Ryerson Alumni - 2018 Summer - 3

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ILLUSTRATION BY ADAM CRUFT

This is just the
beginning

MY FIRST VISIT TO RYERSON was to
interview for an assistant professor
p osit ion i n t he D epa r t ment of C iv i l
Engineering. It was 1998, and I was living
in Quebec, where I was a postdoctoral fellow and research associate at the Université
de Sherbrooke. A friend had told me about
the job at Ryerson and suggested I apply,
though my Canadian experience was
entirely in Quebec and I was not familiar
with Toronto.
I was excited to be called for an interview
and flew from Montreal to Pearson Airport,
where I caught a bus for downtown, making
my way to the Chelsea Hotel on Gerrard.
First thing in the morning I got into a cab in
front of the hotel and asked the driver to take
me to Ryerson University. The driver gave
me a somewhat puzzled look, then drove me
one block east, and said, "here it is."
Now, as president of Ryerson, I am
reminded of this story as I ref lect on the
70/25 anniversary-70 years as an institution, 25 years as a university. I feel privileged to have spent the past 20 years living
the journey of amazing growth and success for Ryerson. The evolution of our university and its emergence as a leading centre of innovation and applied learning,
community engagement and excellence
in scholarly, research and creative activity
is astounding.
As alumni, each of you has your own
Ryerson story. Whether you are a member
of the class of 1950 or the class of 2018, you
have shaped the Ryerson we know today.
The anniversaries we mark this year are a
celebration of your decision to attend

Ryerson, your experience as a student and
your success as a graduate. You have helped
bring our university to the remarkable
standing it enjoys today. We honour your
place in our history.
What's ahead for the next 25 years? No
one knows for sure, but I can guarantee that

By Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice-Chancellor

the culture of inventiveness that shaped
today's Ryerson is as strong as ever. It is
embedded in our culture, and will take us
places we cannot even imagine.
Please join us at one of our celebration
events this year, or just come for a visit. You
know where we are.

"Whether you are
from the class of 1950
or 2018, you have
shaped the Ryerson
we know today."

Summer 2018 / Ryerson University Magazine

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ryerson Alumni - 2018 Summer
