Last month, KPE opened its doors to our valued alumni and donor community for the annual Celebration of Impact, which took place in the Kimel Family Field House in the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. Over 230 attendees joined KPE faculty, staff and students for an evening that shone a light on all that our community makes possible together.
KPE Dean Gretchen Kerr opened the festivities with a warm welcome, thanking the alumni and donors whose support allows the Faculty to pursue its mission to develop, advance and disseminate knowledge about physical activity, health and their interactions through education, research, leadership and the provision of opportunity.
“We have research, athletics and academics all taking place under one roof,” she said. “We know that movement is essential to personal wellbeing and the wellness of communities. Our work is critical; from illness in children and loneliness in adolescents to aging in place—in an age of misinformation, never has research been more critical to addressing the issues of the day. Your support allows us to do just that.”
The evening’s keynote speeches kicked off with alumni donor Michael Guinness, who was a member of five OUAA and four CIAU championship teams during his five-year career with the Varsity Blues. A swim team co-captain in 1971, Guinness donated the funds to establish the Guinness Scholarships, the Guinness Awards of Excellence and an academic fellowship in high performance sport. He was also inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1970-71 swimming team in 2008.
“I will be forever grateful for the assistance I received,” said Guinness. “This is a world-class faculty, and there’s a laddering up to that excellence based on research and education. Endowments for graduate students attract the best and brightest, and allow us to continue to achieve greatness.”
Donor Christine Yu, who serves as President of the St. George’s Society of Toronto—one of the city’s oldest charities, providing support to 15 student-athletes annually—echoed Guinness’s enthusiasm. “There’s a whole community behind you that wants you to succeed,” she reminded the students in attendance. “We’re all cheering you on!”
The evening also featured remarks from student-athlete Mathieu Clavet, captain of the Varsity Blues Men’s Lacrosse team, co-president of the Varsity Board, and recipient of this year’s McCutcheon Award.
“Being a student-athlete is as great privilege,” he said, “but it comes with many challenges—from long training hours and exhausting travel schedules to the pressures of the classroom.” Clavet went on to thank the alumni and donor community: “You have provided us with more than support—you have given us time. Time to grow as classmates and leaders, time to embrace all that the university has to offer, and time to build relationships that will last a lifetime.”
Jesse Porter, who coaches Women’s Lacrosse, and Vicky Sunohara, who coaches Women’s Hockey, echoed the sentiments from across the Faculty.
“Because of your donations,” said Porter, “I get to stand up here and support all the future doctors, lawyers, physios as a coach and also relate to them as a student. It’s such a gift.”
Sunohara expressed gratitude for being able to be a part of athletics at U of T while emphasizing the need for continued support. “We still have a way to go,” she said, “but so, so much has been possible because of your generous support.”