Over the course of two weeks, several athletes with connections to 91亚色 took part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and walked away notable contributions that added to the collective success of Canada winning a country-best 27 medals this summer.

In the Women鈥檚 Canoe Single 200m event, 91亚色 U Faculty of Health student Katie Vincent became the first Canadian to ever win Olympic gold in any women鈥檚 canoe or kayak event. She did so while setting a new world record for best time. Vincent also won a bronze medal in the Women鈥檚 Canoe Doubles 500m for the second Olympics in a row.

Alumnae Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Parades earned a silver medal in Women鈥檚 Beach Volleyball, representing Canada鈥檚 first medal in the women鈥檚 event and the country鈥檚 best result in the sport overall. It was an even more impressive accomplishment given the pair have only been competing as partners since October 2022, and this marked their first Olympics together as a team.

As a member of Canada鈥檚 women's rugby sevens team, Asia Hogan-Rochester 鈥� who played with the 91亚色 Lions women鈥檚 rugby team in 2018 鈥� captured a silver medal during the Olympics, marking the country鈥檚 best Olympic result in the sport to date. 

Among other 91亚色-affiliated competitors at the 2024 Olympics, shooting athlete Shannon Westlake 鈥� a 91亚色 U alumna 鈥� ranked 32 in the qualification round of the women鈥檚 5m rifle three positions; accomplished judo athlete Shady Elnahas, who competed as a wrestler at 91亚色 U in 2017, made it to the round of 16; and beach volleyball player Dan Dearing, who played with the Lion鈥檚 men鈥檚 volleyball team from 2011 to 2013, nearly made it to the round of 16 with his partner.

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W. Andy Knight, alumni

Knight, who received his PhD in political science from 91亚色, is a renowned and award-winning University of Alberta Distinguished Professor in the Political Science Department specializing in global governance, the United Nations and more. In addition to being a prolific author 鈥� with over 16 books, 80 chapters in edited volumes and 68 journal articles 鈥� he is a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in International and Area Studies at Yale University, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, as well as the inaugural provost fellow in Black excellence and leadership at his university.

Andre Smith, alumni

Smith, who completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting from 91亚色, is the founder and CEO of Flip & Floss, a digital platform that teaches and empowers today鈥檚 youth with financial literacy and money management skills. The company 鈥� founded in 2020 鈥� already has over 5,000 users and 1,000 workshops.

Previously, Smith has received the CBC Toronto Community Champions award (in 2020) and was the BMO Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Technology Industry.

Nadine Williams, alumni

Poet, author and arts educator Nadine Williams has published four collections of poetry, two children鈥檚 books and 16 volumes of literature for Black History Month that are part of Canadian school curriculums. She is frequently called upon as a speaker and presenter, having shared her work at Citizenship & Immigrants Canada ceremonies and at events with prestigious attendees like former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Jamaica鈥檚 former prime minister Portia Simpson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She is also using an art installation project called The Fabric of Our Being to raise awareness about the United Nations鈥� International Decade for People of African Descent project.

Other recognitions Williams has received include being named on a list of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2022, being given the 2024 Women Who Inspire Change Award from the Jamaican Canadian Association and earning a parliamentary mention for contributions to Black history in Canada.

Gervan Fearon, former faculty

Fearon, who once served as a 91亚色 associate professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, is the current president of George Brown College in Toronto.

Fearon was recognized for his contributions as a prominent education advocate, driving and leveraging the transformative power of learning to improve social and economic mobility.

His career鈥檚 work has previously earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Micha毛lle Jean Foundation Influencer Award and an appointment to the Order of Ontario.

Visit the the to find out more about the winners.

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91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is gaining recognition for its Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs), designed to assist newcomers to the country in navigating the complexities of the Canadian job market.

Within the Bridging Program, there are two options on offer: the Foundations Program, which includes courses created exclusively for IEPs, focusing on professional communication, leadership, internet technology (IT), as well as law and management skills in the Canadian context; and certificate programs focusing on either Canadian business or information technology, which allow students to gain a Canadian university credential and take courses toward professional accreditation. Both routes offer part-time and evening study options, along with flexible course selection, access to fee waivers, experiential education and career support.

