Osgoode Hall Law School recently welcomed back alumnus Dionysios “Dennis” Apostolides (LLB ’83) and his wife, Sophia Voumvakis, for a campus visit marked by reflection, gratitude, and a shared commitment to expanding access to legal education.  

Dennis arrived in Canada from Greece with a dream of becoming a lawyer. During his time at Osgoode, bursaries and financial support made it possible for him to complete his legal education and go on to build a successful career in family law — an experience that continues to shape his enduring connection to the School. 

Today, Dennis and Sophia are helping ensure that similar opportunities remain available for future students. Through a future bequest gift in their Will and the establishment of a bursary in Dennis’ name, they are supporting law students who demonstrate financial need, particularly those with an interest in Family or Indigenous Law. 

During their visit, Dennis and Sophia met with Dean Trevor Farrow and toured the campus, reflecting on how much has changed over the decades — and how much remains grounded in Osgoode’s longstanding commitment to access, excellence, and community.  

They were also formally welcomed into the Thomas Brown Phillips Stewart Society, which recognizes individuals who have made legacy commitments in support of Osgoode Hall Law School. 

Osgoode extends its sincere appreciation to Dennis and Sophia for their generosity and vision. Their support will have a lasting impact, helping future students pursue their legal education and make meaningful contributions to the profession. 

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Priti Sesha (MBA ’96) knows firsthand the transformative impact of education. 

Her decision to pursue an MBA at Schulich marked a turning point in her life, opening doors to new possibilities and shaping both her career and perspective on the world. 

Living on campus allowed Priti to immerse herself in the vibrant Schulich community. Surrounded by classmates from a wide range of cultures, industries, and life experiences, she was challenged to think differently and see the world through a new lens. The experience allowed her to foster a deeper appreciation for diverse points of view, and helped shape the way she approaches leadership, decision-making, and collaboration.  

It wasn't until years after earning her degree that Priti fully appreciated the life-changing impact of financial aid. During a professional development course, she met a young man whose life had been disrupted by conflict. Forced to leave his family and live in a refugee camp, he nevertheless held fast to his dream of attending university. A full scholarship eventually made that dream possible and changed the course of his life. 

His story reinforced a simple but profound truth: financial support can do far more than fund an education. It can unlock potential and ensure that talented, determined students are not held back by financial barriers. 

Priti's gratitude for her Schulich experience inspires her commitment to giving back. By leaving a gift in her will to Schulich, she is helping create opportunities for future students, empowering the next generation of leaders to pursue their ambitions and realize their potential. 

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Imagine you won $1M in the lottery. What would you do with your winnings? Pay down the mortgage? Take a five-star vacation? Set money aside for your parents, your kids, and your retirement? I bet you’d set money aside for charity too - maybe to fund a scholarship or advance lifesaving research? 

Most of us don’t have an extra $1M sitting around. So, we assume this type of philanthropy is reserved only for the wealthy. Yet some of the biggest donations in Canada come from everyday people. Not because they won the lottery, but because they included a gift in their will. 

The impact you didn’t know you could make 

The average Canadian estate is worth around $1 million—and often much more in larger cities. That means that, one day, most of us will make a decision about how that money is distributed. 

Naturally, we think about family and loved ones first. But what if you set aside just a small percentage for a cause that's helped shape your life? Even 1% can add up to far more than most people expect, while still leaving 99% to the people you love. 

I lead Will Power, a national public awareness campaign that's helping Canadians think differently about charitable giving. One of our most popular tools is the , which lets you see what even 1% of your estate could become for charity. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing what's possible, when you realize that you can make the kind of contribution that changes someone’s life and it’s totally within reach.   

The rise of gifts in wills 

Until recently, gifts in wills were thought of being something only very wealthy people could do. But that’s changing. In the last five years, the number of Canadians who've included a charitable gift in their will has doubled. Today, nearly one in two Canadians says they're considering this for their will. 

It’s not just retirees either. In fact, millennials are now more likely than boomers to have left a gift in their will. 91��ɫ U alumnus Tyler Ward is one of them. 

Why the change? 

In the face of growing social and environmental challenges, people are feeling an urgency to make a difference. At the same time, rising living costs have made it harder to give back as much as they’d like.  

People are getting savvy about how they give. They're using tools like their will, RRSPs and life insurance policy to extend their giving, often reducing taxes at the same time. 

For future you 

One day, you’ll be speaking to your lawyer about your will and they’ll ask a simple question: "Who would you like to include in your will?"  

I hope this article comes back to mind…and the 1%.  Few decisions have the power to make such a lasting difference. 

Laurie Fox (MBA ’12 Schulich) is the Director of Will Power, a public awareness campaign inspiring Canadians to think differently about their charitable giving. Laurie has worked in the non-profit sector for over two decades and seen the need in our communities rise. But she has also seen first-hand how ordinary Canadians have made a truly extraordinary impact just by leaving 1% of their estate to a cause they care about. 

Laurie is on a mission to show all Canadians the power they have to change the world simply by giving in a different way. You can learn more about Will Power, and use the free tools and resources on offer at .

