Patrick Abure (MA’26), who graduated from the Development Studies (DVST) program, received the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID)  Institutional Membership Prize for his student essay Institutionalising Legitimacy: Gendered Gatekeeping, Women Refugee-Led Organisations, and the Limits of Localisation in Uganda.

The paper explores why women refugee-led organizations in Uganda are trusted by the communities they serve while continuing to face barriers to direct funding, partnerships and participation in decision-making processes.

Abure drew on interviews with leaders and community members served by three women refugee-led organizations in the Bidibidi and Imvepi refugee settlements, located in northwestern Uganda. His research examines how factors such as registration requirements, audits, reporting expectations, budgets, infrastructure, networks and gendered expectations can affect the recognition and support women refugee-led organizations receive.

“Receiving the CASID Institutional Membership Prize for my paper is a deeply meaningful honour,” says Abure. “This recognition affirms the importance of research that centres refugee knowledge, leadership, and lived experience, especially the work of women refugee leaders serving communities affected by humanitarian crises.”

He hopes that more refugee-led research like his can help challenge assumptions about “who is seen as an expert, a leader and a legitimate actor in humanitarian response.”

Valerie Lawson (MA’25), also a graduate of DVST, received the 2026 Fraser Taylor Prize from the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS), which recognizes the best graduate student paper presented at the previous CAAS conference and supports publication of the winning paper in the Canadian Journal of African Studies.

Lawson was awarded for her research, Health Care Access: An Analysis of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Accra, Ghana, which investigates how people enrolled in Ghana’s public health insurance program can still face out-of-pocket health-care costs and how those expenses affect health-care-seeking behaviour and financial well-being.

Through interviews with National Health Insurance Scheme subscribers, Lawson examines how systemic inefficiencies, coverage gaps and socioeconomic factors influence access to care and public trust in health-care systems. By situating these challenges within broader policy and political-economic contexts, her research contributes to discussions on universal health coverage and the impacts of health reforms across Africa.

Lawson’s work was supported by 91ŃÇÉ« through the Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholarship from the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and the Greta Coger Travel Fund from the Harriet Tubman Institute. She also credits the Development Studies program for how it “played a central role in shaping my academic foundation and professional direction.”

“The program equipped me with a strong interdisciplinary understanding of global development grounded in equity, critical analysis and policy informed thinking,” she says. “Through DVST, I developed essential skills in research, communication, coordination and stakeholder engagement.”

Both Abure and Lawson were supervised by Associate Professor Mohamed Sesay from the Department of Social Science, who praises their recent recognitions, which will see their award-winning papers considered for publication in their respective associations' journals.

“Their achievements reflect the strength of graduate education and mentorship within the Development Studies program while demonstrating how 91ŃÇÉ« researchers are contributing to conversations on refugee leadership, health equity and social justice” says Sesay.

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Through in Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Richards and co-author Ariane Agunsoye from Goldsmiths, University of London, wanted to better understand how financial advisers observe and respond to gender norms in their interactions with clients.

In personal finance, explains Richards, those norms often take the form of assumptions about how men and women think about money, investing and risk. For example, women are often perceived as less financially knowledgeable and more risk averse, while men may be assumed to be more interested in technical financial information and willing to take greater risks.

"The research question we had then was given that there are gendered connotations in personal finance, how do financial planners work with these when providing advice?" says Richards, who teaches personal finance planning in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

To explore, the study authors conducted interviews with 30 independent financial advisers in the United Kingdom. They spoke with practitioners about how stereotypes shapes client interactions, what differences they observe among clients and how those observations influence the guidance they provide.

The interviews revealed that professionals do not all respond to those perceptions and assumptions in the same way.

"Some approaches reinforce the gendered aspects of personal advice and some approaches undo the gendered aspects of personal finance,” says Richards.

The researchers identified four broad approaches advisers use when encountering gender in financial advice. Some took a "uniform" approach, treating all investors the same. Others adapted their communication style and recommendations based on men or women, often emphasizing technical information with men and reassurance with women. A third group used an in-depth educational and research-based approach to challenge gendered assumptions about financial capability and risk taking.  A fourth “disruptive” approach purposely challenged traditional industry norms by prioritizing inclusion, accessibility and empowerment.

