With 200 appointed staff and faculty members, more than 1000 casual staff and hundreds of students and athletes, there is always much to celebrate at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Here, we round up some of the major events and accomplishments of the year 2018, as we look forward to the year ahead.
December
KPE’s Task Force on Race and Indigeneity delivered its final report to the KPE Faculty Council, an important milestone in the history of KPE that will help guide the Faculty towards meeting its goal of supporting Indigeneity, racial equity, diversity and inclusion in both its curricular and co-curricular endeavors.
Jenna Gillen’s appointment to assistant professor was announced. Gillen, who took on her new role on January 1st, will research how exercise and nutrition impact carbohydrate and fat metabolism, while identifying lifestyle strategies to improve metabolic health.
Swimming Canada awarded Kylie Masse her second Female Swimmer of the Year award and her coach Linda Kiefer the Coach of the Year award.
In recognition of the importance of graduate education, the Faculty announced the launch of a series of initiatives, including an immediate increase in PhD minimum base funding and an expansion of graduate student support programs such as professional skills development and peer-mentorship.
The City of Toronto recognized the Varsity Blues mountain biking team with a certificate of appreciation for their ongoing volunteer work in Toronto's Don Valley urban forest.
November 
Former University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey player and assistant coach Jayna Hefford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Sharon Grandison, KPE’s director of human resources, won the 2017-2018 Excellence Through Innovation Award (ETIA), presented each year to U of T administrative staff who have advanced the University’s strategic objectives, encouraged administrative innovation and provided a platform for sharing best practices.
Professor Scott Thomas was recognized with the 2018 Professional Standards Program Recognition award by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP).
When news of a hazing incident at St. Michael’s College School broke, Toronto was shocked with the brutality of the allegations. Professor Michael Atkinson shared his thoughts on hazing and how to break the cruel ritual.
October
Fourth year KPE student Ambareen-Rose Velji represented Canada at the G(irls)20 Global Summit in Argentina. Launched in 2009 at the Clinton Global Initiative, G(irls)20 aims to empower girls and women to be agents of economic and social change.
KPE alumna Deborah (Debbie) Low and Varsity Blues fencing alumnus Thomas Nguyen were recognized with U of T’s Arbor Awards for outstanding volunteering services.
KPE students created a prize-winning IDeA project for accessibility.
A new study from KPE’s Centre for Motor Control looked into how children identify with their peers and non-peers. The initial study found boys identify more with their peers than others.
September
KPE alumna Leila Keshavjee landed a $150,000 deal on CBC's Dragons' Den for her Happy Pops startup.
Assistant Professor Simon Darnell weighed in on what it means for Colin Kaepernick to be the new face of Nike’s Just Do It campaign.
Assistant Professor Daniel Santa Mina and his colleagues at Princess Margaret Hospital developed the Safety Reference Guide, a clinical tool to respond to the high demand for exercise services by oncology patients and clinicians.
KPE’s Centre for Sport Policy Studies (CSPS) published a position paper urging revisions in Canada’s policies on harassment and abuse in sport.
July
Getting active at U of T got a whole lot simpler with the launch of a new tri-campus sport and recreation website
The Faculty welcomed Assistant Professor Joyce Chen, a researcher in motor learning and stroke.
Bringing relief to concerned parents, researchers from KPE and McMaster University found that children busy with active sports schedules still find time to play.
Dr. Bryce Taylor, professor of general surgery at U of T and former Varsity Blues football player was named to the Order of Canada.
June
The first cohort of the Faculty’s Masters of Professional Kinesiology Program graduated.
We were inspired by the story of one student’s path from soccer field to medicine via kinesiology.
Eleven individuals and three teams were honoured for their outstanding achievements and contributions to athletics at U of T’s 31st annual Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Members of the University of Toronto community gathered at Varsity Stadium for the fourth annual raising of the Pride flag, to mark the start of Pride month. For the first time this year, the Trans flag was raised as well.
May
Professor John Cairney tested the theory of hockey's influence on Canadian-born Major League Baseball players and found most do bat with their left hand.
Researchers at the Centre for Sport Policy studies found that Canada's university-level sports teams are not as diverse as their student bodies.
Associate Professor Ashley Stirling was appointed Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs.
Research led by Professor Catherine Sabiston found that increasing physical activity was linked to better immunity in breast cancer patients.
The Faculty celebrated staff and faculty achievements at the third annual Recognizing U event.
KPE’s Bruce Kidd and Vicky Sunohara were inducted into the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour.
April
Six KPE students received Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards.
A new study from KPE’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic found that starting aerobic exercise sooner rather than later after a diagnosed concussion contributes to a faster recovery and return to sport, school and work.
The Faculty extended its partnership with the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) to support Ontario’s top athletes while providing hands-on experience in applied sport science for students and researchers.
March
University of Toronto President Meric Gertler honoured outstanding graduating Varsity Blues athletes at the annual President's Reception.
KPE research fueled the IOC Gender Equality Review Project.
KPE’s intramural team hosted the She Moves! on International Women’s Day, with Tamara Tatham, Rosie MacLennan and Ali Greey asthe guest speakers.
Following reports of widespread sexual abuse in gymnastics, swimming and other sports, Professor Gretchen Kerr shared her thought on safeguarding athletes from maltreatment.
The Faculty hosted another successful public symposium on enhancing physical activity accessibility.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject ranked U of T sport-related disciplines 6th in the world for the second year in a row, demonstrating the growing global relevance of kinesiology and sport and exercise sciences.
February
While most of Canada followed the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on television, a select number of University of Toronto alumni and staff was in South Korea in person representing Canada at the Games.
January
Assistant Professor Linda Trinh joined the Faculty, adding to its expertise in cancer survivorship and physical activity.
Associate Professor Ashley Stirling shared her insights on the Larry Nassar case.
Varsity Blues athletes once again took part in the Bell Let’s Talk national university mental health campaign.
It was a very good year. Here's hoping to many more good years ahead.