Dear Tricampus Graduate History Community,

It was with great sadness that we have learned of the death of one of our students, Nicholas Baker. On behalf of the department, I have extended our heartfelt condolences to Nick’s family. Our thoughts are with them, as well as with his friends, fellow students, colleagues and faculty mentors. We join them in mourning Nick’s loss.

Nick’s intellectual and spiritual life were important to him. Having completed his undergraduate and Masters degrees at Kings College and Dalhousie University, respectively, Nick joined the department in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Mark McGowan. His Masters work at Dalhousie University, in his hometown of Halifax, focused on politics and paramilitary activities in what became the independent nation of Zimbabwe.

At the University of Toronto, Nick wanted to apply his work on paramilitaries on a much broader scale, examining international networks that assisted the Ulster Volunteer Force in Ireland during the period 1912 to 1923. International aid to Irish Republicanism has been well studied, but Nick wanted to explore the global assistance rendered to the forces promoting Unionism within the United Kingdom. Ireland was but one laboratory in which Nick was examining the reach of imperial networks that sustained “loyalist” militancy. His dissertation topic challenged geopolitical boundaries in ways that represented the finest example of curiosity and courage in our discipline.

Nick’s loss is felt by faculty and staff across our department, as well as by all of us in the Graduate Office. He was a gentle, thoughtful soul, rich in kindness and ideas, who persevered even in the face of enormous challenges. Besides his supervisor Prof. McGowan and committee members, Profs. Paula Hastings and David Wilson, he worked during his comprehensive exams with Profs. Julie MacArthur, Bhavani Raman and Jo Sharma. He was among the first class of graduate students to become Junior Fellows at St. Michael’s College, and he very much enjoyed participating in the conferences, special projects, and community life there.

Nick will be laid to rest on Friday, July 4 at 11amADT at Fairview Cemetery, Halifax, with Rabbi Gary Karlin officiating. 

In place of flowers, Nick’s family has asked that we donate to a good cause that reflects Nick’s values in his name. Please consider donating to West Neighbourhood House in Nick’s memory, a multi-service neighbourhood organisation in downtown Toronto: https://www.westnh.org/

The University of Toronto is a community, and the shock and pain of any death, especially of a

student, is felt by us all.

Students can call the Health and Wellness Clinic at the University at (416) 978-8030 and select option 5 to request a counselling appointment (called a One At A Time – OAAT – appointment) to be connected with a clinician for support. Please see further information here: https://studentlife.utoronto.…

Additional information about on-campus mental health supports available to students

is accessible via the Student Mental Health Portal at https://mentalhealth.utoronto…

If you are struggling to connect with support or are in need of academic support or consideration, you are encouraged to contact the History Grad Office at history.gradadmin@utoronto.ca .

Staff and faculty in need of support are encouraged to contact the Employee & Family

Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Telus Health. This is a free, confidential, service that can be accessed directly at any time by calling 1-855-597-2110. Please visit this website for further information: https://people.utoronto.ca/em…

I encourage everyone to talk with and care for each other, and to remember Nick.

Sincerely,

Melanie J. Newton

Graduate Chair

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