These approaches could shape client experiences in different ways, the scholars found. For example, efforts to tailor services to individuals can sometimes unintentionally reinforce stereotypes. Advisers may focus on performance metrics and technical details when speaking with men while emphasizing reassurance and life goals when working with women. While intended to meet investors’ needs, these approaches can perpetuate assumptions about gender and financial behaviour.

However, the study also found some professionals use financial education as a way to challenge traditional expectations, helping clients build confidence in financial decision-making regardless of gender.

According to the team, some advisers viewed differences in financial behaviour as being shaped by experience, financial knowledge and social expectations rather than inherent differences between men and women. In some cases, they found that greater education and understanding could help clients become more confident in their financial decisions.

As more people rely on financial advice to navigate major life decisions, Richards says those findings highlight the importance of guidance that is tailored to an individual’s circumstances rather than assumptions about gender.

The researchers argue that financial services organizations should invest in adviser training that goes beyond technical expertise to recognize how stereotypes norms can shape client interactions. Greater awareness of these dynamics, they suggest, could help firms build more inclusive practices and support more equitable financial outcomes. As financial planning becomes increasingly important in helping individuals prepare for the future, understanding how gender norms influence advisor-client interactions could help ensure people receive guidance based on their goals and circumstances rather than long-standing assumptions.

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Announced July 21, SSHRC will provide funding through three of its programs: Insight Development Grants: February 2026 Competition; Partnership Development Grants: 2025 Competition; and Connection Grants: May 2026 Competition.

More than $2.5 million will support 33 91ŃÇÉ«-led Insight Development Grants for early-stage projects and help researchers pursue innovative questions, methods and approaches that can lay the groundwork for larger research programs.

Close to $1 million will support five 91ŃÇÉ«-led Partnership Development Grants, helping researchers build new collaborations with universities, community organizations, governments and industry partners. Knowledge mobilization will also be supported through Connection Grants, with close to $50,000 for a 91ŃÇÉ« initiative.

The projects cover a wide range of topics, including Indigenous health and decolonization, democratic discourse, climate adaptation, financial vulnerability, labour and social justice, migration, cultural identity and AI.

"These investments in research are investments in our collective future," says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. "These projects empower researchers to test new ideas, forge meaningful partnerships and generate knowledge that addresses complex societal challenges. Together, they are laying the foundations for discoveries and innovations that will create meaningful benefits for communities in Canada and around the world."

The projects reflect 91ŃÇɫ’s commitment to community-engaged research, interdisciplinary collaboration and generating knowledge that addresses real-world challenges.

Insight Development Grants

The 33 Insight Development Grants demonstrate the diversity and breadth of emerging research underway across the University. Among the funded projects are those that examine topics such as Indigenous knowledge systems, public health, democratic discourse, AI and financial vulnerability:

• Dayna Scott () – Visualizing Cumulative Effects: Anishinaabe Counter-Mapping on the Extractive Frontier
• Emily Kuang () – Multicultural and Multilingual Family Bonding and Knowledge Sharing Across Generations: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Generative AI Application
• RĂ©mi Vivès (Glendon College) – Measuring Populist Discourse: Canada in Comparative Perspective
• Ashley Day () – Wiisokotaatiwin – gathering to re-imagine decolonial health education
• Peiya Cao (Faculty of Health) – Intergenerational Minority Stress and Child Well-Being in LGBTQ+ Families: A National Census-Linked Study in Canada
• Zissis Paraskevas Poulos (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) – Risk-Sensitive Learning and Tacit Coordination in Algorithmic Financial Markets

Other initiatives examine corporate accountability, Black Canadian history, labour law, climate resilience in public infrastructure, machine ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship, disability rights, migration, Indigenous knowledge systems and social inclusion. View the of recipients and their projects.

Partnership Development Grants

The six 91ŃÇÉ«-led Partnership Development Grants will support collaborations focused on financial vulnerability, youth in care, planetary health, workers’ education and Canadian computing heritage and include:

• Ida Ferrara – (LA&PS) Addressing Financial Vulnerability Through Inclusive Insurance
• Jennine Rawana (Faculty of Health) – Exploring the Needs of Youth Transitioning Out of the Care of Child Welfare Agencies
• Kate Tilleczek (Faculty of Education) – Planetary Health Partnership: Mapuche-Williche Youth-Led Research as Practices of KĂĽme Mogen
• Katherine Nastovski (LA&PS) – Re-Imagining Workers’ Education in the 21st Century
• Mark Hayward (LA&PS) – Preserving, Promoting and Researching Canadian Computing Heritage
• Sarah Rotz (Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change) – Confronting Financialization, Consolidation, and Settler-colonial Agri-food Land Governance in Canada

91ŃÇÉ« researchers are also directly involved as co-applicants for six other Partnership Development Grants totaling $1.19 million. See the of projects and recipients.

