An investment of $2.1 million, , will fund transformative work examining history, human behaviour, digital technologies and critical infrastructure to better understand and improve well-being, equity and resilience across Canada.

The CRC program bolster research excellence and advances the development of knowledge that benefits society, the economy and the environment.

"Canada Research Chairs drive new knowledge that strengthens Canada鈥檚 global competitiveness and addresses real-world challenges," says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. "Across 91亚色, this research reflects a commitment to tackling complex issues 鈥� from advancing Indigenous knowledge and addressing addiction, to shaping the future of AI and strengthening critical infrastructure 鈥� in ways that deliver tangible benefits for communities in Canada and beyond."

Alan Corbiere 鈥� Canada Research Chair in Indigenous History of North America (Tier 2, renewal)
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

An assistant professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Department of History, Corbiere鈥檚 research focuses on Anishinaabe language, oral traditions and material culture.

Corbiere uses approaches such as the study of treaty negotiations and wampum belts to challenge and reshape historical narratives while supporting the revitalization of Indigenous knowledge and culture.

Matthew Keough 鈥� Canada Research Chair in Addiction Vulnerability (Tier 2)
Faculty of Health

Keough is an associate professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Psychology, a clinical psychologist and a senior scientist with Homewood Research Institute. He studies the causes of addictive behaviours and develops evidence鈥慴ased treatments with a focus on heavy drinking, cannabis use, concurrent disorders and digital interventions for young adults.

Keough also received $100,000 through the Canada Foundation for Innovation鈥檚 which supports research infrastructure projects through its partnership with the CRC program.

Jennifer Pybus 鈥� Canada Research Chair in Data, Empowerment and Artificial Intelligence (Tier 2, renewal)
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Associate professor in the Department of Politics and director of the Centre for Public AI, Pybus studies how social media, mobile platforms and AI use personal data.

Her focus is on strengthening data literacy, supporting informed public debate and examining issues of digital sovereignty and data governance in Canada.

Pirathayini Srikantha 鈥� Canada Research Chair in Reliable and Secure Power Grid Systems (Tier 2, renewal)

Srikantha, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, develops AI鈥慸riven and transactive energy solutions.

The aim of her research is to improve the reliability, security and resilience of electrical power grids and support the design of trustworthy energy systems.

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The initiative, led by Stephanie Gora, assistant professor at the , received $250,000 from the Government of Canada鈥檚 New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) . The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) program supports bold, interdisciplinary research that tests new ideas and aims for real鈥憌orld impact.

Gora鈥檚 project focuses on drinking water quality in multi鈥憉nit rental housing, where water safety is impacted by the actions of water utilities, tenants, landlords/building owners and regulators.

鈥淭his funding gives us the freedom to step back and take a 鈥榩roblem-first鈥� approach to understanding and improving water safety in rental housing that prioritizes the lived experiences of tenants, as well as building owners and management,鈥� says Gora. 鈥淭he goal is to co-develop technologies and frameworks that address the real barriers to safe water in rental housing."

While Canada has invested heavily in protecting drinking water, quality of water from the tap 鈥� particularly in rental buildings 鈥� remains difficult to assess and address, she adds.

Expertise in engineering, housing and urban planning will come together to examine both the technical and social dimensions of water quality. Gora is joined by co鈥憄rincipal investigator Katherine Perrott (University of Waterloo) and co鈥慳pplicants Judy Duncan (ACORN Canada), Liam Butler and Razieh Salahandish (91亚色), along with Brian Doucet (University of Waterloo) for the project, titled 鈥溾�楥an I drink the tap water?鈥� An interdisciplinary action framework for water quality assurance in multi鈥憉nit rental housing.鈥�

According to Gora, research and policy following the 2000 Walkerton water crisis focused primarily on protecting municipal sources, treatment plants and distribution systems. However, conditions within buildings are a separate risk where aging plumbing, construction materials and maintenance practices can significantly affect water quality by the time it reaches residents鈥� taps.

These challenges are particularly pronounced in rental housing, where tenants have limited control over infrastructure and limited access to information.

Multi鈥憉nit buildings constructed before 1960 are more likely to contain lead-bearing plumbing components and lead solder, but water quality issues are not limited to older housing stock. Newer and high鈥憆ise buildings can also experience problems related to water stagnation and interactions between the water and materials used for plumbing.