Offering a comprehensive educational experience tailored specifically for IEPs seeking to enhance their career prospects in Canada, the programs benefit from financial supports from both the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development, and the federal government, through Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada. Government funding goes toward supporting newcomers to access language development, career coaching and professional-level courses.

Art Noordeh is the academic director of the Bridging Program that, since its inception in 2010, has been instrumental in facilitating the career transitions of countless IEPs from diverse backgrounds and industries. 鈥淥ur aim,鈥� Noordeh says, 鈥渋s to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields in Canada.鈥�

Over 1,400 newcomers have participated in the programs since they started, says Monica Brennan, the Bridging Program鈥檚 associate director. Currently, a new intake of over 80 students are beginning their IEP journey and adding to those numbers.

Brennan says participants have an option to continue at 91亚色 following the completion of the Foundations Program, where they can take additional university-level credit courses as visiting students in their chosen field or apply to join the certificate programs. To date, approximately 40 per cent of participants have gone this route.

Among the Foundation Program graduates is Neha Aggarwal, who completed the program in December 2023. Despite having professional experience and expertise in her native India, she faced challenges securing interviews for a data analyst position after coming to Canada. After enrolling in 91亚色鈥檚 Bridging Program for IEPs in 2023, she participated in networking seminars, technology summits, and career fairs that exposed her to industry professionals and peers with similar aspirations. She also participated in drop-in language classes on weekends.

With enhanced language and communication skills, Aggarwal secured a data analyst internship within just one month of enrolment, a testament to the program鈥檚 effectiveness in facilitating career transitions for IEPs. She has now joined the IEP Professional Certificate in Information Technology.

鈥淢y journey with the IEP program at 91亚色 has been a personal odyssey of growth and success,鈥� says Aggarwal, in a Foundations Program testimonial on the LA&PS website. 鈥淭his program has not just been a professional journey; it has been the best personal chapter since I arrived in Canada, setting the stage for continuous success and growth.鈥�

The professional certificate programs in both Canadian Business and IT have a long track record of success. The recently created Big Data & Data Analytics stream has been designed to quickly transition established IT professionals into the highest-demand skills of today鈥檚 workplace. The required course work includes deep theoretical knowledge, practical skills with current software packages and immersive project work in team environments. 鈥淭hese specialized IT skills can help relaunch the careers of IEP students on a new path well-aligned with the future of the Canadian economy,鈥� says Professor Stephen Chen of the School of Information Technology at 91亚色 U.

At a ceremony last month 鈥� attended by Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Phillips and Interim Dean of LA&PS Michele Johnson  鈥� recognizing newcomers who have graduated from the certificate programs or achieved career success, several attendees spoke 鈥� like Aggarwal 鈥� about the impact of 91亚色鈥檚 IEP programs.

鈥淭he program provided insights into the Canadian labour market, enhancing my understanding of industry trends and employer expectations. It equipped me with job search strategies, including resum茅 writing and interview preparation, to effectively compete in the job market,鈥� said IT graduate Dawit Gulta, who is currently working toward a graduate degree in big data and data analytics at 91亚色 U and is a Mitacs graduate student intern at the Sunnybrook Research Institute.

鈥淚 learned essential knowledge and methodologies through the specialized courses in public administration. The practicum course allowed me to practise in a real public sector work setting, which led to my current job,鈥� said student Eva Yuanyuan Han at the event. She joined the Ontario Ministry of Health as a resource analyst in May, graduating with a Certificate in Canadian Business in the Public Administration stream.

The graduates鈥� words spoke not only to how the Bridging Program for IEPs benefits individuals but also how it enriches Canada鈥檚 workforce with diverse talents and perspectives.

鈥淎t 91亚色, we are dedicated to empowering IEPs with the resources required to unlock their potential to excel and fulfil their dreams in Canada,鈥� says Noordeh. 鈥淭he transformative impact of the program helps them to overcome barriers and achieve significant career growth in the job market.鈥�

For more stories about graduates of the programs 鈥� including Dawit Gulta, who won a Dean鈥檚 Award for Research Excellence during his studies 鈥� visit the Bridging Program for IEPs website.

