Two alumni and a good friend of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education are among the recipients of the 2016 Arbor Awards. Created by the University of Toronto in 1989, the awards recognize volunteers for outstanding personal service. So far, more than 2,120 alumni and friends of the university have received the Arbor Award, presented annually at the President’s residence on Highland Avenue.
Two alumni and a good friend of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education are among the recipients of the 2016 Arbor Awards. Created by the University of Toronto in 1989, the awards recognize volunteers for outstanding personal service. So far, more than 2,120 alumni and friends of the university have received the Arbor Award, presented annually at the President’s residence on Highland Avenue.
“As members of the U of T community we have so much to celebrate,” said U of T President Meric Gertler in his opening remarks. “But while our standing in rankings is impressive, we know that it’s merely a reflection of our remarkable community of alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends.”
Gertler described U of T as one of Canada’s most accessible, diverse and excellent institutions in no small measure because of its alumni volunteers.
“You volunteer because you’re passionate about U of T and about helping young people to make the most of their education. Thank you for being such loyal and generous friends.”
Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations, Barbara Dick thanked the recipients for looking past such distractions as the Toronto International Film Festival in order to spend time with a great constellation of volunteers who make an already magnificent university better.
“Over the past 27 years Arbor Award recipients have come from many backgrounds, but you all share the qualities of generosity, passion and dedication. We are truly humbled and grateful for your service,” she said, before calling out the name of each award recipient.
Varsity Blues woman’s hockey player Safiya Muharuma was among those whose name was called. She was nominated by the Faculty for being a strong supporter of the Varsity Blues women’s hockey team since her graduation from the team and U of T in 2004. Since then, she has been volunteering at and organizing alumni events and fundraisers every year. Muharuma also improved alumni relations for women’s hockey by surveying her contacts on how to better involve them in the program. This resulted in alumni reporting a stronger sense of engagement and unprecedented results in team fundraising, which has given the program a tangible boost.
Asked what the award means to her, Muharuma got emotional, saying: “Everything. I love U of T. I had such great years playing hockey at U of T. I made best friends there and we’re still friends. It’s something that continues to give back and makes me feel so proud.”
Director of Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport Beth Ali and Professor Peter Donnelly were in the audience cheering on the Faculty's nominees for the Arbor Award
Harley Pasternak, another awardee, is a New York Times bestselling author and a well-known fitness expert to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. But, he is in equal measures an excellent ambassador for the Faculty, from which he graduated with a master’s of science in exercise physiology and nutritional science in 2000. Pasternak was nominated for consistently making time for his alma mater, volunteering his time and books to students, faculty, alumni and donors at special events, speaking at guest lectures and hosting a Dinner with 12 Strangers in Los Angeles, where he now resides. In 2015, he joined the Campaign Advisory Board for the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport capital campaign, advocating for the importance of this new building on campus and the integral research being carried out within.
Archie Allison was nominated for an Arbor Award for his role in providing KPE students with meaningful experiential learning. As director of access and awareness at Variety Village, Allison has been a committed and long-time mentor in the Faculty's professional placement program for undergraduate students. A favourite among placement participants, students speak very highly of Allison who has helped to instill in them a sense of the importance of adapted physical activity programming and their role in making positive impact on the lives of others.
As the last recipient walked off the stage with his award, U of T Vice-President of Advancement David Palmer thanked everyone for the enormous impact they each have had on U of T and said he wished the event was required attendance during orientation at U of T, so that students could understand the tremendous role that alumni play in the quality of their experience.
The Honourable Michael Wilson, Chancellor of the University of Toronto, closed the gathering by thanking all recipients of the awards and saying the gathering was a real testament to the wonderful passion and commitment of the volunteers who serve the university not only in Toronto, but all over the world.