In January 2024, more than 200 tenants were evacuated from a newly built student apartment building in Hamilton, Ont., due to poor water quality, highlighting the scope of the issue.

The 91亚色鈥憀ed project responds to these gaps by integrating scientific testing with lived experience.

Researchers will begin by testing water samples and interviewing tenants, building owners or managers to understand how water quality issues arise and how they are handled in real-world settings. The team will test how point-of-use and distributed water quality sensors monitor water safety in real time.

The findings will help the team develop a data-driven water safety framework for multi-unit rental buildings using an approach that considers social, environmental and economic impacts while encouraging collaboration among sector partners to clarify shared responsibilities.

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Everyday actions such as reaching for a cup or typing on a keyboard, rely on constant feed back from the brain. It monitors how each movement was executed and makes small refinements as needed. If a hand lands slightly off target, for example, that error is used to improve the next attempt.

Researchers distinguish between two ways the brain's neural activity updates these movements. Sometimes it fine鈥憈unes an existing skill, making small, automatic adjustments 鈥� like when a baseball pitcher corrects their aim after a missed throw. Other times, it must develop a new way of moving altogether, especially when familiar patterns no longer work, such as when moving a computer mouse with your hand one way makes the on-screen cursor move in the opposite direction.

Research led by PhD candidate Raphael Gastrock, supervised by Professor Denise Henriques and research associate Bernard Marius 鈥檛鈥疕art, examines what happens in neural systems when the brain responds to these two forms of learning. Published in , the study compares how the brain responds to errors when refining an existing skill (motor adaptation) versus learning a new one (de novo learning).

鈥淲e wanted to explore how the brain processes errors across these two forms of learning,鈥� Gastrock says. 鈥淎lthough previous research has identified brain signals linked to adapting movements, no studies have directly compared those signals between adaptation and acquiring a completely new way of moving. With this work, we aimed to address that gap.鈥�

To test this, participants completed simple "reaching" tasks using a stylus to move a cursor toward a target on a screen. After establishing how participants moved under normal conditions, researchers altered the visual feedback to compare the two types of learning.

In one case, the cursor was slightly rotated, requiring participants to adjust their aim, representing 鈥渁daptation鈥� learning, where neural systems gradually tweak an existing motion. The other scenario flipped the display like a mirror, meaning left and right were reversed, presenting the more demanding "type of skill "de novo" learning, where the brain creates a new plan to adapt to the movement.

Researchers recorded neural activity using electroencephalography, or EEG, to track how the brain prepared each movement and how it responded after participants saw the result. They found when participants adjusted to the rotated display, their neural activity changed as they improved, suggesting the brain gradually learns how to correct the action. As their aim got better, their responses to errors also became smaller, showing the task was becoming more predictable.

The mirror reversal showed a different pattern, however. Although participants movements improved, their neural activity changed very little, suggesting they had to actively think through each motion instead of relying on automatic adjustments.

Together, the findings point to a simple idea: the brain uses different approaches depending on the kind of problem it faces. When errors are consistent and predictable, it can fine鈥憈une movements automatically; however, when the task requires a new set of rules, it depends more on deliberate, effortful strategies.

This distinction may help explain why some skills are easier to learn 鈥� or relearn 鈥� than others.

鈥淢otor learning plays a central role in everyday activities, from acquiring new skills to recovering function after injury,鈥� Gastrock says. That recovery process is one area where the team鈥檚 findings could have real鈥憌orld impact.

The findings could be especially relevant for physical rehabilitation, where repeated practice and feedback are used to help people regain movement. Understanding when the brain can refine automatically versus when it requires more more cognitively demanding and effortful adaptation, could help design more effective programs.

鈥淏y better understanding the mechanisms behind it, we may be able to improve training and rehabilitation strategies,鈥� he adds.

The researchers describe the work as an early step, but one that helps clarify how the brain handles different kinds of learning 鈥� and area that has been rarely examined side by side. The dataset has also been made publicly available to support further research.

By showing that human鈥檚 neural systems use distinct processes to fine鈥憈une actions or build new ones, the study offers a clearer framework for understanding how people gain and regain skills.

鈥淚n the long term, I hope findings from these types of studies can help inform rehabilitation approaches, educational strategies and skill training,鈥� Gastrock says.