“The awards underscore 91ŃÇÉ«'s leadership in advancing research that connects disciplines, sectors and communities in pursuit of positive social change. By fostering collaborations across local, national and international networks, our researchers are generating knowledge and solutions that help build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for all,” says Asif.

Connection Grants

SSHRC’s Connection Grants competition, which funds short-term knowledge mobilization initiatives, will provide $49,974 to Richard Saunders (LA&PS) to examine the social and environmental dimensions of critical mineral extraction through knowledge-sharing and public engagement activities through his project Image as Voice: Perspectives on Lithium Extraction in Argentina and Zimbabwe. 

Two other projects that focus on aging and Asian Canadian studies include co-applicants from 91ŃÇÉ«. View the  of recipients. 

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91ŃÇÉ« presents the findings from its yearly analysis in the Annual Employment Equity Statistical Report. The report covering Jan.1 to Dec. 31, 2025, is now available.

The report highlights representation at the University for four federally designated groups under the Employment Equity Act – women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons and persons with disabilities, as well as community members who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. This year’s report also highlights employment equity initiatives undertaken in 2025, such as inclusive recruitment practices, targeted outreach to equity-deserving communities and equitable hiring and adjudication training.

Over the past three years, representation for racialized persons, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ employees has increased steadily, indicating measurable, incremental progress across the institution.

While work to advance equity has shown positive momentum, the University continues to recognize and address gaps in visibility and inclusion for under-represented groups.

The findings of the 2025 report highlight the opportunity to look beyond overall representation rates and better understand how employment systems, practices and workplace conditions support access, progression and retention across the University.

"The 2025 report also considers a period of change across the post-secondary sector, including financial pressures, restructuring and workforce adjustments. At 91ŃÇÉ«, this is reflected in increased workforce movement over the reporting period," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president equity, people and culture.

The Employment Equity Dashboard continues to serve as an important companion to the annual report. The dashboard, housed on 91ŃÇÉ«'s Data Hub, provides three years of aggregated and disaggregated employment equity data. It was designed to support transparency and enable evidence-based decision-making across the University community.

Increased participation in the Employment Equity Survey – with response rates rising from 62 per cent in 2024 to 70.1 per cent in 2025 – suggests growing confidence in the use of this data to support inclusive practices.

Accurate data is important to ensure the dashboard supports evidence-based decision making. Participation in the Employment Equity Survey helps to ensure the report and dashboard represent the 91ŃÇÉ« community.

Those who have not yet completed the employee self-identification survey, or wish to change their responses, can access it through HR Self-Serve in the “Personal Details” tab.

To find out more about employment equity at 91ŃÇÉ« and to view past reports, visit the Employment Equity and Diversity w±đ˛ú˛őľ±łŮ±đ.

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Recent work led by bachelor of science in nursing (BScN) students Hadier Kandil and Yucheng (Chuck) Wang examines how health care systems can better support providers and patients.

“Student research reflects a strong culture of inquiry in the School of Nursing, where projects align with Faculty priorities and health system needs,” says Professor Larnes Joy Nabarreti, who supervised the work.

Kandil’s project explores a proposed paid residency model for nursing students completing their integrated practicum. The research considers how structured financial and clinical support could strengthen the transition from education to professional practice while contributing to workforce stability.

The study examines strategies aimed at improving preparedness for clinical roles and addressing ongoing pressures in Canadian health care systems. The findings point to the importance of structured transition supports in preparing students for professional responsibilities. By examining how a residency model could be implemented, the research highlights potential pathways to improve student experience and long-term workforce sustainability.

A second project, led by Wang, focuses on nil per os (NPO) practices in emergency departments – a medical term meaning “nothing by mouth,” or the restriction of food and fluids before procedures. The research examines the clinical and operational factors affecting patients who may face extended wait times, and evaluates how these NPO protocols intersect with patient comfort and safety in high-demand health care environments.

By analyzing these factors, the inquiry identifies the need to balance clinical protocols with patient-centred care, particularly in environments where delays prolong restrictions. This work contributes to ongoing discussions about how emergency departments can maintain safety standards while improving patient experience.

