WELCOME TO THE latest issue of our UC Magazine, which puts an exclamation point to a wonderful year at UC. The 2022-23 academic year was marked by the full return of students to campus and the eagerly awaited opening of the revitalized spaces at the College. The award-winning UC Library, Clark Reading Room, and Clark Quad have proven instant favourites with UC students during our first year in full operation, and the Paul Cadario Conference Centre at Croft Chapter House has become a vibrant site of intellectual debate and is a sought-after meeting space.
The votes are in from UC students and the entire UC community: The revitalization of the UC Building is a marvelous success, thanks to the generosity of many alumni, friends, and partners. I invite everyone to stop by the College and see for yourselves! In fact, why not treat yourself to a cup of coffee? All three UC cafes are now open. Reznikoff ’s in Morrison Hall and student-run Diabolos next to the Junior Common Room have a new sibling called The Owlery. It is nestled between the UC Library (formerly East Hall) and the Clark Reading Room (formerly West Hall) on the third floor of the UC building and provides an adjacent lounge/study space.
Celebrating the renewal of our building was just one of many happy moments this year: Some of our most cherished traditions made a reappearance. Students held the first Fireball since 2020. It was sold out in record time and was accounted a terrific success.
The UC community also came together in person to celebrate UC’s wonderful Alumni of Influence (AOI). The accomplishments of the latest cohort of AOI are described in this issue.
For me, personally, the most touching moment was welcoming back those graduating students who had been deprived of their in-person convocation by the pandemic. In December 2022, we held a special inperson graduation celebration for all UC alumni who had convocated virtually in 2020 and 2021. They had the opportunity to cross the Convocation Hall stage and celebrate belatedly with their families and friends: a special moment indeed. The reception afterward in the Clark Reading Room and Paul Cadario Conference Centre at Croft Chapter House saw many smiling faces and happy reunions!
I hope you will find the articles in this issue as enjoyable as this year at UC has been. Providing the UC experience to new generations of students is our highest goal, and in this we are strongly supported by the unwavering generosity and care of our alumni, friends, and the entire UC community.