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Since joining 91亚色 in 2018, the Freud Lab 鈥� led by Associate Professor Erez Freud and in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and the Centre for Vision Research 鈥� has focused on how the brain supports object recognition and interaction. Drawing on neuroimaging, neuropsychological research, developmental studies and motion鈥憈racking technology, the group explores how people perceive the world and act within it.

In recent years, the lab has focused on autism, using movement and perception to better understand how people with autism engage with their surroundings.

Over the last six years, the Freud Lab has collaborated with the University of Haifa to collect detailed motion data from autistic participants, using motion鈥憈racking cameras and machine鈥憀earning tools. Among the group鈥檚 successes was a 2025 study that drew wide attention for showing that differences in how grasping and moving objects could be used to distinguish participants with and without autism with a high degree of accuracy.

That work now serves as a foundation for the lab鈥檚 next phase as it is expanding how, where and with whom its data is collected. 鈥淭he idea is to try to expand and to reach out to different educational and clinical institutions in order to help us reach more children and young adults with autism,鈥� Freud says.

Through new clinical鈥� and community鈥慴ased collaborations, the goal is to extend the lab鈥檚 autism studies beyond a single context, while also increasing the number and diversity of participants involved. In doing so, it can broaden both the scope of the data and the questions it can help answer.

Among those efforts is a new collaboration with Autism Therapy & Training, a Vaughan鈥慴ased clinic that works directly with children with autism and their families. It has also partnered with the Summit Center for Education, Research and Training based at Montreal鈥檚 Summit School in Ville Saint鈥慙aurent, a multidisciplinary centre serving more than 600 neurodivergent learners between the ages of five and 21.

Working in clinical and educational settings allows the Freud Lab to study autism in ways that more closely reflect everyday life. Places like Autism Therapy & Training and the Summit School are not controlled study environments, but active spaces where children learn, play and receive support as part of their daily routines.

For researchers, that means observing behaviour as it naturally unfolds in classrooms, therapy rooms and shared activities. Freud and his team are pursuing this work through the use of advanced technologies, in service of a central question that runs through the lab鈥檚 efforts: why people with autism often move differently and what those differences reflect at a neural level.

Previously, much of the group鈥檚 work relied on tightly controlled experiments that required participants to perform specific, constrained motions 鈥� often with tracking markers attached to their fingers. Now, the lab is turning to a tool called Athena, a marker鈥慺ree motion鈥憈racking system developed in collaboration with Jonathan Michaels, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health.

Athena uses a synchronized array of multiple video cameras to capture motor behaviour from multiple angles at once. Those video streams are aligned in time and analyzed using machine鈥憀earning methods that identify and label different parts of the body, allowing researchers to track and quantify motion in three鈥慸imensional space. For the Freud Lab, that makes it possible to measure how participants move 鈥� such as which hand they use, how quickly and efficiently they complete tasks and how consistent their movements are 鈥� without constraining natural behaviour.

The approach makes it well-suited for work with children with autism; it allows them to engage in familiar, low鈥憄ressure activities, like building Lego models, while the system quietly records information about how they move.

For Freud, these everyday interactions offer enhanced insights into behaviour and lead to more meaningful questions about autism. 鈥淭he goal,鈥� Freud says, 鈥渋s to try and understand what is different about the autistic brain and the autistic representations.鈥�

The findings also point toward a more applied objective: identifying reliable motor patterns that could be used to develop more objective tools for earlier identification. 鈥淚n autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, we know that early treatment and early intervention are crucially important,鈥� he says, noting that earlier identification can help ensure support is provided at a stage when development is more flexible and interventions may have greater impact.

For Freud, that applied focus is central to his research and reflects an ongoing concern with how scientific work might translate beyond the lab 鈥� how insights about perception, movement and the brain can ultimately help people with autism, their families and the professionals who support them.

鈥淚 see my role as a cognitive neuroscientist as fundamentally about understanding the human mind and brain and how that can meaningfully promote the well鈥慴eing of a broader community,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen it comes to working with individuals with autism and their families, that responsibility feels especially significant.鈥�

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We want to let you know that Shane McNaught has moved on from his role as AVP labour relations. We're grateful for Shane's contributions and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.

