On May 26, 2025, a farewell reception was held for President Gertler, attended by members of the internal U of T community. President Gertler’s remarks are below.
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Thank you for that very warm welcome. And thank you so much for being here today.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Chair Anna Kennedy, and our Chancellor Wes Hall for hosting this gathering. And let me thank them and all of you for these beautiful and very thoughtful gifts. I will cherish them, and I will put them to good use.
And my sincere thanks as well to our other speakers – Rose Patten and Janice Stein – for your very kind and generous words. I am deeply touched by your remarks.
I want to acknowledge the presence of: several esteemed former Chairs of the Governing Council (in addition to Rose Patten) including Janet Ecker, Claire Kennedy, Shirley Hoy, Wendy Cecil and Robert McGavin; as well as several of my distinguished predecessors in the President’s Office, David Naylor, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci and Rob Prichard; and, of course, my brilliant colleague and friend Melanie Woodin, who will succeed me as President on July 1st.
It means so much to me that all of you are here today.
In recent weeks, as the end of my term has drawn closer, people have commented that my posture seems to have improved, and my smile is growing wider. But I can honestly say that I have never lost the zeal for this job. Even in the most challenging times, I have always believed in the power of our remarkable collective ability to defy gravity.
The reasons for this are simple. It comes down to the people I’ve had the privilege to work with and the vital importance of our shared mission.
First, our people. What other workplace brings together such a brilliant array of talent, ambition and achievement – including the many outstanding people in this room?
Our amazing students, who come from such diverse backgrounds, including many who are first in their families to attend university, future leaders, budding Olympians and Rhodes Scholars… World-leading teachers and researchers in every discipline and profession, Nobel laureates, winners of Breakthrough Prizes, Guggenheims, Gairdners, Killams, and every other top award and accolade… Seminal thought leaders and innovators addressing the most pressing issues of our time, from AI safety to chronic disease, climate change, poverty, and the housing crisis.
More than 700,000 alumni, renowned for their accomplishments in virtually every corner of the planet, and thousands of volunteers and supporters around the world, who make tremendous contributions to governance, philanthropy, and mentoring the next generation of leaders…
This is just a small sampling of the kinds of amazing people that make U of T the extraordinary institution it is. What an honour and pleasure it has been to work with all of you. And what an inspiration it is to work together to advance our common cause.
Which brings me to our mission, as Canada’s leading university and one of the world’s great institutions of higher education and advanced research. As you know, the University of Toronto is consistently ranked in the top echelons of major global university rankings. And yes, it’s true, I am always delighted to recite those rankings at every opportunity.
But, while the numbers are impressive, they are indicative of something much deeper: the difference we make for the better, every day, in the lives of Canadians and people around the world. The leadership we offer, in building better cities and in rebuilding the habits of civil discourse… The innovation we foster, through our entrepreneurial spirit and our active collaboration with partners around the corner and around the world… The hope we give, that we can secure a sustainable future, give children a healthy start in life, and develop new molecules and materials that lead to new drug therapies or sustainable building materials… The progress we make, through our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and our determination to combat racism and promote belonging for all… And most of all, the lives we change, by making it possible for excellent students of every background to receive a top-quality university education.
This last point bears further reflection: there is literally no other university in the world that achieves our level of excellence while at the same time welcoming 100,000 students – whose primary determinant for admission is not their family’s financial means, but simply their academic standing.
So, as members of the U of T community, we have no shortage of inspiration, and every reason to keep working together with confidence.
I want to close by returning to the theme of gratitude, starting with my senior team – Provost Trevor Young, my other Vice-Presidents past and present, their own teams, and the amazing cadre of colleagues that comprise the President’s Office team. This is a team sport, and your work has been integral to our success during my run.
And my thanks to all of you, once again. Each of you enables the University of Toronto to deliver on the dream of inclusive excellence – U of T’s distinctive proposition to the world, and a precious legacy for future generations.
In a time when cynicism abounds and idealism is in short supply, we are a beacon of hope to Canada and the world. Looking out at this gathering – and considering the outstanding leader who has been chosen as my successor – I know this beacon will continue to shine brightly in the years to come. Thank you, all, for your ongoing commitment to that vision. And thank you for your support and friendship over the past 12 years. It has been a distinct honour and privilege to serve as your President.
