President of UofT: Message on Typhoon Haiyan
November 14/2013
To members of the University of Toronto community:
We have watched news of Typhoon Haiyan’s vast and devastating impact in the Philippines with growing distress and overwhelming sadness. On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, I wish to extend our most profound sympathies to those suffering from this disaster.
The tragedy in the Philippines affects our extended University community in a multitude of ways. Many of our faculty, staff, alumni, and students – domestic and international – have close personal ties to the Philippines. Clinical faculty and staff in our partner hospitals and health science institutions have strong connections, professional and personal, to the Philippines. The local Filipino community, which is such a vibrant part of our home in the Toronto region, is by far the largest of its kind in Canada.
As the scale of the destruction has become clearer, a sense of urgency is compelling many of us to act. The Government of Canada has pledged to match monetary contributions to support relief efforts in the Philippines, thereby doubling the reach of individual donations.
Members of the University community who have been affected personally and need University assistance, including access to counselling or a campus chaplain, are encouraged to visit the relevant campus web sites for information and guidance:
UTSC: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~wellness/
St. George Campus: http://www.cie.utoronto.ca, https://www.multifaith.utoronto.ca/griefsupport.htm
UTM: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/our-services
Employee and Family Assistance Program (tri-campus): http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/about-hr-equity/family/efap.htm
I know the entire U of T community joins me in expressing our heartfelt concern for those affected by the typhoon’s horrific devastation and rebuilding in its aftermath.
Sincerely,
Meric Gertler
President