Shane鈥檚 contributions are valued and appreciated, and we wish him the best in his future endeavours.聽聽

I am delighted to share that Alex Brat has been appointed to the role of AVP labour relations, effective Wednesday, May 13. Alex brings over 25 years鈥� experience as a senior human resources and labour relations leader in large, complex, multistakeholder organizations in the higher education, professional services, consulting and manufacturing sectors. Most recently, Alex served as the senior executive director, labour relations at the University of Toronto.   

Please join me in welcoming Alex to 91亚色 and his new role.   

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech. 

笔补谤颈蝉蝉补听厂补蹿补颈
Interim VP Equity, People and Culture聽聽

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I am delighted to announce that Professor Chris Perry has been appointed associate vice-president research, effective July 1.

Dr. Perry is a professor in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science in the and currently serves as director of 91亚色鈥檚 Muscle Health Research Centre. A leading muscle physiologist, his research focuses on the cellular and metabolic mechanisms underlying muscle weakness in conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cancer and diabetes, as well as the role of exercise in promoting muscle health. His work integrates human, pre-clinical and cellular models and emphasizes collaboration with clinical and industry partners to translate discovery into therapeutic innovation.

In addition to his research leadership, Professor Perry has played a key role in advancing strategic research initiatives and partnerships within the Faculty of Health, including supporting the development of new collaborations and research funding opportunities. In his new role, he will help advance 91亚色鈥檚 research priorities by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening partnerships that enhance the University鈥檚 impact locally and globally.

Professor Perry succeeds Professor Pina D鈥橝gostino, who has been appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Canada following a distinguished career as a legal scholar and research leader at 91亚色. During her tenure as associate vice-president research, Professor D鈥橝gostino made significant contributions to advancing research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across the University. The Division of Research & Innovation extends its sincere gratitude to Professor D鈥橝gostino for her leadership and dedication.

To ensure continuity during the transition period, Professor Mary Goitom, academic director of the Research Commons, will serve as interim associate vice-president research. Dr. Goitom is an associate professor in the School of Social Work, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, whose research focuses on migration, transnationalism, community-engaged scholarship and social justice. In addition to her academic and research contributions, she has served in a number of leadership and mentorship roles at 91亚色 supporting graduate education, faculty initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Please join the Division of Research & Innovation in congratulating Pina D鈥橝gostino on her appointment, supporting Mary Goitom in her interim leadership role and welcoming Chris Perry as he prepares to assume the AVPR role on July 1.

Amir Asif
Vice-President Research and Innovation

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The program highlights contributions that position 91亚色 as an instutition for research excellence and transformative innovations. 

Research contributed by more than 60 faculty members reflect the breadth of the University's research strengths, spanning sustainability, law, AI, chemistry and the social sciences.

"I am exceedingly proud to be part of an institution that contains the kind of excellence we are celebrating," says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor. "91亚色 is an institution that offers educational experiences to our students that are informed by this deep research, scholarly and creative excellence; and a place where we also make it part of our mission to reach outside the metaphorical walls of the University to share and collaborate with communities, industry, policy-makers, the media and the wider public."

The recipients demonstrate the purposeful research that is fundamental to real-world change, says Amir Asif, vice-president, research and innovation

The annual awards program serves as an opportunity to recognize the excellence, creativity and ingenuity of 91亚色' research community.

Awards

President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA)
Christopher Caputo, associate professor in the Faculty of Science, received this award for his contributions to sustainable chemistry and materials science. His research advances the use of Earth鈥慳bundant elements as alternatives to rare and precious metals, addressing key environmental and sustainability challenges while influencing catalytic and materials science.

A Tier II Canada Research Chair and recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry, Caputo has secured more than $4 million in research funding. His work has resulted in 21 patents and strong industry engagement, demonstrating the translation of discovery into application.  

The President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award was also awarded to Emily Kidd White, associate professor at , for her pioneering scholarship at the intersection of law, emotion and constitutional theory. Her work applies the philosophy of emotion to legal analysis, examining the gap between formal legal reasoning and the lived realities of legal practice, particularly in international law. 

Her research has shaped scholarly conversations across disciplines and established her as a thinker of global influence, strengthening 91亚色鈥檚 research profile and academic mission. 

