Gerda Kaegi

Gerda Kaegi is Professor Emerita and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration. She holds a Master of Arts (MA) from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from McGill University.

Gerda “retired” in 1998, having been Professor in the Department of Politics and School of Public Administration at Ryerson University since 1971.  During that time, she was:

• Department Chair from 1976-1981
• instrumental in the founding of the first part-time undergraduate Public Administration program in Canada;
• a founding member of the Seniors Studies Program at Ryerson;
• a member of the Advisory Committee for a Gerontology Program at Ryerson University and Open College;
• involved in the founding of the Long Term Care Management Program at Ryerson; and
• one of a small group who founded, in 1998, the interdisciplinary Certificate in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management (opens in new window) , bringing together academic partners [the Department of Politics and Public Administration, the School of Business Management (as it then was), and the School of Social Work] and the Division of Continuing Education (as it then was).

During her career at Ryerson University, Gerda received several honours, including:

• Outstanding Contributor to Continuing Education (1999);
• Ryersonian of the Year (1998);
• a Special Award for outstanding service to the Ryerson Faculty Association (1994); and
• Professor of the Year (1989).

In 1997, the City of Toronto honoured Gerda with the Constance E. Hamilton Award (external link, opens in new window) , named for the first woman elected to the City of Toronto Council (in 1920). Recipients “must be a resident of Toronto whose actions have had a significant impact on securing equitable treatment for women in Toronto, either socially, economically or culturally.”

Never one to rest on her laurels, Gerda continues to serve her community as:

• a Board member of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, including a time as its Vice Chair;
• a panellist, moderator and presenter at events discussing topics such as legal aid, poverty, and seniors’ issues;
• a member of the Advisory Team on the development (by Dr. Penny MacCourt) of the Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens and other associated policy lenses (Prevention of Elder Abuse Policy Lens, Caregiver Policy Lens, and Emergency Preparedness Policy Lens);
• a Board member of Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities, a non-profit corporation and registered charity dedicated to reform of the long-term care system and improvement of quality of life for residents;
• a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the “Economic Concerns Committee” of Canadian Pensioners Concerned (Ontario Division) responsible for writing briefs to both Provincial and Federal Ministries and Parliamentary Committees, and the lead person on Patent Drug legislation issues, Economic Concerns and Poverty and Income issues; and
• a member and Past President of the McGill-Granby Village Residents’ Association.