For Greatlove Bariboloka (BSc ’25), attending 91��ɫ's Rainbow Grad in 2025 was equally about celebrating an academic milestone as it was for finding community. This was the moment that shaped their commitment to fostering inclusive spaces and giving back to the communities that once supported them. 

“My Rainbow Grad was so much fun,” Greatlove says of the annual event, hosted by the University’s Sexuality and Gender Advocacy (SAGA) alumni network.  “Seeing so many gender-diverse people in one room, being in a queer space; I wanted others to experience the feeling that it evoked in me.” 

In June, Greatlove returned to Rainbow Grad as a host where they joined allies, family, faculty and friends in celebrating the 2026 2SLGBTQIA+ graduates' achievements. 

“My philosophy is that you benefit and then you give back,” says Greatlove. “I try to do that and that's why I'm part of SAGA right now. I enjoyed my Rainbow Grad celebration so much that I wanted to make future ones just as memorable.” 

As a member of SAGA and an advisor of Lassonde EngiQueers, a community of queer STEM students, Greatlove is helping build spaces where 2SLGBTQIA+ students and alumni are seen, supported and empowered. 

“What we focus on in SAGA is bringing alumni together with relationship-building events, so they can expand their professional network,” says Greatlove. “We want to create a forum through which alumni who are queer or who are allies are able to grow professionally and stay connected with one another while fostering the involvement of alumni to create more programming.” 

But 91��ɫ isn’t the only place Greatlove is making a positive impact. They are also part of Scotiabank’s DiversAbility Employee Resource Group, where they advocate for employees with disabilities.  

“It’s focused on amplifying the voices of employees with disabilities, hosting informative workshops, and bringing people together to learn so that we can all work together to create an inclusive workplace,” says Greatlove.  

As a software engineer, Greatlove also applies a human-centred approach to their work. As part of Scotiabank’s rotational program, Greatlove works in a different department every six months to gain exposure to various parts of the bank. They have worked in accessible employee technology, Cloud product management and currently full stack development for business banking.   

“What I enjoy the most is seeing the positive impacts of the decisions that I make,” says Greatlove. “Whether it’s at 91��ɫ or at work, I enjoy creating or contributing to positive experiences.” 

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Eligibility  

91��ɫ alumni who have graduated more than two (2) years ago are eligible for up to two (2) hours of complimentary one-to-one virtual career coaching. Additional services may be available through approved alumni partners and may be subject to fees. 

Recent graduates (within the past 2 years) are eligible for services with the 91��ɫ U Career Centre. Appointments can be booked here:  

About Career Coaching 

Career coaching is a collaborate process that supports you in exploring career goals, increasing self-awareness, identifying opportunities, and developing strategies to enhance your career. Coaching provides space for reflection, discussion, learning, and action planning. While your coach may offer perspectives, resources, and recommendations, you remain responsible for the decisions and actions you choose to take. 

Career coaching is intended to help you navigate your career development and job search more effectively. It is not therapy, counselling, legal advice, or recruitment services, and participation does not guarantee employment or specific outcomes. 

Confidentiality and the Collection of Personal Information  

Information shared during coaching sessions will be treated as confidential. To support continuity between sessions, notes may be taken during or after appointments. These notes are maintained securely and are used solely for coaching purposes by the career coach. 91��ɫ will not have access to the content of coaching discussions or coaching notes.  

The University respects your privacy and may only have access to information related to service utilization, such as whether alumni coaching services were accessed and the type of service received for administrative and reporting purposes.  

Personal information provided to the University in connection with this form is collected under the authority of The 91��ɫ Act, 1965 and will be used to carry out University services and functions, including alumni engagement activities, programming evaluation, and administrative services. At all times it will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions, please refer to our website or contact the University’s Alumni Engagement team at alumni@yorku.ca or 416-650-8159. 

Limits to Confidentiality 

Confidentiality may be limited in situations where there is risk of serious harm to yourself or another person, or disclosure is otherwise required by law. 

