‘I wish you good health and great success’: President Meric Gertler welcomes University of Toronto community

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler is welcoming new and returning students, faculty, staff and librarians to the start of an academic year unlike any other.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has meant some teaching and learning will take place in-person, and much will happen online – with many students attending U of T at a distance this semester.

“The situation is challenging – but we view this challenge as an opportunity,” President Gertler says in a video welcoming the U of T community to the new academic year. “An opportunity to apply our vision and creativity in new ways; to achieve the highest standards of excellence when the problems before us are harder than ever to solve. To learn, to grow and to lead positive, far-reaching change.”

In the video, the president urges members of the community to reach out if they need help and to take advantage of everything U of T has to offer, inside and outside the classroom.

“As we respond to an unprecedented public-health emergency, as we confront systemic injustices in our society, and as we develop new ideas, new discoveries and new inventions in every field of human endeavour, U of T’s mission has never been more relevant,” President Gertler says. “So, I thank you all for joining us in that mission. And I wish you good health and great success in the extraordinary year to come.”