Their findings have been shared with national and international audiences, extending their relevance beyond the University.

“The work of undergraduate students shows how early research experience helps develop key competencies for future nurses, including critical thinking, clinical reasoning and systems-level awareness,” says Nabaretti. “It also highlights how students can contribute to discussions often led by more established researchers, especially on practical issues in care delivery.”

This focus on student research was reflected in a recent school-wide event that showcased emerging work and collaboration.

In May, the School of Nursing hosted its inaugural Research Day for faculty, students and partners to share their projects, including prevention, health equity, nutrition and HIV/AIDS care.

One project examining a peer-led approach to supporting nursing student mental health received the Student Award. The presentation, titled “Promoting Nursing Student Well-Being Through Mental Health Peer-led Initiative,” was authored by Zahra Mujadidi, Giada Romano, Chuqiao Li, Harmann Bhatia and Yong Qi Su, and supervised by Professor Ruth Robbio.

The program featured the annual June Awrey Lectureship, which honours the founder of 91ŃÇɫ’s School of Nursing. This year’s speaker, Elaine Johnston (Waaskonenhkwe), an Anishinaabe nurse with 40 years’ experience, shared Indigenous perspectives on advancing reconciliation in health care.

“Elaine’s talk helps students understand how Indigenous knowledge shapes learning and nursing practice,” says Robbio. “Guided research opportunities build on that by supporting academic development and generating insights for health care policy and practice.”

Four 91ŃÇÉ« students were also recently recognized by the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario, with awards for academic excellence and leadership potential. Michelle Hermans (PhD student) earned the Lynn Kirkwood Research Award; Tiina Ranta (PhD student) received the Research in Mental Health Nursing Award; Alessia Lamanna (MScN student) was awarded the Nursing Research Interest Group Award; and Eseimuede James Ehiagwina (BScN) was the recipient of the Charlotte Noesgaard Memorial Scholarship.

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Sarah Flicker, professor and 91ŃÇÉ« Research Chair in Community-Based Participatory Research in the , is the principal investigator on the project, titled "Theatre Making Impact (TMI): Scaling-Up a Youth-Led HIV Prevention Play Across Ontario." Shira Taylor, adjunct professor at 91ŃÇÉ« and director of TMI, is co-applicant and the program's founder. The OHTN funding will support the next phase of the program's expansion across Ontario, extending its reach into urban centres and northern Indigenous communities where HIV rates remain disproportionately high.

TMI – formerly known as SExT, or Sex Education by Theatre – is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive not-for-profit that uses peer education and theatre, alongside music, dance, rap and poetry, to engage youth in open conversations about sexual health, HIV prevention, mental health and healthy relationships.

Taylor founded the program in 2014 in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park neighbourhoods as part of her doctoral thesis, and later expanded it through a postdoctoral fellowship at 91ŃÇÉ« in collaboration with Flicker. To date, it has reached more than 12,000 young people across Canada, with a focus on communities most affected by HIV – including newcomer, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

"I really wanted to build an evidence-based program that put the youth voice centre stage on these topics," says Taylor.

What sets TMI apart is how it delivers that education. Instead of pamphlets or classroom lectures, the program uses peer-led performance, humour and storytelling to model difficult conversations and build skills in a lower-stakes environment – one that engages young people both intellectually and emotionally.

“Lack of awareness usually isn’t the reason people don’t use condoms," says Taylor. "There's a peer pressure element, there's an emotional element. Theatre is uniquely positioned to take into account our full humanity."

The program also benefits from an intergenerational model that, over the last decade, has deepened. Many of the original cast members who joined as high schoolers – initially, Taylor jokes, for the free pizza – have stayed on and trained as trauma-informed peer mentors. They now co-facilitate the program alongside a new generation of youth from the same community, sharing similar cultural backgrounds and immigration experiences.

The evidence from a recent Toronto District School Board (TDSB) tour, co-led by Taylor and Flicker and supported by a LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health Catalyst Grant at 91ŃÇÉ«, underscores the approach's impact. Across eight performances at five TDSB high schools, 61 per cent of student audience members reported improved sexual health knowledge, 49 per cent felt more confident managing their own sexual health and 46 per cent reported greater awareness of where to access HIV and STI testing.

Mental health outcomes were also significant: 49 per cent reported improved mental health knowledge, 44 per cent indicated feeling more comfortable seeking help and 41 per cent reported using new coping strategies.