Systems 

There may be inherent risks associated with using electronic communications and videoconferencing software, which include but not limited to, hacking by a third party, loss of privacy, or loss/interruption due to technological failure. 

Your Role in the Coaching Process 

To get the greatest benefit from the alumni coaching experience, we encourage the following: 

• Active participation – Anything less than intentional full participation will not lead to success. The more information you share, the better we can tailor the coaching process to your needs. Be open and honest about your goals, experiences, challenges, and progress.  

• Growth mindset and application – Coaching may introduce new tools, strategies, perspectives, and approaches. You are encouraged to explore what works best for you in the circumstances. 

• Open communication – If something is not working for you, please share your feedback. Coaching is flexible and can be adapted as your needs evolve. 

• ���ɲԱ�����󾱱���– You are the decision-maker throughout the coaching process. While your coach can provide guidance, support, challenge, and accountability, the choices you make and the action you take remain your responsibility. Your input and engagement will shape the coaching journey. 

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Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship  

Recipient: Brooklyn Simm 

The Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship is awarded to an incoming undergraduate student who is the child, sibling or grandchild of a 91��ɫ graduate, and has shown exceptional academic achievement and meaningful involvement in community service, volunteerism or other activities. 

This year’s recipient is Brooklyn Simm, who is about to begin her first year in 91��ɫ’s Pharmaceutical Chemistry program. Originally from the small Lake Simcoe community of Kenneth-Sutton in Georgina, Ontario, she hopes to become a pharmacist and help expand access to healthcare services in her hometown. 

Pursuing post-secondary education has historically presented challenges for her family because of the distance to major institutions. However, Brooklyn's mother, April, overcame those barriers as a first-generation university student, earning a Psychology degree from 91��ɫ while commuting daily from Georgina. Hearing her mother’s experiences and witnessing her determination inspired Brooklyn to follow in her footsteps and begin her own 91��ɫ journey this fall.  

Brooklyn aspires to join the 91��ɫ Lions women’s hockey team and hopes to contribute to the 91��ɫ community by exploring clubs and potentially volunteering for student life.  

Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship  

Recipient: Stephanie Onwukaike 

The Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship is presented to a student who exemplifies excellence in academics, leadership and community impact.  This year’s recipient, Stephanie Onwukaike (BSc ‘26), is recognized for her academic achievements, outstanding volunteerism and long-lasting impact in psychology and 91��ɫ’s black community. 

Throughout her time at 91��ɫ, Stephanie has demonstrated a strong commitment to both academic and extracurricular excellence. As part of her coursework, she had the opportunity to research burnout in university students which has strengthened her commitment to promoting mental health. 

Beyond her studies, she is an advocate for marginalized communities, and participates as a dancer in the Nigerian Student Association and as an events director in Black Students in Psychology (BSIP).  She also volunteered with MIRA, an AI-based chatbot initiative, focused on increasing the accessibility of mental health services, where she explored the viability and intersection of AI and psychology.  

Stephanie remains committed to supporting underdeveloped communities for mental health, with plans to pursue her master’s degree. She hopes to further explore and bridge the gap between technology and psychology nd eventually start her own podcast. 

Golden GRADitude Award 

Recipients: Favour Isemede and Gurneet Singh 

The Alumni Golden GRADitude Award recognizes graduating students who leave 91��ɫ a better place thanks to the significant leadership they demonstrated during their time on campus. We are proud to recognize this year’s recipients, Favour Isemede (BHS ’26) and Gurneet Singh (BES ’26). 

Favour Isemede  

Throughout her time at 91��ɫ, Favour embodied tenacity, academic excellence and a passion for health equity. Her studies broadened her view on the healthcare industry beyond clinical work, leading her to explore health equity, the social determinants of health and policy, which has prepared her to better tackle health and development issues. 

