Sneaky Dee’s saved following RBC roadblock and community backlash — Toronto

BYLINE: Celesta Maniatogianni, News Editor

Redevelopment plans for Sneaky Dee’s have been formally withdrawn after Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) refused to sell land necessary for the project to developers. A large-scale community effort also took shape to oppose the redevelopment of the popular bar, restaurant, and music venue, located on the corner of College and Bathurst.

Goldberg Group submitted a proposal to build a 13-storey mixed-use building in 2020 — later amended to a 16-storey building — above the bar and neighbouring units. The proposal was met with backlash from community members, including from the Save Sneaky Dee’s campaign.

A vote on the planning amendments needed for the proposal to move forward was set for July 8, but was cancelled five days prior after the developer withdrew their proposal. The withdrawal came after a letter sent on behalf of Globe Realty Holdings Ltd said that RBC owns a parcel of land that is “integral to the development scheme.” The letter added that RBC has “no agreement of purchase and sale or any agreement of any kind” regarding its land. 

Constantia Constantinou named U of T’s university chief librarian — St. George

BYLINE: Aida Umar, Varsity Contributor 

Constantia Constantinou has been appointed U of T’s next university chief librarian following an extensive international search. She will begin her seven-year term on September 1, 2026. 

Constantinou currently serves as executive director of the Whiting Foundation in New York. She previously served as vice-provost and director of libraries at the University of Pennsylvania and as dean of university libraries at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and SUNY Maritime College.

Her scholarly work focuses on information systems, library technologies, digital access and preservation, and the role of research libraries in promoting cross-cultural understanding. She also co-authored the book International Librarianship: Developing Intercultural and Educational Leadership. 

U of T partners on Indigenous health education pathways — St. George

BYLINE: Kayra Naz Ustabasi, Varsity Contributor 

On June 24, U of T, Women’s College Hospital and Foundation, and the Mastercard Foundation announced a five-year, $13.4 million partnership to develop education pathways leading Indigenous youth into healthcare and traditional healing programs.

The program aims to guide students from secondary school into health professions and establish a new apprenticeship-based Traditional Healer Fellowship.

The partnership responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and will be guided by an Indigenous-led Leadership Circle. New programs will be developed in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of Spirit and aim to improve access to culturally relevant education while supporting a new generation of Indigenous students.