When Rosanne Lopers-Sweetman retired from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education as chief administrative officer (CAO) in 2020, the faculty wanted to honour her many contributions with a permanent recognition on campus. The Landmark Project, one of the most significant open-space projects at the University of Toronto in the past 100 years, provided the perfect gift idea.
Driven by the generous support of nearly 3,000 donors, the project aims to transform the St. George campus core into a greener, more sustainable, accessible and pedestrian friendly space. Professor Ira Jacobs, then dean of KPE, thought of a win-win solution - to honour Lopers-Sweetman and contribute to the Landmark Project by purchasing a paver engraved with her name on behalf of the faculty.
“I walked through campus this morning and found the paving stone you arranged to place in my honour,” said Lopers-Sweetman in an email to Jacobs earlier this week, after spotting it in front of Convocation Hall and Simcoe Hall. “I *am* honoured!
“It was a real pleasure to see it and to be reminded of all the good things that KPE represents for me. Thank you once again for the recognition.”
A couple of weeks earlier, Jacobs was also on the lookout for the paver on his way to the faculty’s convocation at Convocation Hall - without success because he was in a hurry not to be late.
“I’m happy that Rosanne beat me to the punch in locating the paver,” he said. “Typical Rosanne, always a step or two ahead of me.”
Among her many duties at KPE, Lopers-Sweetman was involved in capital construction and renovation projects, from the Goldring Centre for High Performance to the Back Campus Field conversion and replacement of the Varsity stadium turf and track.
“Having her name engraved on a paver that’s part of a transformative university project seems like a fitting gift,” said Jacobs.