President鈥檚 Research Excellence Award
Presented to Jimmy Huang, professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, this award recognizes his contributions to information retrieval, data mining, AI and natural language processing. A Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair and founding director of the Information Retrieval and Knowledge Management Research Lab, Huang has played a leading role in shaping the future of AI research, including some of the earliest systematic evaluations of large language models.

Huang has secured more than $7 million in external research funding and his work has influenced practice across industry and health care. His mentorship record includes supervising 16 postdoctoral fellows, 23 doctoral students and 32 master鈥檚 students, many of whom have gone on to academic careers.  

President鈥檚 Research Impact Award
Kerry Kawakami, professor in the , received this award聽for the influence and reach of her scholarship on unconscious bias. Her research has reshaped how systemic inequality is understood across academic,聽legal聽and institutional contexts, extending well beyond the聽post-secondary聽sector.

Kawakami鈥檚 work has informed legal practice and judicial decision鈥憁aking, including professional development programs for the Law Society of Ontario, expert testimony and keynote addresses. Her research has been cited in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, demonstrating its impact on public understanding, policy and the pursuit of justice. 

The awards ceremony also highlighted faculty in other categories. 

Book Awards, Literary and Artistic Achievements
Six honourees received this award for their books, creative works and exhibitions that received national or international recognition from peers and leading cultural institutions. 

Major Grants
Recognition for researchers leading significant, externally funded research initiatives that advance knowledge and address complex societal challenges was awarded to seven honourees. 

Other Learned Societies, Fellowships and Awards
91亚色 awarded 12 honourees with this award for their leadership and contributions that have been recognized through election to learned societies, prestigious medals, professional fellowships and national or international honours. 

Outstanding Early Career Awards
Four honourees earned this award to recognize the notable achievements of 91亚色鈥檚 early-career researchers whose work shows strong promise and leadership within their fields. 

Significant Knowledge Mobilization &Impact Awards
For knowledge mobilization and impact outside of academia, 14 honourees were recognized with this award. 

91亚色 Research Chairs, Canada Research Chairs and Distinguished Research Professors
Fifteen honourees were celebrated for these appointments that support research excellence and scholarly leadership at the highest level in their respective fields. 

Royal Society of Canada & Governor General Awards
Two honourees earned this distinction, recognizing faculty who have made remarkable contributions in their research pursuits related to science, humanities and the arts. 

View the slide deck below to see a full list of recipients. 

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Now in its 14th year, the award honours Robert J. Tiffin, who served as 91亚色鈥檚 vice-president, students, for nine years. University community members nominate individuals who demonstrate leadership and make valuable contributions to 91亚色.   

This year鈥檚 recipients represent a wide range of disciplines and leadership pathways, says Yvette Munro, vice-provost, students. 

鈥淭he depth and breadth of leadership shown by our students is remarkable and we continue to see the meaningful ways they contribute to 91亚色," says Munro. 鈥淲hether they are supporting students across the University, within their Faculty or in groups built around shared interests or lived experiences, their leadership helps strengthen the 91亚色 community.鈥� 

Recipients of the award play a vital role in shaping the 91亚色 student experience and enhancing the character of 91亚色, says Tiffin. 鈥淭hey have led, not because they were asked, but because they cared enough to step forward. Through their contributions they have nurtured a 91亚色 tradition of a university that embraces new ideas and innovative thinking.鈥� 

The winners were celebrated on May 6 at 91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus. 

2026 Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award recipients

Devonte Ellis, bachelor of education

Ellis has made extensive contributions to 91亚色's Music department and the Faculty of Education. He has been a festival coordinator, president of the Music Education Students鈥� Association and previous Chair of music's leadership council. He is also the founder and director of the Lions drumline and marching band. Additionally, Ellis has worked in student governance across the University in multiple positions and says one of his most impactful achievements has been as president of the Faculty of Education Students鈥� Association.

Isabella Gouveia, bachelor of arts (specialized honours) in history and concurrent education

Gouveia has been actively involved in student engagement at 91亚色. She began as an Orientation Week lead captain for Founders College, followed by the Orientation director of partnerships and integration. In this role, she built relationships with various departments and staff and supported transitioning students across the University. Her orientation involvement also led her to serve as president of Founders College Student Council for two years.

Anaum Fatima Iqbal, bachelor of education

Iqbal has been a long-standing active participant of Calumet College and is now president of Calumet College Council. She actively spearheads new initiatives for the council, including converting one of the college鈥檚 spaces into a multi-faith prayer space and tacking food insecurity by providing free monthly breakfasts to college members. Iqbal has also been the vice-president of athletics and a student success mentor lead for the college.

