The mysterious Toronto event

If you are reading top-down, this is not mysterious, as you are getting the story from the beginning; if you are reading bottom up, in order of date and time of posings, then you have had mysterious hints about this.

We were in Toronto yesterday evening for a reception at the official (that is owned by the university) home of the President of the University of Toronto (more of a description of the home below). The occasion was a reception for the 2008 recipients of the University of Toronto's Arbor Award, a recognition of volunteers who have done work for the good of the University. (In my case, that was for work at Trinity College - actually the University of Trinity College - a federated university within U of T.) It is nice to be recognized; it is even nicer to be recognized when you thought that no one noticed!

The home of the President - well, first of all it has a back lawn big enough to hold a reception for perhaps 300-400 people, recipients, past recipients, and guests (being uncrowded enough that no one gets pushed into the very nice swimming pool), and to set up a tent with seating for all present, plus a stage for the awards ceremony. The home itself is on the north slope of the Rosedale ravine, and from the lawn all that suggests that you might be in a city is that you can see the CN Tower, and the Bay building at Yonge and Bloor above the tops of the trees.

In my lifetime in the academy or the church I have never aspired to high office - but this home might be worth having students march and occupy your office everytime they don't like some decision you have made.