Beyond her studies, she served as the events planning director for the Rotaract Club, focusing on underserved communities, which strengthened her commitment to health equity issues. Some of her most memorable experiences include sowing pads for women in Trinidad & Tobago, writing letters to children in the Philippines, and the push-up challenge which has shown her the positive impact she can have. She has also worked as a personal support worker, an experience that has strengthened her resolve to change the system to be more inclusive towards underserved communities. 

She is grateful to receive the Golden GRADitude award and plans on using it to further her ambitions. In the future, Favour plans on pursuing her master’s degree with future goals to open her own clinic as well as designing inclusive footwear at the intersection of comfort and fashion. 

Gurneet Singh 

Gurneet Singh’s involvement at 91��ɫ began through a research work-study position in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC). This experience helped her realize the many opportunities on campus. This is in part what drew her to pursue both her bachelor’s and master’s degree at 91��ɫ.  

Previously, Gurneet took on the role of president at the Environment and Urban Change Student Association (EUCSA) where she was tasked with reviving the club and advocating for students at EUC. In her experience at EUCSA, she launched the EUCSA Research Fair, bringing visibility to student achievement.  

Gurneet hopes to use the scholarship to fund her master’s research on environmental policy. Her research will bring more awareness to the environment and climate change. She believes that 91��ɫ’s program equips students with the proper training and expertise to critique and challenge different topics. In the future she hopes to spread more visibility for the faculty and its students through change and learning.  

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Trevor Fairlie (JD ’19) has devoted significant time and energy into promoting inclusion for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. However, with recent changes in the social and political spheres, this cause has faced a new challenge – one that Trevor hopes to meet head on.  

Trevor is a lawyer and the former chair for Start Proud, a national non-profit organization that provides support for 2SLGBTQIA+ students during the early stages of their career.  The organization had an enormous impact on his young career, and he was determined that the next generation of students would benefit from the same networking and career growth opportunities that he had.  

“I have a pretty long history with Start Proud,” says Trevor, who is currently an active board member with the organization, having wrapped up his term as chair in 2025. “I started out volunteering as a campus ambassador at Osgoode Hall and then worked as a marketing associate. I returned as a board member in May of 2022 and became the chair later in November 2022.”  

During the same year, he also co-founded the Canadian Association of LGBTQ2S+ Lawyers (Call-Acal), a national association of legal professionals dedicated to developing an inclusive, innovative and representative bar in Canada. The organization got its start from a conversation that Trevor had with his friend Lucas Kilravey, who is now the current Call-Acal president and chair.

“Lucas and I were sitting in his apartment, and we looked around the legal profession and saw a lot of affinity-seeking organizations, such as the Indigenous Bar Association and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. While there was excellent work being done by SAGDA at the Ontario Bar Association and nationally, we realized there was no similar organization for our community,” says Trevor. “So, we decided to do it ourselves.”  

Since its inception, the organization has started two mentorship programs, one for students and, in collaboration with the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, another for lawyers who aspire to be judges and has hosted “firm hops” across Canada, bringing students firm-to-firm for recruitment opportunities in major markets. Their annual Prisme conference brings members of the community from across Canada together every year. Speakers at the conference have included former Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek, former Canadian Bar Association president Steeves Bujold, and Anya-Lynn Alesker, executive director of the American LGBTQ+ Bar Association, among many other eminent leaders. 

“Prisme combines networking and business development opportunities with meaningful substantive discussions on legal issues facing our community in Canada and around the world,” says Trevor. “We want to ensure all our attendees leave informed and engaged and hopefully ready to use their legal skills to help out community organizations that might be working on these issues.”  

However, recent shifts in the North American political landscape have created new challenges for advocates like Trevor to continue their pursuit of equality. 

“We are seeing some firms in North America cut back on DEI programs, and  some employee resource group budgets are being trimmed,” says Trevor. 

“I think generally there’s an acceptance in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community that the social tide has shifted, and that institutional and public support has, in many instances, become more fragile now.”