Dipanpreet Kaur, bachelor of arts (honours) in English and professional writing

Kaur has been involved across campus since her first year, with involvement across the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and 91亚色鈥檚 international community. She is the president of the International Student Association of 91亚色, a council member of the Dean鈥檚 Circle of Student Scholars and was the marketing director for Peace by PEACE. Kaur says her most meaningful contribution has been supporting international students as they adjusted to university life, which inspired her to step into larger leadership roles.

Rubaljeet Kaur, bachelor of commerce (specialized honours) in accounting

Kaur is dedicated to creating spaces at 91亚色 where others can feel seen and have their voices heard. She is the founder and president of the Asian Women in Commerce Association, a community of more than 30 members that addresses representation gaps in business leadership, and hosts the Women in Law Association podcast. Kaur also holds leadership roles with the Social Work Students鈥� Association, LA&PS, 91亚色 International and 91亚色's Asian Youth Network.

Jaryeon Lee, master of science in kinesiology and health science

Lee鈥檚 passion for health sciences is apparent through her leadership in the field. As president of the Kinesiology and Health Sciences Graduate Student Association, Lee expanded outreach, strengthened the academic and professional community within the department and launched a new mentor-mentee program. She was also a graduate student representative on the Academic Council of Kinesiology and Health Science and is currently a representative for the Kinesiology and Health Science Curriculum Exercise meetings.

Nikan Movahedi, bachelor of science (specialized honours) in kinesiology and health science

Movahedi has led numerous initiatives at 91亚色 focused on health research and education. He is a coordinator for the largest health-oriented conference dedicated to undergraduate researchers in Canada and established the 91亚色 Blood Initiative, 91亚色鈥檚 first structured transportation system to local donation centres. Additionally, Movahedi is a student health ambassador and a student representative for the and has been both a volunteer research assistant and mentor.

Simone Elizabeth Pimenta, bachelor of business administration (honours) specialization in marketing and strategic management

Inspired after attending Orientation Week in her first year, Pimenta decided to serve as an Orientation Week executive the following year, followed by Orientation Week Chair for the Schulich School of Business. Pimenta has been heavily involved with the as the current president of the Undergraduate Business Society, as a former mentor for Schulich Women in Leadership and as a senior advisor for the Schulich Business Law Association.

Tariq Salim, bachelor of electrical engineering

Salim has been very involved in the throughout his degree. He has served as a WeekZer0 leader and vice-chair, where he executed programming and created an inclusive environment for new students to feel comfortable and confident. Salim has been an electrical engineering program representative within Lassonde, advocating for student concerns, and is currently the Lassonde representative for Bethune College Council.

Cheyenne Schmidt-Harlick, bachelor of arts (honours), double major in psychology and Indigenous studies

Schmidt-Harlick has made a lasting impact on Indigenous student support and representation across the University. During her time as president of the Indigenous Students Association at 91亚色 and as a student success mentor for Indigenous Student Services, she created welcoming spaces through advocacy, programming and relationship building. Additionally, Schmidt-Harlick held roles as a marketing coordinator for the Undergraduate Psychology Students Association and as a student health ambassador.

Amy Yeung, bachelor of science in kinesiology and health science

Yeung, a kung-fu practitioner for more than 16 years, revived and rebuilt the Martial Arts Club at 91亚色, which now has more than 75 members. Through the club, Yeung shares cultural traditions, community building and provides an accessible space for physical activity. Inclusivity is at the forefront of Yeung鈥檚 leadership practices within the Martial Arts Club, where the needs of women, 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC and differently abled members are continuously advocated for.

Niemat Yusuf, bachelor of arts (specialized honours) in psychology

As president of Black Students in Psychology, Yusuf successfully restructured the organization and scaled the executive team from six members to 24. She also expanded cross-campus partnerships and launched a peer mentorship initiative to support upper-year Black psychology students. Yusuf has volunteered in peer advocacy and mentorship roles for the Centre for Sexual Violence, Response, Support & Education, the Black Student Mentorship Program and the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association.

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Established with a $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada鈥檚 largest leadership-based scholarships for master鈥檚 and professional studies students.

