Farewell, Michael Benarroch

In November, the University of Manitoba announced that Michael Benarroch would become their president and vice-chancellor on July 1, 2020.

It was a difficult headline to read for the many members of the Ryerson community who value Michael’s leadership, guidance and camaraderie, and while this incredible achievement is well deserved, many of us are still sad to see our provost go.

Unsurprisingly, it’s a bittersweet transition for him as well. Michael will take fond memories of his time at Ryerson with him, but the move offers a rare opportunity to return to the city that has his heart in a role that will push him to even greater success.

As Michael’s move approaches, I sat down with him to discuss his tenure at Ryerson since he was named provost in 2017. Candid as always, here are his thoughts on how far we’ve come, what lies ahead and what he has enjoyed along the way:

You really thought we’d go easy on you in your final months, huh? What has surprised you most about Ryerson during COVID-19?

One of the things that surprised me is how quickly all facets of the university were able to transition to a virtual environment; how everyone got down to work and said, “We’ve got to do this. We’ve got to get our students through. We’ve got to be sensitive to everybody’s needs.” We hunkered down, changed the way we delivered our services on campus and were able to make the adjustments needed to help students complete the term.  

What do you think the university’s biggest challenge will be in the months ahead?

The biggest challenge will be working in an environment that’s unknown. Every day, every week, every month is unpredictable, so we have to plan for many scenarios. It’s difficult and it puts a lot of pressure on people, whether they’re teaching, supporting students, conducting research, planning, working in food services or in residence...whatever it may be, having to think of three or four different options for delivering your work is a lot to ask.

What major changes have you noticed at Ryerson in the past three years since you started working here?

One of the major changes is among our faculty complement – the large growth and number of new faculty members coming into the university. They’re passionate people who are really engaged in scholarly, research and creative activity, and who are bringing what they’ve learned in their graduate programs to Ryerson. I’ve noticed a real renewal amongst faculty and with that comes a lot of new ideas to fuel our future.

I’ve also seen such an acceleration of experiential learning within the institution. There’s a strong desire from faculty and staff to be involved in those opportunities, and a demand from students to make it happen.

Finally, and importantly, Ryerson’s confidence has grown so much. We’re one of Canada’s leading universities, we set trends that other universities follow and we’re becoming very comfortable in that space.

What has been most memorable about your time here?

As always, the relationships with people – working through challenges as a group and coming to solutions that benefit the institution. What was so memorable from day one is how I was embraced by everybody in the community, right up and down the entire university. That’s always the hardest part about leaving someplace...those relationships that you forge; those projects that you work on together that pay dividends in the future. I really felt welcomed.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I’m most proud of our commitment to truth and reconciliation, and the continuation of the work from the community consultation that Denise O’Neil Green, Joanne Dallaire and Monica McKay brought to the TRC committee. We achieved a lot in a short period of time: hiring Indigenous faculty and staff, growing Indigenous academic content, and determining the best ways to support Indigenous students. I’m really proud of how broad the support for this initiative is across the institution, to the point where it’s now in the Academic Plan as one of our priorities.

I’m also really proud of the new Academic Plan and the community’s engagement in the consultations. The new plan truly reflects the aspirations of our entire community. I think the process showed how willing everyone was to be part of a consultation when they felt they had a strong voice that would be heard. It was inspiring to see so many of our community members come out and share their honest opinions.

What will you miss most about Toronto?

I’ll tell you one thing, I’m not going to miss the traffic or being honked at!

As a city, though, I’m going to miss the variety of communities. That’s not something I’m going to get elsewhere; that rich exposure to many cultures when I visit different parts of the city.

I’ll also miss living near the lake. Oh, and being able to get somewhere on one flight instead of two!

What are you looking forward to most in Winnipeg?

You know, just being back with family and lifelong friends. I’ve been in Toronto for three years, and while I’ve been really accepted, I don’t have the same lifetime bond with people that I have in Winnipeg. Going back to that community – the community that supported me my whole life – is something that I’m certainly looking forward to.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to give the incoming provost?

My advice is to really listen closely to what our community says – to what the students, faculty and staff are telling us – and to continue to provide them with the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process.

Also, don’t lose your sense of humour or take yourself too seriously. Just be yourself...be honest and transparent, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

This job can be overwhelming at times because there’s a lot of pressure coming at you from different places. Seek support when you need it and find ways to relax. If you don’t, it will become hard to make good decisions. If you’re able to lean on people and to develop a strong, supportive network, it’s a great position. Embrace the opportunity and enjoy the ride, however long it lasts.

What parting words do you have for the Ryerson community?

It has been a privilege to serve this community as provost. Ryerson is an amazing institution that continues to grow and I want to thank everyone for their deep engagement in the university’s evolution.

Thank you for the work we did together over the last three years, the fruits of which will continue into the future. Ryerson is well established nationally and is becoming an international leader, and I’m confident that the amazing people working here will continue to propel the university forward to greater heights.

Because we were enjoying ourselves, I asked a few rapid-fire questions just for fun…

What's one thing on your bucket list that you haven't checked off yet?

I never got to see the cherry blossoms at High Park. I went a week too early last year and obviously we didn’t have the opportunity this year. I’m really disappointed to have missed them in person.

Who inspires you?

Kyle Lowry (external link) , and I’ll tell you why: because he’s smaller than everybody else, but he’s tenacious. He’s the leader of the Toronto Raptors – the heart and soul of the team – but it’s not about him personally. Instead, he works hard to elevate his teammates, so that really inspires me.

What’s your favourite city outside of Canada?

Paris. The last time I was there was about six years ago, which is way too long.

What are you watching on Netflix right now?

I’m watching Money Heist (external link) , which is a Spanish series. I can understand about 70 to 80 per cent of it, so it’s good because I get to practise the language. I also get to relax a little while I watch.

What’s your favorite childhood TV show?

Wow, you’re throwing it way back! I would say Get Smart (external link) , but as a young adult, it was definitely SCTV (external link) . To this day, I still love all the people that were on that show and often quote them. It would be fantastic to meet Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara...I always wanted to nominate them for an honorary degree at Ryerson.

What’s your favorite junk food?

Black licorice, but I’ll eat red. And Nibs. Nibs have been on every single one of my grocery orders during COVID-19, but they’re rarely delivered. I’m really upset that the licorice supply chains have let me down.

Cake or pie? And what kind?

Pie. My favourite is strawberry, but I also like apple.

Sweet or savoury?

Savoury.

Rams or Bisons?

(He seems torn by this obvious trap, but still delivers an A+ response). Until the end of June, Rams. Starting July 1, Bisons. Make sure the community knows I’m not gone yet.