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The Nursing Simulation Centre (NSC) in 91亚色's School of Nursing hosted two community engagement events this summer to help local youth gain knowledge and interest in the health-care profession. The first event 鈥� part of the NSC鈥檚 collaboration with the Faculty of Science鈥檚 Science Engagement Programs 鈥� brought close to 70 elementary school students, in Grades 7 and 8, to the centre for an experiential learning opportunity aligned with their summer camp curriculum. The second event welcomed members of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, who led a hands-on workshop for high-school students.

"The School of Nursing鈥檚 Simulation Centre is excited to work with nursing students to support future health-care professionals," said Laura Nicholson, a professor in the School of Nursing and director of the NSC. "Annually, since 2018, the Nursing Simulation Centre has been working with high-school student groups and various camps to showcase elements of nursing to prospective students."

As part of the Science Engagement Programs visit to the NSC 鈥� a collaboration celebrating a decade of inspiring the next generation of health-care professionals 鈥� students from 91亚色 U's Mini-Med School 1.0 and 2.0 summer camps were treated to a morning full of engaging experiences complementing their camp curriculum focused on exploring the science behind the health-care system. The objective for the Mini-Med School 1.0 workshop participants was to learn how to take a pulse, while the Mini-Med School 2.0 students learned how to measure blood pressure.

The NSC was able to host these prospective future health-care leaders because of the support provided by the enthusiastic team of facilitators made up of 91亚色 U graduates and current students from direct-entry, collaborative and second-degree undergraduate nursing programs. The facilitators were organized by Igor Kabanov, director of the Nursing Student Tutoring, Ambassadorship & Mentorship Programs (NSTAMP), a student-led peer support organization that provides services to help ensure nursing students have a positive experience at 91亚色 U.

For the other NSC community outreach initiative this summer, the centre worked closely with James Ehiagwina, president of the 91亚色 chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA-YU), and the wider CBNA team to plan and implement a three-hour workshop for high-school students from the Greater Toronto Area.

Outreach and planning for the workshop were supported by the 91亚色 U-TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC), which seeks to support Faculties in community engagement initiatives. The CEC also provided bus tickets for student attendees, in an effort to reduce barriers to participation. Facilitated by members of CBNA and NSTAMP, the workshop taught participants how to put on personal protective equipment and assess a patient, among other practical skills.

"This summer, the sessions were facilitated by record numbers of nursing graduates and current students," said Nicholson. "The professionalism, knowledge and skill displayed by the facilitators was outstanding. They displayed not only passion for the nursing profession but a commitment to educating the next generation."

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Athletes and medical team members with ties to 91亚色 are set to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, beginning July 26, representing a spectrum of sports such as volleyball, judo, rugby and more.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will host several 91亚色-affiliated athletes who have competed at previous games, including Tokyo 2020, as well as several new faces making their Olympic debut.

The Olympic-bound people are:

Amandev Aulakh: Team Canada Medical Team
Aulakh, a sports medicine physician at 91亚色, has been a member of the Lions team since July 2022 and has previous experience serving on the medical staff for Team Canada at the 2022 Under-17 (U17) FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup. She will travel to Paris to be part of the core medical team for Team Canada.

She served in a similar role for the 2019 Winter Universiade, the 2019 Parapan American Games and the 2020 Summer Paralympics, and she was the chief medical officer at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games.

Charlotte Bolton: Para Athletics
A member of the Lions track and field team from 2021 to 2022, Bolton is an athlete who won gold medals in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) para shot-put and para weight throw, as well as the U Sports para shot-put gold medal.

Since then, Bolton has earned several Canadian throwing records in women's F41 鈥� a classification for field athletes with short stature 鈥� and currently ranks in the top 10 in the world in shot-put and discuss.

Bolton previously represented Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. In Tokyo, Bolton placed sixth in both the shotput and discus.

Dan Dearing: Beach Volleyball
Dearing played with the Lion鈥檚 men鈥檚 volleyball team from 2011 to 2013 following a successful high-school career, having won the under-18 national championship in 2008 as a tournament all-star. While at 91亚色 U, he captured the gold medal at the Ontario provincial beach volleyball championships in 2012.

Paris 2024 marks Dearing鈥檚 Olympic debut, after winning the North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Olympic Qualification Tournament in June, building on previous wins of silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and winning the NORCECA Beach Tour Final in 2022.

Shady Elnahas: Judo
Elnahas competed as a wrestler at 91亚色 U in 2017. That year, he was nominated for rookie of the year (based on a near-perfect 23-1 record in OUA competition) and was named the men鈥檚 wrestling most valuable player.

