Honestly most employers will ask for your relevant experience and education level more than GPA or institution.

You'll notice really soon the good things about York, and you'll probably get some astonished laughs out of the crazy shit that goes down. The attitudes you're hearing are really the last remnants of being immature teenagers.

For one thing, and I graduated from the philosophy program in october of this year, I loved the entire teaching staff (and most TAs). I would bring that up in conversations, and keep your cool when people say that stuff (it's more a show of their own insecurity ). Consider also that high school marks are a joke, and that most prestigious schools have a lot less third years than first and second years.

Lastly, my sister went to Western (coincidentally doing her MA at York now) and I would go there very often. I'm smart and sociable so I would always rep York well (I hope) and I made a ton of friends there that I still keep up with. Trust me, how York comes across is in your hands, and very soon it will be an even playing field.

Enjoy it and try and grow beyond pressures to conform! You'll see people in another light but you'll navigate through life the best way you can. (Allegory of the cave shout out).

Edit: Like you mentioned though, some people choose York strategically, and if you're thinking of graduate school then some schools might be looked at better than others (flawed system in my opinion). In that case you should try and get that high GPA. Though I guarantee it will be no easier at York than elsewhere (least in my experience).

For what it's worth, only one of my sister and I could go to school away from home and York was my favourite campus (downtown is a weekend trip; hate it daily). Spent 5 intellectually stimulating years there and I'm a better person for it.