While the student audience feedback provides crucial insights, the program’s impact extends beyond statistics. During a tour to an Indigenous community in Saskatchewan, a youth performer's rap about navigating her identity and her family's cultural expectations moved a young audience member to share a poem she had written but never shown anyone.

"She had it stuffed in the back of her locker," Taylor recalls. "She'd been too scared to share it publicly. And we all gathered around as this young Indigenous girl read us this poem. I still remember the words."

With OHTN support, the project will reach youth beyond Toronto by bringing performances to urban centres and northern and Indigenous communities across Ontario over the coming year.

Taylor and Flicker are thrilled that the award allows the program to continue to reach young people across the province.

"It's really validating how much impact arts-based approaches can have in this sector," says Taylor, "and how important it is to empower community-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed programs around these topics, which has been historically lacking in sex education."

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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BuildHER Future: Newcomer Women in Construction, developed by non-profit organization Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW), brings together post-secondary and community partners to support workforce development, improve access to employment and strengthen pathways into the construction industry.

NEW is a non-profit organization that provides settlement, employment and language services to immigrant and refugee women and their families and will deliver the program in collaboration with Schulich ExecEd and Humber Polytechnic.

It aims to bring together expertise in executive learning, workforce development and applied, hands-on training to ensure learners benefit from industry-informed curriculum design, practical skills and pathways opportunities.

“Schulich Executive Education is proud to partner with Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto on BuildHER Future,” says Rami Mayer, executive director of Schulich ExecEd. “By contributing our expertise in construction project management, we are supporting newcomer women in accessing meaningful career opportunities in a sector that will benefit from their skills.”

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP), BuildHER Future aims to improve labour market integration, advance gender equity and address critical workforce shortages while expanding access to construction careers for internationally trained women.

It responds to the growing demand for skilled workers across Canada’s construction industry and the persistent systemic barriers that many newcomer women face related to credential recognition and limited access to industry networks.

“With the support of the Government of Canada, we are equipping highly skilled newcomer women with the training, mentorship, and work experience needed to succeed in the construction sector,” says Sara Asalya, executive director of Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto. She adds the program is focused on creating opportunities for employment and recognizing the value of internationally trained professionals.

“We look forward to the impact this initiative will have on participants and the broader workforce,” says Mayer.

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Building on past participation and renewed community engagement, 91ŃÇÉ« invites faculty, staff, instructors, students and alumni to join a dedicated 91ŃÇÉ« Pride group walking in the parade. Participation is open to those who wish to take part in a shared, visible expression of support and inclusion alongside colleagues and peers from across the University.

The 91ŃÇÉ« Pride group will walk together in 91ŃÇÉ«-branded t-shirts and will have the opportunity to contribute to a long-running show of support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.

Space is limited to 100 participants. Register to participate through

Pride Month at 91ŃÇÉ« recognizes the contributions of these communities while underscoring the ongoing work to address systemic barriers and build a more inclusive and equitable environment. Visit 91ŃÇɫ’s Pride Month website for more.

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In a historic first, Canada’s 2026 long-form census asks respondents about their sexual orientation, adding vital demographic evidence to the mandatory survey used to guide public funding and infrastructure planning.

For Nick Mulé, it is a shift that has been decades in the making.

"Many of us feel this is long overdue," says MulĂ©, professor at 91ŃÇÉ«'s and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. "I was one of many people who have been advocating for this, going back to the 1990s."

The question – which asks respondents to identify as heterosexual; lesbian or gay; bisexual or pansexual; or to write their own answers – appears on the long-form questionnaire sent to roughly 25 per cent of Canadian households. While Statistics Canada has collected sexual orientation data through smaller specialized surveys before, adding it to the census gives the findings a broader national reach and a different level of public visibility.

"The census is much larger. It goes right across Canada, and it's also mandatory," says Mulé. "It lends legitimacy to these populations, raising their visibility."

But Mulé says visibility alone is not the point, and the more consequential argument is about evidence – and what its absence has cost.

When community organizations doing frontline work with 2SLGBTQIA+ populations have approached governments and funders to address their clients' needs, they have often been told the same thing: without data, resources cannot flow.

"The government acknowledges they believe you, that it probably is true there is a struggle out there, but asks us to give hard evidence," Mulé explains.