Since then, Elnahas has earned several prestigious medals as he shifted from wrestling to judo, including two golds at the Pan American Judo Championships in 2019 and 2020; gold at the 2021 International Judo Federation (IJF) Judo Grand Slam; gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games; gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games; five back-to-back golds at the Pan American Championships; and silver at the 2024 IJF World Championships.

Elnahas made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympics, where he finished with a fifth-place ranking after playing his way to the bronze medal match. He is headed into the Paris 2024 games as the third-ranked man in the world in his weight class.

Melissa Humana-Parades: Beach Volleyball
Humana-Parades played with the Lion鈥檚 women鈥檚 volleyball team from 2010 to 2014 鈥� winning back-to-back OUA Championships 鈥� and was recognized as 91亚色 U鈥檚 2011-12 female athlete of the year and a three-time OUA all-star.

Since then, Humana-Parades has become a six-time International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) gold medallist, a 12-time FIVB medallist, a five-time Canadian champion, a two-time Association of Volleyball Professionals champion, a Commonwealth Games champion and, most recently, a world champion, earning the first-ever gold for Canada at the 2019 Beach Volleyball World Championships.

Humana-Parades previously represented Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Asia Hogan-Rochester: Rugby
Hogan-Rochester played with the 91亚色 Lions women鈥檚 rugby team in 2018, while at the same time competing on the track and field team. Afterwards, they went on to represent Canada鈥檚 women鈥檚 rugby sevens senior squad at the Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

During their career, Hogan-Rochester also earned the women鈥檚 rugby rookie of the year award and the women鈥檚 track and field rookie of the year award for their efforts in the 2019 U Sports season.

Arthur Szwarc: Volleyball
Szwarc played with the Lions men鈥檚 volleyball team from 2014 to 2016, earning an OUA bronze medal with the team in the 2014-15 season.

While at 91亚色, Szwarc was already representing Canada competitively 鈥� at the 2015 Universiade and FIVB Junior World Championship, and winning bronze at the 2015 U21 Pan Am Cup. He debuted with the senior national team at the 2017 FIVB World League, helping Canada win a bronze medal 鈥� the team's first podium finish at a FIVB international event.

Szwarc made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where Canada finished eighth after making it to the quarterfinals.

Syed Muhammad Haseeb Tariq: Swimming
Tariq was a member of the 91亚色 Lions competitive swim team before going on to compete for Pakistan at the South Asian Games in 2016, earning four gold medals during the trials in 2015. He won the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle events and also broke two national records while winning the 50-metre and 100-metre backstroke events.

In 2018, he participated in the Commonwealth Games and made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 competition, where he finished 62nd in the men鈥檚 100-metre freestyle.

Katie Vincent: Canoe-Kayak Sprint
Vincent, a student in 91亚色 U鈥檚 Faculty of Health, first represented Canada in rowing at the 2013 World Junior Championships, making a quick impact by earning the team two gold medals the following year at the same competition.

Vincent has since added to that accomplishment, having earned over 10 medals 鈥� almost half of them gold 鈥� at the Canoe Sprint World Cup before going into the 2024 Paris games. She has also earned several World Championship medals.

She made her Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020, finishing in eighth place in her solo competition and earning bronze for Canada in the team competition.

Brandie Wilkerson: Beach Volleyball
Wilkerson played with the Lion鈥檚 women鈥檚 volleyball team from 2010 to 2014. During that time, she was 91亚色 U鈥檚 female rookie of the year in 2010-11, an OUA rookie of the year award winner and a four-time OUA all-star.

After 91亚色 U, Wilkerson went on to represent Canada at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she and her partner Heather Bansley made it to the quarterfinals, matching Canada鈥檚 best-ever Olympic result in women鈥檚 beach volleyball.

Wilkerson will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a new partner, fellow 91亚色 U alumna and teammate Humana-Paredes.

The pair have been competing as partners since October 2022, and have earned several notable wins, including top-five placements at FIVB world events and silver at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Shannon Westlake: Shooting
Westlake, an alumna of 91亚色, won bronze medals in the women鈥檚 50-metre rifle three positions events at both the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and the 2024 Continental Championships of the Americas in early April.

