lauren is an English and religion major with a minor in medieval studies – the translation process meant spending a great deal of time at St. Mike’s, which sponsors the Medieval Studies program.

“I’d never spent so long on a course,” says Lauren, who cites the “great resource” of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies’ library on the fourth floor of the John M. Kelly Library, as well as the ongoing encouragement of Professor More, who helped translate previously untranslated Latin additions to the manuscript, and Professor Emerita Ann Hutchison of PIMS, who was an “enthusiastic supporter,” including pointing out the project to others who might offer help and inviting the students to the teas she hosts at PIMS, the translators add.

Now the students are focussed on preparing their translation for publication, a truly impressive accomplishment for two undergraduates. Hosted by Professor Sergi, the read-through at the Medieval was received enthusiastically, with Professor More and Professor Rita Copeland reading the parts of two of the soldiers.

Recently, Meagan, who is the co-president of the Medieval Studies Undergraduate Society, participated in the two-day Medieval Women Workshop: Authority and Observance at PIMS, presenting on women players in Chester’s mediaeval Drama, and Meagan and Lauren will present their current research at St. Mike’s Undergraduate Research Colloquium, which runs March 5 and 6 in the Kelly Library.

Lauren, who plans to continue graduate studies focused on medieval religious literature, and Meagan, who plans to pursue graduate studies in medieval literature and manuscript culture, say one of the many reasons they have enjoyed their work in medieval studies is that the period is nothing like many preconceptions, and that the relatively small academic field is populated with people who are passionate about attention to detail.

It is also, Meagan notes, a field that has not yet been heavily influenced by artificial intelligence, which makes their hands-on work in translation especially important.

St. Michael’s proudly embraces students across every field of study in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. This series profiles students in the STEM disciplines who are approaching their work in fascinating ways, and uncovers how St. Michael’s has supported them along the way.

St. Michael’s student Raphael Kwok applies the principles of game design to his medical research, an approach that places audience, interaction, and human experience at the centre of scientific innovation.

“In game design, you think about who you’re designing for, the medium you’re using, and what message you want to convey,” he says. “That kind of thinking isn’t always emphasized in STEM courses, but it’s been incredibly valuable in my work.”

“Designing for a game is different from filming a video or writing a book, it’s a very interactive piece of media so there are many more considerations that must be made in terms of audience, not just they how they will view it, but also how they will interact with it, and that’s the part I find interesting. While I enjoy programming, it’s a means to an end to building something with an interesting design,” he says.

Raphael chose to study at the University of Toronto for its reputation as one of Canada’s top institutions for biomedical research. There, he discovered opportunities that sit at the intersection of life sciences and technology.

A strong science student in high school, Raphael taught himself game development as a hobby by learning to code and creating art for video games. Now in his final year, he is majoring in neuroscience and specializing in pathobiology, with his studies enriched by several research projects.

In his first year, he joined the Barense Memory and Perception Lab in the Department of Psychology, where he worked on a mobile app designed to serve as a memory aid for older adults concerned about memory loss or cognitive impairment. His game development background proved valuable, particularly in user interaction and user experience design.
“The project was especially interesting because designing for older adults is very different from designing for everyone else,” he says. “There were a lot of unique considerations to think through.”

In his second year, he worked under Dr. Madani at the Surgical AI Research Academy (SARA) at the University Health Network (UHN) working on a measurement tool for laparoscopic surgery. The work was more technical, involving training a computer vision algorithm. The findings showed that the tool outperformed traditional measurement methods used by surgeons, and the results were recently published in Surgical Endoscopy.

More recently, Raphael has been involved in a collaborative project between the SARA Lab and the Vector Institute. The project focuses on creating a 3D model of the gallbladder to make laparoscopic removal easier and more precise.

Raphael credits St. Michael’s College with helping him transition into university life, particularly on the social side. In his first year, he participated in the St. Mike’s First-Year Check-In program, which pairs first-year students with a professor from an unrelated field. He was matched with Professor Iris J. Gildea from the Book & Media Studies program.

“She was very interesting to talk to,” he says. Coming from a background where success was often measured quantitatively, Kwok appreciated Professor Gildea’s humanities-based perspective that that he describes as collaborative in nature.

He was also part of a first-year learning community that connected students enrolled in the same classes. As a commuter, Raphael initially worried he would struggle to connect with classmates, since he planned to spend minimal time on campus. His involvement in the program gave him more reason to stay and socialize.

“Being able to interact with other first-year St. Mike’s students was really valuable in helping me transition from high school to university,” he says.

As he prepares to graduate this spring, Raphael says emails from the St. Michael’s Principal’s Office highlighting scholarship opportunities have been invaluable. One of these was the Rhodes Scholarship. Although his application did not advance, he found the process meaningful. “The self reflection I did for the Rhodes Scholarship has helped me as I write my grad school applications,” he says.

Raphael also accessed writing support through the Academic Success Centre for scholarship and graduate school applications. As a STEM student, he admits writing is not his strongest skill.

“The strategies they showed me were really helpful,” he says. “Talking with the writing instructors was eye-opening. There are a lot of considerations when writing that I hadn’t thought about and that support will carry over into writing research publications.”

As he prepares to graduate, Raphael is considering several paths, including medical school or continuing research in medical technology. Whatever direction he chooses, he envisions a future himself designing and building tools—whether for use in the operating room, hospital administration, or diagnostics—that prioritize usability, accessibility and the people who rely on them.