That evidence gap is central to MulĂ©'s research. He is project director of 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing, a 91ŃÇÉ«-hosted national study examining poverty among 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Early findings from this project's national survey reflect what frontline workers have long reported: these populations face significant and compounding hardships.

Census evidence on sexual orientation could deepen that picture considerably. Mulé points to housing, health care, employment, education, income and social services as areas where 2SLGBTQIA+ people face disproportionate challenges due to discrimination, stigma and bias – barriers that differ meaningfully depending on life stage, from youth to seniors.

"Not everyone experiences those things the same way," he says. "It's important that those links are made between one's social location and the kind of challenges they're facing."

The categories included in the census question, Mulé says, are reasonable, and the write-in option is an important safeguard for those whose identity does not fit the options. He acknowledges, however, that open-ended responses create complexity on the research end, as analysts must decide how to group and interpret varied self-descriptions.

More pressing concerns involve privacy, trust and the particular vulnerability of young respondents. Many 2SLGBTQIA+ people have not made their sexual orientation public, and disclosing such information on a government form is considered risky by some.

Those ages 15 and older can fill out the long-form census; however, in most households, an adult who completes the form on behalf of all members. This raises concerns that younger individuals may not be accurately represented if adults are not aware of their sexual orientation.

"Those are some of the conundrums," Mulé says. "It's great on the one hand to include it, but Statistics Canada needs to be aware that there is a sensitivity attached to this when it comes to people's comfort level with disclosing this information."

Mulé frames the census change within a longer arc. Sexual orientation has long been protected under human rights legislation in every province and territory, and federally, for years. Yet, legal recognition has not brought an end to discrimination.

For Mulé, having these communities counted in the census – and having that data inform policy, funding and services – is part of closing that gap.

"It really elevates the recognition and legitimacy of these groups in Canada," he says. “By gathering data specific to the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, governments can get a clearer picture of what these communities are facing and what resources, supports and services are needed to equitably meet those needs.”

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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91ŃÇÉ« recognizes Pride Month as a celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and contributions, but also as a reminder of the ongoing struggles shaping these experiences locally and globally.

At a time when the rights and freedoms of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexually and gender-diverse communities are increasingly contested, Pride calls for reflection, action and celebration. The rollback of legal protections, policing of gender expression and marginalization of queer and trans voices highlight the fragility of progress and the uneven realities of safety and recognition. These conditions compel us to move beyond symbolic affirmation toward sustained, evidence-informed action.

91ŃÇɫ’s community continues to advance research, teaching and creative work that deepens understanding and supports meaningful change. For example, 91ŃÇÉ« nursing faculty are strengthening gender-affirming care practices through global learning initiatives, while other 91ŃÇÉ« researchers are examining systemic inequities affecting gender-diverse communities, including new national evidence highlighting housing insecurity among transgender and non-binary Canadians.

Our commitment requires actively challenging structures of exclusion and fostering environments where diverse identities are not only protected but affirmed. This includes recognizing intersectionality and valuing the knowledge produced by queer and trans scholars as essential to academic excellence. 91ŃÇɫ’s leadership in this area is reflected in the work of scholars such as Professor Emeritus Michael Gilbert, whose contributions to gender theory and advocacy were recognized with the 2025 Transgender Pioneer Award.

Throughout Pride Month, flag ceremonies will take place across all three campuses on June 8, 2 to 3 p.m. at Keele (Vari Hall), Glendon (Centre of Excellence) and Markham (first-floor atrium). Flags will be unfurled at Keele and Markham and displayed at Glendon, reaffirming 91ŃÇɫ’s commitment to welcoming and inclusive spaces. Community members are encouraged to explore additional events and resources through 91ŃÇɫ’s Pride programming.

91ŃÇÉ« will also participate in Pride celebrations beyond our campuses, including the 91ŃÇÉ« Region Pride Parade on June 13 in Newmarket () and the Toronto Pride Parade () on June 28. These opportunities reflect our broader engagement and solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Pride Month reminds us that building an inclusive university requires ongoing effort. 91ŃÇÉ« remains dedicated to advancing policies, programs and practices that support 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty, while addressing systemic barriers to equity and belonging.

As we mark Pride Month, we invite all members of the 91ŃÇÉ« community to celebrate, learn and reflect on how each of us can help create a more inclusive and affirming environment throughout the year.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Parissa Safai
Interim Vice-President Equity, People and Culture

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