Paris 2024 marks Westlake's first Olympic Games, but she is no stranger to the competitive arena. With three Pan Am Games 鈥� including her debut at Toronto 2015 鈥� under her belt, she brings a wealth of experience and unwavering determination to the Olympic stage.

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Isaac Garcia-Sitton, a recent PhD graduate from the Faculty of Education, has been honoured with two prestigious national awards for his doctoral dissertation in the field of international higher education.

Garcia-Sitton received the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award by the Comparative & International Education Society of Canada and the George Geiss Award by the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education for his dissertation titled 鈥淧olicy Making in Times of Crisis: The Case of Immigration and International Students in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic.鈥�

Informed through analysis of policy documents and interviews with policy actors, the study examines how immigration policy measures introduced in Canada during the pandemic affected international student recruitment and retention in the nation鈥檚 post-secondary education institutions.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive these awards from national academic societies that have significantly contributed to the fields of higher education and international education,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton, who has over 20 years of experience in international relations and business development as a former diplomat and within the higher education sector. He currently serves as the inaugural executive director of international student enrolment, education and inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Professor Roopa Desai Trilokekar, Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 dissertation supervisor whom he credits for her guidance on his work, commended his achievement, noting: 鈥淚saac鈥檚 work and its recognition through two national awards is a reflection of the fruits of humility, hard work and dedication."

Exploring the various immigration policy measures introduced in Canada from March 2020 to December 2022 to ensure the continued recruitment and retention of international students, Garcia-Sitton's dissertation highlights how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for policy change, leading to significant adaptations in travel regulations, study provisions, work-related measures and pathways to permanent residency.

The research illustrates, too, the interplay between federal and provincial jurisdictions and how lack of co-ordination can further complicate policy making in uncertain conditions. By identifying and investigating the role of institutional constraints and the alignment of policy actors in decision-making processes, the dissertation provides insights that can inform high-impact and rapid-response policy changes to support the international education sector in Canada.

Garcia-Sitton's research identifies key factors that facilitated policy changes during the pandemic and highlights the significance of policy entrepreneurs, clear communication and the widespread collaboration in shaping effective policy responses. In addition, by identifying the interconnectedness between global geopolitical shifts and internal policy decisions, the study illustrates how external factors can shape a country鈥檚 attractiveness in the international education arena, and advocates for a more comprehensive and holistic approach in policy analysis.

The forward-looking nature of Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 disseration are something both awards singled out.

"Isaac's dissertation presents a compelling case for the significance of analyzing policy changes during times of crisis," noted the 2024 committee for the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award, which recognizes outstanding research in the field of comparative and international education. The committee for the George Geiss Award, which has the same goal as the Michel Laferri猫re Award, echoed that, noting that Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 work provides 鈥渁 valuable case study to guide future analyses and practices."

鈥淎s an immigrant and a scholar-practitioner, this recognition underscores the importance of my journey and the impact of dedicated research on shaping inclusive and supportive policies for international students,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton.

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Six 91亚色 community members are among the 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest honours that recognizes individuals whose contributions, achievements and innovations have made a positive impact on communities throughout Canada.鈥�

The newly appointed 91亚色 individuals include one officer and five members.

Officer

Vaira Vike-Freiberga (LLD 鈥�08), honorary degree recipient

Vike-Freiberga was the sixth president of Latvia and the first woman to serve as president of the country. She was instrumental in Latvia鈥檚 entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. She was also appointed special envoy on United Nations (UN) reform in 2005 and an official candidate for the post of UN secretary general in 2006. She continues to advocate for human rights, protecting democracy and empowering female leaders around the world.鈥�

Members

Bruce A. Lourie (MES 鈥�87, PhD 鈥�19), alumnus

Lourie is an entrepreneur, president of the Ivey Foundation and an influential leader in climate change and sustainability. Throughout his career, he has founded several organizations dedicated to climate change and environmental health. He also initiated the campaign to shut down coal-fired power plants in Ontario, which was considered the largest climate action in North America. In 2015, Lourie received a 91亚色 Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement.

E. Michael Perley (BA 鈥�70), alumnus

Perley has dedicated his past 40 years to addressing environmental and health challenges. As director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco, he advocated for legislation that would limit second-hand smoke and support the decrease of tobacco use. He was also a driving force behind significant legislative changes in Canada and the U.S., thanks to his leadership in coalitions on acid rain and air pollution.