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When Ann Ball (BA '88, BA '10) reflects on her years at 91��ɫ, she remembers an environment alive with thought, debate and possibility. “My overall memory of 91��ɫ is being among students from diverse backgrounds and sensibilities while being instructed by encouraging, creative professors and teaching assistants,” Ann says.  

Decades later, those same values continue to guide her decision to leave a legacy gift supporting the George C. Comninel Bursary for the Study of Political Theory in Social and Political Context, honouring the life and work of her late husband, renowned political theorist and 91��ɫ professor George Comninel (MA ’78, PhD ’84).  

Ann's own intellectual journey would eventually intersect with George's in a memorable way. When they met on a midnight train travelling from Paris to Barcelona in the early 1970s, neither could have imagined where life would take them. Ann, a Torontonian, and George, a New 91��ɫer, would go on to build a life together in Toronto, united by a shared passion for ideas and community.  

For 30 years, he worked exuberantly with waves of students and greatly enjoyed learning that his subversive stories about the ancients, Machiavelli, Marx and revolutions were appreciated. His commitment extended beyond the classroom. George believed deeply in contributing to the university community and public life. Service was the vehicle through which he felt he could make a difference.  

For Ann, supporting the bursary is a natural extension of George's life's work. Throughout his academic career, he championed students and understood firsthand the barriers many face in pursuing higher education. “I cannot think of an act more fitting for an academic who is privileged to be in this profession than to support those students who otherwise might not have the means,” she says. “In these political and economic times, with deep and unprecedented cuts to access to education, bursaries can truly make a difference.”  

Established in memory of a husband and mentor who believed deeply in the transformative power of education, the bursary helps ensure that future students studying political thought can access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.  

While George would have been honoured by the support the bursary provides, Ann believes his greatest wish was far simpler. “Really, honestly, just being kind, warm and generous with yourselves and with one another in this tough world would have been plenty for him.”  

That spirit of generosity now lives on through the George C. Comninel Bursary, helping future generations of 91��ɫ students pursue their studies and carry forward the values that shaped George's life. 

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Stacey Sinclair (MFA ’93, MBA ’99) has been a lifelong advocate for music education and music’s ability to teach and inspire. As the executive director for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, she empowers educators throughout the country to incorporate music as part of their teaching. 

The Coalition was created by music educators and parents to bolster support for Canadian music education. What began as a grassroots organization is now a registered charity that has continued their advocacy efforts for the past 30 years with more than 275,000 students participating in their programs. 

“Advocacy is at the core of what we do," says Stacey. "We are trying to save programs that are being cut and we try to step in anywhere across the country where people may need an extra voice.”

The Coalition runs music-centred programming in schools across Canada to support the growth of music education and take on initiatives that help support musical needs in the classroom. In Fall 2024 one such need inspired the Coalition to launch Ancestors Voices: Music and Learning for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a music program designed to allow students to reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) and inviting them to explore a song chosen by the Coalition that involves the Indigenous experience. Since the program’s launch, it has helped create important dialogue in classrooms from coast-to-coast-to-coast. 

“We talked to various teachers across the country and many of them identified that their classes were in need of programming for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” says Stacey. “In response, Ancestors Voices was initiated for students to listen and have a dialogue around NDTR and hear songs from Indigenous artists to learn about their stories.” 

Included in the program is a series of artist videos, artist guides, lyric and chord sheets, and a curriculum-based learning guide developed by Indigenous music educators providing their own experience and expertise to accompany the music. This provides teachers a full toolkit to share with students who want to learn more about Indigenous history and issues that are still existing today. 

The first song shared was created by another 91��ɫ alumnus, Julian Taylor, whose song S.E.E.D.S. was written after the discovery of the 215 uncovered remains of buried Indigenous children at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. The songs touch upon Indigenous history and issues while demonstrating the value of music as a tool for storytelling and its importance in Indigenous culture. 

“This past year we featured artist Adrian Sutherland, a First Nations singer-songwriter who lives in the far north,” says Stacey. “His song Kiyash is a Cree language song that has inspired classroom discussions about issues that are important to the Indigenous people living in that area, such as access to clean drinking water.” 

Ancestors Voices has grown quickly since its inception. Within the first month, the program reached 84,000 students across Canada and has organized school visits with the artists to perform their song live, with a video recording sent to all who have registered for the program. As of today, 200,000 Canadian students have participated in the program. Stacey hopes to continue the growth of this program and looks forward to sharing more Indigenous artists and storytellers to Canadian youth. 

“The response has been incredible,” says Stacey.

For the 2026 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Coalition featured artist Dee Dee Austin, and her song Buried Truth. DeeDee is an Indigenous artist and sister of the Abegweit First Nation on Prince Edward Island who embraces contemporary and traditional Indigenous music which she creates and implements into each one of her performances. When Dee Dee was 15, she used stories from her great-grandmother’s experience at Shubenacadie Indian Residential School to write Buried Truth, honouring the victims and the survivors of the system.

Stacey and the Coalition hope that Ancestors Voices continues to create important dialogue across the country and allow an opportunity for reflection on important issues.

“There are all kinds of discussions that are had about the songs,” says Stacey. “It gives people the opportunity to understand the “truth” part about truth and reconciliation and it starts all kinds of conversations about reconciliation.” 

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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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