These recent trends highlight the importance of advocates like Trevor and his colleagues at Start Proud and Call-Acal who will continue to make the case for inclusion.  

 “It’s a battle that we thought we had already won, but we’re ready to make the case that inclusion in law and business is both the right thing to do and good for business,”  says Trevor. “It feels like it’s a step back and we’re seeing those gains and the acceptance roll back a little bit. For me combatting that trend is a key challenge; we don’t want to move back.” 

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Claire Del Zotto is a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto mentoring younger students in STEM. She serves as a committee chair for the Ontario Medical Students Association, where she is organizing a three-day conference bringing over 100 medical student leaders from across Ontario to discuss healthcare innovation. She represents her faculty as co-organizer of the MD Program Orientation Week for over 300 incoming learners, raising over $70,000 in donations to ensure that cost was not a barrier to student participation. With an interest in healthy aging, she recently founded Scrubs and Shrubs, a mindfulness-focused gardening group that connects medical students to older adults who have a shared interest in sustainability. Her current research addresses how limited access to menopause care impacts quality of life. 

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Winnie Yu is a medical student at the University of Toronto who is dedicated to health advocacy, learner affairs and community service. In a national leadership capacity with the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), she coordinates key projects and promotional initiatives ensuring events are promoted while contributing to improving CFMS’ engagement and social media presence. Winnie also led financial literacy initiatives designed to help students build confidence in managing their finances as a founding partner of a student financial literacy organization, FinMed. Through interactive workshops, she has connected with financial experts to discuss budgeting and debt management where students can ask questions and gain tools to make informed financial decisions. She also volunteers in community outreach initiatives that provide vision assessments and eye health education to underserved communities, strengthening access to essential eye care in the community.   

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Chinoye Sunny is a city-builder committed to creating vibrant, inclusive communities through both her professional work and volunteer leadership. As a Development Planner at the City of Richmond Hill, Chinoye plays an important role in shaping the future of housing, ensuring new developments are not only responsive to the housing crisis but also filled with the amenities that help communities thrive. Since earning her MES in Planning from 91��ɫ in 2021, Chinoye has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce housing inequities and expand access to essential services. Beyond her professional achievements, Chinoye is a dedicated volunteer and advocate for student engagement. She joined the MES 91��ɫ Planning Alumni Committee (MYPAC) in 2019 as a student member and now serves as the Chair of MYPAC. In this role, she has been instrumental in strengthening connections between students and alumni, organizing events that foster professional development, and cultivating a welcoming and inclusive planning community at 91��ɫ. 

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Fernanda Sierra Suárez is a community artist and arts worker, recently working as the community engagement and programs manager at Culture Days National, organizing the largest annual arts and culture festival in Canada. Over the past 15 years, Culture Days has hosted over 50,000 arts and culture community-based events reaching over 20 million people. Fernanda co-founded Creato Community, a grassroots organization dedicated to connecting, supporting and amplifying Latin American creatives in Canada. Through her community arts work, she engages newcomer and immigrant artists through free community-based arts programming, participatory art-making activities and career development events. She continues to give back to 91��ɫ as an annual guest speaker in HUMA 3207/4207 Doing Culture, and as a placement supervisor. 

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Erik Robeznieks is a leader in adaptive sports who has dedicated his career to creating equitable opportunities in health, fitness, and sport for people with disabilities. At the University of Michigan, Erik leads strategy, operations, and partnerships for their sport programming. He has successfully secured over $1.7 million in grants and sponsorships, co-created the Adaptive Sports & Inclusive Recreation Initiative (ASIRI) and launched an innovative Adaptive Equipment Loan Program that removes financial barriers to sport participation. Beyond his professional roles, he serves as a mentor in the Global Sports Mentoring Program and contributes to boards such as Therapeutic Riding Inc., advancing inclusive wellness opportunities in the community and internationally." 

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