Michael Creal, professor emeritus鈥�

Creal is an educator, activist and faith leader. In 1965, he was appointed a professor of humanities at 91亚色 and he has since played a crucial role in the development of the University and its programs, including the Centre for Refugee Studies. He is also a founder and leader of the sanctuary movement in Canada and has contributed to several journals and newspapers. His dedication to supporting historically marginalized people and refugees is evident through the various initiatives he has participated in throughout his career.

Susan Elizabeth Lang (LLB 鈥�74), alumna鈥�

Lang was the first woman to become president of the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association and is the co-founder of an all-woman law firm. She has served as a judge in Ontario鈥檚 Superior Court of Justice from 1989 to 2004 and Court of Appeal from 2004 to 2013. As the leader of the Motherisk Hair Analysis Independent Review, she has influenced how scientific evidence is handled and inspired the Ontario Forensic Laboratories Act, the first legislation of its kind in Canada.

Wiliam James Gordon Kirby, former visiting professor

Kirby is the founder and executive director of the Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art. He is also recognized for developing the Canadian Art Database and for his archival work, which has contributed to the recognition of contemporary Canadian art and artists.鈥�

For more information about the Order of Canada program, visit .

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During the June 7 convocation for 91亚色's Glendon College, award-winning researcher and social scientist Barbara Neis received an honorary degree and shared stories from her studies, career and life.

When University Secretariat Pascal Robichaud introduced Neis, she noted that the social scientist is 鈥渙ne of Glendon College鈥檚 most inspired and inspiring early graduates,鈥� and can count herself as a member of the Order of Canada, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Once Neis began addressing graduands, however, she recounted that before she was any of those things, she was a young student from a family farm in northern Ontario, arriving at Glendon College and experiencing urban and academic life for the first time.

As she pursued a joint undergraduate degree in sociology and psychology, Neis was introduced to disciplines and streams of thought she didn鈥檛 even know existed. The researcher admitted to graduands in her address that she was initially overwhelmed by the breadth of thinking she was exposed to, and how exactly to integrate any of into her life, career and academic pursuits. She worried about becoming a jack of all trades and master of none. 鈥淚 was struggling with whether I could acquire even minimum expertise in philosophy, the humanities, sociology, psychology,鈥� she said.

In time, however, an approach became clear to her. 鈥淚 learned that I did not need to be an expert in everything," she said. "It was enough to be able to read and respectfully engage with researchers in other disciplines who had a shared interest in answering relevant and important questions that could not be answered by drawing on the resources of a single discipline.鈥�

That realization became the interdisciplinary bedrock of her career as a researcher and social scientist who has participated in research projects that total at least $150 million and whose work has been published in more than 120 books, book chapters, journal articles and working papers. It led to work promoting a greater understanding of the interactions between work environment, health and communities 鈥� especially within marine and coastal contexts.

Neis focused on the latter, especially while speaking to the graduands, recalling how that work began somewhat unexpectedly with a kitchen conversation in a home on the East Coast that she was visiting. There, she was told about trawlermen who were being severely injured as they tried to fish in ice in vessels not designed for that purpose. Neis wanted to know why, and in the process of getting answers developed an approach that would serve her well in understanding the roots of circumstances she wanted to research.

鈥淭he best way I've found to understand these forces is by starting with their lived experience and then using the resources available to researchers to work backwards to disentangle the various threads [that cause them],鈥� she said.

In the case of the trawlermen, the source of the challenges they faced became clear. 鈥淚 soon realized that for fishermen and others, the forces that threaten their lives, livelihoods and communities frequently come from the ways environmental, institutional, policy and other processes intersect to affect what they do and how they do it,鈥� she said.