More than 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity this year with the top 150 selected for first-round interviews. Interviews for the resulting 91 finalists took place in Montreal in March.

鈥淚 received the news during a call and in that moment, it felt like everything I had worked toward over the years had led to this,鈥� says Timotewos of being one of 20 recipients. 鈥淚t was overwhelming in the best way, filled with deep gratitude. It inspired me to keep pushing forward and continue giving back.鈥�

The scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend and relocation as well as mentorship, coaching and leadership program activities.

Timotewos, a student at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will graduate this spring with an honours bachelor of arts in global political studies as well as a certificate in public administration and law.

Inspired by his experiences growing up in Ethiopia and Yemen, Timotewos founded and leads three non-profit initiatives that mentor young men, provide essential resources to youth in need and share community-driven stories. He also serves on the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board, where he reviews grant applications for charities.

In addition, Timotewos sits on the Global Youth Impact Council representing young Canadian voices. He also serves as a 91亚色 president ambassador and student senator, is a mentor to fellow students and is a past recipient of 91亚色鈥檚 Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award.

鈥淭his recognition means everything to me and it makes me feel seen,鈥� he says. 鈥淲here I come from, education at this level can feel out of reach but someone chose to invest in my journey and believe in it. It doesn鈥檛 just open doors that wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be open; it also gives me the opportunity to grow. More importantly, it will enable me to keep giving back and create opportunities for others.鈥�

Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

Timotewos will be pursuing a master of management in analytics at McGill University, where he will study management, finance and economics to understand how institutions and markets shape real-world outcomes.

Attending McGill, he says, fulfils a longtime dream and he hopes to use its strong network to advance his learning and turn economic insight into responsible leadership and social impact. 91亚色, he adds, has been part of that journey.

鈥淢y experience at 91亚色 has shaped me both intellectually and personally. Through the many leadership roles I鈥檝e been entrusted with, as well as the community work and rigorous academic study, I鈥檝e learned how to think critically, lead with intention and serve others with purpose,鈥� he says.

Additionally, 91亚色 students Ann Kwarteng and Neh Shah were both selected for a $5,000 Regional Award from McCall MacBain.

鈥淭hese scholarships go beyond financial support,鈥� says Marcy McCall MacBain, chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e about investing in the leadership potential of individuals who dare to pursue unconventional paths and care deeply about improving the lives of others.鈥�

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. Learn more about McCall MacBain Scholarships .

The post 91亚色 student earns top Canadian leadership scholarship appeared first on YFile.

Finding your way around 91亚色鈥檚 Glendon Campus is easier and more accessible with the launch of a new digital indoor navigation tool.

Faculty, students, staff and visitors can use GoodMaps to navigate Glendon鈥檚 interconnected buildings on its 85-acre Toronto campus.

The free smartphone app provides turn-by-turn indoor directions across Glendon by using detailed digital mapping, improving campus access for a wide range of users.

鈥淕lendon College is proud to embrace this groundbreaking partnership with GoodMaps 鈥� made possible through the CNIB Foundation 鈥� which reflects our enduring commitment to fostering an inclusive, accessible and innovative learning environment,鈥� says Marco Fiola, principal, Glendon College.

The innovative LiDAR-based technology offers more reliability than GPS and includes guidance for people with vision and hearing loss, as well as step-free routes for those with mobility limitations. The app provides structured directions for users who benefit from predictable navigation paths. The app works through users鈥� personal mobile devices.

鈥淕oodMaps helps remove barriers to campus navigation by supporting people with different mobility, sensory and cognitive needs," says Fiola. 鈥淲hat sets GoodMaps apart from other navigation solutions is its commitment to accessibility-first design and infrastructure-free implementation.鈥�

Available in more than 20 languages 鈥� including English, French, Spanish and Anishinaabemowin 鈥� GoodMaps supports Glendon's multilingual and international campus community. Campus maps can be updated in real time, allowing Glendon鈥檚 facilities staff to reflect changes such as construction activity or new points of interest.

In addition to on-campus use, GoodMaps includes a web mapping option that allows users to explore campus buildings online. This feature will help visitors plan routes in advance and reduce uncertainty when navigating unfamiliar spaces.

The is available for free through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The project received financial support from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Government of Canada through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority鈥慙anguage Education and Second Official Language Instruction.

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