A new endowment created by the Friends of the Kelly Library (FOTKL) to support the acquisition of rare and important materials will enhance the student experience while also serving as a lasting testament to the dedication of some of St. Michael’s hardest-working volunteers.

The Friends announced at their recent general meeting that they have committed $100,000 to create the Special Collections Acquisitions Endowment Fund. Funds will be gifted after the 2026 book sale as part of a legacy initiative connected to the University’s 175th anniversary in 2027, says James Roussain, who is the William D. Sharpe Chief Librarian and Director of Special Collections at the John M. Kelly Library.

“The library is deeply grateful for the Friends’ generosity in establishing this endowment, a lasting investment that strengthens our collections and supports the Kelly Library’s students, scholars, and mission,” says Roussain.

The fund will support the acquisition of rare and distinctive materials for the library’s Special Collections: Archives and Rare Books division, enhancing undergraduate learning through works from non-Western traditions, non-traditional book forms, and materials that build on the library’s established collections.

The library’s first fund dedicated solely to supporting the acquisition of rare and important materials, the endowment will ensure that resources will be available in perpetuity to enhance and expand the collections that distinguish the Kelly Library and support faculty, students, and academic programs. All acquisitions supported through this fund will include the acknowledgement: “Acquired with the support of the Friends of the Kelly Library.”

The acquisitions will be “a means to support our programs in meaningful ways,” Roussain adds.

Funds will become available for use beginning May 1, 2027. Over time, the availability of funds will increase as the endowment continues to generate earnings. Additional donations to this endowment will gladly be accepted from willing donors.

The Friends have raised an impressive $556,903 since the book sale was launched in 2004, and a further $70,000 has been raised and will be directed to the new fund, says Liz Gilbert, who is the President of the volunteer group. This initiative represents an important milestone for the Friends and is the first permanent legacy project of this scope that they have undertaken.

“The Friends are committed to ensuring that the library continues its vital mission of supporting personal and intellectual endeavours of all those who study and work at the University of St. Michael’s College now, and in the future,” Gilbert says.

The annual fall book sale, now a tradition on campus, takes a year’s worth of preparation, with volunteers sorting donations year-round. (Up to six boxes of books can be dropped off at the Kelly’s front desk. For larger donations the library asks donors to arrange a drop-off time.) The group also hosts pop-up book sales as well as lectures, and they support various exhibitions hosted by the Kelly.

“They are not in it for the glory,” Roussain says, smiling.

This year’s sale will run from September 30 to October 3. Stay tuned for more exciting developments.

The University of St. Michael’s College community mourns the passing of Professor Paulette Collet, emerita professor of French at the University of Toronto and a beloved member of the University of St. Michael’s College community.

Born in Verviers, Belgium, Professor Collet’s life was marked by courage, scholarship, and an enduring devotion to French language and theatre. After fleeing Nazi-occupied Belgium as a child and completing her education in London at King’s College London, she went on to serve as an education officer in Mauritius before earning her Ph.D. at Université Laval. Following teaching appointments in the United States, she made her academic home at St. Michael’s College, where she inspired generations of students with her dynamism, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence in French studies.

In 1969, encouraged by colleagues in the French Department, Professor Collet single-handedly founded La Troupe des Anciens de l’Université de Toronto, a Molière-inspired theatre company dedicated to bringing French theatre to life and helping students truly inhabit the language they were learning. What began as le Cercle français at St. Mike’s grew into a vibrant intercollegiate troupe that, for more than 50 years, captivated audiences, championed francophone plays, and created a space where students and alumni could experience French not only as a subject of study, but as a living art.

A gifted singer and actor herself, Professor Collet believed deeply that learning mattered as much as performance. She was particularly passionate about pronunciation—often reminding students, with a mixture of wit and resolve, that enunciation was essential to honouring the beauty of the French language. Her rehearsals were rigorous, her standards high, but her love of teaching unmistakable. Through theatre, she fostered confidence, discipline, and joy in her students, profoundly shaping the culture of the French Department at St. Michael’s and the wider University.

In recent years, La Troupe des Anciens entrusted its rich archival collection—posters, programs, photographs, recordings, and a commemorative volume marking 50 years of French theatre in Toronto—to the St. Michael’s College Archives and the John M. Kelly Library, ensuring that Professor Collet’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

“Her enthusiasm, humour, and rigorous intellect challenged and touched generations of students. In the classroom, in the rehearsal space, and on campus more broadly, she fostered a passionate appreciation of the complex, wondrous ability of literature and drama to engage with the breadth and diversity of human experience — and of the experience of theatre-making itself as a means to touch, inspire, and connect,” says St. Michael’s Principal and Vice President Irene Morra who as an undergraduate student was taught by Professor Collet in an upper-level course on French Canadian literature.

Dr. Michael Salvatori, a St. Mike’s alumnus and now Director of Continuing Education, recalls taking undergraduate courses with Professor Collet and being transformed by her teaching. He remembers her classes as electric and immersive—where language leapt off the page and students were invited to participate fully and fearlessly. Her courses were never static; they were performances in their own right, animated by her intellect, humour, and deep care for her students’ growth.

Professor Paulette Collet’s impact on the University of Toronto is immeasurable. Through her scholarship, her artistry, and her steadfast dedication to her students, she strengthened the study of French and built a community bound by language, theatre, and shared passion. Her voice, her vision, and her belief in the power of education will resonate for generations to come.

Professor Collet was actively engaged as the director of the upcoming production of l’Avare which will be presented on April 16 and 17 at the Isabel Bader Theatre.