It became important to Neis then 鈥� and moving forward 鈥� to keep the people in mind while conducting her research. 鈥淚t led me to begin designing my research, assessing the findings and developing related recommendations for change in collaboration with those who must, in the end, live with the results.鈥�

She would go on to approach her other work with that same type of thinking 鈥� notably, her research around the collapse of the Atlantic cod stocks in the 1990s. As Robichaud noted in his introduction, that work 鈥渕ade [Neis鈥檚] reputation as a research activist 鈥� [and] 鈥� led to significant social change.鈥�

Neis credits the success of that project to remembering the personal, and listening to lived experiences when doing research. 鈥淚 was privileged to work with a team of social and natural scientists, interviewing Trinity Bay fishermen about their intimate knowledge of life under and on the water,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir collective observations, from headland to the bottom of the bay and across generations, helped us document the insights underlying their prescient questioning of the overly optimistic scientific assessments that contributed to the collapse.鈥�

That experience 鈥� which she noted proudly was some of the earliest research globally on commercial fisheries, ecological knowledge and science 鈥� gave her the tools to 鈥渓ead interdisciplinary programs of research that sought to explore key knowledge gaps at the boundaries not only between the social sciences but also between the social, natural and health sciences.鈥�

Neis shared that her interest in the interdisciplinary also extends beyond the academic. She recalled that after moving on from an early love of creative pursuits, when she later in life moved to Newfoundland, she had access to a vibrant artistic community that was both socially and politically engaged. There, she began collaborating with that community to create projects that address climate change in the coastal regions. 鈥淭hese effects are already part of the lived experience of those living on islands and along coasts 鈥� including, particularly, in the Arctic. Our objective ... is to explore how to use the arts to emotionally engage new audiences and empower essential movements for social change,鈥� she said.

It is perhaps no surprise, given her career built on being open to unexpected sources of direction, that Neis shared a critical piece of advice drawn from her experiences 鈥� many of which she had never anticipated. 鈥淭his reminds us how important it is to look for opportunities and to embrace change that takes us outside of our comfort zone,鈥� she told the graduands, summing up both her own life and inspiring the ones ahead for those graduating.  

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Canadian Screen Week, which ran from May 28 to 31, is the most esteemed event for recognizing Canadian media talent. The celebration includes the Canadian Screen Awards, which this year honoured nearly two dozen 91亚色 alumni in a diverse range of categories, including Best Motion Picture and Best Drama Series.

Thanks, in part, to the strength of 91亚色鈥檚 School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, each year brings a list of dozens of former 91亚色 U community members being nominated for Canadian Screen Awards and walking away with golden statues. This year was no exception, with almost two dozen alumni earning recognition for their work in film, television and digital media.

In the film world, Matthew Miller (BFA '03, MFA '16) and Matt Johnson (BFA '06, MFA '16) received multiple awards for Blackberry, a biographical comedy drama about the smartphone that was eventually replaced in popularity by the iPhone. Miller earned an award for Best Motion Picture, Johnson won for Best Direction and both were recognized for Best Adapted Screenplay.

They weren鈥檛 the only 91亚色-affiliated winners associated with Blackberry, as Jared Raab (BFA '07) also earned an award for Achievement in Cinematography.

Among other film categories, Michelle van Beusekom (MA '93) was recognized for contributions to the movie Coming Home | Wanna Icipus Kupi which, which won the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program for its exploration of the aftermath of . Amrit Kaur (BFA '15) 鈥� known for her breakout work in the television series "The Sex Lives of College Girls" 鈥� was also recognized in the Performance in a Leading Role, Drama category for her role in the film The Queen Of My Dreams, a coming of age story of two girls with a shared obsession with Bollywood fantasy.

Beyond movies, 91亚色 U alumni showed a strong presence in the television industry. Producer Kim Todd (BA '77) was recognized with others for the show "Little Bird" 鈥� about an Indigenous woman searching for her birth family 鈥� which won Best Drama Series. Producer Tania Thompson (BFA '00) saw a win for her contributions to "Bria Mack Gets a Life," about a young Black Canadian woman entering the workforce, which won Best Comedy Series. Another success in comedy was Stacey McGunnigle (BFA '08), who earned Best Writing and Best Performance, Variety or Sketch Comedy for her work on "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."

Frequent multi-nominee and composer Ari Posner (BFA '92) was also recognized for Best Original Music in the scripted television show "Sullivan鈥檚 Crossing," about a successful neurosurgeon who has to return to her small hometown after a scandal.

91亚色 U representation in scripted children and youth programming was also significant, notably with a modern interpretation of "The Hardy Boys," which won Best Children鈥檚 or Youth Fiction Program or Series, netting awards for producers Pam Westman (BAS '97), Ramona Barckert (BA '01), Suzanne Wilson (MBA '01) and executive producer/writer Chris Pozzebon (BFA '07). Pozzebon also received an award in Best Writing, Children鈥檚 or Youth for his work on one particular episode of the show.

In animation, Vince Commissio (BA '86, BAS '88, MBA '92) was part of the team recognized in the Best Animated Program or Series category for the show "Wild Kratts," and Richard Young (MBA '03) earned a win in the Best Writing, Pre-School category for his work on an episode of "Dino Ranch."

The popularity of non-scripted television also netted awards for those affiliated with 91亚色. Producer Laura Michalchyshyn (MBA '93) and Justin Stockman (BFA '96), vice-president of content development and programming at Bell Media, earned awards for "Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World" in the Best Reality/Competition Program or Series category. Andrea Bain (BA '96), Cynthia Loyst (BFA '98) and Melissa Grelo (BA, BEd '02) all received Best Host awards for their work on lifestyle talk show "The Social." Elsewhere in talk-show world, writer Seta Kalousdian-Tanner (BA '92) received a Best Talk Series award for her efforts on "The Marilyn Denis Show."

Because the Canadian Screen Awards recognize not just film and television but digital media content, there were several 91亚色 alumni winners in that area, too. The CBC Gem series "How to Fail as a Popstar" 鈥� following a queer brown boy from Edmonton as he tries (and fails) to achieve pop stardom, from the perspective of the now 40-something trans femme artist that boy became 鈥� walked away with a win for Best Web Program or Series, Fiction, and earned award for the show鈥檚 star, Vivek Shraya (MA '16), and producer, Elise Cousneau (BFA '04). Shraya also received a Best Writing, Web Program or Series award for an episode.

"Baroness von Sketch" star Aurora Browne (BFA '95) was recognized for Best Supporting Performance, Web Program or Series for "The Drop." The show about two young women who launch a professional line-waiter business for the wealthy also saw its star, Aisha Evelyna (BA '17), win Best Lead Performance.

Lastly, Ronald Ruslim (MBA '10) won for Best Production, Interactive for Dino Dana World 鈥� an educational games app 鈥� and Jen Pogue (BA '12) won Best Host, Web Program or Series for the online lifestyle series focused on flowers, called "County Blooms."

For a full list of winners and nominees, visit the .

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It was a successful day on the links on May 28, as 91亚色 Athletics & Recreation hosted the 21st annual Lions Cup Golf Tournament, presented by TD Insurance, in support of bursaries for 91亚色 Lions varsity student-athletes. $160,500 was raised through pre-event registration, while another donation of $5,000 was made on the day of the event, bringing the total to $165,500 鈥� a new Lions Cup record.

This year鈥檚 event saw 104 golfers take to the greens at King鈥檚 Riding Golf Club in King City, Ont., with the common goal to provide financial assistance to 91亚色 Lions student-athletes. As has been the case in previous years, the event featured several competitions along the course, including driving, chipping and putting accuracy challenges, the longest drive competition, closest to the pin and a beat-the-pro contest.

A number of 91亚色鈥檚 student-athletes 鈥� reaping the benefits of the funds raised 鈥� were on site to actively engage with golfers, fostering valuable relationships with professionals in their fields of study as they prepare for careers of their own.

Originally dubbed the Chair's Cup in 2001, the Lions Cup carries a rich history. Its creators 鈥� Marshall Cohen, the former Chair of the 91亚色 Board of Governors, his wife Judi and Guy Burry, current Chair of the 91亚色 Pension Fund Investment Committee and longtime men鈥檚 hockey coach 鈥� had a visionary goal: to establish an event that not only raised much-needed funds but also forged bonds among friends, alumni and community partners. In recent years, under Burry鈥檚 leadership, the event has centred on bolstering varsity student-athletes by committing all money raised to athletic bursaries.

鈥淭hese bursaries are possible thanks to the generous contributions of donors and sponsors of our long-standing tournament," said Bart Zemanek, director of development at 91亚色 Athletics & Recreation. "Their support is crucial in cultivating a culture of excellence in Athletics & Recreation, providing Lions student-athletes with the resources to achieve their goals, both in the classroom and within their given sport.鈥�

For a complete list of this year's tournament sponsors and donors, visit the .

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